Here we are at another installment of The Gospel According to, where I connect all the fandoms that are already beautiful with Bible verses and ātruth nuggetsā that make them even more meaningful. This weekās episode is focused on an exquisitely beautiful love song, āNext To Meā by Imagine Dragons. If you havenāt already, please go listen to this song. Itās so beautiful! And stay tuned for why I love it so much š
Fandom: āOh, I always let you downā¦ Iām far from good, itās true, but still I find you, next to me.ā ā Imagine Dragons
Verses: Romans 5:6-8, Matthew 5:4, Romans 3:22-24, Colossians 2:6-7
Nugget: Even though we let Jesus down every single day, He still loves us and will never leave us.
āIām far from good, itās trueā¦ā
āOh, I always let you down, youāre shattered on the ground, but still I find you there, next to me. And oh, stupid things I do, Iām far from good itās true, but still I find you, next to me.ā ā Imagine Dragons
I was looking at a different Imagine Dragons song when this one popped up apparently out of nowhere. As Iām writing this, weāre in the second week of Lent, and while I donāt practice it as Catholics do, I have been thinking about the journey that led Jesus to the cross and me to salvation.
One of those themes included the verse āBlessed are those who mourn, for they will be comfortedā from Matthew 5. This verse talks about ordinary grief, but also the deep sorrow associated with realizing how deeply my sin hurts God. Every time I sin, God, who knows every thought and action Iāve ever done, takes note and it hurts Him.
Not only do my sins hurt God, but there is no way for me to make it better. I will always fail, even on my best days. āFor there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of Godā¦ā Romans 3:22-23 ESV
So why stay?
āā¦But still I find you, next to me.ā
Why would God even bother sticking around? Whether in history or in the present day, on a grand human-race or an individual level, humans really arenāt worth too much. On our own, weāre an egocentric people, only seeking our own ends. And while we do have our good qualities, they ultimately come from the fact that weāre made in Godās image; without Him, weād be nothing more than flesh and blood.
Want to read more about this topic? Check out The Gospel According to Owl City: With You āŗš
And yet, He stays, here for the stubborn Israelites in the Old Testament, here to protect the Church in the New Testament, and here on an individual basis in my own life. For some incomprehensible reason, Godās patience and mercy and forgiveness of my sins are unending.
āForĀ while we were still weak, at the right timeĀ Christ died for the ungodly.Ā For one will scarcely die for a righteous personāthough perhaps for a good person one would dare even to dieāĀ butĀ God shows his love for us in thatĀ while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.ā Romans 5:6-8 ESV
Woah. Iāve heard or read this verse so many times, but wow. Iāve got nothing truly good to offer, nothing that God hasnāt already given me, and yet. Christ, the Son of God, died. for. me. WHAAAAAAAAA?!?!
āSo thank you for taking a chance on meā¦ā
And not only that, but He also chooses to keep being patient and kind and loving with me every single day, even though I flake or snub my time with Him for an extra ten minutes of sleep? Or when I donāt show enough gratitude for the things He blesses me with, He still keeps blessing me anyway? Knowing this makes me want to laugh, and cry, and sing, and dance, and just yesssss thank you sweet Jesus šāŗšš»
āā¦And are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.ā Romans 3:24 ESV
Acknowledging my sin, knowing that I have nothing to offer and thereās nothing I could do, no standard of righteousness to maintain in order to keep myself in Godās good graces, is a huge relief. Thatās what Jesus meant when He said, āBlessed are those who mourn, for they will be comfortedā (Matthew 5:4). My only response to this, is giving thanks every day for the riches of Godās mercy and the infinite depths of His love.
āTherefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,Ā 7Ā rooted andĀ built up in him andĀ established in the faith, justĀ as you were taught, aboundingĀ in thanksgiving.ā Colossians 2:6-7
Amen!!
āSo thank you, for taking a chance on me, I know it isnāt easy, but I hope to be worth itā¦ā ā Imagine Dragons
I hope this post encouraged and inspired you. If you it did, please share with all your friends using the graphic below. And let me know what your favorite song is down below!
Happy fangirling!
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4 thoughts on āImagine Dragons ā Next To Me (This one made me cry a little š¤©šš)ā