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Castaway

I've talked about music quite a bit on this blog, but I can't help it. I likes a good song, I does (to be read with a cockney British accent). A lot of the time, the songs that come to mind are not even Christian songs per se. I've found, however, that secular songs can have a much deeper meaning if you listen to them with spiritual ears.

I said that to say that the lyrics of "Language or the Kiss" by the Indigo Girls came to my mind a few days ago. Especially the line that reads: "Oh the fear I've known that I might reap the praise of strangers and end up on my own..." On its face, the song seems to be about the loneliness of being a performer/entertainer and pleasing crowds, but not really forming any real relationships.

But for the first time since hearing the song when I was in college (many moons ago), I heard those same lyrics with spiritual ears. What if all I do for the Kingdom of God enriches the lives of others, but I myself end up lost?

The Apostle Paul felt that same fear. In 1 Corinthians 9:27, Paul told the Corinthian Church that he had to keep his body under subjection, lest having preached to others he winds up a castaway. That divinely inspired, yet ominous statement tells me that there will be some of us who work hard for the Kingdom of God and even help to win souls, while we end up being condemned to the Lake of Fire....all because we are not mindful of our own soul's salvation.

We don't like to think about this harsh reality because if we're honest we will admit to having a sense of entitlement. We think we will be able to display all of our good works before God and somehow the sheer volume of wonderful things we've done will move Him. Not so. Nothing moves God but a broken and a contrite, blood-bought heart that is sincerely repentant.

It makes me want to examine myself a little more closely. How about you?

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