rescued: a poem

Destitute and naked, I crawl through this land
Parched mouth and hunger, I’m cursed as a man.
Destination is uncertain, purpose unclear
I’m constantly searching, but arriving nowhere.

Day after day, night after night
I am tormented with every new sight
Dead ends and pitfalls, apathy sets in
What am I to do, wallowing in my sin?

I need to be rescued, freed from this land
When off in the distance I see the form of a man.
He is beaten and bloody, with thorns on his head
But despite His condition, He looked at me and said.

“Son, I came here for this purpose and this alone,
To give my life as a ransom, your sin to atone.
The penalty of sin is death, justice must be upheld
My holiness demands it, it must all be expelled.

You were born with this disease, inherited from Adam
It encompasses your very being, more than you could fathom
I gave you the Law, but it can only condemn
You must be perfect, freed from all sin
You’ve tried to earn my favor by keeping all my Law
But you’ll never be able to earn it, you were cursed by the Fall
Blind, deaf, and lame, a spiritual corpse continues to rot
But I came here to rescue, heal, and give hope to the lost.

It is on this tree that love, mercy, and justice meet
I took your punishment in order to set you free.
I lived the perfect life that you can not live,
My wrath has been satisfied, I drank it to the dregs.
You no longer stand in condemnation, your guilt has been taken away
I will send you my Spirit to guide you in my ways.

In three days time I will rise from this grave
Sin, death, and Satan conquered and slain.
I give you my righteousness, your sin in exchange
Was buried, destroyed, and in the grave shall remain.

This is the Gospel, Good News to proclaim
The only thing possible to give life to the lame
The blind receive sight, the deaf can now hear
You’re a new creature, a child and an heir.

Pain you shall have and trials you will endure
Pick up your cross and die daily, your future is secure.
Don’t be surprised when you face persecution and strife
That which is mortal shall be swallowed by life."