A Poem From the Past

When I re-committed my Life to Christ in 1999 I spent many days writing poems. I haven’t thought much about them for years, but when I woke up this morning the first poem I had written was on my mind. Reading the poem brings me back to the time and place that I was when I wrote it. I can remember the location, the time of day, and even the emotions that I felt when I penned these words to paper….

GRACE
You always knew my thoughts.
You always knew my heart.
You have seen all my faults,
Yet you refused to let us part.

You’ve heard me curse your name.
You’ve seen my boiling blood.
You’ve seen me in my shame,
Yet you pulled me from the flood.

Many times I walked a way from you.
Many times I let you down.
Many times I was ashamed of you,
Yet you offer me a crown.

It’s now sin to which I turn my back.
It’s now the wicked whom I despise.
It’s your light that saved me from the black.
Oh how you’ve opened up my eyes.

You’re my ever-glowing candle.
You’re the truth that set me free.
You’re my rock and my salvation.
Oh how you’ve lifted me.

If I had one word to describe who I was at that time in my life, it would be, “Genuine”. I had a genuine salvation experience with the Creator of the universe. I was genuinely transformed in my thoughts and deeds. I took every bit of God’s word as truth and wouldn’t spend a day without reading it. I was like a child in awe of this new life I had found. It didn’t take long to realize that I wanted to spend the rest of my life serving God in what I knew to be ministry. I wanted to reach the world for Jesus!

Since writing those words a decade ago, I have gone through a wide variety of experiences. I’ve had seasons that I could not have endured if it had not been for my trust and confidence in God. I have also experienced great tragedy and error because of my own foolish decisions and actions. I have had friends hold me up while going through difficult times, and others kick me down and leave me for dead. I’ve been mocked, ridiculed (Sometimes rightly so), falsely accused, and misunderstood. I’ve been loved, cherished, and been thought kindly of. It has been an interesting 10 years to say the least. Some experiences were exactly what I thought life in Christ would be, while others left me dumbfounded and in utter disbelief.

As I read over the poem and ponder on the last 10 years of my life, I hear these words ringing loudly in my heart today…

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. –Philippians 1:6

Whether you’re on a mountain top or hanging out in the valley of the shadow of death, know that God is not done with you yet. The same Christ that picked you up when you first cried out to Him is still alive today. If you’re in sin, repent and allow His grace to restore you. If you have been wounded in battle, allow His healing power to mend you. If you’ve been left for dead, allow His truth to bring you life. Don’t give up. Don’t lose hope. Keep marching on!