We Are the Reason

"Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:4-5

David was in the middle of the concert, performing the Khachaturian Piano Concerto, when he heard the voice, again. "You are a loser, you won't amount to anything in this life." He was about to begin the 3rd movement and he doubted himself. It was not just a voice. It was his drunk father's voice he had heard over and over since he was a child. Having an abusive, drug addict dad was painful, and David had found refuge in music. But he remembered the words of his teacher, "focus on the music and concentrate on the task at hand." He thought about his mother, how she had endured all these years. He decided to do it for her. That night he was the featured soloist with the Houston Symphony, under the direction of renowned conductor, Andre Previn. David not only finished the concerto in a triumphal way, but he received a full scholarship to study at the famous Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland. Yet he didn't even imagine what God had in store for him.

One day, upon graduating from the Peabody Conservatory, when he was about to enter an exciting performing career, his life gave a 180-degree turn. He heard a voice. Not his dad's voice, fortunately, but his heavenly Father's voice, calling him for a special ministry. That day he gave his life to God and began to write and sing songs of his newfound relationship with the Lord.

A few years later, he was about to finish his fourth solo album. He had all the songs done, except for the one that was missing the words. Music and orchestration were beautiful, but he just couldn't create the lyrics. Finally, his producer told him, "David, we need that song by tomorrow, seriously, we ran out of time."

That night, David walked from one side of his room to the other, trying to figure out the right words for the song, but nothing happened. The dreaded voice of his father came to his ear once again, "you won't amount to anything in this life." Right that moment he felt to his knees and cried out to God for guidance. Then he heard another voice, peaceful but strong, "We were the reason that He gave His life." Oh, I like that, said David, and wrote it down. As soon as he finished writing that line, another one came to his mind, "we were the reason that He suffered and died." Wow, it rhymes--said David--God is also a poet! He wrote it down and immediately "To a world that was lost He gave all He could give" popped out, "to show us the reason to live." The refrain was complete, but David couldn't even take a break because the words for the first verse were already piling up.

"As little children we would dream of Christmas morn." Wait a minute--interrupted David--this song is about Easter, Jesus dying on the cross! We can't have Easter and Christmas in the same song!

"David, shut up! You're thinking too much. Write down what I tell you."

He continued writing in amazement and completed the whole song in fifteen minutes. However, he started second-guessing himself, because he knew that nothing could come out that quickly and easily and still be good. So, he proceeded to proofread with a critical mind.

"David, what are you doing? Would you put the pen down and go to bed? You gotta sing this in the morning."

Still, David didn't give up and continued looking for faults in the lyrics, but after 30 minutes he realized he was getting nowhere, so he obeyed and went to sleep.

The following day he arrived at the studio scared. He was afraid his producer would tell him he was suffering a delusion. Even so, he showed him the lyrics. The producer started to read, and his interest grew exponentially, he was blown away! "This is incredible" he said.

David recorded that song as the last one in the album and didn't imagine the impact it would have not only in the United States but around the world.

David Meece, the little boy that grew up in the small town of Humble, Texas, wouldn't imagine the plans God had for him. But he heard His voice and followed His lead. A little over two thousand years, the King of the universe left his glory in heaven and came to this tiny world as a humble baby, but his plan of salvation was perfect. He willingly gave his life for you and me. Are you willing to hear his voice and follow his lead?

As little children
We would dream of Christmas morn
Of all the gifts and toys
We knew we'd find
But we never realized
A baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

We were the reason
That He gave His life
We were the reason
That He suffered and died
To a world that was lost
He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live

As the years went by
We learned more about gifts
The giving of ourselves
And what that means
On a dark and cloudy day
A man hung crying in the rain
All because of love, all because of love

We were the reason
That He gave His life
We were the reason
That He suffered and died
To a world that was lost
He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live

I've finally found the reason for living
It's in giving every part of my heart to Him
In all that I do every word that I say
I'll be giving my all just for Him, for Him...

We are the reason
That He gave His life
We are the reason
That He suffered and died
To a world that was lost
He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live
He is my reason to live

Words by David Meece