"Praising Still"

Long ago it happened,

And oh so far away,

The Son of God laid down His life,

What is there left to say,

About the nightmare of that death,

The suffering and pain,

We sing and talk about it,

Again and then again.

And every year the churches fill,

The empty tomb is praised,

With joy and jubilation,

The anthems loud are raised.

But sometimes I wonder,

If His death and third day rise

Seem more like a fairy tale,

Than reality’s best prize.

But then I can remember,

The day I saw the cross,

The blood and ruthless agony,

And all that Jesus lost,

So that I could be forgiven,

Saw it just as plain as day,

In my mind much like a movie,

And all I have to say,

Is I never will forget it,

I was broken, healing came,

And all because He shed His blood,

I’ve never been the same.

Others with traditions,

Observe whate’er they will,

But my life is changed forever,

And I am praising still.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8, NAS)

The cross is the highest and best demonstration of God’s love for all of us. And it happened while we were “yet sinners.” What does this mean? It means that God’s choice of us has nothing whatever to do with anything we can earn or deserve. We are not entitled to grace but he offers it anyway. This is the best news on earth for those who know they need help. For those who don’t more lessons are needed. But the promise of God based on God’s action is unquestionably the hope for humankind.

Lord, help us receive all You died to give us, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Mark Maggiori, used by permission. Thanks, Mark, and God bless you.