I ask for your patience as we take quick dip in the world of Christian rap. I know this genre can be a bit of an anathema for many people but I ask that you give it a chance. One of the main benefits of rap is that since it is not stuck within the limitations of melodic patterns of other genres (hymns, contemporary Christian music, country, etc.), the artist can have greater freedom to pack even more into the lyrics and possibly address more complex or broader thoughts.
The song Creation to Salvation by Drakeford does just as the title says and in three verses goes from the genesis of the world to how God redeems his fallen creation. We’ll start with the first couple of lines. “‘So let there be life,’ and creation began / And God saw that it was good so we continue with His plans / He brought forth the earth from sea with a command / And in His very own image, He breathed life into land / And it was perfect / Not a scratch or a flaw between the Lord and His creation, no separation at all”. If only the story could stop here, right? All is perfect and right in the world as Genesis 1:31 says “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” But God knew what he was doing and knew what was to come.
The second part of the verse lays out the fall of man. “Until the one who was deceived who caused the other one to fall / And they were thrown out of the gate without a way to climb the wall / And it was hopeless / In a world of desperation, in trial and tribulation and disorientation / And this is what it’s like when we live in separation from God.” This world is completely separated from God. You can see the evidence of sin and death everywhere you look. And God is not surprised by this, Ephesians 1:4 says “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world.” God’s omniscience did not come after the fall of man, nor did it take a rest. He knew that the creation he would make would turn against him and that He would be the only one who could save it.
The second half of the next verse turns introspective and shows us that we cannot escape the righteous judgement of our sin. “And the rest of society entangled in this web made of fear and anxiety / You run from the voice of the Lord / Scared that He’ll release all the wrath that was stored / For the sons and the daughters of Hell / Satan and all of his angels that fell / And even before you the scriptures tell / That they will not prevail / But you’re scared because you disobeyed God as well.” Psalms 53:3 is a summary of the achievements of man. “They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.” God’s creation has not just stuck a toe across the line but has run full force into the hands of their sinful desire. So what hope do we have?
“So when it all seems broken / And you take a final breath / You see the words that were spoken / “The penalty for this disobedience is death” / And now you’ve gotta face the consequence / According to the evidence of living in a house / That’s painted by your sinfulness / And running out of fear, not knowing that the Father is following / Because He says that you were made for more than this / And so He stepped down into time and space / Took sin upon Himself, hung in our place / And with nails in His hands and blood on His face, He says / “This is grace” / And it covers up the most shameful thing that you have done / And it’s big enough for every living thing under the sun / And so it’s time to forget this doubt to which we’ve clung / For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son”
What a mic dropping last line! In the face of those who had many ideas of what the coming messiah needed to do and needed to be, Christ said you’re wrong. We too have silly ideas about what we need in life. We think that if only we could smooth out our deficiencies or didn’t have to face some specific obstacle, we could claim glory for ourselves. STOP!! There is no hope in that! All diseases can claim the body, but none can touch the soul. Oppressors can beat you down, challenges can wear you thin, but all are meaningless in the face of our sin. Our active rebellion, no matter how small it may seem, is against an eternally perfect God! He comes down in love and says to the world I know you are not good enough, but do not despair for I am! And Christ gives his life for us that we can claim His righteousness! What glorious news!
I love this song, what a gospel presentation! Christians as you take in the Easter season, remember it doesn’t rest on our shoulders, but in the powerful hands of God! The work is finished, the battle is won. Press on in hope, not trudging in desperation. If you do not know God, please take this time to search your heart and see that Christ is the only meaningful answer to the mystery of life. The only satisfaction in a world of empty wells. Christ is not for the self-righteous, or those who have life figured out. God came to heal the sick, like you and me. Repent of the sin in your life turning to God, believe in Christ as your saving grace and ruling King and you too can find peace and hope and life!
Until next time, keep listening for the WORD in music! #CultivatingFaithOrg