Genre: Progressive RockArtist: Neal Morse
Album: One
As you may recall, the album One is about the Creation, Fall, and Atonement. This song actually takes place immediately after Cradle to the Grave. The man is finally ready to change, but he can't. He has tried so hard to save himself, to find happiness, but he has looked in all the wrong places. He has looked to alcohol to ease the pain, but has only found chains instead of freedom. He says it is like he has tried to heal his cuts with razors. He has tried so many things but has only ended up a slave to vice. In his desperation he cries out, "Help me! I have fallen and I can't get up!" At last, he is finally turning to the One who has stood, waiting to receive Him.
The song is full of turmoil and anguish. Then, in the midst of the chaos, the music suddenly drops to become very calm, even hope coming through it, and the Father answers, "I have heard you crying in the night. I have heard your prayers at the morning light. I have loved you since before your birth. Now, I'll dwell among you on the Earth. I'll send my Son!"
Then the music picks up again. Only this time, it is not full of turmoil. It is full of rejoicing! The rest of the song talks about all the miracles that Jesus did while He was on the earth. He raised the dead, fed the starving, and comforted people in their pain. Then comes the message of the album: He can still do these miracles for you! "Jesus understands the heart of every man. Though the soul had died, it can be made alive!" We cannot find true happiness anywhere else. The man tries to get wealthy, tries chemicals, tries to live however he wants as though there are no consequences, but in the end he only finds himself miserable. It is only when he turns to the Savior that he discovers the meaning of true freedom and true joy. Jesus will heal us of everything. If we, like this man, are chained with addictions, Jesus can break those chains. If we feel dead inside, He can revive us. If we are too weak to continue on, His strength will fortify us. The Atonement is not the best answer to life's problems, it is the ONLY answer. How grateful I am for it!
