Best described as passionate, stirring and worshipful, Luminate's musical core is formed around an ambient rock sound. Their songs challenge us to rise above the apathy in today's society and to pursue our dreams with purpose, while reminding us our lives and what we do has worth.

Singer/lyricist/rhythm guitarist Sam Hancock writes poignant and meaningful lyrics with anthemic choruses that usher crowds into a corporate experience with God. Lead guitarist Cody Clark complements the melodies with reverb and delay-laden guitar riffs, while keyboardist/background vocalist, Dustin DeLong, adds ambient warm touches. Mix in the rhythmic bass lines of bassist, Dusty Jakubik, and the power of drummer Aaron Mathew, and a song of vision, faith and thirst for God is sung.

Luminate joined forces with highly-acclaimed producers Paul Moak and Ed Cash for their latest album, Come Home, which is sure to find its way onto a lot of “best of” lists for 2011. 

I got the great opportunity to interview Sam Hancock about his song “Come Home,” the title track from the new album. You can listen to our entire interview here. The following are the answers to the questions I asked Sam.

Please tell me the personal story behind writing this song.

I knew that Luminate was my calling, but some doors opened for me to go to Los Angeles and I considered a career in mainstream music. I co-wrote the song with Ben Glover and I had to spill my guts out to him. We were writing the song ‘Come Home’ about a relationship I was in, but the further we went with the song, the more I realized the song was not about her, but about me! I was the one that needed to come home. I realized I was avoiding my destiny and the call on my life. I lost the original vision and was pursuing fame. After a little bit of recognition, I started building my own empire under the guise that God was using me, when in actuality my light was growing dim. It was then I realized that I had to exchange my broken empire for my part in the Kingdom of God, the kingdom that will never fail.

Please tell me about any Bible verses that you used to write the song.

Luke 15:11-32, the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

What do you consider to be the takeaway message for listeners, especially in the lyrics “you can’t outrun grace?”

We can attribute things to God and rationalize that God is calling us to something, but in many cases we are pursuing our fleshly desires. That’s what I realized about myself. It ties in with the Prodigal Son story in the Bible. People look like they are living the high life and look like they have it all. I’ve met famous people and there is an emptiness inside when you don’t know Jesus Christ. I feel that God is calling me to bring others to the Kingdom. The song is about calling out to people that their destiny can only be filled by knowing Jesus as their personal Savior.

When I was reading God’s Word and praying over the lyrics of the song, I knew the Passion of the Father creates passion in us. As Christian artists, not everyone uses the name of Jesus in their songs. I want people in their cars, at work, at home to hear the lyrics of this song and the name of Jesus with God saying “There's power in the blood of Jesus, Your Father's screaming, 'Just Come Home!'”

Here are the lyrics:

Verse 1
You're best friends with the word regret
You're afraid that your life's been wasted
So why hope if it's only gonna let you down?
You don't think people really change
You're a mess and you'll always be the same
And you doubt if you'll ever get it turned around

Chorus
So (I know) you've been running, searching for something
But you're looking in a place you don't belong
But it's never too late, you can't outrun grace
No, Mercy doesn't care what you've done
Come Home
(Oh, Oh, Oh Oh)
Come Home
(Oh, Oh, Oh Oh)

Verse 2
You can try to fix your broken empire
Put bricks on a cracked foundation
But you'll be building castles on the sand
There's power in the blood of Jesus
Your Father's screaming Just Come Home!
He's reaching out His hands

Bridge
From the shadows , From the wrong roads
From the darkness, From the unknown
To redemption, Something beautiful
To a new love, to new home

This song is incredible. “Come Home” is a prodigal son story song based on Sam’s true personal awakening to his saving faith in Jesus and was written about choosing to “come home” and reunite with his band after spending time in Los Angeles, considering a career in mainstream music. The song has one of the catchiest musical hooks I’ve ever heard and I literally get goosebumps when Sam belts out the amazing second verse “There’s power in the blood of Jesus, Your Father’s screaming just come home!, He’s reaching out His hands.” This is one of the best songs of the year for sure and really exemplifies the strong combination of catchy music and moving lyrics and vocals.

We sometimes put up a wall between us and God and He just wants us to come home to Him. Many of us feel that we’re not worthy of being near God and that He’s using a checklist to determine our worthiness. That’s not the Gospel. The Good News of the Gospel which this song perfectly portrays it is that God accepts us no matter what we’ve done. As the song says, “you can’t outrun grace.” What a wonderful, encouraging truth.

You can listen to the song here: