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What Does Our Album Cover Mean?
Our album, Stained Glass and Living Stones, has a picture story on the front. Ruth thought it would be appropriate for me to explain it.
If you notice, the background on the left is in black and white with a tree devoid of leaves with lightening striking. This is representative of our dead and dying world. The world is subject to sin and disease caused by the sin of man.
Romans 8:19-25 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
In the foreground is a rock wall partially built with the names of each member of our family engraved on a rock with the name of Jesus on the cornerstone. Also notice there is a rock with the name YOU on it. This part of the picture comes from:
1 Peter 2:4-10 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture:
“BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone,
AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.â€
This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,
“THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,â€
and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSEâ€;
for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.
But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.Also:
Luke 19:37-40 As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting:
“BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD;
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!â€
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.†But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!â€
Notice the lyrics of our bluesy song “Living Stones.†Walking dead all around, just like stones on the ground… they have hearts of stone, but the ones called by God are “Praising Stones†and “Living Stonesâ€. That’s us. We are called by God, brought to life, from a dead, useless stone, to be useful for God. Without Jesus, we are dead!
The lyrics of the song “Stained Glass†say;
Looking for truth in a land full of lies
I find God’s Son the Way, Truth, and Life
I wonder how long ‘till God’s wrath will come…
It’s stained glass, dark mirror…
1 Corinthians 13:11-13 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Attempting to know the purpose of God in Jesus Christ is like stained glass; hard to see through and understand, i.e. the dark mirror in our own understanding.
But;
A cordial of blood o’er my soul
Anointed my head cleaner than snow
It ran in my eyes and caused me to see… IT”S ME!
I’m stained glass, bright mirror, reflect God, so pure
Deep river, bright sun, His love shines on…
I’m stained glass, stained glass, stained glass.
We are the stained glass. Notice the album cover, all of our pictures are in the stained glass window but the window is spattered with blood. The Blood of Jesus Christ! We are spattered with His blood to satisfy the wrath of God against sin. Jesus took our punishment for us!
Isaiah 53:4-6, 10-12 Surely our grief’s He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being {fell} upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him….
But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting {Him} to grief; If He would render Himself {as} a guilt offering, He will see {His} offspring, He will prolong {His} days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see {it and} be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.
The mirror is dark no longer! I am redeemed for Gods purpose to Glorify Himself in His Son Jesus Christ the Righteous! I am now a bright mirror that reflects Jesus to God.
1 Corinthians 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
That’s us, Stained Glass and Living Stones as well as all who are FOLLOWERS of Jesus Christ. In and of ourselves is no good thing, just dead rocks:
Psalm 53:1-3 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,” They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; There is no one who does good. God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there is anyone who understands, Who seeks after God. Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.
We could not redeem ourselves. God had to send Jesus to redeem us from His wrath. That means, apart from Christ, we are nothing. We are just children of destruction. Apart from Jesus, we are irrelevant. We are only relevant pursuing the will of God. There is no relevance for us in the dead and dying world except to obey God.
Finally, our attitude in the stained glass is prayerful. Our eyes are closed. We are not reliant upon what we see, but we walk in faith that God will lead us to Him.
Habakkuk 2:4 But the righteous will live by his faith.
We are not pragmatists, we are followers on paths not seen with eyes.
John 14:1-6 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
“And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
We are just Stained Glass and Living Stones. How about you?
Dennis