I’ve been exploring some of the very modern worship songs as an old guy 😀. But now, I’ve decided to alternate between very modern hymns, old hymns, and in-between hymns, namely the worship songs from the 60s to the 90s that feature in hymnbooks such as Mission Praise. Today it’s the turn of the very modern hymns.
Today’s song is Resurrection Power from 2018.
I remember reading much about religion and philosophy back in my teens when I was trying to figure out what outlook I should adopt. I’d often feel reasonably convinced of something or other until I read something else. I hoped that I could find some certainty and not spend my whole life “sitting on the fence”. I wanted to remain open-minded and willing to learn, but surely, if there is a God, He would provide something tangible for us so that we weren’t just trusting in some guy who claimed that God was speaking through him.
When I first committed my life to Christ, I didn’t give much thought to the resurrection. But as time went on, I began to see the significance of it. When people think of the afterlife, it’s often said that no-one ever came back to tell us that there is such a thing. But Jesus came back. And when I read the New Testament references, I find them convincing, even when I put on my “sceptic glasses”. But more importantly, the resurrection isn’t just about the resurrection of Jesus. It affects us all. And, as Chris Tomlin’s song indicates, it affects us here and now.
So, what is does he mean by resurrection power? It’s his own testimony and the testimony of all true believers. We all begin by feeling separated from God, dead in our sins. And when we are born from above and commit our lives to Christ, we feel that sense of joy and power. It doesn’t instantly make us perfect or solve all our problems, but there’s that sense of having a new beginning and progressing. And of course, when we die, it’ll all be much better, and it’ll come to full fruition when Jesus returns and we see the general resurrection and a new heaven and a new earth.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
But we needn’t wait till then to rejoice and apply what power is available to us. And it might well be more than we realize.
Colossians 3:1-2
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
1 Peter 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Here are a few other performances of today’s hymn:
Hibernia Gospel 