Getting Real with God

I just finished reading Tim Willard and Jason Locy's book, Veneer.  I love, love, LOVE the excerpt below.  According to the footnotes, it's a nonchronological expression of the following Scriptures:  Ps. 51:2-14; Jonah 2:6 NET; Lam. 3:19-21; Rev. 22:16-17 NET; John 8:12 NLT; Matt. 11:28-30; Isa. 40:31.


We want to revere God.  We want to be known by Him, to be seen by Him for who we really are, stripped of our veneer.  We don't want the meaninglessness of the world; we want the real of the eternal.

So we cry out:

Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in your laundry.  I know how bad I've been; my sins are staring me down.  You're the One I've violated, and you've seen it all, seen the full extent of my evil.

You have all the facts before you; whatever you decide about me is fair.  I've been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born.  What you're after is truth from the inside out.  Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.  Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean, scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life.

Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set those once-broken bones to dancing.  Don't look too close for blemishes; give me a clean bill of health.  God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.

Don't throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me.  Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails!  Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I'll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.

I went down to the very bottoms of the mountains; the gates of the netherworld barred me in forever; but you brought me up from the Pit, O Lord, my God.

I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed.  I remember it all - oh, how well I remember - the feeling of hitting the bottom.  But there's one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope. 

And God replies to our cry:

I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star!  Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wants it take the water of life free of charge.

I am the light of the world.  If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.

Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.

Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.

Those who wait upon me get the fresh strength.  They spread their wings and soar like eagles.  They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.