Have you ever heard an older family member complain, "They don't make things like they used to?"
This sentiment reflects a world where products endured until they broke down, often after many years and multiple generations. However, we now live in a world of "planned obsolescence" - a business strategy where manufacturers design products to become obsolete or break down faster, so consumers must buy new products.
Just as products break down faster than ever, other things are becoming more disposable. Who hasn't seen a divorce happen because one person discarded their spouse as they looked to "upgrade?" The songs we sing have developed shorter lifespans as we consume and seek new rather than cultivating an appreciation for what's already been produced.
Brandon Lake and Phil Wickham recently released a new song, "Love of God," which swims against the tide of disposable things. Wickham articulated what I sensed as a listener when he and Lake created a video on Wickham's YouTube channel.
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"This is a modern hymn that we wrote together with our buddies Cody Carnes and Benjamin William Hastings. We cannot wait to sing this on tour and with our churches, and we hope that it might be a blessing for all of you and all your communities. It's filled with so much truth. Our hearts are bursting."
"Love of God" is a modern hymn whose lyrics recall lines from famous hymns and draw on many verses from Scripture. Lake and Wickham clearly understand the first six words of the most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16. We read, "For God so loved the world," a clear indication that it was God's love that sent Jesus on a rescue mission into the world.
But, Lake and Wickham do not stop with the famous and familiar verses. Their song brings out reminders from lesser-known Scriptures. They sing "How great is the love of God - It's so kind, it leads us to repentance." This lyric clearly references Romans 2:4, where we see that God's kindness leads us to repentance. The next line, "And it's so bright, the darkness has to flee," echoes the prophecy Jesus fulfilled from Isaiah 9:2. "The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine." A similar sentiment is present in John 1:5, where the famous disciple wrote, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it."
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Lake and Wickham drew inspiration from Scripture as they wrote "Love of God" with Hastings and Carnes and borrowed from other hymns. George Benard's 1913 hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross," is one of the most beloved hymns of the 20th century. The title shows up in the chorus of "Love of God."
"Singing oh, how great is the love of God
He paid our debt on that rugged cross
For all our days, we will sing our Savior's praise
How great is the love of God"
As the song moves towards the bridge, Lake and Wickham repeatedly return awe and wonder at God's great love for them. While it might seem simple to be overwhelmed by, Paul's words at the end of Romans 8 remind us of just how incomprehensible God's love for us is when fully considered.
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"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Clocking in at over 6 minutes, "Love of God" is not a short radio-first song, designed to top the charts for a brief period and fade. This song has the richness and depth to be sung for years to come, imprinting on the hearts and minds of Jesus-followers. It's no wonder Lake and Wickham gush when they talk about it. In a world of disposable and obsolete items, this song is worthy of being passed on to others!
Scott Savage is a pastor, author, and speaker with the best last name in the world. Scott’s writing helps people transform difficult circumstances into places where they can thrive. He leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona, and loves watching movies with his wife and three kids. You can begin Scott’s life-changing project, The 21 Day Gratitude Challenge, today.
