Man, on his own, is a hopeless slave.
That man, who did not know,
That there was an answer to his life,
His empty aimless, destructive life.
That man who thought
That there was gain in entertainment
Seeking to fill a wounded spirit
With pleasures that pass and kill
But the truth always dawned
And how painful that dawn,
When all ended in darkness,
In a hollow emptiness.
What he lacked, he knew not,
In his life, to see soul soup,
True strong manna to revive
A flagging and aching spirit.
Some men there are who knew
That they lacked, yes lacked.
In all the wealth and distractions,
They yet knew they needed it.
But what they needed how were they to know?
Go to a lonely place and meditate?
Or pray together in unison?
Follow leaders who say the truth about sin.
And knowing their frailty, they moan,
Knowing this burden, they strive,
To live to do all they can,
Releasing their pangs and chains.
For man is bound until he meets,
The grace that is most perfect.
So lost and forlorn is he until,
He finds that for which he was created.
That is why we preach the Gospel,
Men over the centuries with all passion
Overcoming tempest, storm and wind,
Snake poison, burning oil, the noose of condemnation.
All while having received,
Grace upon grace, blessing upon blessing,
The thing that was most precious,
The living God who redeems us.
Said the Christ, the light of life,
That he who has ears will hear,
He who listens will understand,
Throw the grain to all people.
So that before all shall perish,
Before the fading of our poor lives,
We may find the reason to live,
And find our being and purpose.
Man with Christ, is victorious,
Having the armor of God for ever,
To shield him and help him bear,
The little trouble till his death,
So that one day the moment will come,
Of fulfillment of all life's struggles,
To complete and bring to fruition,
Our blessed lives on earth.
