Farther Along

by Josh Garrels

Tempted and tried, I wondered why 
The good man died, the bad man thrives 
And Jesus cries because he loves em’ both 
We’re all cast-aways in need of ropes 
Hangin’ on by the last threads of our hope 
In a house of mirrors full of smoke 
Confusing illusions I’ve seen 

Where did I go wrong, I sang along 
To every chorus of the song 
That the devil wrote like a piper at the gates 
Leading mice and men down to their fates 
But some will courageously escape 
The seductive voice with a heart of faith 
While walkin’ that line back home 

So much more to life than we’ve been told 
It’s full of beauty that will unfold 
And shine like you struck gold my wayward son 
That deadweight burden weighs a ton 
Go down into the river and let it run 
And wash away all the things you’ve done 
Forgiveness alright 

Still I get hard pressed on every side 
Between the rock and a compromise 
Like the truth and pack of lies fightin’ for my soul 
And I’ve got no place left go 
Cause I got changed by what I’ve been shown 
More glory than the world has known 
Keeps me ramblin’ on 

Skipping like a calf loosed from its stall 
I’m free to love once and for all 
And even when I fall I’ll get back up 
For the joy that overflows my cup 
Heaven filled me with more than enough 
Broke down my levee and my bluff 
Let the flood wash me 

And one day when the sky rolls back on us 
Some rejoice and the others fuss 
Cause every knee must bow and tongue confess 
That the son of god is forever blessed 
His is the kingdom, we’re the guests 
So put your voice up to the test 
Sing Lord, come soon 

To lie on the shore forever?

My church, The Gathering Church, is continuing in a sermon series on the book of Acts. Though familiar, I can feel the prayer of the saints & the elders seeping into my spirit and my spirit is moving, wildly. The scriptures come alive, it becomes real, more than any other time I've read the same text. Prayers are a powerful gift.

The thing about God's word seeping into your spirit is that it is bewildering and deeply affecting. It constantly reflects, hoping to understand within the core of your being what is burning with passion inside you; and your life seems turned upside down married with chaos, and somehow the waves of peace and magnificent majesty you were gazing at earlier now ensnarl you in its wash, and somehow, you're undone. 

God's word has power upon ones soul to effect a most horribly beautiful turmoil. I am amazed every single time at the shedding of minute qualms in contrast with the glory of God's magnificence. Nothing seems to make sense anymore, and it's laughable, really. Because it's in this place where you find meaning in life. The meaning to life. 

I can't remember how many times I have read verses or passages of scriptures over and over again, and each time I read them there was no effect on me whatsoever. The words are beautiful, and your mind accepts and understands the meaning of those words, but rarely does it ever reach down deep into your soul. You can relax and watch the scriptures in all of the splendor they hold with so few words. You can enjoy the beauty of the stories and poetry that are painted before you. But unless you pass the shore and go deeper than your feet can touch, you're safe and nothing ever changes. 

I like to relax. Lay my blanket down in the safe zone where the waters don't come near, put on some shades, lie down on warms sands, feel the rays and close my eyes. And please don't bother me, I'm soaking up life. 

But I mean, I don't think that's what us humans crave. To just lie down on the shore forever? To just watch the action and adventures of those who dive headstrong into the waters, whether ferocious or not? We crave so much more. We are meant to live for so much more, right, Switchfoot? I covet those who really soak up life by actually soaking up the creative juices all around them. Those who understand beauty in every way and make it the potential it was meant to have. Invest, create, relate, resolve, forgive, motivate, inspire, learn and live! 

Scriptures are where we really have the ability to live. They speak to the very bones of our meaningfulness. They destroy you and build you back up again, they give you even more of a lust for the glorious God of the universe. They fill you in a way that hurts; the struggle is real, you know? But when you understand that the waves are just a part of the thrill, and that you can have rest, it's heavenly. It's you wrapped in majestic and holy glory, like skydiving without an "X" to land on. Like surfing a wave 10x bigger than you and resting on the trust that comes between you and the earth. Scripture is just like it, except it's the thrill of eternity in your hands, and it seeps into your soul, and it is inescapable. It's sexy. That's a good word, right?

It's pretty easy to lie on the beach, skin soaked with the bliss of the sun. But what about washed up on the shore, beaten by the salty seas, only to be warmed to the sweet presence of a sunny lullaby? Put back together again, but having experienced the life changing waves of God's creation? There's nothing worse than not being able to relate to your friends who leap headstrong into the water, excited for what life will bring them, and you've been sitting back and watching everyone be miraculously destroyed by something bigger than themselves and coming back to tell the story, alive. 

The scary part about scripture is that no one will ever know what will happen. No one will know what part of your heart God will touch, or the roots of horrible evil that he will pull out, and how painful it will be. But it will happen if you go there, and you will most likely be changed and more experienced at life. You will have seen a part of the face of God, but not much, because He is so large, and too glorious for anyone to see him in one breath. But it will still be worth it. To see any part of God.

Something about truth that slowly chips away your own perspective. Something about Jesus, about His purpose, about humanity that makes the bigger picture so much more beautiful. A story that can only be told through the one that wrote it. I can only breath in and out when thinking about it because it is inexhaustible. The story of eternity cannot be contained in one person, in one brain, in one heart. It is told through the golden lines of history, of communal interaction with those who seek the truth, through the spirit of God that threads the golden line between us all, knitting together the most beautiful piece of art that is still being created. 

I cannot wait to be in the place of eternity where we live with Jesus, and to see the final piece. A gallery that will last forever and ever that we will stand in awe of. And we will worship the creator of heaven and earth with the most reverence that we can't even imagine, singing "holy, holy, holy. You are almighty and good and beautiful." And we will be consumed with his presence on our knees, our jaws will not grow weary from the unceasing smiles on our face. We will clap and rejoice and jump and dance. 

But we can only be a part of this beautiful masterpiece if we dive in. Scriptures call us to it. And we yearn for it, because we as humans crave it. Why lie on the shore forever when you can be thrown into the waves of mercy and divine grace? It's scary, but worth it.