Ghost Riders in the Sky

The song, Ghost Riders in the Sky, tells a folk tale of a cowboy who has a vision of red-eyed, steel-hooved cattle thundering across the sky, being chased by the spirits of damned cowboys. One warns him that if he does not change his ways, he will be doomed to join them, forever "trying to catch the devil’s herd across these endless skies". Jones said that he had been told the story when he was 12 years old by an old cowboy friend. More than 50 performers have recorded versions of the song. My favorite is by the Highwaymen, who are Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. (If you have a “hankerin’” to see the video follow the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjkJqHUYr5w). I found it not long ago and as I was listening the following reading came to mind: When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:7-8 ESV). You may be familiar with this passage. Just before the coming of the rider on this pale horse, John has seen the coming of three others. There was a rider on a white horse who would conquer; followed by another rider on a red horse who would take peace from the earth, then would come a third horse which was black and its rider who brought famine to the earth. There are many interpretations of these visions John was given. Virtually all of them deal with the calamity and destruction during the end times. Certainly, no one can deny the description given in these verses as being dire and dark. However, when we continue to read a bit further we find that God has made provision for all of his children. They were told to “rest a little while longer” (cf. Revelation 6:11). I find it almost too difficult to believe. God is saying to the saints who have already been taken to their heavenly home that there are yet others who will suffer greatly as he finishes redeeming all those he has set aside from the foundation of the world. The message is that God will save them. In the song, Ghost Riders in the Sky, the lyrics would lead us to believe that the only way that lone, tormented rider can escape forever joining that fruitless eternal quest for the devil’s cattle is to live right. It is such a common message today we give it little more than a passing thought. Perhaps we need to do more than that! The truth is that without the work of Christ we all will end up on one of those red-eyed, fire-breathing horses. There is a judgment coming. History is gathering itself together for the writing of the final chapter. Find yourself safe in Christ by trusting in his work on your behalf.