The world,
for all its riches…
is a barren place.
The world,
its friends are enemies of God.
It’s what we’re not to chase.
The world,
in seeming grandeur,
isn’t worth the forfeit
of our souls;
though we’ll pine aft’
its golden calf
even as our death bell tolls.
Granted we are in the world,
but we are not to be of it.
We’re to keep commands
and take a stand
against the lusts
in which we covet.
All this, we know.
All this, we keep—
reciting laws again.
All this, we state
like parrots prate
under the weight of sin…
where we drown
and struggle there,
writhing ‘gainst great waves of pride.
We squirm under the preacher’s tone,
knowing godliness we’ve belied.
We flounder in attempt
to stifle every urge—
be it bitter seeds
or perceived needs
in temptation we won’t purge.
We fight and fuss.
We wail and cuss,
with accusations hurled.
An eye for an eye
is our battle cry…
yet God so loved the world.
Lord, quiet these
restless throes—
vain ambitions, desires for wealth.
God help this raging
“sea of me”
cause we can’t help ourselves.
We wear transgression
as reeking grave clothes,
fit only for the dead;
we’ve avoided light
that might
expose the darkness
through which we tread…
along a broad, wide way
where many trek with ease,
and seem content
to be hell-bent
doing just whatever we please.
We are mired in muddled emotions,
caught up in currents, swirled—
enslaved by sickened hearts
not set apart
though God so loved the world.
But You do not let us stumble
down that loathsome course,
You don’t bruise these tender reeds;
in love, not wrath,
You direct our paths
to the narrow gate
through which You lead.
For we are
that straying sheep,
the one who leaves the herd.
And we are
that prodigal
who did not heed Your word.
But it’s for these
You search,
even leave the ninety-nine;
and it’s for these
You’ll slay the fattened calf
then don a robe so fine!
Yes, it’s for these
You send ministering spirits
with feathered force unfurled—
to comfort, care,
and make aware…
because God so loved the world.
What Judge is this,
Whose word is always true…?
What Teacher is He
Whose sweet mercy
beams forth each day, so new…?
What Wind is this
that thrashes us,
like Jonah on the run…?
What Balm is this
to heal our wounds
upon repentance through His Son…?
What is this Will,
now empowering us
that is not of our own—
to rise o’er waves
and follow aft’
the One seated on the throne…?
It IS the God of Abraham,
of Isaac, and of Jacob!
It IS the One Who saves
just for His glory and the sake of…
this fallen land of sinners
in thought and word and deed;
the very ones who curse His name,
the ones so full of hate and greed.
It isn’t only for the pious,
the precious, poised, or pearled—
it’s so for those
once known as foes…
for God so loved the world.
And what He has prepared for us,
surely no eye has seen
til we’re face to face
with all humbling grace
thundering from John 3:16.
References from the Holy Bible:
Line 5 – James 4:4
Line 6 – Romans 12:2
Line 10 – Mark 8:36
Line 12 – Exodus, Chapter 32
Line 15 – John 17:14
Line 18 – 1 John 2:16
Line 19 – Exodus 20:17
Line 28 – 1 John 2:16
Line 39 – Exodus 21:23-27, Matthew 5:38-42
Line 41 – John 3:16
Line 47 – John 15:5
Line 50 – Ephesians 2:1
Line 51 – John 8:12
Line 55 – Matthew 7:13
Line 59 – Ephesians 2:3
Line 62 – Jeremiah 17:9
Line 64 – John 3:16
Line 65 – Psalm 56:13
Line 66 – 1 John 5:4
Line 67 – Isaiah 42:3
Line 68 – Psalm 86:15; 103:8
Line 69 – Proverbs 16:9
Line 70 – Matthew 7:14
Line 74 – Matthew 18:10-14, Luke 15:1-7
Line 76 – Luke 15:11-32
Line 80 – Matthew 18:13, Luke 15:6
Line 83 – Luke 15:22-23
Line 89 – John 3:16
Line 90 – Isaiah 33:22
Line 91 – Psalm 119:160
Line 92 – John 13:13-14
Line 94 – Lamentations 3:22-33
Line 95 – John 3:8
Line 97 – Jonah 1:4
Line 98 – Jeremiah 8:22
Line 99 – Isaiah 53:5
Line 100 – 2 Corinthians 7:9-10
Line 101 – Philippians 2:12-13
Line 103 – Ephesians 2:8-9
Line 104 – Matthew 14:29
Line 106 – Psalm 110:1, Matthew 22:44
Line 108 – Exodus 3:6, Matthew 22:31-32
Line 109 – Acts 4:12
Line 110 – Ephesians 2:7
Line 118 – Romans 5:8
Line 119 – John 3:16
Line 121 – 1 Corinthians 2:9
Line 122 – 1 Corinthians 13:12
Line 123 – 2 Corinthians 8:9