"Surprised"

I look up and feel amazed,

And often times surprised and dazed,

By folks who disregard God’s ways,

And never blink an eye, what’s right they never try.

Compassion I am taught to give,

Mercy for the way they live,

But righteousness leaks like a sieve,

And life has gone awry, because of sin we die.

I’m no judge, don’t want to be,

But I pray to help folks see,

That grace alone can set them free,

And give the peace they lack, with God they can come back.

Cowboy up and horseback go,

And try not to react you know,

If I’m not careful I will show,

That mental old gun rack, and lose all grace and tact.

It’s in my brain and in my bone,

But God to me His grace has shone,

And He says to pass it on,

In me His seeds were sown, and His light has shown.

And so I speak the truth in love,

Point to Christ sent from above,

And when that old push comes to shove,

The Spirit makes Him known, and to Him I’ve flown.

The witness God will help make clear,

To draw the lost ones far and near,

He calls them and we pray they hear,

‘Cause He’ll supply their needs, while we just plant the seeds.

Curse the darkness? Spread the light,

And know that all will be all right,

‘Cause Jesus brings the Spirit’s might,

We go just where He leads, and brag on Jesus’ deeds.

 The Good Book says before Christ comes,

Many from the Lord will run,

It will look like darkness won,

But that will never be, God’s promise is the key.

Jesus reigns until the time,

When enemies all tow the line,

And death and hell and every crime,

Will end and bow the knee, He comes to judge, you see.

“For Christ must reign until He humbles all His enemies beneath His feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:25-26, NLT).

The risen Christ reigns! But every enemy has not yet submitted to His reign. Truth is, they will someday. That is why when things get dark and it looks like the devil is winning, we know his days are numbered. The last enemy to be destroyed is death itself. Won’t that be something? Everything that has hurt, attacked, and ultimately killed the human race will be defeated once and for all. All of it will be replaced by the righteousness, peace and joy of God’s Kingdom. If we are willing to live under the reign of Jesus now, there will be lots of the good stuff on the way to the eternally good stuff. Don’t panic. Stay calm. Jesus is Lord.

Lord, help us to submit to Your reign and invite others to experience it, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Robyn Cook, used permission. Thanks, Robyn, and God bless you.