Take It Easy
“Don’t Let The Sound Of Your Own Wheels Drive You Crazy” 5/6/2024
If you grew up in the 70’s you may be familiar with this line from a hit song by the Eagles called, “ Take It Easy.” The overarching theme is to, “take it easy.” That Jackson Brown/ Glen Frey connection made 12 on the top 100 songs that year. 42,000,000 copies sold world-wide. The song was released on May 1, 1972. I was in a rock band of some kind from 1969-1972. After becoming a Christian in 1973 I continued to be in Christian bands. I say all that to let you know I have always been interested in the world-views contained in music. Philosophy and poetry were the way to examine the deeper questions of life back in the day. Today, for popular consumption, many have turned to music and movies. It is easier to enter that realm of deeper thinking ( if a deeper thinking takes place at all) that way, but also may attract a following of those who are looking for escape from this life. Those who are more and more seeing less and less meaning in the daily grind will tend to run and escape. The problem with escapism is that you are left with the same unresolved problems when your philosophical, emotional, or bodily “high” is over. I would agree that to “take it easy” has some truth in it, but not a complete truth. Without knowing God in a personal experience, in a transformed -life way, you will end your “trips” with unintended consequences. The only place I have found that answers the questions of life adequately is the Bible. Paul says he is “pressing on” to the upward call of God. He wants to “know” the Lord, not just things “about” the Lord. Philippians 3:7-14 is probably one of the greatest passages of all time. It is intimate, probing, satisfying, and very personal. I think it is fairly rare, for even Christians, to fully appreciate it and experience the love of God in this way. Ever Christians may unwittingly be quietly saying in their heart, “this far Lord, and no further!” When you stop short of all that God has for you, you will find things becoming septic and spoiled over time. The truths you learn in your walk with the Lord will have plateaus, and then you need to move on to new vistas and adventures. You have to keep moving; i.e., “press on.” Otherwise you will find that, “The sound of your own wheels can drive you crazy.” So what happened to you? Shall we call you “Saint Elsewhere?” The Eagles song is about sensuality that has horrid, unintended consequences. Following the Lord’s plan for your life has beautiful unintended consequences. As Paul prays for the believers in the book of Ephesians in 3: 16-20 we see that we can “take it easy,” in the right way. “,,, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory ( an unending supply to live in power and peace and fulfillment now and forever), to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man ( the landscape of your thoughts), so that Christ may dwell ( live comfortably) in your heart through faith ( faith in His plan for you); and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, (beautiful unintended consequences you did not see, but the Lord did) according to the power that works within us.” If you are just looking for escape you will end up in despair. If you truly just want to know God, in a personal and daily adventure, you will find the unintended consequences delightful. I have 50 years of being a Christian to prove it. When you are young, and have not had to reap what you have sown, you may think life is one big party. As the Eagles band members, in their personal lives discovered, and as we all discovery, we cannot figure out a joy in life on our own. As I daily think and apply the truth of Ephesians 3: 16-20, and other truths from God’s Word I receive beautiful things. I did not make them happen. I was not seeking to be happy; I gave up on that, years ago. I cannot do it. I do not stand on a high enough hill to see myself so as to make myself happy. One of those things, unplanned by me, an unintended consequence, a thing not prayed for, but given by the Lord was this: “ Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you ( The world gives temporary highs, erratic feelings, the misery that comes by seeking your own glory, the bankruptcy of a self-focused life). Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27.
And finally this one. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, ( this certainly included Rock musicians and movie stars with horrible personal lives unseen from the stage or by cameras) and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11: 28-30. So there is a “take it easy” even as we “press on” ( not stress on) in the purpose God has for our life. So you choose to, “ Keep running down the road trying to loosen my load,” or you can follow the one who loved you so much to die for you and was raised from the dead to give you a new life, unburdened.
If you grew up in the 70’s you may be familiar with this line from a hit song by the Eagles called, “ Take It Easy.” The overarching theme is to, “take it easy.” That Jackson Brown/ Glen Frey connection made 12 on the top 100 songs that year. 42,000,000 copies sold world-wide. The song was released on May 1, 1972. I was in a rock band of some kind from 1969-1972. After becoming a Christian in 1973 I continued to be in Christian bands. I say all that to let you know I have always been interested in the world-views contained in music. Philosophy and poetry were the way to examine the deeper questions of life back in the day. Today, for popular consumption, many have turned to music and movies. It is easier to enter that realm of deeper thinking ( if a deeper thinking takes place at all) that way, but also may attract a following of those who are looking for escape from this life. Those who are more and more seeing less and less meaning in the daily grind will tend to run and escape. The problem with escapism is that you are left with the same unresolved problems when your philosophical, emotional, or bodily “high” is over. I would agree that to “take it easy” has some truth in it, but not a complete truth. Without knowing God in a personal experience, in a transformed -life way, you will end your “trips” with unintended consequences. The only place I have found that answers the questions of life adequately is the Bible. Paul says he is “pressing on” to the upward call of God. He wants to “know” the Lord, not just things “about” the Lord. Philippians 3:7-14 is probably one of the greatest passages of all time. It is intimate, probing, satisfying, and very personal. I think it is fairly rare, for even Christians, to fully appreciate it and experience the love of God in this way. Ever Christians may unwittingly be quietly saying in their heart, “this far Lord, and no further!” When you stop short of all that God has for you, you will find things becoming septic and spoiled over time. The truths you learn in your walk with the Lord will have plateaus, and then you need to move on to new vistas and adventures. You have to keep moving; i.e., “press on.” Otherwise you will find that, “The sound of your own wheels can drive you crazy.” So what happened to you? Shall we call you “Saint Elsewhere?” The Eagles song is about sensuality that has horrid, unintended consequences. Following the Lord’s plan for your life has beautiful unintended consequences. As Paul prays for the believers in the book of Ephesians in 3: 16-20 we see that we can “take it easy,” in the right way. “,,, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory ( an unending supply to live in power and peace and fulfillment now and forever), to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man ( the landscape of your thoughts), so that Christ may dwell ( live comfortably) in your heart through faith ( faith in His plan for you); and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, (beautiful unintended consequences you did not see, but the Lord did) according to the power that works within us.” If you are just looking for escape you will end up in despair. If you truly just want to know God, in a personal and daily adventure, you will find the unintended consequences delightful. I have 50 years of being a Christian to prove it. When you are young, and have not had to reap what you have sown, you may think life is one big party. As the Eagles band members, in their personal lives discovered, and as we all discovery, we cannot figure out a joy in life on our own. As I daily think and apply the truth of Ephesians 3: 16-20, and other truths from God’s Word I receive beautiful things. I did not make them happen. I was not seeking to be happy; I gave up on that, years ago. I cannot do it. I do not stand on a high enough hill to see myself so as to make myself happy. One of those things, unplanned by me, an unintended consequence, a thing not prayed for, but given by the Lord was this: “ Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you ( The world gives temporary highs, erratic feelings, the misery that comes by seeking your own glory, the bankruptcy of a self-focused life). Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27.
And finally this one. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, ( this certainly included Rock musicians and movie stars with horrible personal lives unseen from the stage or by cameras) and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11: 28-30. So there is a “take it easy” even as we “press on” ( not stress on) in the purpose God has for our life. So you choose to, “ Keep running down the road trying to loosen my load,” or you can follow the one who loved you so much to die for you and was raised from the dead to give you a new life, unburdened.
Jim Petty in Post on May 06 2024 » 0 comments
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