"Happiest"

When was you the happiest,

He leaned in for a light,

Sittin’ easy in the saddle,

In the shadows, soon be night.

We had spent the whole day workin’,

Catchin’ cattle that were sick,

A doctorin’ and givin’ shots,

And never missed a lick.

The sun was slowly setting,

As we sat there with the breeze,

When he asked that question,

Surprised me, if you please.

Happy was the question,

And I said about what,

Says you know with life and such,

I thought about it, but,

I thought he meant a cowboy time,

Out horseback on the chase,

Or winning at the rodeo,

Where we once set the pace.

But never did he once expect,

What he’d hear me say,

‘Cause truth is I was happiest,

When God took my sin away.

But when my old pard heard it,

Flicked out his cigarette,

Shook my hand a-smilin’,

Said that’s the best news yet.

We loaded both the horses,

And turn to head on in,

It wasn’t too long after,

I said good-bye to him.

His heart gave out one sunny day,

Was here, and then long gone,

And I’ll admit it shook me some,

I prayed to just keep on.

He wrote a note for me to read,

He left it with his wife,

Told her to give it to me,

If the end came to his life.

He said well if you’re readin’ this,

It means I’ve gone across,

But don’t you worry ‘bout a thing,

‘Cause I’m no longer lost.

After what you told me,

And I got home that night,

I gave my life to Jesus,

God helped me to get right.

And now I am the happiest,

Because you said what’s true,

And helped me then to understand,

Just what I should do.

God bless you, pard, we’ll meet again,

In heaven’s pastures green,

I’ll have your pony saddled,

The best you’ve ever seen.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” (Romans 5:1-2, NIV)

Someone has said that justification is when God says it’s just-as-if-I’d never sinned. John Wesley said that justification is simply being pardoned by God. We sinned, we’re guilty, but through Jesus we’ve been pardoned by God. What a wonderful grace it is! We are given full access because of what Jesus did for us, which can be neither earned nor deserved. His free gift and our faith is what makes it happen! It’s truly something to celebrate everyday and share with others whenever possible.

Lord, help us to celebrate being justified, in Jesus’ name.

Artist unknown. Shared by a personal friend.