In March of 1993, I took a giant step of faith I believed the Lord had directed me to take. I felt led to begin what I thought would be a year long sabbatical from my position as worship leader to the church body I had been a part of for almost 8 years. By May 24, 1993, I knew God was leading me away from my position of worship leader and into a broader ministry platform…which scared me greatly!
Little did I know but God was preparing to grow me up just a bit - OK - a whole lot! Like the moment a fledgling eagle steps to the edge of the nest and the parent gives it a little nudge right out into thin air and in that moment must spread his wings and fly - or die!
Part of the revelation the Lord brought to me came as I realized I still had much of the old grave clothes on concerning what I thought people thought of me. I still had many man-pleasing attitudes and often allowed them to dictate my decision making rather than what was pleasing to God.
Along with the truth of God came the usual lies and attacks of the enemy. More often than not, these lies were vain imaginations on my part. Often, the lies came from well-intentioned friends and their advice - leaving me with a choice: Would I obey God or would I do what was pleasing to men?
This song came as I sought to encourage myself in the Lord, realizing I had believed so many lies that I had come to the point of wanting to give up on the body of Christ itself - and on my own life - altogether! My ultimate conclusion and the words of this song say it all: Christ alone is my hope…and this song is my declaration of that fact!
Let’s look at the lyrics of the song, Take Me There, and find the truth of God’s Word as an encouragement to our souls today:
Verse One
When I took up the cross of Christ,
I knew I would suffer.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24 NASB
8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from [the] Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which [comes] from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:8-11 NASB
When He took me from death to life,
He gave me love like no other.
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have [it] abundantly.” John 10:10 NASB
Lord, all I know is that I love just being with You.
I will follow You, Lord, it doesn’t matter where.
All I know is that I love and want to lift You higher, Lord.
Won’t You take me there?
You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalm 16:11 NASB
Verse Two
To live is Christ, to die is gain,
Life is found in dying.
The driest times make for sweeter rain,
Simple love satisfying.
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21 NASB
Lord, all I know is that I love just being with You.
Rain or shine or confusion in the air,
All I know is that I love and want to lift You higher, Lord.
Won’t You take me there?
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 1 John 4:18 NASB
Chorus
There, where the Lamb will lay down with the lion
And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. Isaiah 11:6 NASB
There, where there is no pain or strife,
There, where there is no night, no dying
“…and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be [any] death; there will no longer be [any] mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” Revelations 21:4 NASB
There, where Living Water flows and the Lamb alone is Light.
And in that day living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter. Zecheraiah 16:8 NASB
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” John 8:12 NASB
There, where the Lord, Jesus Christ will reign forever,
There, where we will worship around His throne
And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, [be] blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” Revelations 5:13 NASB
There, where the blood bought Church will come together,
There, where all the redeemed of the Lord will rejoice before Him ever
And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood [men] from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. Revelations 5:9 NASB
There, where the Father says, “Well done! Welcome into your forever home”
"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful [servant]. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’” Matthew 25:21 NASB
When faced with the cares of the world, remember the words of this song and use it as a catalyst to remind you of the truth of God’s Word and its power and authority in your life today.
Dennis Jernigan
7 I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. 8 I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. 10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. 11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalm 16:7-11 NASB
To listen to the song, Take Me There, go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/take-me-there-1546981686/
Picture courtesy of https://pixabay.com/photos/the-road-beams-path-forest-nature-815297/