“If today was my last day,” the first line on Matthew West’s ‘While I Can’ struck my nerves hard, and for a moment I wondered, “Is Matthew OK?”
Such a question, right at the start of a song is a bit uncomfortable, and arguably provoking. Truth be told, even on a bad day, you don’t wanna find your thoughts gravitating towards the end of life. No, you wanna steer clear of such distressing thoughts.
But as the Bible reckons, it is actually wise to ask, or rather face these hard questions. Forgetful as we are, we don’t realise the unpredictable, transitory nature of life on Earth.
We are often caught up with living the mundane life that we lose sight of eternity. Or forgetting that our days are numbered, we live lives below our own best standards.
Before life is spent, we could all use a reminder of how ephemeral it can be, how empty its carnal pursuits are, or even how precious it is to be belittled, how treasurable the people around us are, and in general, how to live the best life possible.
This is the reason I’d recommend Matthew West to anyone. His music has always spurred me to live intentionally. It’s driven me to be relentless with the things that matter, and most of all, it always points me to Christ.
Matthew West’s My Story Your Glory double album packs up a ton of exhortation and encouragement unlike any previous albums. On the album, West unpacks some of life’s most essential lessons on purpose, eternity, intentionality, and family.
Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits, sung with Granger Smith, tuns the spotlight onto family. The human affection, love, warmth and support from family and loved ones cannot be equated to anything material. It brings out a special kind of fulfilment that even the glossiest of careers won’t give.
Success and wealth will offer some satisfaction, but only temporal. In the end, the greatest achievement, the greatest pride remains the people around, those who will stick around till the last breath – family.
My Story Your Glory
What’s the meaning of life? ‘My Story Your Glory’ sums it up. It’s all for Christ – in pain and pleasure, in mistakes and achievements, through hills and valleys, in joy and sadness – everything centers to Him.
There’s not a story He cannot use for His glory, and not a life He cannot give meaning.
While I can
This song is about giving priority to the important things we tend to take lightly, or put away, while we live life. It feels like a sequel to ‘The Motions’ and ‘What If’.
The song is a good reminder that life on Earth isn’t perpetual, so not even a day can be wasted. Whatever has to be done, must be done now!
Last Song
This is a recapp of Matthew West’s career in music – of all the songs he’s written and a resolve to keep singing. For some reason, this album has a focus on the peripheries of life.
Matthew touches on eternity in this song: that even if this was his last song on Earth, there is still one last unending song left – the song to be sung for eternity.
Imperfections
Matthew West’s music hardly falls short of the message of grace. Imperfections is a reminder, that despite our brokenness, failures, and mistakes, there’s a love that never fails – God’s love. It renews us every day, and calls to live lives worthy of the gospel.
What a day
As sojourners on Earth, we gotta keep our eyes on the prize, on things above. This song is about the last day, when trumphet will blow, and the end of evil and suffering will come.
The song does not only encourage us to keep running the hard race, but also calls to memory that we gotta be ready when the day comes.
You don’t get to hear that every so often in a song, and that’s why everyone needs to listen to such music.
Matthew West’s My Story Your Glory depicts the work of a Christian with sights on eternity, yet still intently living a purpose filled life on Earth. What better way is there to live life in such times?
It is as the wise man says: the whole purpose of man is to fear God and keep His commandments. Aside from this, life becomes a big, empty void.
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