I really do not want to post this, and started to on social media, but started to realized something. If I am trying to win peoples hearts and their acceptance, I don’t need to post this. If I am to be obedient to the Lord, I need to. One of our pastors at the Village Church said this one time, I don’t want to, but I want to want to. That although the desire to chase after the Lord often isn’t there, the desire to want to follow the Lord is.

One of my favorite metal core bands is the British band Architects. Their lyrics are not Christian lyrics and have no intention of that. David Groehl, singer of the Foo Fighters and former drummer of Nirvana, said that the best thing about singing to 85,000 people on stage is that they sing it back for 85,000 different reasons. 

Despite an artists intention, it is art, which means it HAS to be interpreted by the viewer. And for me, and I guarantee you, will see this song is about a stubborn walk with the Lord.

 

Architects – Follow the Water

“Can I blame it on you? I just can’t win. Two years spent wondering through the loneliest of minds. Can’t seem to find a good excuse this time, for me and for this to fall apart. Shall I blame it on myself, or this routine that I’ve been stuck in? I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve tried to get out of this routine. But it’s holding so ****ing tight. I just can’t handle another day of this. I just can’t win. Oh God, I mean it. These are violent days for you and me. I just can’t handle another day of this routine. Follow the water. Drain the lake to bring it back to me.” 

Can you relate? Heck I know I can. I’ve fought tooth and nail trying to wrestle and struggle well, but often times fell back into the same routine. The same comfort of sin. Finding value in a ghost. That ghost can never sustain or fulfill us because it is merely a shadow of the way the world should be, who we should find value in.

An idol steals worship from God. It is something created by the Creator, that we worship (Rom 1). We chase after something that was meant to point us to something else, and are disappointed whenever it doesn’t follow through. It doesn’t make any sense, but it is our own human nature looking inward that causes this stumbling block. A man I met on tour from the church Missio Deo in Asheville, NC, once told me that he believes the snake in the Genesis story was a symbol for negation (our flesh), that we ourself were the agent of initial rebellion. It’s an interesting thought.

Our hope alone is found in Christ. In the past I’ve been frustrated at the Lord. Why do I keep struggling with these same set of sins? If you’re sovereign and God, which you are, then can’t you just give me a new heart to stop wanting these things? I know you’re good enough but I don’t feel that in my heart. These are lies from the enemy, these are me focusing on myself and being prideful/arrogant and not taking responsibility in my lack of affection for the Lord. One of the ministers at TVC, Clint, called me out a few years ago when pouring my heart out on this, and brought to light that my real darkness was the arrogance in focusing inward on this matter.

One of my friend Alex’s favorite stories is Matthew 14:22-33, where Jesus is walking on the water. I love that at first, everyone is spooked because they think he’s a ghoul. Literally one of them cries out, “It’s a ghost!” I don’t blame ’em. I’d be terrified, too. They are scared because they see their leader doing things that they believe they could never do. They genuinely have no concept of what he’s doing.

Peter sees him doing the impossible, and calls to be out there with him. Jesus beckons him to come, and surely the other disciples (based on how ridiculous they, and we, can be) were skeptical. I know I would be. Skeptical that he couldn’t actually walk out on the water, that it isn’t really what Jesus is calling him to do. Maybe he should pray about it some more? Seek counsel from older men?

No. Peter has a clear calling and begins to step out onto the water.

He follows the water to Christ.

In every other situation he has never walked on water, and knows better to even try. But this new man, Jesus the Christ, is showing him how to do the impossible. How before him, it was impossible, but through him he has the ability to do things which by man’s will alone are unfathomable.

He walks on water.

This dirty, uneducated fisherman who will deny Christ, who will fall back into sin again and again, who will lead valiantly, who will be a future racist, who will be forgiven and change his ways time and time again in an uphill battle, begins to walk on water.

As long as Peter keeps his eyes fixed on Jesus, he is walking on water.

However, things quickly change.

Whenever he saw the wind, he began to lose focus of Jesus. He started thinking about himself, where he was, the situation he was in. The slightest reminder of struggle and he begins to sink in the water, crying out to Jesus. Jesus reached out and grabbed Peter and I think (this is conjecture), I think Jesus chuckled to himself and said, “You of little faith!” Not in a condemning way, but in a way of, man what great things I have in store for ya’ll, this is just the beginning. We’re going to change the world. 

Whenever you fall into your sin, know that Christ is there and wants to grab you. Whenever I am indulging in sin, or in a season of struggle… consistently repenting and consistently returning to my sin like a dog to its vomit, I am never satisfied and I am miserable. Often depressed in my situation and turn to self hatred, and anger alone isn’t enough to save me from my darkness. Whenever we are walking in rebellion, we are ineffective tools to share the Gospel. That’s what the enemy wants. John 10:10 says that the Enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He is like a roaring lion, circling it’s prey ready to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

Those are really cool terms, it would make a pretty metal song. Let’s be honest. Why the form of a cat? This is also conjecture, but just how I think, the Lord is often portrayed as the Lion of Judah, right? Why wouldn’t the enemy take a similar form the Lord with the intention of hurting. We see in the book of Jeremiah that people will often be misguided to still worship in the manner that is similar to faithful Christians, or even to imitate the Lord himself. 

Check out Jeremiah 7. The people of God are acting like everything is fine. They are running in rebellion, but still throw their hands high in worship and smile at the Church and continue to gather together for fellowship whenever their hears are not in it. Remember, the Lord wants your obedience not your sacrifice. Your actions, or works, are nothing without the heart behind it. In this book the Lord is pretty upset that people are running to him with their worship but their hearts are farthest from them. Isn’t it better to look like a fool, with a heart after the lord, than to run in rebellion with the posture of a saint?

Like Peter, we can keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and do impossible. Follow the water. Walk on water, be free from the snares and lies of our flesh and the enemy. We can live a life honest to God and full of joy. We were meant to be free (Gal 5:13). Like Peter, when we get scared and begin to doubt the Lord and sink into our own doubt and focus on ourselves, Jesus is there with a hand reached out. Chuckling to himself, oh you of little faith. Grab my hand, let me pull you out of this. I’ve got you.

I love you guys, even if I don’t know you. I was emailed this morning by a girl who I don’t know on any forms of social media, or in real life that I’m aware of and it started my noggin on thinking that my voice here is greater than my physical influence in my community. On my bicycle tour I started running into people in far off cities who had been keeping up with me the entire time who I hadn’t met yet. It’s really nuts how the Lords sovereignty is over this and through someones voice. That their words, who I’m just a 22-year-old man in Denton, TX, can talk to and encourage others even countries away. Thank you for supporting my vision, and what the Lord has planned for us. I appreciate it, more than you know.

I hope this is encouraging to you.

Let’s make a difference, ya’ll.

-J