Looks like I forgot to post on here about my review of Japhia Life's 'Westside Pharmacy' album. It's a really moody piece of work - a real tussle between light and dark but it has a certain quality to it which is really hard to pin down; I listened to it so many times because I really liked it. Have a read, have a listen - see what you think!
"This could never be said to be a preachy album, yet it is drenched in spirituality: is the line “I’m already trading my comfort zone for a war zone and ducking a pitchfork” (from opener Japhia’s Lyric) not just the best street-poetic way to describe the spiritual battle we enter when we become believers?"
'Does Anybody Know?' is taken from Japhia Life's forthcoming album 'Nazareth'. This track is getting attention on secular blogs which is surely a good thing. This track isn't the most evangelistic thing out there but hopefully it will open doors and ears to more of Japhia's music (I seem to remember enjoying 'Fountain of Life').
The premise of the song revolves around the lyrics "On that road, looking for my promised land 7 days of the week/ Does anybody know how a person can get there?". Japhia outlines some of his struggles, both past and present (I assume), and the track forms a kind of prayer of penitence - a cry for help.
Some of the most famous verses in the bible are the answer for to question:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:1-7)
The passage clearly speaks of our promised land: heaven, God's house. It also sees Jesus making the most amazing promise - He went there to prepare places there for those who trust in Him. I am so thankful for Thomas too (who gets bad press for being 'doubting') for asking his question; without that we would not have John 14:6. How do we come to heaven, to our promised land? We come through a trust in the Lord Jesus. And, if we trust, love and know Jesus we, by default, know God also!
