Following up their hits "All In," "Not Alone" and "Porcelain," Bread of Stone has returned with the lead single "The Change" (featuring Beacon Light) from their newest album Hold the Light, which released July 1st. 

I had the opportunity to watch the band perform multiple sets at a recent festival (see photos here, ©2016 Joseph Zimmerman of 316Press), and their high energy sets were highlighted by the sing-along anthems "Love That Lasts," "Parachute" and "Alive" by Hillsong Young & Free, along with the reflective and worshipful songs "Not Alone" and "Be Still." I spoke with the band's lead singer, Ben Kristijanto, about "The Change."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

We were on the Millennial Tour and met Beacon Light. We had an amazing time, and in the process we got to know him, his heart and his testimony. We let him know we were working on our song "The Change" and asked him if he'd like to collaborate with us on it. We have a studio in the back of our bus, Beacon Light had 16 bars of freestyle rap, and we played it for everyone and it was amazing. He was a great match with us. We've become like brothers.

We were able to do some spontaneous things while recording as well. We were getting our bus checked, and we heard this noise from the air pump and liked the sound. We opened the window and recorded and sampled the sound, which inspired the drum beat vibe for the song.

The song expresses a declaration of a spiritual revolution that needs to begin in all of us through the light of Jesus Christ. The chorus says, "It's rising up inside my heart, this is the Love overcoming the dark, this is the change." The verses talk about how time is like money and we can't afford to waste it, which deals with the idea of how we don't even think about how we are using our time. Our time is limited and we need to give up ourselves for Christ, or in a way we could be wasting it. Our hope and our desire in this song is to say "Lord, do whatever change is necessary in our lives." 

Sometimes we don't like the idea of change, but this is not final. This life is temporary, and we need to realize our time is limited and what we see all around is temporary. God is trying to see our hearts and what we are living for. He wants to see us through changes and how we are going to respond. The song is about letting change and transformation happen in our lives.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Psalm 90:9-12 (NIV): "All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom." 

Matthew 5:14-16 (Voice): "And you, beloved, are the light of the world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden. Similarly it would be silly to light a lamp and then hide it under a bowl. When someone lights a lamp, she puts it on a table or a desk or a chair, and the light illumines the entire house. You are like that illuminating light. Let your light shine everywhere you go, that you may illuminate creation, so men and women everywhere may see your good actions, may see creation at its fullest, may see your devotion to Me, and may turn and praise your Father in heaven because of it."

James 4:14 (NKJV): "Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."
 
John 15:12 (NKJV): "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."

1 John 3:16 (VOICE): "We know what true love looks like because of Jesus. He gave His life for us, and He calls us to give our lives for our brothers and sisters."

1 John 4:21 (NIV): "And He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister."

2 Corinthians 13:3 (VOICE): "You asked to see evidence that the power of the Anointed One, the Liberating King, is at work in me. Well, you will see it because He won't be weak in dealing with you. Instead, He will do great things in you."

What is the takeaway message?

Our lives are in a constant state of change.  Some we welcome, but most we resist. The journey of this life is not about being comfortable, but about allowing the Holy Spirit to change us to become more like Him. The change that we experience is not always how we would want it to be, but in the end, the Light overcomes the dark. 

We live in a world that is not perfect, but God wants us to respond to the change and transformation of who God wants us to be. Sometimes we want to be in a position in our Christian culture where we are the one who is going to make a change. We need to understand that God is the One doing the work. We may think we are making a difference, but it is the Light of Jesus in us that is the change. 

The change happens the moment the Light of Jesus radiates in us. It's not about trying to change the world or circumstances around you, or happiness or sadness, but what is inside of us that matters. The world may be collapsing, but if you have joy in your heart, that's transformation in Christ. Jesus is the only way to have change in us.

Lyrics:
Time is like money
Can't afford to waste it
Every day passes
Can't erase 'em
Squandering hours,
Weeks and days with
No change
No change

Take away all my illusions
Take it all away
We're in need of a revolution
Don't wanna stay the same

This is the change
We've been waiting for
This is the change
It's already begun
Rising up inside my heart
This is the Love
Overcoming the dark
This is the change

Seeing these demons
Face to face we're
Turning our backs
We're not afraid
We're leavin' this place
No sign or trace
We're not playin' it safe no more 

It's time for a change
Revolution
Moment of clarity, clearly He is the resolution
We need a change of a greater love and the best solution is to
Give your life to the one who can bring restitution 

Time isn't money
Don't lose your soul
Chasin' the wind and the world wasting your life it goes
Down the drain if you ain't keep it focused on the King
It's time to take a stand instead of sitting down and wasting dreams
It's time to rise it's time to get up Resurrection, your life is precious
Come on and sit up Your life isn't over
Brush the dirt off your shoulders
We've got the victory in Christ
We fight until it's over For Change

Its time to make a change
Its time to make a change

The Matthew 5:14-16 passage always convicts me to really try to live out that command to "let your light shine." What a great and awesome responsibility we have as followers of Jesus to "be the light of the world." This song and new album "Hold the Light" is all about standing up for what you believe, how to be a spark with conviction, to live unashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to know that only in dying to yourself can you truly find the gift of eternal life in Jesus.

The core of our faith as Christians is found in John 14:6. Jesus is the only way. All roads don't lead to Heaven, despite what a secular culture tries to tell us. We all need to be bold as followers of Jesus and express our worship and dedication to Him. Eternity hangs in the balance. After listening to the album, I am stirred with compassion to love people as Jesus loves us. That's the heart behind this song and album. Jesus commands believers to love others as He loved us, and to show His love by helping people who can't help themselves. That's how we can show "the change" of God in us to others.

This song is also about realizing how important it is to have your eyes open to the needs of others around you, and to serve others and care about people more than you think about your selfishness and doubts. The cost of discipleship is to make Jesus the Lord of our lives. This song is a great reminder of that biblical Truth. My pastor recently shared that "a lamp doesn't talk, but it shines." That's our job as Christians. This song is about finding a posture of submission and to cry out to Jesus, "This is the Love, overcoming the dark, this is the change." Amen to that!

Listen to the song below.