The next song I’m going to look at in my single song category is U2’s I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For. I think it’s pretty safe to say that this song has confused many Christians, even I got tripped up on it, thinking maybe Bono didn’t have the Holy Spirit and wasn’t satisfied with Christ. But after digging through their incredible album, The Joshua Tree, again, I began to see this song in a different light.
While I used to think this song was a poor representation of a Christian life, what this song really is is the perfect example of a Christian life. I think Bono may have understood something we’ve been missing all this time.
It’s true that Jesus is all we need in this life, and that we’ve been given His unconditional love, but we have this tendency to believe that that’s all there is. The love that’s here and now, in us. But Christ’s love covers all. The love of Jesus is infinite and resides in every part of our lives. God’s love in person, Jesus Christ, is what we’re all after, but at the same time, we’ve already received Him and His love and grace. And not only have we received the love of Jesus, but that love dwells everywhere. In our past, our present, and our future. Jesus is there in every part of our lives, but we’re still yearning to see Him face to face in paradise, where His love will reign forever.
And I still haven’t found that yet.
This world is beautiful, but the one thing it isn’t is paradise. There are murderers, liars, adulterers, all manner of evil in this world, and I’m not seeing a change in our society. I’m grieved by the state of the world, and I long for that day where Christ’s love is all I see.
But what if it’s not just exclusive to Heaven? Maybe Bono is hinting for us to give the world what it needs. He’s experienced the love of Jesus, You broke the bonds, and you loosed the chains, carried the cross of my shame
Oh, my shame, but he hasn’t seen Him walking among us and in us. If that’s the case, I’m sorry to say, but I also haven’t found what I’m looking for.
We find comfort in our own safety. We find comfort in the church, in our own holiness, but love isn’t safe. Love isn’t comfortable. It requires sacrifice, and the sooner we abandon our own comfort and security, and follow Jesus where He’s called us to be (which is smack bang in the middle of a minefield), the sooner we will see love reign in every one of us. Love is a contagious thing.
Until then, I’m taking sides with Bono, and I’m still yearning for the day where love will be, not just an expression or idea, but a reality.
Our Certain Joy 