Earlier today, I was playing my guitar and I came across a catchy, unconventional three-chord progression that really caught my interest. Problem was, there was a final fourth chord in that progression that I just couldn’t figure out. I could hear it in my head, but I couldn’t find it on the guitar. For about 15 minutes, I kept trying different combinations, inversions, and variations of notes, but I just couldn’t figure it out.
In my head, the final fourth chord was a peculiar, but satisfying one. It provided true resolve to the progression. But it was so peculiar, that I couldn’t even figure out what type of chord it was. It wasn’t totally minor, and it wasn’t totally major either. It wasn’t a fourth note, nor was it a fifth note. And it wasn’t a seventh note, either. The search for the resolve became unnerving.
But in the midst of this struggle, however, it hit me that this serves as an excellent metaphor for life in general. What do I mean? Meaning, so many aspects about life seem like they have a progressive order, but that final, fitting note of resolve often seems so hard to find. Deep in our heart of hearts, we convince ourselves, “If I have go to this school, and get this job, and marry that person, and make this much money, then there will finally be….” what? Resolve.
Don’t you hate it when a song ends with a three chord progression, but then purposefully ends the song without the final resolve note? I hate that! It ticks me off, like who does that? Musical scholars might suggest that the resolve note was left out in order to convey a thoughtful ‘artfulness’ or ‘deeper meaning’ or ‘thematic’ rationale to the song. Please, cut the junk. It’s not artful or even deep; it’s just plain annoying. (Ok, it might be for thematic purposes, but still).
Similarly, in our own lives, we constantly get irritated because we search for a final resolve deep down in our souls. And we just can’t find it; we can’t hear it. Maybe we can hear it in our head, but everything we try never works out like we would like to think. Accordingly, (or might I say… ‘a-chord-ingly’) it leads to an endless search for resolve in any number of things in life with no success. But why? Why won’t money, sex, status, power, opportunity, or recognition satisfy us?
Why won’t things of earth give us that satisfying experience of resolve we are looking for? The only explanation is, of course, because we are not just made of things from earth. If we were just earthly, naturalistic beings, then sure, all these things would satisfy us–there would be no restlessness deep in our souls.
But we’re not just material beings. We are spiritual beings, too. Therefore, it is necessarily logical to conclude that the final resolve for our souls is not just material and not just spiritual. It’s a perfect blend of both. And as the Bible conveys, it’s Jesus.
He’s the final resolve we’ve all been looking for.
You’re earnestly trying to work your way into God’s favor with your goodness–but it will never be enough. He says “It is finished; I’ve accomplished your salvation fully.” That’s resolve.
You’re unwaveringly working for the love of this significant other with all your might–but it will never be enough. He says, “I love you maximally.” That’s resolve.
You’re constantly desire for people to know you and recognize you and admire you–but it’s never enough. He says, “I know you completely.” That’s resolve.
You’re tirelessly striving up the ladder of your company to get financial security–but it will never be enough. He says, “I’ve saved you unconditionally.” That’s resolve.
You’re strenuously seeking to get into the ‘in’ circles with all the popular people, powerful individuals, expensive neighborhoods, and private schools–but it will never be enough. He says, “I’ve adopted you permanently. If you’re ‘in’ with the Trinity, is other people’s approval that important?” That’s resolve.
You know, I actually did find that final, fourth chord that gave resolve to the unconventional chordal progression. And I was right–that final, fourth chord wasn’t major or minor. And it wasn’t a fourth or fifth, either. It was actually both. I’m not great with musical theory, so I’m not sure exactly what the type of chord would be called. But it had a major root note and a minor accent note in it. It was both.
I know this might be stretch, but just like this musical resolve chord was both major and minor, so also is the resolve for our souls a solution with dual natures. And His name is Jesus.
He’s a Person, not just a pneumatic, impersonal force. But he’s also God, not simply a sentimental, wise person.
And for those reasons–because of who Jesus and what he has done for us–we can finally experience deep resolve to every aspect in our lives. And fittingly, that alone provides us harmony–not only personally, but also with one another as well.
“Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.” -St. Augustine
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. -Colossians 1:19
