Music Monday: “Never Been Unloved.” by Michael W Smith
by Debbie Waltz
As many of you know, I am passionate about reading. Books can transport us to unfamiliar realms, providing a much-needed escape from our world. They contribute to our learning and comprehension of a wide range of topics. But you’d be surprised at what I have been reading for several weeks. Along with the weekly Bible study, I’ve also been reading one of Jerry Jenkins’s best-selling series from Left Behind. I know it’s not one of my typical reads. For those unfamiliar with the series, it is a fictionalized account of what might happen during the end times. Growing up, I felt uncomfortable reading novels because of the intensity of the subject.
The first book delves into the rapture of Christ’s Church, exploring the chaos and confusion that ensues for those left behind. While some books have been turned into motion pictures, I prefer reading more in-depth about a person’s character arc and motivations. Watching the first one back, I realized they condensed some of the major plot points to fit into the time constraints of a 2-hour movie. (For those of you wondering, it was the one featuring Kirk Cameron and his wife, Chelsea Noble)
Why am I telling you this? First, the movie and book interested me in understanding the biblical implications of the end times. NOTE: not all of what is written in the book is biblically accurate, but it’s based on biblical themes written in Revelation. The most important thing is that it gets people asking questions. How are this week’s music choice and all of this week’s music choices connected? The most obvious answer is that the song was featured on the soundtrack of The Left Behind movie. But when I think about it, it’s a lot more than that.
Whether we realize it or not, God is with us during all seasons of our lives. I was reminded of this because we focused on the story of Joseph last week. You may remember that Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and ultimately placed as Second in Command, saving Egypt from famine. There was a lot of waiting in the in-between times, though. Through it all, Joseph never questioned God’s plan or His sovereignty. According to Ruth, “God’s sovereignty means that His Rule over all creation is absolute. Nothing can overrule him or happen outside of His Plans.” That being true, Joseph trusted God and believed he had a plan. He didn’t know exactly what it was, but he didn’t have to.
Genesis 45:5-7 says: “.. And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five, there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” (NIV). This is just one of the many examples in the Bible where God uses His people for a specific mission or purpose.
As Ephesians 2:10 says: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. ” I don’t know about you, but sometimes can’t believe God chooses to use us amid all failures and mistakes.
But he does- and he loves us just the same!
Michael W Smith’s song deals with these feelings of inadequacy that plague us on a daily basis.