Southern Gospel Group Brian Free and Assurance released their newest album Live Like We're Redeemed earlier this year. The group includes Brian Free (tenor), Bill Shivers (lead) and Mike Rogers (baritone). You may have heard their version of the song "Say Amen," which won a GMA Dove Award and was also recorded by Finding Favour. 
 
Brian, Bill and Mike are all committed to sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ in their music ministry. I had the chance to speak with Bill Shivers about "Forever Home."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

The song couldn't have come at a better time for me personally. I have a younger brother who passed away last July. He was only 28 years old, and he was 17 years younger than me. I was almost old enough to be his dad. It was a very difficult time for my family. He was a strong, healthy young man with no health issues whatsoever. He started having a pain in his side, and he got the worst news you can possibly get: that he had cancer of the liver. They gave him about a year to live. 

We were going through the process of choosing songs for this new album which came out earlier this year. He was going through the chemotherapy and radiation, and for anyone who has been through that with a loved one, it is a horrible thing to see someone who was so vibrant and lively and strong wither away to nothing. It was really hard. When we heard this song, it wasn't something I wanted to think about. We had people praying all around the country for God's healing, and you want to hold onto that. But we don't know God's perfect plan, only God knows. We have questions we all want to ask God when we get there. Why? God's perfect plan and perfect will is always going to be. 

After my brother passed, Brian asked me if I thought I could sing this song. I said I didn't know if I could. He said it has to be my song. I said okay, and we have dedicated it to my brother, Charles. The song speaks of losing a loved one. It talks about him passing away and getting to Heaven, and how he is forever home with the saints and the angels. The song really ministers to me and gives me strength in a time of sorrow and pain, just knowing he is there. One day, I'm going to be there with him again and we will reunite. Knowing that he has no more pain, no more sorrow, that's amazing.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Ecclesiastes 3:10-12 (NIV): I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.

Matthew 11:28 (NIV): Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
 
1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV): Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:10 (NIV): And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Revelation 21:4-5 (NKJV): And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

What is the takeaway message?

As a Christian, I know my brother Charles is with Christ, and I have the promise that I will see him again. That's really given me more strength. I've just gotten to the point where I can sing this song without totally breaking down. 

Christ is so wonderful and so awesome with His love and His comfort and the peace He has given me. I don't know what I would do without Christ. It's tough as it is, but I don't know how I would handle it without Him. This song has truly been a blessing, and it ministers to me and my family. People are dealing with someone passing every day, and they need that comfort and assurance. I hope and pray that this song can minister to them like it has ministered to me. 

Thank goodness, this isn't our home. The overall theme of the album is a challenge to listeners to live like we're redeemed.

Lyrics:
He always spoke of Heaven like he'd been there before
He said it was the one thing that he was living for
How bittersweet the moment, the sunset of life
As we all cried and said our last goodbye
And watched him take his flight

Forever home
Living in the arms of Jesus now
Standing in the shadow of the throne he bows
I can almost see him there
No more tears, pain has lost its hold on him
He's more alive than he's ever been
He's arrived, oh I know
He's forever home

Among the saints and angels he's joined the choir of praise
With others who have flown there on the wings of perfect grace
Just like the countless millions, all those who've been redeemed
He casts his crowns down at the Savior's feet
As hallelujahs ring

Forever home
Living in the arms of Jesus now
Standing in the shadow of the throne he bows
I can almost see him there
No more tears, pain has lost its hold on him
He's more alive than he's ever been
He's arrived, oh I know
He's forever home

Forever free from heartache
Forever free from loss
Forever free to live and breathe
Because of Calvary's cross
Forever free of living with all these earthly groans
He's living like he's always dreamed in his forever home

For me, this song reflects what's on my heart. My greatest desire as a follower of Jesus is to live out the Gospel, and the songs on this album all help me with my walk and challenge me to gain that "righteousness that comes from God and is by faith." Daily we are presented with the choices of how to use our time, lifestyle choices and pursuit of riches, living for today and not knowing what tomorrow has in store for us, questioning our loneliness and looking for meaning. You can take comfort in knowing that "Nothing compares to the greatness of knowing Jesus." 

We all need to remember that earth isn't our permanent home, and our freedom from the restlessness of this world will come when we enter the true rest that can only come from living eternally with Jesus Christ. This song has become a personal worship anthem for me to sing and remember that "everything under the sun is meaningless." As St. Augustine put it so perfectly, "our hearts are restless until they rest in You." 

We can all find comfort in seeking God's presence and know that He is always with us and wants to make His home in our hearts. We are never alone or need to feel lonely as God's daughters and sons. Spend time with God and let Him redeem and restore you. We are not at the end of our story. God's still writing our stories of redemption. God wants us to know that He's faithful to complete what's He's started in all of us who've put all of our hope and trust in Jesus for our salvation.

As we look at the fallen world around us, we all need to lift our eyes up to God and put all of our faith and hope in Him. For the saved in Christ, one day "God will wipe away every tear, there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying." As believers, we all need to live for Heaven and not get depressed or angry about our fallen world. Pain and suffering point us to God and how much we need Him. In reflecting on our eternal home, I am very moved by the lyrics, "Forever home, living in the arms of Jesus now, standing in the shadow of the throne he bows. I can almost see him there, no more tears, pain has lost its hold on him, he's more alive than he's ever been." Amen to that!

Listen to the song below.