Seeing Christ in the Forgotten

“She calls out to the man on the street,
He can see she’s been crying.”
—Phil Collins

When Phil Collins released Another Day in Paradise in 1989, it wasn’t just a chart-topping hit—it was a prophetic echo. A reminder that in a world obsessed with comfort and convenience, compassion is often the first casualty.

But listen closely, and you’ll hear more than social commentary.
You’ll hear God’s story.

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👁️ 1. God Sees What We Overlook

The song’s opening scene is painfully familiar: a homeless woman, a passing man, and an awkward silence.

He sees her—but doesn’t really see her.
He hears her—but doesn’t listen.

In Luke 16:19–31, Jesus told of a rich man who walked past Lazarus, a poor beggar at his gate. The rich man dined in luxury, while Lazarus starved just a few feet away.

Sound familiar?

“Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.”
—Matthew 25:45

This isn’t just a song about social neglect.
It’s a warning from heaven: God notices what we ignore.

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❤️ 2. We Are Our Brother’s Keeper

“Isn’t it just another day for you and me in paradise?”
That lyric hits like a punch in the gut.

While one person suffers, another walks by—preoccupied, maybe even overwhelmed—but unmoved. Yet from the beginning, God has called us to be our brother’s keeper (Genesis 4:9).

To love not only with words, but with action (1 John 3:17–18).
To carry one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).

This isn’t about guilt—it’s about invitation.
Invitation to participate in the love economy of the Kingdom, where no one is left behind and no one is unseen.

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✝️ 3. Christ in Disguise

In Matthew 25, Jesus makes it clear: when we care for the hungry, the homeless, and the hurting—we care for Him.

“I was a stranger and you invited Me in.”
—Matthew 25:35

What if that woman in the song was Jesus?
What if the ones we walk past are carrying Christ’s image—hidden beneath layers of pain?

Every ignored cry is an opportunity missed.
Every moment of compassion is a holy act.

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🌅 Final Thoughts: Not Just Another Day

Phil Collins didn’t write a worship song.
But God isn’t limited to worship songs.

Another Day in Paradise is a modern parable, convicting us of our tendency to choose comfort over compassion.

And yet—hope remains.
Because we still have today.

Today to notice.
Today to love.
Today to rewrite the story.

So the next time you hear that haunting chorus, remember:
It’s not just another day in paradise.
It’s your moment to bring heaven a little closer to earth.

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