Afterlife by Switchfoot
I've tasted fire, I'm ready to come alive/ I can't just shut it up and fake that I'm alright/ I'm ready now, I'm not waiting for the afterlife
I'll let it burn the way the sunlight burns my skin/ The way I feel inside, the way the day begins/ I'm ready now, I'm not waiting for the other side/ I'm ready now, I'm ready now
'Cause everyday the world is made/ A chance to change, but I feel the same/ And I wonder why would I wait till I die to come alive/ I'm ready now, I'm not waiting for the afterlife
I still believe we can live forever/ You and I, we begin forever now, forever now, forever/ I still believe in us together/ You and I, we are here together now/ Forever now, forever now or never now
'Cause everyday the world is made/ A chance to change, but I feel the
same/ And I wonder why would I wait till I die to come alive/ I'm ready
now, I'm not waiting for the afterlife
Everyday, a choice is made/ Everyday, I choose my fate/ And I wonder why would I wait/ Till I die to come alive, to come alive
Everyday, everyday, everyday, I still feel the same/ And I wonder why would I wait till I die to come alive/ I'm ready now, I'm not waiting for the afterlife/ I'm ready now, I'm ready now, I'm ready now, I'm ready/ I'm ready now, I'm not waiting for the afterlife
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This is my new favorite song from my new favorite album (Vice Verses for those who don't know). It got me thinking about the Christian concepts of heaven and salvation and redemption. Many times the emphasis on salvation is to keep someone from going to hell and to guarantee them eternal life in heaven. Those two things are certainly important and were the two main motivating factors for my nine-year-old self to accept Christ. Thinking about your eternal destination is valuable, but perhaps too much emphasis has been placed on the eternal future at the expense of ignoring the value of redemption for the present life on Earth.
Too many Christians just coast along in their lives, content to have the assurance of heaven be the sole benefit of their salvation. They demonstrate little difference in their lives from unbelievers. But a life that has been transformed by Jesus Christ should be transforming the world around it. If you tasted the fire, you should come alive. Everyday is a new gift from God, a chance to change the world around you. "Everyday, a choice is made. Everyday, I choose my fate." Choose to make a difference, to not just sit in the stands and watch. Get out there, make a difference, and come alive; don't wait for the afterlife.
And what choices are you making to demonstrate this? Or demonstrate that you are contrary to the Christian you first described?
ReplyDeleteGood question, and one I'm still working on. Mostly I'm trying to be more aware of places I can make a difference, not just in the big things, but in the smaller, everyday interactions and situations.
ReplyDelete'Tis a challenge for us all.
ReplyDelete