"Old Puncher"

Old puncher tried, but mystified,

By all that he could see,

Grew up back when, away back then,

When all that used to be,

Was simple stuff, you’d have enough,

To get by if you worked,

Life in the saddle, a’tendin’ cattle,

And ne’er a chore he shirked.

Could read the sky if it was dry,

And know when it would rain,

His daily toil, all near the soil,

Through loss and sometimes gain.

Right was right and by the light,

Of conscience whetted sharp,

The Good Book true, said what to do,

No matter how they harp.

He looks around and hears the sound,

Of voices telling lies,

From those who lead but don’t take heed,

To all we thought was wise.

You’ll hear him say, most everyday,

I’m shocked by what I see,

But ‘fore Christ comes, the darkness runs,

It’s told in prophecy.

An old misfit with seasoned grit,

To call it what it is,

The devil’s game, always the same,

Confusion is his biz.

The puncher’s face is creased with grace,

And soon his time will come,

He’ll say good-bye and home he’ll fly,

When his long life is done.

“Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:12-13, NLT)

When Jesus spoke of the days before His second coming, the picture he drew is not pretty. He spoke of the breakdown of relationships in which love grows cold and betrayal is the order of the day. He said that sinful, immoral behavior would spread like a virus. But at the same time, the Good News of God’s Kingdom will be preached to every people group throughout the world. And then, He said, the end will come. The best news is that Jesus is Lord of history, and when things get dark, it only proves that what He said was true. God will energize us to endure, no matter what.

Lord, empower us to endure, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Mark Maggiori, markmaggiori.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Mark, and God bless you.