I am sorry if my continuing story of the music in my life gets tiresome, but music has always been integral to my life, often to the consternation of some. In an earlier post I gave a bit of my musical journey ( not the band, although they too are a part of my "soundtrack.". I recently found an artist who with his brother formed an important part of progressive rock before accepting Christ and breaking with his former band to make progressive rock to tell not only his testimony, but various stories from the Bible and church history. It is one song on his CD entitled One that I want to share with you today.
In the song "Cradle to the Grave," Neal Morse as Adam is in conversation with Phil Keaggy as God, discussing the Child's (Man) broken relationship with God the Father resulting from the Fall:
Sometimes I don't understand
Why I was born at all
When all that I do leaves me empty
Aching and longing for more
Sometimes I feel I could stand
Man, I feel like I'm ten feet tall
But then it's like I'm on trial and I'm guilty
I don't know exactly what for
How I wish
I could be relieved
Fall on God's doorstep
And be received
But it seems he doesn't
Care for me anymore
So I'll be on my way
Live from the cradle to the grave
On my own
Son you must understand
Why I would let you fall
It isn't because I don't love you
It's not that I want you to crawl
But the silence between us has grown
And your towers have grown so tall
"I let you choose; you have chosen"
You don't seem to want me at all
How I wish
To be reconciled
That you would just love me
With the heart of a child
But it seems you never
Want me around anymore
So you can have your way
Live from the cradle to the grave
Far from home
How I wish (Child how I love you)
I could be relieved (but you're so far away)
Fall on God's doorstep (Won't you come home to me?)
And be received (I will give you my robe)
But it seems he doesn't (Clothe you in linen)
Care for me anymore (Son I want you to stay)
So I'll be on my way (I'll set you free)
Live from the cradle to the grave (How I long to be home)
How I wish (I've been alone)
To be reconciled (so very long)
That you would just love me (with a heart made of stone)
With the heart of a child (Can you dry all the tears)
But it seems you never (I've held in my heart?)
Want me around anymore
So you can have your way (I'll be on my way)
Live from the cradle to the grave
Far from home
Can you identify with the child in these lyrics? Do you hear God speak of his love for you like this?
Fortunately for us, these lyrics do not signal an end. Later songs on the album speak of the "Father of Forgiveness" and "Reunion" a three-part piece that includes "No Separation" and "Make Us One." God indeed is the Father of forgiveness, providing the Way, the Truth and the Life so that we could be redeemed and forgiven. Don't miss this point (or to borrow a phrase, "Look right here"): We need to hear God call to us, telling us of his love for us. We need to be reminded that his love for us cost him his Son, sentenced to death for our transgressions. We need to feel his presence with us, always, even in the hard places. We need this, because this life is hard. Consider, is it harder to trust that God is real, that Jesus died, was buried and rose again the victorious Messiah (Christ), or is it harder to reject God, and experience the withdrawal of the only true love there is?
Do you hear God speaking to you? What is he saying in the midst of the circumstances of your life? If any wants to discuss the gospel and you are not sure what to think about God and Jesus, you can leave comments, or e-mail me (jgdavenport@verizon.net). I don't presume to have all the answers, but I welcome the opportunity to talk with you about why I believe, and I may invite you to church (or suggest you find a good Bible teaching church near you, if you're out of my metro-Washington area). But please don't hesitate if you think you may want to talk this over. I look forward to it.
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