On my way home at the end of a three-day road trip for work, I was flipping through the channels on the radio and I landed on a rock n’ roll station. The guitar riff, grabbing my attention, caused me to pause. The thing is I don’t listen to rock n’ roll much anymore, and when I do catch a good classic that takes me back, I usually end up turning it one or two songs later. Don’t get me wrong, I love the sound of the genre, I grew up on it, and for a time, was partially defined by it. However, the spiritual conviction that the majority of secular music creates in me is not the focus of this message. This message is about the song, and the artist that I happened to land on that late autumn day.
It was a song I’ve never heard before, and the singer sounded just like Ozzy Osbourne. I assumed it was a new band with a lead singer that had a similar vocal style, because I haven’t heard anything from Ozzy for years. As I listened to the lyrics it I was rapidly aware that they were dark and sad, even tragic, song. The lyrics told me this was a man who had given his life to the darkness and was admitting he was going to hell. It was hard to tell if he was willing to go or if he felt he had no choice, like it was too late. These lyrics were so dark and tragic that I became more confident this was not Ozzy. I knew his music. I saw him at OzzFest when Black Sabbath reunited with their lead guitar player, Tony Iommi. I had all of their recordings on CD. This wasn’t Ozzy’s song writing style, even though the lyrics could easily be transposed onto his life and potential eternal destiny. However, when the song was over the DJ announced that Ozzy Osbourne had released a new album, and my heart broke for this man.
Ozzy Osbourne, I need to talk to you. When I heard the lyrics of this song, which led me to read others from your new album, I found myself listening to a man who was very much aware of the reality, the activities, and the consequences of the spiritual world. It is clear that you know God exists, and you know it is a choice to either serve Him or not. But it is also clear that you are crying out for a miracle, that you are well aware of what you have dedicated your life too, the darkness, and that eternity for you, and many people that you have known, is hell. When I heard that song, I heard a man who felt trapped in his darkness and in his destiny. A man who feels that no matter what he does or how much he wants it, believes he can not change his fate; and Ozzy, that is a lie.
Ozzy, I need to tell you, man to man, as a man who was once just as lost as you are, that God loves you, and He wants you to be saved, He wants you in heaven with Him. After hearing your lyrics, I need to tell you that the devil can never win, and that you haven’t sold your soul to him, because it was never his to buy. He is only a liar and a deceiver. You can change your destiny, and you can turn to the light. I pray for you Ozzy. I pray for your pain, and that the cries for help that you bravely sing in your songs will be heard. I pray for your salvation, that you will see the light of Jesus Christ. All you have to do, Ozzy, is talk to Him. Admit to Him that you’ve served the darkness, but now you want to know Him, to be changed by Him, to be saved by Him, because He already loves you, Ozzy Osbourne.
I picked lyrics from three of your songs that I want to discuss with you. You wrote “Jesus Christ, I wish you heard me cryin’ out for help,” and I can tell you that Jesus Christ does hear you, Ozzy. He hears your cry for help, the same way I could hear it on the radio. But you need to act on His love, on the salvation that He provided to you through the cross and His resurrection. It is a matter of the heart, never the mind.
You know that hell is not a party. When you sang “my friends are waiting for me, I can hear them crying out for help,” it is clear you know they are suffering in the absence of God. No one serves the devil in hell, they only suffer with him. You know this in your heart, and it doesn’t have to be your fate.
You sing “Pray for me Father, for I know not what I do,” and “I gotta tell a million lies but I’ll be holy tonight.” These words are sung in the context of a song that hints to your approaching death. I can tell you from my own experience, that you are no different than me or any other flesh and blood sinner. We all do what we don’t want to do or what we know we shouldn’t do. This world has played its games on all of us, it has hurt us, and given us false promises. Our hearts, where the word of God is written, tell us this every day. You don’t have to tell lies to become holy in the eyes of God, He already knows all, and there is nothing hidden from Him. The blood of Jesus has already cleansed you, and you can be holy tonight in His sight, by asking His Son into your heart. It is not too late, just know that you have to seek Him, you have to be willing.
What causes me to respond to these songs so passionately is that you have spiritual knowledge, you know what the truth is, but I fear that you don’t believe it is available to you. But I know that it is! Finally, from the song that started all this for me you sang “don’t take care of me, be scared of me, my misery owns me.” Lay it at His feet, Ozzy. He will take the burden from you. It might hurt, no, it will hurt, because love always hurts, but you will come out of it a new man, a man of God, with no shame, only hope, and faith. Let God own you and give your life to Him.
God bless you, Ozzy Osbourne. May His face shine upon you. If you need to talk, I’m available. 618 534 2958
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