Lovesong

I see the Gospel almost everywhere I look.  In Psalm 19, David wrote that even the heavens themselves declare the glory of God. The Passion Translation says “all the world can see its story.  Everywhere its Gospel is read so all may know.”  I can also see the Gospel in popular culture and so did the Apostle Paul.  He quoted the poets of his day to the people in Athens when urging them to believe in the “Unknown God” who was nearer to them than they knew.  

Growing up as an alternative/punk rock kid, my favorite band was The Cure. They released a song in 1989 called “Lovesong”. The lyrics remind me so much of our relationship with our Creator: what it looks like when we are tethered to Him and what it looks like when we drift away.  

The verses are what it looks like when we are tethered to Him: 

“Whenever I'm alone with you…
You make me feel like I am home again
You make me feel like I am whole again
You make me feel like I am young again
You make me feel like I am fun again
You make me feel like I am free again
You make me feel like I am clean again.”

The chorus is what it looks like when we drift away and think we can still love and live well:

“However far away
I will always love you
However long I stay
I will always love you
Whatever words I say
I will always love you.”

You can see this so clearly in the words of Jesus in John 15.  To be “far away” is extremely problematic because Jesus is our connection to the Father.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you...”

Jesus is our source of life.  The branches can’t live independent of the vine.  With the crazy lives we lead, we are no longer “burning the candle at both ends”; we are taking a blowtorch to its center.  Connecting to Jesus allows us to find the kind of healthy life that actually bears fruit.  

We also need to stay connected.  Too often we don’t “stick around” long enough to affect any real, positive change in our lives. 

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing...”

In high school, I had a friend who would put about $3 in his gas tank.  It was annoying.  If we wanted to go anywhere, it had to be within 3 miles of the house, or we’d run out of gas!  So much of the time we are running on fumes simply because we haven’t refueled enough.  Jesus is pretty clear when he says, “apart from me you can do nothing”.  Connecting is the easy part.  God did all of the work for us through Christ; all we have to do is receive it by faith.  The “remaining” part is more on our end.  It’s a daily decision to stick around. 

Finally, it’s important that we speak His language.  

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples...”

The words you say matter, so you have to watch what comes out of your mouth.  Whether you realize it or not, you are planting and watering seeds.  Get the Word of God in your heart and mind and speak it through prayer and confession.  Here’s the best part: If what comes out of your mouth lines up with what God says, He actually promises that it will be done for you! 

Most of all, remember that God loves you so much.  He cares for you and wants you to have the best life, full of peace and joy.  

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Connect to your life-source and stay there.  Talk to Him and speak His language.  He will make you feel like you are home again…whole again…young again…fun again…free again…clean again.

And He will always love you.

 
Tyler