Graves into Gardens
The word “grave” can conjure up a lot of different images in our minds. Most often it is the reminder of our own mortality – particularly if we have recently received the unwanted news of a critical health diagnosis, either for ourselves or a loved one. Or it can come upon us suddenly as we are thrust into the totally unexpected loss of one who is near and dear to us. Those events bring us face-to-face with the harsh reality of our mortality and the fragility of life, whereas otherwise we view it through a much “safer” philosophical lens, knowing that all of our bodies are one day destined for the grave.
But the word “grave” can also point to a concerning moment or event in our lives that has nothing to do with our mortality. It is a loss that has been brought on by forces or events beyond our control. It can be an accidental injury that is life-changing, even though it is not life-ending. It can be loss due to the decisions or actions of another that have led to a relationship that has been torn apart. Our grave moment can be the unexpected loss of a job or finances. Whatever it is, it is a matter of grave concern with serious implications that could have a devastating impact on our lives and the lives of those we love.
It can also point to our own unfortunate decisions. We find ourselves facing grave consequences because of our own wrong choices or poor decisions. Our decisions have destroyed relationships, caused harm to ourselves or others – physically or otherwise, and destroyed our own credibility and the ability of others to trust us.
There are many faces to the graves we encounter – whether they are of our own making … or not. But there isn’t one of those faces … or one of those graves … that has not been overcome. The Lord Jesus tells us through the prophet Isaiah that the Father sent Him, not only to overcome the grave of physical death and spiritual death, but also the graves of every kind:
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”(1)
The writers of the worship song “Graves into Gardens” (lyrics below) encapsulated the message recorded by Isaiah in the words:
You turn mourning to dancing
You give beauty for ashes
You turn shame into glory
You're the only One who can
You turn graves into gardens
You turn bones into armies
You turn seas into highways
You're the only One who can
It doesn’t mean we will escape all of the graves; some of them are unavoidable. Physical death is a reality for all of us (unless Jesus returns to take those of us who are His followers home before we die). The mortality rate is 100%. But the reality is that even the physical grave isn’t the end. Jesus conquered death and the grave.(2)
Most of the other “graves” (that are not of our own making) are a reality because we live in a fallen world. But Jesus has overcome all the graves of this world.(3) He is able to lead us through them and take what others may have meant for bad and turn it into good.(4)
And even the graves we have dug for ourselves through our own sinful actions have been redeemed by Him.(5) He can take the sin and shame of our lives and transform it for His glory. Nothing is beyond the reach of His mercy … His grace … and His salvation.
The apostle Paul said it well when he wrote that we are more than conquerors over the grave:
“… through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”(6)
I think it’s fitting that the day that Mary Magdalene discovered the empty tomb, she turned and saw one who she thought was the gardener.(7) Because the reality is that the grave was transformed into a garden that day – once and forevermore. And the Gardener Mary encountered is the same Gardener you and i will encounter in the “grave” experiences of our lives. No matter the “grave” you are experiencing today, turn to the Gardener, entrust it to Him, and He WILL turn it into a garden that brings glory to Him.
* * * * *
(1) Isaiah 61:1-3 (NKJ)
(3) John 16:33
(4) Genesis 50:20
(6) Romans 8:37-39 (NIV)
(7) John 20:15
Graves into Gardens
I searched the world
But it couldn't fill me
Man's empty praise and treasures that fade
Are never enough
Then You came along
And put me back together
And every desire is now satisfied
Here in Your love
Oh, there's nothing better than You
There's nothing better than You
Lord, there's nothing,
Nothing is better than You
I'm not afraid
To show You my weakness
My failures and flaws,
Lord, You've seen them all
And You still call me friend
'Cause the God of the mountain
Is the God of the valley
There's not a place
Your mercy and grace
Won't find me again
Oh, there's nothing better than You
There's nothing better than You
Lord, there's nothing
Nothing is better than You
You turn mourning to dancing
You give beauty for ashes
You turn shame into glory
You're the only one who can
You turn graves into gardens
You turn bones into armies
You turn seas into highways
You're the only one who can
You're the only one who can
Songwriters: Brandon Lake / Christopher Joel Brown / Steven Furtick / Tiffany Hammer
© 2020 Elevation Worship
Elevation Worship – Graves into Gardens
Photo by Erda Estremera on Unsplash