"Cowboy Grave"

Far out there where distance tells,

Stories full of sights and smells,

There where space and silence dwells,

You’ll see what is unseen.

We rode in search of remnants there,

And came across it, who knows where,

A sight that we found very rare,

In a place we’d never been.

A long, deep canyon plenty rough,

Riding down was really tough,

But horses proved they had enough,

To get down there and keep,

Their feet and all their wind and go,

Some very rocky slides although,

Felt some relieved, don’t you know,

When we finished with the steep.

And there ‘mongst barren, broken ground,

Canyon wind the only sound,

There is where we rode and found,

An old forgotten grave.

A name carved deeply in the stone,

No other markers, all alone,

The name “Cowboy” is all was shown,

The only clue it gave.

We were not a scary group,

But a shudder ran throughout the troop,

Really made our spirits droop,

When the canyon grave we found.

Rode on slowly with no talk,

Just a steady running walk,

Lifted reins without a balk,

And left without a sound.

Later by the old campfire,

We could not help but ask, inquire,

To know the cowboy, our desire,

Under that old grave.

Not a one had ever heard,

Anybody speak a word,

About the death that had occurred,

No history it gave.

But I for one was spooked for sure,

Bothered past what I’d endure,

I called on Jesus as my cure,

And He relieved my fear.

The Good Lord used a cowboy’s grave,

To touch and then to finally save,

Showing love, my sin forgave,

He made it very clear.

Out there where the wind blows free,

The Good Lord showed He died for me,

And used that grave so I could see,

The one day we all die.

And when we do His plan is this,

That it would not be any risk,

Heaven sure and hell to miss,

His grace our strong supply.

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21, NIV)

The only way we can view death in a positive way is to be sure our death is a doorway into God’s presence. We can be sure of this is we have surrendered control of our lives to Jesus Christ. When our lives are Christ-centered, God’s Spirit gives us the assurance of eternal life. Can you be saved and unsure? Perhaps, but that is not God’s intention. He promises to give us the witness of His Spirit, who tells us deep within that we belong to God. We need not ever fear death. Our lives, here and hereafter, are in His hands.

Lord, make us sure that we belong to You, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Shawn Cameron, used by permission. Thanks, Shawn, and God bless you.