Day 6

Welcome Back!

I am currently in the midst of a 30 day challenge to listen to nothing by Christian music, and to see the effects that it can have on my life. If this is your first time reading this, and you are curious about why I am doing this, then I suggest you go back to my first blog and read that one. And if you are wondering if there has been any change in my life yet, then I suggest you read any of the other blogs. Now, let’s get into today’s blog!

If you are reading this, then it probably means that you know a little bit about me. And if anything, you probably have a decent understanding as to the kind of person that I am. But if you found this post out of the blue, and have never met me before, then let me explain a little bit about myself, and the kind of person that I am. I am a very positive, and upbeat kind of individual. I have a very outgoing personality, and it has been said that I have never met a stranger before. I take a lot of pride in doing my best to make everyone around me smile. And before you say it, I know what you are thinking. “Yeah right, of course he says that. It’s his blog! He can say whatever he wants!” To that, I would say you are correct, this is my blog, and I can say whatever I want! So let me have my moment! Haha no, I am just kidding. I would just say that you should ask anyone who knows me, and they would (hopefully) back up my story. The reason I bring this up though, is to try and help paint you a picture of the kind of person you are dealing with here. I am a very high energy, high positivity person and almost every aspect of my life reflects that. Everything from my clothing all the way to my taste in music reflects the kind of person that I am. Because of that, I am naturally drawn to very happy, upbeat songs, and it is one of those very songs that I would like to talk about today.

The name of the song is called “Best News Ever” and it is by a band called MercyMe. Now, some of you may recognize the name of this band, because they are one of the biggest names in the contemporary Christian music genre. They have made some of the biggest songs to ever hit Christian radio, songs like “You Reign, Bring the Rain, All of Creation, Word of God Speak, and of course, I Can Only Imagine.” (That last song was so big that they even made a movie out of it!!”) But is not one of these songs that I want to talk about, but a much lesser known song that was released on their last album. The song “Best News Ever” is a song that when it first comes on, you are immediately drawn to the beat of the song. It is not an overly poppy or happy tune, but it has a really nice electric drumline that keeps the tempo for the whole song. The first verse of the song talks about how “Some say, don’t give up, and hope that your good is good enough” It then continues by saying, “Head down, keep on working, if you can earn it, you deserve it.” Now, at first glance, those lyrics don’t seem like they would be that bad. I mean, after all, wouldn’t you agree that if you keep working hard, you should get what you work for? The verse continues by talking about how some say that we should just try and push on through during the tough times, but when in reality, that is the last thing you should be doing. It was at this point that my ears perked up when I first heard the song. I was like “Whaaaaat? How can that be?”

It is also at this point that things get really cool, because it is at this point right before the main chorus that you realize what is going on. This whole time up until this point, MercyMe has been leading you up to the top of the rollercoaster through their lyrics and music. The beat of the song has been slowly picking up as it has gone along, and the lyrics have been leading you down one road, only to change everything on you right before you hit the drop. We are now at the top of the rollercoaster, and the layout for the rest of the ride has become clear. We now know where MercyMe is taking us, and it is really cool what they do next. Just as we get to the point where the main chorus comes in, all the music stops, and there is a brief moment of pause…. Until the music bursts back in with some of the most triumphant music and lyrics you will ever hear! When I heard this for the first time, I knew that I was going to be hooked on the song!

The main chorus opens with Bart Millard (the lead singer of the band) singing, “What if I were the one to tell you, that the fights already been won? Well I think your day’s about to get better! What if I were the one to tell you, that the work’s already been done? It’s not good news, It’s the BEST NEWS EVER!!!” I love the lyrics here, because it now becomes clear that what they were saying earlier is not that it is a bad thing to work hard, but it is a bad thing to try and work hard for your salvation. What they are talking about, this BEST NEWS EVER, is that all the work has been done for us already! We don’t have to work our way into heaven anymore, because Jesus already won the fight for us! And we should live our lives knowing that we don’t need to work hard to get into heaven anymore. Everything has already been done. So friend, I am going to pray that you give this song a listen, and that you are able to live the rest of your life knowing the BEST NEWS EVER! That Jesus died on the cross for yours and my sins, and that we no longer have to live a perfect life to get to heaven. Thank you for reading, and I hope that you come back tomorrow.