Despite the optimistic and emphatic title, this 1978 release marked the final Black Sabbath recording that featured the band's complete original lineup for thirty years, until Black Sabbath announced on November 11, 2011 that they would be reuniting to record a new album with Ozzy in 2012. The band performed this song on Top of the Pops in 1978. Around this time the band was dissolving. Drug abuse and years of hard road life had drained them, and Ozzy especially was drunk and unable to write. Ozzy was finally ousted and replaced with Ronnie James Dio.
Looking for the answers that they know inside
Searching for a reason, looking for a rhyme
Snow White's mirror said "partners in crime!"
Don't they ever have to worry?
Don't you ever wonder why?
It's a part of me that tells you
Oh, don't you ever, don't ever say die
Never, never, never say die again
Sunday's satisfaction, Monday's home and dry
Truth is on the doorstep, welcome in the lie
All dressed up in sorrow, got no place to go
Hold back, `till it's ready, taking it slow
Don't they ever have to worry?
Don't you ever wonder why?
It's a part of me that tells you
Oh, don't you ever, don't ever say die
Never, never, never say die again
Don't you ever say die
Don't you ever say die
Never say die
Panic, silver lining, writing's on the wall
Children get together, you can save us all
Future's on the corner, throwing us a die
Slow down, turn around, everything's fine
There's no need to have a reason
There's no need to wonder why
It's a part of me that tells you
Oh, don't you ever, don't ever say die
Never, never, never say die again.
The "Never Say Die" lyrics are about not giving up even when everything is turning out bad, Which was true for Ozzy when he left the band in 1978. We have all had the moments when we feel like giving up on things and finding another way. this song is encouragement when everything is going wrong never to say die. In the Bible passage this morning the same is true. We are reading today from Hebrews 12 where we are encouraged not to give up, but to run the race with patience.
When life's problems come along we often feel like saying "Die" we often give up half way through the race. We lose heart like Ozzy did. But in this passage we are encouraged to not not lose heart, we are inspired to run and we are to run with endurance, perseverance and determination by fixing our eyes on Jesus.
A. FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS REQUIRES TAKING OUR EYES OFF OF OURSELVES.
“Fixing our eyes” is literally “looking off to.” The idea is taking your eyes off of other things and focusing on Jesus alone. The Bible tells us to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5). We must examine ourselves before partaking of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:28). But, we should not live with our focus constantly on ourselves, but rather, on the Lord. In your daily quiet time, it’s good to pause and examine your heart. Is there any sin you need to confess? Is there a bad attitude or a lack of faithfulness? But then turn your eyes toward Jesus and all that you are in Him.
B. FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS REQUIRES TRUSTING ALL THAT HE IS FOR US.
Paul often refers to our being “in Christ.” Baptism pictures the fact that we are totally identified with Him in His death, burial and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-5). When Satan tempts us with guilt over past sins, we take refuge in Christ’s shed blood (Eph. 1:7). All of God’s promises are yes in Christ (2 Cor. 1:20). We are even seated with Christ in the heavenly places (Eph. 1:20)! Focus on these truths by faith!
C. FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS MEANS TRUSTING HIM WHEN OTHERS WRONG US.
The author of Hebrews tells us to “consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself.” Consider (used only here in the N.T.) means to calculate. Just as Jesus balanced the joy set before Him against the cross, so we must consider the fact that the more committed we are to Jesus, the more those who oppose Him will oppose us, no matter how nice we try to be (John 15:20). But we calculate that the joy of knowing and obeying Jesus is greater than all of the rejection, anger, ridicule, or anything worse that we might have to bear for His sake.
D. FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS IS THE KEY TO NOT GROW WEARY AND LOSE HEART.
The literal rendering is, “that you not fail through weariness, fainting in your souls.” Spiritual failure happens gradually from continuous weakening (B. F. Westcott, The Epistle to the Hebrews [Eerdmans], p. 398). Just as a runner who is not in excellent condition gradually slows down and finally collapses, so the believer who does not keep looking with faith to Jesus will eventually collapse. We call it “burn out” today, and it seems that there are many who are weary in their souls in the Christian marathon. The remedy is to fix our eyes on Jesus.
If you’re weary in the race, maybe you need to cast off some encumbrances or things that weigh you down. Someone has pointed out that gold is just as heavy a weight as lead. If you’re trying to carry the world’s treasures while you run the race of faith, you’re going to get tired. Throw off whatever hinders your growth in godliness.
Perhaps you’re grumbling about the course that God has set for you. You look at others who are putting foreign armies to flight and receiving back their dead by resurrection, but you’re wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground (11:34-35, 38). You think, “It’s not fair!” You need to submit to the sovereign hand of God, who sets different courses for His children according to His purpose. Perhaps you need to refocus on Jesus and the joy of receiving the crown of righteousness that He has promised to all who finish the course (2 Tim. 4:7, 8).
You can’t run the race if you’ve never entered it. If you’ve never put your faith in Jesus Christ you aren’t even in the race. Many today sit on the sidelines and comment on other runners. the asses the runners performance without setting one foot on the track. Think about it!
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