In the Light of Eternity

Creased with age, weathered and beaten,
many years have the locust and cankerworm eaten
beholding the stranger... all-too familiar in the glass
Looking past the folds of skin,
searching for the man within...
Gazing back into his face,
the man who once sought to erase
from his mind the light that once abode
Once accepted grace extended; long ago this knee had bended;
Could a man be so offended
as to choose so bleak a road?
From the time the light descended,
early on his life had mended,
blessing all he met, his lips with words of grace...
But cares of life and pursuit of pleasure,
in their midst forgot to measure,
time that would from him too soon fade
Not then offense, but the cost;
of priorities - misplaced, then lost
Had he really gained what he had sought?
Has harvest passed, is it too late...
the light of God to penetrate
one soul who for too long forgot to seek?
Long-suffering kindness of the Lord
to send His Word, ...now as a sword
The Son of God through his conscience again to speak
Severing strong cords of sin,
restoring purity there again;
victory over death to win - the enemy to lose;
The soul for flames of hell intended
from his firm grasp, God has rended
in a moment restored to paths of righteousness
First only a flicker, then quickly to flame!
From the lamp-stand
now brightly to shine once again!
Yet one last time- brought in from the cold;
no more to wander from the fold
Regret now replace by faith to see
His life in the light of eternity...