Reflections on Roxanne and Redemption

Okay, I admit it: I'm a pretty big fan of the 80's rock group, The Police.

I've listened to their music since I was a kid. The Police were eclectic, but cool in the 80's and they've stuck with me as a favorite.

Tonight, on the drive home from work, the song "Roxanne" popped up on my iPod. I've listened to that song hundreds, if not thousands, of times.

But tonight, it hit me. The words to this song paint a beautiful picture of how God loves us. This insight runs contrary to the shock on my momma's face when she found out I was listening to a song about a man in love with a prostitute.

Isn't that the story of Hosea, though? Didn't he seek out and marry an unfaithful wife?

Isn't this the story of humanity--God reaching out to an undeserving, unfaithful people who have rejected him for other lovers?

Consider the lyrics (sorry if you are offended, but you really can find worse in the pages of Scripture). Picture the singer as God, reaching out to us in our sinfulness.

Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Those days are over
You don't have to sell your body to the night
Roxanne, you don't have to wear that dress tonight
Walk the streets for money
You don't care if it's wrong or if it's right

Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Put on the red light, put on the red light
Put on the red light, put on the red light
Put on the red light,

Oh I loved you since I knew ya
I wouldn't talk down to ya
I have to tell you just how I feel
I won't share you with another boy
I know my mind is made up
So put away your make up
Told you once I won't tell you again it's a bad way

Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
You don't have to put on the red light
Put on the red light, put on the red light

Until today, this was just another rock song from my youth.

Are you struggling with temptation today, your own red light? God says: "You don't have to put on the red light...I won't share you with another...Those days are over.."

Are you struggling with the fact that God really loves you, in spite of your sin? God says: "I've loved you since I knew you...I wouldn't talk down to you...you don't have to put on the red light."

God loves us. Even in our prostitution to sin, he's reaching out to us, imploring us to come back into a relationship with Him.

Are you Roxanne? You don't have to keep on being a slave to temptation and sin. You don't have to "walk the streets for money."

God loves you. Smash the red light and return to Him.

At some point, His offer of redemption will no longer be available. God says: "Told you once, won't tell you again, it's a bad way." Sin is a bad way.

God wants us back.

Thanks Stewart, Sting, and Andy for reminding us of the Truth (even if you never meant it that way)!