Centricity Music's Aaron Shust has returned with his fifth album, Morning Rises. The singer of hit songs "My Savior My God", "To God Alone" and "My Hope is in You" has once again has recorded songs of praise and worship set to a nice soft rock musical style. Fans of Bebo Norman, Jason Gray and Jeremy Camp should enjoy this album.

 

The album is filled with messages of hope, confession and worship to our great God and Savior. This is my favorite overall album by this multiple Dove Award-winning worship leader. I can't get enough of the Biblical truth of these songs and I love when artists take God's Word from the Bible and turn it into a great and catchy song filled with truth. 

 

I had the opportunity to interview Aaron about the lead single "God of Brilliant Lights."

 

 

The vast majority of this song was written by Scott Cash, the younger brother of my producer, Ed Cash. We had all of the songs picked out for the record. It was a labor of love to write songs, and choose songs that were perfect for this album. We flew in to pre-produce with the band before we recorded the whole album. Ed said he didn't want to throw a monkey wrench into the works, but that his little brother had written this song that I needed to hear. With the exception of a few words and a bridge that hadn't been written yet, it was done. The song is catchy, and once you start listening to the words, the message is fantastic. 

 

The first thing I thought of when I heard "God of Brilliant Lights" was James 1:17. James talks about how every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of heavenly lights. I also came across Luke 1:78-79. When Zechariah learns he is having a son, whom he names John (the Baptist), he sings a praise song looking forward to the coming Messiah. He says, "The rising Sun will come down to us from Heaven to shine on those living in darkness." 

 

We can look back on Jesus and know that He came to shine on the darkness of sin, the darkness of our souls and our situations. The hope and promise we have in Jesus is just like the morning sunrise, piercing through the night. The Rising Sun has come from Heaven and shines His light into our darkness.

 

James 1:17 (NKJV): "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

 

Luke 1:78-79 (The Voice): All this will flow from the kind and compassionate mercy of our God. A new day is dawning: the Sunrise from the heavens will break through in our darkness, and those who huddle in night, those who sit in the shadow of death, Will be able to rise and walk in the light, guided in the pathway of peace.

 

Zechariah 3:4 (NKJV): Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, "Take away the filthy garments from him." And to him He said, "See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes."

 

 

I love how in that Zechariah passage, we can cling to the concept that we have nothing to bring to Christ but filthy rags. The theological term is substitutionary atonement. Jesus substituted His righteousness for our filth. The best we can offer is filthy rags to Him. When God looks at us, He sees Jesus. 

 

I make sure any time a lyric is in a song that we agree that it is Truth, with theological accuracy. Something can sound good, but I think it's important that what I'm singing is true. The lyrics need to elevate God, before it elevates man. Before a song elevates our efforts or attempts at goodness, if anything that should be lowered, and we need to elevate God. He is as high as can be, but our perception and view of God needs to constantly be raised. If we're going to be putting lyrics to a song that might be heard, sung in church or on the radio, I want it to be words that elevate the love of God in our eyes.

 

 

I sing this song to God with all of my heart and know that "The God of brilliant lights is shining over us." That timeless Bible passage, James 1:17, has application for us today as we live in uncertain times. The Book of James is a very convicting for believers. 

 

When I read the Scripture, it challenges me to think about whether I am really acknowledging that "every good and perfect gift" comes from God. Believers need to understand that Truth to be sanctified, and to try to live the Christian life. It is about recognizing that all good things come from the "God of brilliant lights." I find myself singing the song to myself throughout the day, very much like Aaron's Dove Award winning song, "My Savior, My God." 

 

True peace and security comes from bringing your real transparent mess, and filth, to the feet of Jesus at the Cross. He doesn't want you to try to improve yourself first. This song is another anointed, set apart, sacred offering to our King in the style of Aaron's past worship songs. 

 

God's love is unconditional. We can't do anything to earn His love. The best we have to offer is filth, or total depravity. There's nothing good in us. Fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, you can know this with all of your heart: "Sinners come to the cross, and lay your troubles down, at the feet of the One whose mercy will abound, He's not afraid of our filth, He will never turn away."

 

Lord, thank You for Aaron, his family and his ministry. I know there are many people who can relate to Aaron's story of having loved ones with health issues. We know that You are the Great Physician and Healer. One day, there will be no more pain, no more sorrow, and no more suffering. For those who have put all of their hope and trust in You for their salvation, we know that we will be with You as new creations, with new bodies, and we'll worship You forever. Amen.

 

(You can listen to this song here.)