Saturday, June 09, 2007

Faithless!?!

Mathew 7:24-27
24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."


We had a discussion about these verses with our home group. It sums up every parable from Mathew 5 through 7. It also makes me think of how we live our lives. When we are faced with something not in our control. How do we deal with it? Do we chuck it all and try to outlast it or do we stand firm on His foundation. One of our friends stated the rain is not something we have to look at as bad, but something that will make us stronger or help us grow.
That's what rain is for, by the way.

Lately, I've been listening to Rush's new album, "Snakes and Arrows". Some really great things on it. Some really not so great things as well. Neil Peart really wears his heart on his sleeve with this album. Something he doesn't normally do. One of the songs on the album is titled "Faithless". Right away I was anxious to hear this one because of the content. Neil has never been a Jesus believer. Here are some of the lyrics below:


"I've got my own moral compass
to steer by
A guiding star beats a spirit in the sky"
And all the preaching voices -
Empty vessels of dreams so loud
As they move among the crowd
Fools and thieves are well disguised
In the temple and market place

Like a stone in the river
Against the floods of spring
I will quietly resist
Like the willows in the wind
Or the cliffs along the ocean
I will quietly resist


I don't have faith in faith
I don't believe in belief
You can call me faithless
I still cling to hope
And I believe in love
And that's faith enough for me"



Kind of funny how he says he doesn't have faith in faith and doesn't believe in belief, but he later says "I believe in love and that's faith enough for me". These lyrics are pointed and aggressive, but mostly just sad. This man lost his wife and daughter in the same year. The same year I lost my mother. It's amazing to see how one chooses to live after tragedy. Please pray for Neil to have ears to hear Jesus.

I would like to turn those lyrics around to say:


"I have faith in faith
I believe in belief
You can call me faithful
I still cling to hope
And I believe in love
And I will seek Him faithfully"



What grows your faith? Is it the rain? It is for me. As I look at what I cling to when the floods come in, I know where I place my faith. Even when I don't think it's enough. Even when I hear echos of doubt or I feel the need to hide my face from Him.

No comments: