Really? He spoke through The Eagles?
If it were me,
and I had the ultimate gift to give to you,
I probably would just wait for you to find me.
After all,
you are the one getting something great.
I might even hide it…you know…
put the wrapped gift inside another package,
inside still another package.
I’d make you work for it.
That’s how I am.
But no…God goes to great lengths
Seeking us;
To offer us His gift of life.
“ For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:10
His mission statement? We seem to concentrate on the “save” part of this verse. But it’s really amazing to me the lengths that Christ goes to seek us.
Ever miss somebody a lot? A whole lot? When we sent our girls off to college…whew! I would make any excuse to have them come home…or for us to visit them. I’ve been away from Diane for as much as two weeks at a time in China. Missed her so much that I have spent over a thousand dollars to come home to her one day earlier than planned. Yes, I’ve missed them a whole lot. But still, I’m sure I don’t fully understand how much God must miss us when we are away from him…for Him to seek us the way He does.
I guess it’s not really strange that God, being God and all, can use anything in His creation to draw people to Himself. It’s easy to understand when experiences like…seeing majestic creations in nature, or holding your baby for the first time, or hearing Handel’s Messiah, or having an honest conversation with a believer friend…can move you closer to acceptance of God’s message for you.
But He must miss us so much when we are away from Him that He even uses unusual, unrelated things to speak to us. I guess that is how His message manages to get through the junk I put in my path. Things that aren’t “spiritual” can take on new meanings. Have you experienced this? I certainly have.
Still far away from making my commitment to follow Christ back in the mid 1970’s, there were many things that God used to speak to me directly. Some of them not your normal “spiritual” things.
I seriously doubt that Glenn Frey and Don Henley of The Eagles had Revelations 3:15-20 in mind back in 1973 when they released their classic song “Desperado”.
“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked….Look, I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in…”
Revelation 3:15-17, 20 NLT
It’s almost as though, instead of that scripture being addressed to the church at Laodicea, it called out to me: “Hey, Desperado.” Maybe I see a connection because I love that song, and, unfortunately, I have felt the sting of that scripture. I think that the very essence of “ridin’ fences”, is being lukewarm. Unfortunately, indecision is, itself, a decision. It didn’t happen at first, but after repeated hearings, that song called out a clear message to me.
WHAT THE EAGLES SANG:
Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses
You been out ridin’ fences for so long now
Oh, you’re a hard one
I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin’ you
Can hurt you somehow
Don’t you draw the Queen of Diamonds, boy
She’ll beat you if she’s able
You know the Queen of Hearts is always your best bet
Now, it seems to me some fine things
Have been laid upon your table,
But you only want the ones that you can’t get
Desperado, oh, you ain’t gettin’ no younger
Your pain and your hunger, they’re drivin’ you home
And freedom, oh freedom, well that’s just some people talkin’
Your prison is walking through this world all alone
Don’t your feet get cold in the winter time?
The sky won’t snow and the sun won’t shine
It’s hard to tell the night time from the day
You’re losin’ all your highs and lows;
Ain’t it funny how the feeling goes away?
Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences; open the gate
It may be rainin’, but there’s a rainbow above you
You better let somebody love you, before it’s too late.
– – Lyrics by Glenn Frey and Don Henley
WHAT I HEARD:
“Hey…reckless fickle child.You need to make a decision. You’ve been riding the fence too long…trying to keep your options open … not fully committing to anything. You’ve got things you don’t want to give up, things that will ultimately hurt you.”
“You are still chasing money and prestige even though you know that true happiness comes through love. You think that what you are after…what you have, is making you rich. But it is making you wretched and blind. There is so much good right here for your taking, but you cannot be content. You are constantly striving for something that is and always will be just beyond your reach.”
“The longing inside you is actually calling you home. But you are afraid that a full surrender means giving up freedom…when really, you are already in chains…bondage is what you have now. You are failing to enjoy the freedom you could have with God by your side.”
“Your senses and your sensitivities are dulling. The things that bring true joy don’t thrill you anymore; and even things you know are wrong don’t pain you. These feelings lose intensity because your heart, your conscience is becoming numb.”
“Wake up! Stop trying to live in two realms. Christ is knocking at your door; open it! Things may look glum where you are, but there is real hope. Choose to accept His love and make a full surrender. No more riding the fence. It’s not too late.”
Have you experienced what you knew to be God speaking…using unusual methods to send you His message? Isn’t it amazing the lengths to which He will go in seeking us? How much He must miss us when we are away. We surely do not want to be lukewarm. Been ridin’ any fences?
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