“We may live in snapshot moments,” Josh says, “but those moments are not Life. Life is not one point in time but all of the points in time between drawing our first and last breaths. Because we have experienced the faithfulness of God in the past we can be secure in the present and trust in the One who holds the future.”
There is a school of thought that dictates what a typical rock star bio should look like. Open with a snappy quote to catch the reader’s attention. Include a laundry list of accolades, weighty references to his current standing on the album sales and radio charts as well as testimonials from well-respected industry insiders regarding his future greatness. Convince the reader that the artist in question is successful, talented and - in the case of Christian rock stars -considerably more spiritually creative than the average Joe who occupies the pew next to you on any given Sunday.
Josh Wilson simply smiles and shakes his head at the absurdity of it all. You see, Josh Wilson is not a rock star - never has been; doesn’t intend to be. So if you are looking for one, you’ll just have to look someplace else.
That’s not to say Josh isn’t an incredibly talented singer/songwriter with numerous accolades and a brilliant future ahead of him. His debut album, Trying to Fit the Ocean in a Cup, resonated with a growing legion of fans across the nation, spawning the Top 10 radio hit, “Savior Please,” while launching him on tours with such celebrated artists as Big Daddy Weave and Matthew West. And though he would deny charges of being a guitar prodigy, Josh’s mesmerizing abilities have elicited awed comparisons, with terms like ‘Keaggy-esque’ being bandied about.
“Please don’t hang that on me,” Josh smiles. “Playing guitar is a passion for me, and I do enjoy playing. But you never arrive. You never become the best, and that’s not what I’m trying to do anyway. I want to take some lessons and brush up on my playing because honestly, I’m a little rusty.”
A little rusty for someone who studied under the tutelage of classical guitar legend, David Brandon, is like firing on all cylinders for the rest of the guitar-playing world. As phenomenal as his musicianship is, it is the lyrical integrity of his songs that remains Josh Wilson’s magnificent obsession, though he admits to wrestling with words like Jacob with the angel and sometimes walks away from his own songwriting sessions with a limp.
“I have a passion for songwriting, but I don’t think I would say that while I am in the middle of writing a song,” Josh muses. “Songwriting is hard work, and I’ll procrastinate and avoid it at all costs. It is absolutely the ground fighting back against man’s efforts to till the soil. Melodies come to me a lot easier than words, but lyrics are where the weight of the song is. The melody may stick in someone’s head, but eventually they are going to start thinking about the words. That’s why I feel so much pressure. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if you write a good song with a great hook if the words are meaningless. It is a daunting task and a big responsibility. I do not to take it lightly.”
That undeniable tension between the words and music emerges as a focal point of Josh’s sophomore CD, Life Is Not A Snapshot. This seven-song collection of contemporary theological musings reflects Josh’s remarkable penchant for framing cold and calculated questions of faith into wild, unbridled musical expressions of trust.
“I am a pastor’s kid and grew up in the church,” Josh explains. “I don’t remember a time when I didn’t believe in Jesus, but my faith was never really challenged until I went to college. During my freshman year, I encountered people who were nice and smart, but who didn’t believe what I believed, and they started to challenge my faith. I didn’t have the foundation I needed to come up against those questions. A lot of things that I thought I knew started to fall apart. The Lord picked me up and said, ‘There are good answers to these questions, but you’re going to have to do some searching and praying and ask some smart questions yourself to figure out why you believe what you believe.’”
Hard work and seeking answers became a passion for the young singer/songwriter, and his songs have become richer as a result. In the two years since his critically acclaimed debut release, Josh has discovered a marked clarity regarding his vision and mission for his music, and it is aimed squarely at followers of Christ.
“I feel like I am called to challenge and encourage the Church,” he declares. “I want to make people think, particularly about why they believe what they believe. As soon as your faith is challenged, that is when you’ll realize that Sunday school answers are not enough. Hopefully I can encourage people to dig deeper into their faith.”
That Was Then This Is Now
Josh Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We made friends with the night
We were headed the wrong way on a one-way track
Going nowhere fast
We got used to the dark
We thought this is who we are
And we figured that we were just too far gone
'Cause love came running like a river
And we got washed in the water
Then He said you're forgiven
Your sins are gone
That was then, this is now
You're bought by the blood, saved by the Son the saints all sing about
That was lost, this is found
And it's time to say goodbye to the old you now
So go ahead, put the past in the past
Box it up like an old photograph
You don't have to go back
'Cause that was then and this is now
We've been remade by grace
We've all got new names
And nothing we do could ever change
What He did that day
When love came running like a river
And we got washed in the water
Then He said you're forgiven
And you belong
That was then, this is now
You're bought by the blood, saved by the Son the saints all sing about
That was lost, this is found
And it's time to say goodbye to the old you now
So go ahead, put the past in the past
Box it up like an old photograph
You don't have to go back 'cause that was then
If we turn and confess every unrighteousness
He is faithful and just to forgive
Oh, so turn and confess every wrong and regret
And see what it means to live
That was then, this is now
You're bought by the blood, saved by the Son the saints all sing about
That was lost, this is found
And it's time to say goodbye to the old you now
So go ahead, put the past in the past
Box it up like an old photograph
You don't have to go back
'Cause that was then and this is now
(So go ahead, put the past in the past)
(Box it up like an old photograph)
(You don't have to go back)
'Cause that was then and this is now
The lyrics to Josh Wilson's song "That Was Then This Is Now" speak about the transformative power of love and forgiveness. The song describes a past where the singer and others were living in darkness and heading in the wrong direction. They believed that they were too far gone, stuck in their sinful ways. However, love came running "like a river" and washed them clean. They were forgiven and their sins were wiped away. The song emphasizes that the past no longer defines them and encourages listeners to leave behind their old selves and embrace the new life they have been given.
The lyrics convey a sense of hope and redemption, highlighting the belief that no one is beyond saving or changing. It speaks to the idea that no matter the mistakes or sins of the past, love can bring about a complete transformation.
Line by Line Meaning
We used to hide from the light
In the past, we used to avoid facing the truth and stay in darkness
We made friends with the night
We became comfortable with immorality and darkness
We were headed the wrong way on a one-way track
We were on a path of self-destruction, unaware of the consequences
Going nowhere fast
Our actions were leading us to a dead-end without any progress
We got used to the dark
We became accustomed to a life filled with sin and wrong choices
We thought this is who we are
We believed that our sinful nature defined us and couldn't be changed
And we figured that we were just too far gone
We believed that we had strayed too far from redemption or forgiveness
But we were wrong
Contrary to our previous beliefs, we were mistaken about our hopelessness
'Cause love came running like a river
The love of God pursued us relentlessly and abundantly like a flowing river
And we got washed in the water
Through the cleansing power of God's love, our sins were washed away
Then He said you're forgiven
God granted us forgiveness and wiped away our transgressions
Your sins are gone
Our past wrongdoings no longer define us or have power over us
You're bought by the blood, saved by the Son the saints all sing about
Through the sacrifice of Jesus and our faith in Him, we have been redeemed and saved
That was lost, this is found
We were once lost in our sinful state, but now we have been found and saved
And it's time to say goodbye to the old you now
We need to leave behind our past selves and embrace the new life in Christ
So go ahead, put the past in the past
Let go of your previous mistakes and don't dwell on them anymore
Box it up like an old photograph
Treat your past like a memory, stored away but not defining your present
You don't have to go back
There is no need to return to your former sinful ways
If we turn and confess every unrighteousness
When we acknowledge and admit our wrongdoings
He is faithful and just to forgive
God, being loving and righteous, will readily forgive us
Oh, so turn and confess every wrong and regret
Therefore, it is important to repent and confess all our past mistakes and regrets
And see what it means to live
By doing so, we will understand the true meaning of life and experience God's forgiveness
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Royalty Network, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Ben Glover, Josh Wilson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tylerlovesthelorax E
Heres the lyrics :] We used to hide from the light
We made friends with the night
We were headed the wrong way on a one way track
Going nowhere fast
We got used to the dark
We thought this is who we are
And we figured that we were just too far gone
But we were wrong
‘Cause love came running like a river
And we got washed in the water
Then He said you're forgiven
Your sins are gone
That was then, this is now
You’re bought by the blood, saved by the Son the saints all sing about
That was lost, this is found
And it’s time to say goodbye to the old you now
So go ahead, put the past in the past
Box it up like an old photograph
You don’t have to go back
‘Cause that was then and this is now
We've been remade by grace
We've all got new names
And nothing we do could ever change
What He did that day
When love came running like a river
We got washed in the water
Then He said you’re forgiven
And you belong
That was then, this is now
You’re bought by the blood, saved by the Son the saints all sing about
That was lost, this is found
And it’s time to say goodbye to the old you now
So go ahead, put the past in the past
Box it up like an old photograph
You don’t have to go back
‘Cause that was then
If we turn and confess every unrighteousness
He is faithful and just to forgive
Oh, so turn and confess every wrong and regret
And see what it means to live
That was then, this is now
You’re bought by the blood, saved by the Son the saints all sing about
That was lost, this is found
And it’s time to say goodbye to the old you now
So go ahead, put the past in the past
Box it up like an old photograph
You don’t have to go back
‘Cause that was then and this is now
‘Cause that was then and this is now
LEE
I use to listen to worldly songs, and the holy spirit directed me to this song on the radio. God was in the process of renewing my mind. Great song by the way!
tylerlovesthelorax E
Heres the lyrics :] We used to hide from the light
We made friends with the night
We were headed the wrong way on a one way track
Going nowhere fast
We got used to the dark
We thought this is who we are
And we figured that we were just too far gone
But we were wrong
‘Cause love came running like a river
And we got washed in the water
Then He said you're forgiven
Your sins are gone
That was then, this is now
You’re bought by the blood, saved by the Son the saints all sing about
That was lost, this is found
And it’s time to say goodbye to the old you now
So go ahead, put the past in the past
Box it up like an old photograph
You don’t have to go back
‘Cause that was then and this is now
We've been remade by grace
We've all got new names
And nothing we do could ever change
What He did that day
When love came running like a river
We got washed in the water
Then He said you’re forgiven
And you belong
That was then, this is now
You’re bought by the blood, saved by the Son the saints all sing about
That was lost, this is found
And it’s time to say goodbye to the old you now
So go ahead, put the past in the past
Box it up like an old photograph
You don’t have to go back
‘Cause that was then
If we turn and confess every unrighteousness
He is faithful and just to forgive
Oh, so turn and confess every wrong and regret
And see what it means to live
That was then, this is now
You’re bought by the blood, saved by the Son the saints all sing about
That was lost, this is found
And it’s time to say goodbye to the old you now
So go ahead, put the past in the past
Box it up like an old photograph
You don’t have to go back
‘Cause that was then and this is now
‘Cause that was then and this is now
Canaan Barrett
I sung the entire thing 2 times
Yomae 1225
This song means so much to me. I had a very turbulent past and sometimes Satan tries to make me still feel guilty 😔 about my past, but this song reminds me that I've been washed in the water and cleansed by his blood, the precious blood of Jesus Christ. When Satan tries to bring me down I remind him that I'm a child of God and my past is in the past. I've been remade!! Thank you Josh Wilson for writing and singing this song!! ❤️ It bring joy to my heart and soul!! It is so powerful!!
John Aries Tudla
Anyone in 2019? Just discovered this video and it made me cry. Thank you Jesus for your faithfulness ♥️
Mezmur Place
I cry every time I listen to this song! It really speaks to me! God bless you Josh!
Meredith Hornbuckle
This song makes me smile every time I hear it! It makes me think that We Are Gods Children and that once we are saved that the Old life is gone and the new has come! Thank you Josh wilson for writing this Awesome and Encouraging song! Whenever this song comes on the Radio I turn it up loud and I sing along! I love it!!! It's a Catchy song too! :) I will buy this song on iTunes soon!!! :)
Amanda Hart
+Marcia Hornbuckle yes i feel like im free and can do anything during this song
Freedom Machine
+Amanda Hart Amen to both of you let God make us who he wants to be give it your best
Trevor Hardy
Meredith Hornbuckle I feel you he loves us all