ANOTHER IN THE FIRE (Personal Reflection)

There’s a grace when the heart is under fire 

Another way when the walls are closing in 

And when I look at the space between 

Where I used to be and this reckoning

I know I will never be alone

There was another in the fire 

Standing next to me

There was another in the waters 

Holding back the seas

And should I ever need reminding

Of how I’ve been set free

There is a cross that bears the burden 

Where another died for me

There is another in the fire

All my debt left for dead beneath the waters 

I’m no longer a slave to my sin anymore 

And should I fall in the space between 

What remains of me and this reckoning 

Either way I won’t bow

To the things of this world

And I know I will never be alone

There is another in the fire 

Standing next to me

There is another in the waters 

Holding back the seas

And should I ever need reminding 

What power set me free

There is a grave that holds no body 

And now that power lives in me
There is another in the fire 

And I can see the light in the darkness 

As the darkness bows to Him

I can hear the roar in the heavens

As the space between wears thin

I can feel the ground shake beneath us 

As the prison walls cave in

Nothing stands between us

Nothing stands between us

There is no other name

But the Name that is Jesus

He who was and still is

And will be through it all

So come what may in the space between 

All the things unseen and this reckoning 

I know I will never be alone
I know I will never be alone

There’ll be another in the fire 

Standing next to me

There’ll be another in the waters 

Holding back the seas

And should I ever need reminding 

How good You’ve been to me

I’ll count the joy come every battle 

‘Cause I know that’s where You’ll be

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It is a humbling process writing personal reflections each week and allowing the Holy Spirit to peel back the layers of my heart like an onion and reveal levels of vulnerability I would rather avoid altogether. With each devotion I publish, opportunity abounds for assumptions, expectations, and personal judgments to be made against me. Thankfully, I've never been one to care too much about what people think of me because I've learned over time to filter out negativity and unfair criticism. It has been a difficult road to navigate, though, dating back to my childhood. Like many, I struggled to fit into popular culture and often found myself during the teenage years isolating from others with nothing but my thoughts and a good, old-fashioned typewriter to flush them out. I loved writing poetry at the time and that became an outlet for me to express my feelings without fear of judgment as I fought to survive the teenage years. In some ways I was similar to kids around me, and in other ways I found myself on the outside looking in more than I care to remember. When I reflect back on my adolescence, I have very mixed emotions. I am certainly thankful for all the trials God brought me through because everything I experienced helped shape the man I am today. However, there are moments of extreme darkness I would rather forget, ignore or avoid rather than proactively confront. Perhaps that is why my heart gravitated toward "Another In The Fire" by Hillsong United when I first heard it, and challenged me to open up about struggles I've rarely shared publicly before. This song is incredibly personal to me because it magnifies how often I've had to preach the Gospel to my heart over the years as a reminder that there truly is another in the fire and His name is Jesus. Make no mistake, we have an enemy who knows our weaknesses better than we do and seeks to exploit them in order to tempt us into abandoning our faith in Christ. "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Far too often we embrace disillusionment, assuming we've outmaneuvered the devil in our own strength without any need for God's help. However, what we fail to realize is the more we assume we've conquered the enemy in our own strength, the mightier our fall will be when our defense is ultimately broken over time and insecurities exposed for attack.

"There’s a grace when the heart is under fire; another way when the walls are closing in. And when I look at the space between where I used to be and this reckoning, I know I will never be alone." Scripture warns, "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:12–14). In the midst of trials when it feels like the world is crashing down around us, God provides a clear, exit strategy for resisting temptation and enduring spiritual warfare. However, we must ask ourselves whether our pride will allow us to lean upon the Lord for guidance when temptation arises. In other words, when the walls are closing in and Satan is attempting to suffocate our faith, will we trust God's sovereignty knowing His grace is sufficient even when we're overwhelmed by fear? When I reflect back on my younger days, I can see how the Lord pulled me through some very dark moments when Satan baited me into believing I was all alone in my struggles. However, God protected my heart and mind, and reminded me that my life had infinite value because of spiritual markers He specifically placed in my memory to combat the enemy. Make no mistake, isolation has always been Satan's strategy of choice to render us unequipped and vulnerable to attack. However, God knows Satan's tactics and pursues us at the expense of His own Son to ensure we are safe and secure if we truly trust in His sovereign protection. "What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray" (Matthew 18:12–13). It is important we remember where we have been, where we are now, and how far we have come over time. Often times, we simply fail to measure the space between our past and present, yet God continues to pour out His grace upon us regardless of the memory loss we experience each time we panic under pressure and forget the spiritual markers He placed in our hearts as our spiritual way of escape.

"There was another in the fire standing next to me. There was another in the waters holding back the seas. And should I ever need reminding of how I’ve been set free, there is a cross that bears the burden where another died for me. There is another in the fire." The imagery of this chorus is so incredibly powerful when we consider it through Biblical context. In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego willingly risked their lives knowing if they failed to bow to a false idol, they would be thrown into a fiery furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar and die an excruciating death. Nonetheless, they chose to accept their fate rather than renounce their faith in the Lord God, who ultimately saved them by sending Jesus to accompany them in the inferno. "Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, 'Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?' They answered and said to the king, 'True, O king.' He answered and said, 'But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods'" (Daniel 3:24–25). Similarly, God saved the nation Israel by parting the Red Sea and providing a miraculous solution  when Pharaoh's army entrapped them against the water's edge with no opportunity for escape. "Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left" (Exodus 14:21–22). In both cases, the Lord supernaturally reached down from the heavens and saved His people by meeting their needs in the midst of impending death. Therefore, why would we ever doubt God's sovereignty knowing He not only rebuked fire and water to save His children of old, but sent His only Son to die a sinner's death on our behalf to purchase our salvation? All the reminders we need which testify to God's love and provision for His people are found over and over in the pages of Scripture, culminated by the cross which bears the burden of sin for all mankind.

"All my debt left for dead beneath the waters. I’m no longer a slave to my sin anymore. And should I fall in the space between what remains of me and this reckoning, either way I won’t bow to the things of this world and I know I will never be alone." One of the things I love about this song is the imagery painted throughout, and this verse in particular reminds me of a memory which has haunted me. Water has always played a unique role in my life because I almost drowned when I was a young boy. One of my earliest memories was getting knocked over by a wave and struggling to pull myself back up after what felt like an eternity with my head underwater. That left a powerful impression on me throughout my life and I have never been able to tread water or learn how to swim since. Fear has a way of crippling the senses if we allow, and being under water, for me at least, feels like suffocation. However, I do not believe I've ever considered how my drowning experience could help me understand the Gospel better till now. When we are baptized, we're immersed within a body of water to symbolize our unity with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. Our sins are symbolically washed away by water during baptism, cleansing us of all unrighteousness by the blood of the lamb as a public profession of our saving faith. Therefore, the debt we once owed was officially left for dead the moment we accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, and baptism symbolizes that moment by testifying we are no longer slaves to our sin but born-again to new life in Christ. "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3–4). However, while water symbolizes the cleansing of our sins, it does not promise amnesia regarding the memories of our past. Looking back upon my journey of salvation, what remains to this day is a mixed bag of shame and regret for how selfish I once was, but immeasurable appreciation to God for rescuing me from my destructive ways, both then and now. I wish from the moment I accepted Christ I never committed another sin ever again, but the sins I've committed post-conversion haunt me more today than those committed before I was saved. Reason being, the Holy Spirit has illuminated Scripture in my heart so powerfully and held me accountable to God's holy standard that I grieve and mourn sin like never before. In other words, where once I ignored or rejected how wretched I truly was, now I recognize my sins more clearly and the destructive wake my selfish decisions leave behind.

"And I can see the light in the darkness as the darkness bows to Him. I can hear the roar in the heavens as the space between wears thin." I believe there is a common misconception in the church today that God remains in heaven while Satan rules the earth. While many would not articulate that as part of their theology, it seems they forget the Holy Spirit, one-third of the Trinity, exists in our hearts while we temporarily take up residence in this world. Therefore, God is ever-present with us regardless of Satan's influence. "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God" (1 Corinthians 2:12). It is important we keep our eyes fixed on the light of Christ in the midst of this dark world to avoid becoming overwhelmed by doubts and fears. Again, Satan masterfully uses isolation to bait us into thinking we are all alone in our struggles and that no one cares about or even recognizes our pain. Those who struggle with suicidal thoughts can identify mightily because the darkness they often experience is overwhelming. Therefore, they assume their existence is better served dead than alive when nothing could be further from the truth of God's Word. From their perspective, why continue living when the heart and mind are covered in darkness and hopelessness? It would be easier to put an end to the suffering rather than live another "meaningless" day in isolation. However, God's Word provides life-saving truth to those who trust in the name of Jesus despite the evil voices whispering lies in their ears. "When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all" (Psalm 34:17–19). Focusing on the light of Christ in the midst of pain and suffering is our only way of navigating through trials because we know God will never leave or forsake us if we place our trust in His sovereignty and our eternal hope in Jesus. "This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:5–7).

"I can feel the ground shake beneath us as the prison walls cave in. Nothing stands between us. Nothing stands between us." In Acts 16, we learn that despite being beaten and imprisoned with their feet fastened in stocks, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God when an earthquake shook the foundation of the jail cell and caused the doors to open. Though their bonds were released, Paul and Silas remained in the cell and subsequently prevented their jailer from committing suicide. "And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' And they said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household'" (Acts 16:29–31). God performed a miracle that day which culminated in the salvation of the most unlikely of characters. Yet it should not surprise us because when we submit ourselves to glorifying God in the midst of our pain and suffering, He shows up in a mighty way. When we declare our hope is in Jesus, we are not uttering empty words which carry no intrinsic value. Rather, we are declaring in the midst of our trials that God is far greater than any difficult circumstance we might find ourselves in. "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:8–9). It may sound cliche to simply "trust in Jesus" when the walls are closing in, but we must never forget that the same God who shook the earth with an earthquake to release Paul and Silas from their imprisonment is our sufficiency at all times as well. It may not make sense in the moment, but maintaining our trust in the Lord's provision declares to the power of darkness that nothing will ever stand in between the love God has for us. How can it? God sacrificed His own Son to set us free for eternity! Therefore, let us not be dismayed but encouraged, because the same power that raised Jesus from the grave will surely deliver us from sin and death if we trust in His Name. "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38–39).

"There is no other name but the Name that is Jesus. He who was and still is and will be through it all. So come what may in the space between all the things unseen and this reckoning, I know I will never be alone. I know I will never be alone." There are ten references in the book of Acts whereby, "in the name of Jesus," miracles happened, the Gospel was proclaimed, and salvation was received by thousands. Without question, the power of the Holy Spirit is released when the name of Jesus is called upon. And while popular culture has blasphemed Christ's name, we in the church hold it in reverence because our minds have been illuminated by Scripture. Many of us can passionately testify that strongholds are broken when the name of Jesus is spoken because that is our own personal story and testimony of faith. When I was young, I struggled with suicidal thoughts. Looking back, I recognize how Satan had me shackled in isolation, believing my life was insignificant. Keep in mind, I grew up Catholic and knew popular stories of the Bible, but my faith journey was far more religious than relational to Christ and my knowledge of Scripture shallow at best, which left me extremely vulnerable to spiritual attack. "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:3–4). Therefore, it is not surprising suicide seemed like a viable alternative at the time because I did not have a personal relationship of salvation with Christ at that point. Yet in the midst of my torment, God lovingly reminded me He had a purpose for my life and brought to mind spiritual markers which enabled me to have something to life for. Now talking openly about my own battles with suicidal thoughts is not something I dreamed of ever sharing publicly, but I believe life-changing power is released when we embrace vulnerability, confess our sins, and admit we need help. I'd love to say my struggles with suicide are a thing of the past, but those demons flood my mind from time to time when conflict arises or I yield to temptation and sin against those I love. In many ways, the scarlet letter of shame and regret are difficult to relinquish at times, even for born-again Christ-followers. However, the apostle Paul struggled with a thorn in the flesh as well, so I am encouraged I'm not alone in my journey of faith. But what encourages me more is knowing whatever comes my way, I will be able to withstand the schemes of the enemy because my Savior is always with me, even when my faith is weary and worn. "The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith!' And the Lord said, 'If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, "Be uprooted and planted in the sea," and it would obey you'" (Luke 17:5–6).

"There’ll be another in the fire standing next to me. There’ll be another in the waters holding back the seas. And should I ever need reminding how good You’ve been to me, I’ll count the joy come every battle because I know that’s where You’ll be." The beauty of this chorus is how it shifts from past to present to future tense. Did you catch that? The transition is subtle, despite the repetition, from WAS to IS to WILL BE, but it accurately captures how dependent our faith is on spiritual markers at all life stages, which remind us of God's sovereignty when we're caught in the fire or consumed by raging seas. "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:8–9). Undoubtedly, our day of reckoning will come and we'll stand before the throne of God to await our final judgment, so why not plan accordingly at this moment if we have the power to change our life's trajectory and live unashamed for Christ? For if we are consumed by the cares of this world, we will never relinquish full control to God and allow Him to transform our hearts. Therefore, trials are necessary to refine our faith and draw us closer to Christ. The key is shifting our perspective off our struggles and focusing on the victory we have in Jesus instead, for no temporary hardships could ever compare to the eternal joy we will experience in heaven one day. "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness" (James 1:2–3). God uses trials to refocus our attention toward heaven rather than the cares of this world to refine our character and purify our hearts. But more importantly, trials are an opportunity to experience God's presence more intimately than we could ever imagine, and help create spiritual markers which will provide dividends in the future. To testify, "They'll be another in fire," communicates loud and clear that God is faithful regardless of what hardships await in the future. Therefore, may we embrace whatever trials lie ahead with joyful expectancy, knowing the Lord is faithful and will never leave or forsake us to the glory of His Name. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11).

YET NOT I, BUT THROUGH CHRIST IN ME (Personal Reflection)

What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer

There is no more for heaven now to give

He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom

My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus

For my life is wholly bound to His

Oh, how strange and divine, I can sing: All is mine!

Yet not I, but through Christ in me

The night is dark but I am not forsaken

For by my side, the Saviour He will stay

I labour on in weakness and rejoicing

For in my need, His power is displayed

To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me

Through the deepest valley He will lead

Oh, the night has been won, and I shall overcome!

Yet not I, but through Christ in me

No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven

The future sure, the price it has been paid

For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon

And He was raised to overthrow the grave

To this I hold, my sin has been defeated

Jesus now and ever is my plea

Oh, the chains are released, I can sing: I am free!

Yet not I, but through Christ in me

With every breath I long to follow Jesus

For He has said that He will bring me home

And day by day I know He will renew me

Until I stand with joy before the throne

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus

All the glory evermore to Him

When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat:

Yet not I, but through Christ in me!

When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat:

Yet not I, but through Christ in me!

Yet not I, but through Christ in me!

Yet not I, but through Christ in me!

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Continuing the theme of contemporary hymns comes, "Yet Not I, But Through Christ In Me," by CityAlight. It is a beautifully crafted song which celebrates Jesus as our ultimate provision and highlights our continual dependence on Him. Prior to faith conversion, we were enamored with pleasing ourselves because we were living independently from God. Every decision we made catered to our fleshly desires because the Holy Spirit was not dwelling within us. For just as Jesus' disciples experienced, the Holy Spirit enters the heart post-conversion to those who place their eternal hope and trust in Him. "When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:1–4). The significance of God anointing His followers with the Holy Spirit is that the Spirit illuminates His Word in our hearts so we can discern the decisions we make in life and ultimately choose whom we will serve. For without accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, our interaction with the Spirit of God is external at best. In other words, the Spirit convicts us of sin in a general sense and draws us unto salvation through repentance. However, we are truly made alive and born-again when God supernaturally implants His Spirit directly into our hearts post-conversion. "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules" (Ezekiel 36:26–27). New life in Christ is the most exciting decision a human can experience, but it also comes with difficult challenges because though we are adults in the flesh, we are infants in Christ. That is why Scripture teaches, "So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good" (1 Peter 2:1–3).

We tend to assume God mends our broken hearts when we accept Jesus Christ unto salvation, but that is not the case. Rather, He performs open heart surgery by removing our old, selfish hearts and replacing them with new ones designed to help us live for righteousness rather than foolishness. However, our hearts require time to heal immediately after surgery as they learn to function properly, which is no different literally vs. spiritually. For just as rehabilitation is necessary for a patient who has received a heart transplant, so too will we require rehabilitation to learn how to walk with Christ in submission to His authority and obedience to His Word. The process of spiritual regeneration begins with new life in Christ because He died to set us free from the chains of sin which bind us. "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:4–7). If not for grace our lives would be hopeless and completely lost, for no material wealth or measure of success could ever fill the unquenchable void in our hearts if Jesus had not come down from heaven and taken our place on the cross of judgment. It is a powerful reminder to reflect upon the cross in that way, for over time we have transformed the cross into a symbol of love and almost desensitized it in the Gospel story. I'm certainly not intending to minimize the sacrifice Jesus made out of His immeasurable love for us. However, if we remove our rose-covered glasses, we would be remiss to misconstrue the cross for anything other than a symbol of wrath and God's impending judgment. Keep in mind, Jesus suffered and died upon a hand-hewn, rugged piece of solid timber which raked against his torn flesh and held the weight of His body upon 3-4 iron nails, 7-9 inches in length, till eventually he died of asphyxiation. Crucifixion was arguably the most extreme form of punishment and torture the Roman Empire had ever conceived at the time, and according to AllAboutJesusChrist.org, was specifically calculated to produce the most pain, agony and anguish possible to its victim when nailed to a cross. Make no mistake, love was the reason Jesus willingly accepted crucifixion, but the cross was the means by which God's wrath was poured out, not the manifestation of love itself.

"Not all crucifixions were carried out in the same way; some victims were tied to the cross while others were nailed. Jesus was nailed. He was made to carry the cross-bar to the place of His execution. The upright post (stipe) was a permanent fixture. The crossbar (patibulum) was always carried to the location, not the complete cross as is often depicted. When Jesus got to the place of His execution, He was placed on His back with His arms outstretched. The nails were first driven through small wooden disks to eliminate any chance of the heads pulling through the flesh. The site of the incision in the arm was critical; the Romans had perfected the procedure, a very specific procedure. The legionnaire who had been given the task felt for a specific spot, the nail had to be driven in-between the bones of the forearm up close to the wrist while not severing any major arteries or veins. There is a space between eight small bones which is structurally suitable to permit a full body weight to be supported for a time. If the nails had been driven into the palms of the hands, under the extreme weight, they would have ripped out between the fingers.

First, a nail would have been driven into His arm on one side, and then the other. The legionnaire would make sure that His arms were not pulled too tightly, allowing flexion and movement. With this done, the patibulum was then raised and affixed to the stripe. The next stage involved the nailing of the feet; this was also a deliberate action. The third nail had to be driven through both feet, which were turned outward so the nail could be hammered inside the Achilles tendon. With His knees slightly flexed Jesus was now crucified. As He slowly sagged down, He would have tried to support His weight with the muscles of His legs, an impossible position to maintain. In some cases, the victims' legs were broken, so that they couldn't support themselves in this way. Eventually more and more weight was placed upon the nails. The method the Romans had perfected ensured that crucifixion victims would hang painfully until their diaphragm went into spasm and they literally suffocated to death."

It is almost unfathomable to wrap our minds around these kinds of gruesome details, but in many ways gives us better understanding regarding how gracious a gift salvation truly is. It is impossible to listen to "Yet Not I, But Through Christ In Me" without proper perspective of the sacrifice Jesus made, for this is a very personal song of inspiration dependent on the knowledge of what He truly endured to take our place at the judgment seat of God. Therefore, we must allow the Holy Spirit to stir our hearts with every word of each passing verse as we remember the extreme act of love required to ransom our souls from the depths of hell. Sadly, the prideful and ignorant fools of this world scoff at the notion they even need saving to begin with, but the day will inevitably come when every man, woman, and young adult must give account and accept the eternal fate God hands down in judgment. Jesus said, "I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:36–37). Therefore, let us be quick to publicly acknowledge our faith in Jesus and live according to His Word. For there is nothing more regretful this side of heaven than a heart hardened toward receiving the absolute truth of Scripture, yet countless souls we interact with each day deny they even need salvation and are ultimately destined for hell because they have rejected God's truth for a lie. It is no different than the warning Solomon gave concerning the schemes of an adulteress: "With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life. And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths, for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death" (Proverbs 7:21–27).

This is certainly not how I intended to write this personal reflection, for I typically use song verses as an inspirational starting point for whatever deeper message the Holy Spirit inspires. Throughout my writing process, I attempt to write with only one goal in mind: "Do not quench the Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Therefore, the more I began to write this particular reflection, the more I realized this song speaks for itself, for the ebbs and flows of life from mountain high to valley low are beautifully painted throughout, without any need to explain them. There is only one message that matters in the end and that is summarized in the title of the song itself: "Yet Not I, But Through Christ In Me." Assuming our good works play any role in the saving work of Jesus diminishes and devalues the torture and execution He experienced on our behalf. Therefore, we simply cannot allow our minds to believe such foolishness. "For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised" (2 Corinthians 5:14–15). When I listen to the words of this song and reflect upon God's provision, celebrated in each lyrical stanza, I am reminded of what happened when Jesus breathed His last. "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split" (Matthew 27:50–51). Up until that moment, the presence of God (holy of holies) resided within the inner sanctuary of the tabernacle in Jerusalem. It was covered by a veil and completely cut off from everyone except the high priest, who entered only once a year on Yom Kippur, to offer the blood of sacrifice and incense as atonement for the nation of Israel. Up until that point, God's presence was kept separate from the people. But when Jesus died, God's presence was released when the veil was torn, foreshadowing Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out on those who placed their eternal faith, hope and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Our entire journey of faith is dependent on what happened at the cross of Calvary, which culminated at the empty tomb when Jesus resurrected from the grave. His death gave us opportunity for new life and the assurance of knowing our eternal resting place is secure if we surrender our lives to His authority. Paul wrote, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). Make no mistake, Paul endured persecution, harassment, flogging, imprisonment, and even shipwreck for proclaiming the name of Jesus as the only way to eternal life. He suffered mightily in the flesh for the sake of the Gospel, but his ability to endure immeasurable hardships paled in comparison to the sacrifice Jesus made on his behalf (and ours). Paul was a scholar of the Old Testament and likely clung to the words of the prophets for strength, wisdom and perspective, which inevitably enabled him to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ despite insurmountable pressure and persecution. "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places" (Habakkuk 3:17–19). Similarly, from a posture of reverence and humility, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to endure whatever trials life throws our way because we know our time here on earth is temporary. Therefore, we have the ability to testify in the midst of a world determined to persecute and crucify us for our faith in Jesus, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling" (Psalm 46:1–3). Our lives may not be adorned with blessings the world would recognize as intrinsically valuable, but we know our help and strength comes from the Lord and that His grace is sufficient at all times and in every circumstance. Therefore, may we proclaim with every semblance of humility in our being, "When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat: Yet not I, but through Christ in me!"

COME, O SINNER (Personal Reflection)

Come, O sinner, come and see

Christ the Lord upon a tree

See the crown of thorns adorn the King

Who labors to breathe in agony

Come, O sinner, come and see

What our God became to set us free

Come, O sinner, come and mourn

For He calls your sin His own

Do you feel the weight of justice served?

He suffers the wrath that you deserve

Come, O sinner, come and mourn

For He bears the curse for all you've done

Oh the wonder of this awesome scene

Where our Savior bleeds

Oh the power of the love of God

Come and stand in awe

Come, O sinner, come rejoice

Mercy fills this place of scorn

For He dies to save His enemies

That all who draw near may know His peace

Come, O sinner, come rejoice

Through the death of Christ death is destroyed

Oh the wonder of this awesome scene

Where our Savior bleeds

Oh the power of the love of God

Come and stand in awe

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I have a great love and appreciation for hymns, for there is something about the simplicity of Gospel truth which echoes in the heart of man like a tuning fork. Hymns are arguably the most honest genre of music ever created, for they expose the fragility of our spiritual health and emotional vulnerability. In many ways, we cannot hide from the conviction of a hymn, meaning their lyrics are meant to simply and directly speak truth in love, and inspire us to humble ourselves in reverence at the foot of the cross. Hymns remind us who we are as sinners, but more so, that we have been bought with an infinite price, saved by grace, and redeemed through the blood of Jesus. Like hymns of old, "Come, O Sinner," a contemporary hymn from Sovereign Grace Music, does not shy away from the harsh reality of eternal life separated from God, but exposes our hearts' dilemma and points us to the saving power of the cross. In a day and age where truth is becoming increasingly relative and changing constantly, we need a song like this, saturated in absolute truth, to remind us of the immeasurable price Jesus paid to ransom our freedom. Sometimes it takes an extreme act of love to get our attention and that is exactly what "Come, O Sinner" provides, because Jesus willingly gave His life to set us free from the penalty our sin demands, and we cannot forget that sacrifice for even a moment lest we fall away. Scripture reminds us, "God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one" (Psalm 53:2–3). Unfortunately, we are living in a sea of ignorance in our world today, for countless souls willingly reject Christ and boldly choose self-preservation or false religion as their ultimate means to an end when they pass from this life to the next. Therefore, we are wise to not only ensure we have reconciled our own hearts to God, but that our lives testify to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit at work in our hearts, so others may witness our good deeds and be drawn to the saving grace of Jesus through repentance. "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matthew 7:13–14). 

"Come, O sinner, come and see Christ the Lord upon a tree. See the crown of thorns adorn the King who labors to breathe in agony. Come, O sinner, come and see what our God became to set us free." It is one thing to know Jesus died for ours sins, but seeing a depiction of the torture he endured through a movie such as "The Passion of the Christ" brings horrific, visual perspective to Isaiah's prophesy of Jesus' crucifixion. "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:4–6). None of us would ever take pleasure watching someone being beaten, tortured, mocked and ultimately executed for a crime he/she never committed, yet that literally happened to Jesus so we would not have to endure eternal torment and separation from God for our sins. When we consider the cross of Calvary, we are hard-pressed to even summon the courage to look upon our Savior's face and mutilated body, knowing our sins caused His excruciating pain and anguish. That is why this lyric is so powerful, though, for we cannot hide from the harsh reality of what happened to Jesus and more importantly, why it matters. Rather, we must COME AND SEE firsthand the eternal sacrifice made for the forgiveness of our sins, lest we minimize the crucifixion as a insignificant means to an end for His resurrection to occur. No, each stripe, bruise and wound He suffered matters infinitely. "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus suffered more deeply than we could ever imagine, therefore let us not be so naive to assume His sacrifice was easy considering He was God. Our Savior knew beforehand in the garden of Gethsemane what lay in wait and prayed His Father would perhaps choose a different path to accomplish His mission of salvation for mankind, even though He knew that was His sole purpose in coming to earth to begin with. "And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will'" (Matthew 26:39). However, despite knowing full well the torture, agony and execution He would suffer, Jesus submitted Himself to the Father's will unto death to provide our eternal way of escape, proving once and for all God's love, grace and mercy are limitless and immeasurable.

"Come, O sinner, come and mourn For He calls your sin His own. Do you feel the weight of justice served? He suffers the wrath that you deserve. Come, O sinner, come and mourn for He bears the curse for all you've done." Once we've acknowledged the reality of what happened at Calvary, we are then called to COME AND MOURN over what caused this injustice in the first place. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4), because mourning our sin is the gateway to eternal life. When God revealed Himself to the prophet Isaiah in a vision, Isaiah became overwhelmed with guilt and immediately bowed in reverence to the Lord, confessing his sin and that of his people. "And I said: 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!' Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for'" (Isaiah 6:5–7). The Lord did not have to atone for Isaiah's sin in that moment, but His holiness demanded Isaiah be purified and cleansed of his unrighteousness to enter into His presence, and that is exactly what the blood of Jesus does for us. It washes away our iniquity and cleanses us from sin so we have the honor and privilege of spending eternity with God. Make no mistake, eternal judgment still takes place and we will give an account for all the sins we've committed in our lifetime. "For it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.' So then each of us will give an account of himself to God" (Romans 14:11–12). But instead of condemning us to hell, God imposed His wrath on Jesus one time for all eternity to purchase our salvation and earn final victory over sin and death. "'O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:55–57). The question is not whether we truly comprehend the magnitude of the cross from a big picture perspective regarding salvation. Rather, do we feel the weight of justice served when temptation begins to take root in our hearts and minds, or does reality set in only after we've yielded to sin?

"Oh, the wonder of this awesome scene where our Savior bleeds. Oh, the power of the love of God. Come and stand in awe." There is absolutely no substitute for pure, unconditional love. "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). When bad things happen and difficult trials impact our lives, we wonder sometimes whether God is listening to our cries for help. It can cause doubt to take root in our hearts and weaken our faith. However, have we ever considered that God saved us from the greatest natural disaster the world has ever seen? He saved us from ourselves and defeated sin and death by coming down from His heavenly throne and humbling Himself by taking the form of a man to unjustly suffer a criminal's death so we would not have to. "Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man" (Psalm 66:5). Jesus demonstrated unconditional, selfless love when He took our place upon the cross, and we are wise to recognize the infinite price that was paid to not only save us, but teach us how we should love one another. "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:4–11). Knowing what Christ did for us, we should stand in awe, wonder and immeasurable appreciation to God for sacrificing His Son on our behalf. No other worldly religion testifies to anything remotely close to that absolute truth, yet millions follow their false doctrine and the promise of heavenly riches and rewards which will ultimately only bring eternal pain, torment and damnation to their souls. "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters" (Matthew 12:30).

"Come, O sinner, come rejoice! Mercy fills this place of scorn, for He dies to save His enemies that all who draw near may know His peace. Come, O sinner, come rejoice! Through the death of Christ, death is destroyed." Once we have acknowledged the reality of Christ's sacrifice and mourned over our sins, we are called to COME AND REJOICE in the victory we have in Jesus. "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57). It amazes me how many followers of Christ have lost their joy despite knowing full well their eternal debt has been paid. Unfortunately, countless, born-again believers continue to submit themselves to fleshly strongholds rather than recognize Jesus has released the shackles which formerly kept them enslaved. Scripture affirms, "For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin" (Romans 6:5–7). Is there anything this side of heaven more glorious than that promise? "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6–8). That is the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, yet far too many of us have lost our way and forgotten our true identity. My brethren, if we have been born-again through the saving power of Christ, we are no longer slaves to our flesh but set free from the stronghold of our enemy. "So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11). Therefore, we must cast off all guilt, shame and regret which enslaves our minds and clouds our judgment, and instead embrace new life in Christ which has defeated sin once and for all. Make no mistake, we were all former enemies of God, but we have been redeemed as His enemy and embraced as His friend because of His unconditional love and forgiveness for us. "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life" (Romans 5:10).

It would be careless for me not to address the immeasurable risk we take by ignoring the continual warnings God outlines in the pages of His Word. Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’" (Matthew 7:21–23). There is a monumental difference between identifying ourselves as Christians and truly living our lives in submission to God's authority and obedience to His Word. That means we do not cower to the world's standard but rise far above it, willing to stand for what is right according to Scripture and endure persecution rather than yield to worldly pressure. I can attest there is nothing more important to me working in the business world than the honesty of my words and integrity of my character, and the same goes for my writing. Therefore, because I publicly declare myself a follower of Christ, my actions must testify to the power of Christ living in me. Otherwise, my actions are hypocritical to the hope I profess and confusing to those who scrutinize whether my faith is authentic and worth consideration for their own sake. My hope and prayer is that others are drawn to Christ by my actions because they see a change in my behavior which glorifies God and keeps me from obeying my fleshly desires. For "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). Sometimes we have to preach that Gospel message to our hearts numerous times a day because we get distracted when the storms of life roll in unexpectedly. However, we also know that bearing the name of Christ is an honor and privilege which holds us accountable and allows us opportunity to humble ourselves. Therefore, if we desire to be used by God to accomplish His will in this world, we must rely on the Holy Spirit who dwells within us so we might extinguish the fiery arrows of the enemy and win souls for Christ by our application of His Word to the glory of His awesome name. "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident" (Psalm 27:1–3).