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I have learned a special kind of dark
in life's monotony and hardening of heart
I could write a novel now of nothing profound
surrounded by the bottles I alone have emptied out
But You are better than bourbon, better than whiskey, better than wine
You are better than life
- Better than Bourbon, FAI Studios
I have listened to this song hundreds of times over the years, a creative and poetic song inspired by Song of Solomon 1:2. But recently it has struck me in a completely new way, and resonated more than it ever has before. i am the rich man"And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” -Mark 10:23-24 I think as the western church we may have accidentally discounted the rich man Jesus warned us of as some distant people somewhere sitting in piles of gold, completely selfish and thinking of none but themselves. But what if it's you and me? Looking at my life- the comfort, ease, possessions I have, I'm beginning to see that I am indeed the rich man. The deceitfulness of riches- a special kind of dark. It's a dark that seeps between the cracks, disguises itself as something else, declares itself as the way truth and life instead of He, trades the costly commands of Jesus for cheap allegories instead. I am guilty. I have stored up treasures on this earth instead of heaven, believed the lie that more possessions will satisfy me, decided it was an allegory or hyperbole when Jesus said to sell all and follow Him. O Jesus, You said to sell all, to give it to the poor and follow You. You said to daily take up my cross, to set my heart on a pilgrimage, to run this race with endurance. You said to store treasures in heaven and not on earth, to love my neighbor as myself, to never deny when someone asks me of something, to go the extra mile for a friend, turn the cheek for my enemy. To say goodbye to my father and mother and go the narrow way, taking nothing with me.
Reveal, Lord, where I have allegorized these commands. Where I have only taken a cheap gospel that doesn't penetrate every area of my life.
Show me where this special kind of dark has caused monotony, hardening, and dullness. Here I am, surrounded by bottles of nothingness I have poured out that will not make it into the kingdom. Bottles of intoxication, materialism, pleasures of this life that blind me from eternity. Find me here. I see the meaninglessness, I am beginning to recognize where I have believed its lies. Find me here.
I have tasted, and You are better.
I have believed falsehoods, but You are the truth.
Better than bourbon, whiskey, wine, the pleasures of life, You are better.
our hope"And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” -Mark 10:21 Jesus loves the rich man. And He loves too much to keep us where we are. He will uproot and take all that hinders wholehearted love and devotion. Thank You Jesus, do it in me. "You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." -Revelation 3:17-20
This album has been washing as I have been praying through these things. It's the simple truth of the gospel, the beauty of Jesus, and denying ourselves to follow Him all in an album. Give it a listen. Until our King returns, —Maddie |
Hi! I'm Maddie
"For as the earth brings forth its bud, as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. "- Isaiah 61:11