Caught in the Aftermath

Grace Upon Grace

Some of my most insightful moments concerning God's love for me have come from Andrew Farley (a pastor in Lubbock, Texas) and the band Hillsong United. 

Through teaching and music I have discovered elements of theology that have been right in front of me my whole life. But I never really got it before. Not like I do now.

God swore an oath to insure our salvation.

Paul tells us in Hebrews...

When people make promises, they guarantee them by appeal to some authority above them so that if there is any question that they’ll make good on the promise, the authority will back them up. 

When God wanted to guarantee His promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can’t break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable.(Hebrews 6:16-19 / Message Bible)

It's all about God and what He wanted to do.

We are caught in the "aftermath" of an amazing event whereby God swore an oath with Himself  (Hebrews 6:13-14) to save us by faith.  It's all about Him. We didn't even figure into the equation. It was a decision between God and God -- a pure gift that we really had nothing to do with.

We are the beneficiaries of an outcome designed by God, with God. We are caught in the aftermath -- and as Andrew Farley tells us when he so powerfully explains the New Covenant, "the only thing we can do is say Wow! and thank you."

One of the most beautiful, poetic, inspired songs that tells that story is Aftermath by Hillsong United.

'Aftermath' songwriter Joel Houston says.. 

 "Normally 'aftermath' has a negative, even traumatic, connotation. At the same time, when I look at the Crucifixion as an event, it paints an extraordinarily negative and horrific picture.

But the aftermath of the Cross is hope for all mankind. It is grace, freedom, peace, life and everything that is good about God."

'Freedom found in Your scars. 
In Your grace my life redeemed.

For You chose to take the sinner's crown, 
as You placed Your crown on me... 

And in that moment of glorious surrender, 
you were broken for all the world to see.

Lifted out of the ashes,
I am found in the aftermath.

(excerpt from Aftermath by Hillsong United)

Jesus lived the life we should have lived, 

and He died the death we should have died, 

to give us the forgiveness 

that we will never deserve. 

 

Wow. And thank you.

I have a song for everything:
Aftermath by Hillsong United; Glorious Ruins by Hillsong
The New Covenant (sermon) by Dr. Andrew Farley (Note: long intro by someone else)