Music and Messages

I don't know what it is about me that is attracted to folk music -- I'm from the north, or, the mid-west to be more precise. I didn't grow up with banjos and fiddles as my predominant musical inspiration as a child, and yet, I just really enjoy listening to it. I was recently introduced to the band The Civil Wars and immediately took a liking to them, especially the song Barton Hollow.

Click here to see the video of Barton Hollow

While I obviously enjoy a good tune, I'm a lyrics girl at heart. I used to spend hours writing out songs that inspired me and songs stuck in my head because the words of those songs expressed things inside of me that I couldn't express verbally. So I love this song, but I can't sing along with it in truth because it's not actually correct.

Ain't going back to Barton Hollow
Devil gonna follow me e'er I go
Won't do me no good washin' in the river
Can't no preacher man save my soul

Hours and hours in my bare feet
Still can't lay me down to sleep
And if I die before I wake
I know the Lord my soul won't take


I know there are so many people that this song could identify with. So many people who have sin and the guilt and grief of that sin on their shoulders every day; people who think that whatever they did (lied, cheated, stolen, hurt someone, wasn't there for their kids/parents, whatever the case may be) can't be forgiven; people who think there's no way out.

Friends, if you, like the song, feel like whatever you have done is unforgivable, please hear this: Jesus Christ came to take your place in God's judgement for those sins. The only thing you have to do is tell Him to forgive you and He will.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. -Ephesians 2:8-9

I find it so fascinating how even so many who "don't believe in God" have such a strong sense of justice. So many of my agnostic and athiest friends will post news stories about the horrible things that happen and say things like "I hope this person suffers for his transgressions" or "She deserves the punishment she gets for that". God made us all in His image - and God is LOVE but God is also JUST. He is HOLY and can't stand the sight of sin. For those of you who believe that being moral is enough to get you to heaven, it is not. But Jesus, oh, Jesus - He is enough. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that we are saved by grace, but not by works. There is nothing you can do (works-wise) to get to God. Accepting Christ and receiving the gift of eternal life by faith is the ONLY way to get to heaven.

So how do you do that? First, admit that you are a sinner and that you can't save yourself.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, -Romans 3:23

Understand that God is a loving God but he is also a just God and must punish sin.

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." -Isaiah 59:2

God provided Jesus Christ to die in our place; to take the punishment for our sins. Trust in Him for your eternal security.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. -Isaiah 53:5

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. - Romans 10:9

So if you happen to relate to Barton Hollow on a lyrical level, please know that while it's true no preacher man can save your soul (only Christ can do that, but the preacher man can help you get there), that no sin, regardless of taking an unmarked hundred grand or whatever sin you happen to be carrying with you, can keep you from God if you only ask for His forgiveness and repent of the sin.

Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died to pay the penalty for my sin. I want to turn from my sinful nature and trust in You instead. I invite You to come into my heart and life. Amen.