without Christ
29-Mar-14
Without Christ I’d be quite different;
Wonder which path I would have went?
Perhaps continued a religious faker?
Or simply flat rejected my Maker?
Maybe just wholly indifferent?
But my own god I would invent.
He’d approve of all I’d do;
Want me to have all that’s new.
Outdo others on their quest,
To get the biggest and the best.
Wouldn’t say no, wouldn’t deny;
Got my rights, step aside!
“Get out of life all you can!”
“You deserve it!”, “You’re the man!”
Other things this god would say;
“Don’t let that get in your way!”
“Others do it!”, “No one will know!”
And down the path I would go.
A little, and more, then all the time;
Subtle, secret, character crime.
Fibs, white lies, spinning true;
Who knows what other things I’d do?
Cheating and dishonest gain;
I’d hardly notice others’ pain.
Self-promoting, prideful boast;
I’d do what suited me the most.
Envy, greed, looks and lust;
Hurt and shame – broken trust.
Wounding those who wounded me;
Poison tongue – so fiery.
Surface love, smiley décor;
But aching inside my wretched core.
When things got tough or difficult,
I’d make it someone else’s fault.
All used up, fun is gone;
Run away, I’d just move on.
Would I notice self-tyranny?
Or that my little god was me?
Serving me, enslaves and smothers;
Leaves a wake of broken others.
Getting, wanting, never enough;
Full of man’s best, empty stuff.
I’d really long to be set free;
Demanding foe – the inner me.
No purpose or power, no joy or direction,
No forgiveness, peace or illumination.
Deliver me from shame and guilt!
The wrecked and chaotic life I built.
What would happen after I die?
Was I really that nice a guy?
I’d like to say I tried my best;
Was it enough to pass the test?
Tough questions to plague my mind;
Give up looking, too hard to find.
My little god would not care;
But he wouldn’t matter, he’s not there.
The One True God, Almighty One;
Sees and knows all I’ve done.
Holy Judge, pure and true;
Stand before Him when I’m through.
Thoughts and motives, give an account;
Good won’t matter, no amount.
All my deeds – declared filthy;
Self-stained heart – judged guilty.
Greed, pride, selfishness;
A single sin fails the test.
The holy standard – God’s own perfection;
What’s my sentence for insurrection?
Cut off from God, no life eternal;
Agony, torment, darkness – infernal.
All my life, I’d reject Him;
He’d see there’s justice in the end.
But thankfully that’s not my case;
Forever changed me by His grace.
Trusted Christ who died for me;
Forgiven – took my penalty.
Admitted to God, I’m an offender;
To Him my life I do surrender.
He has done so much for me;
Opened my eyes, set me free.
Imperfect, though now redeemed.
Purpose in life, conscience cleaned.
Who is Christ? You must answer:
With or without Him forever?
Wonder which path I would have went?
Perhaps continued a religious faker?
Or simply flat rejected my Maker?
Maybe just wholly indifferent?
But my own god I would invent.
He’d approve of all I’d do;
Want me to have all that’s new.
Outdo others on their quest,
To get the biggest and the best.
Wouldn’t say no, wouldn’t deny;
Got my rights, step aside!
“Get out of life all you can!”
“You deserve it!”, “You’re the man!”
Other things this god would say;
“Don’t let that get in your way!”
“Others do it!”, “No one will know!”
And down the path I would go.
A little, and more, then all the time;
Subtle, secret, character crime.
Fibs, white lies, spinning true;
Who knows what other things I’d do?
Cheating and dishonest gain;
I’d hardly notice others’ pain.
Self-promoting, prideful boast;
I’d do what suited me the most.
Envy, greed, looks and lust;
Hurt and shame – broken trust.
Wounding those who wounded me;
Poison tongue – so fiery.
Surface love, smiley décor;
But aching inside my wretched core.
When things got tough or difficult,
I’d make it someone else’s fault.
All used up, fun is gone;
Run away, I’d just move on.
Would I notice self-tyranny?
Or that my little god was me?
Serving me, enslaves and smothers;
Leaves a wake of broken others.
Getting, wanting, never enough;
Full of man’s best, empty stuff.
I’d really long to be set free;
Demanding foe – the inner me.
No purpose or power, no joy or direction,
No forgiveness, peace or illumination.
Deliver me from shame and guilt!
The wrecked and chaotic life I built.
What would happen after I die?
Was I really that nice a guy?
I’d like to say I tried my best;
Was it enough to pass the test?
Tough questions to plague my mind;
Give up looking, too hard to find.
My little god would not care;
But he wouldn’t matter, he’s not there.
The One True God, Almighty One;
Sees and knows all I’ve done.
Holy Judge, pure and true;
Stand before Him when I’m through.
Thoughts and motives, give an account;
Good won’t matter, no amount.
All my deeds – declared filthy;
Self-stained heart – judged guilty.
Greed, pride, selfishness;
A single sin fails the test.
The holy standard – God’s own perfection;
What’s my sentence for insurrection?
Cut off from God, no life eternal;
Agony, torment, darkness – infernal.
All my life, I’d reject Him;
He’d see there’s justice in the end.
But thankfully that’s not my case;
Forever changed me by His grace.
Trusted Christ who died for me;
Forgiven – took my penalty.
Admitted to God, I’m an offender;
To Him my life I do surrender.
He has done so much for me;
Opened my eyes, set me free.
Imperfect, though now redeemed.
Purpose in life, conscience cleaned.
Who is Christ? You must answer:
With or without Him forever?
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. – Jesus in Mt 11.28
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. – 1 Jn 2.16-17
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.
– Jesus in Mt 15.19-20a
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
– Jesus in Jn 3.16-18
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. – 1 Jn 2.16-17
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.
– Jesus in Mt 15.19-20a
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
– Jesus in Jn 3.16-18