He feels so ashamed of his past,
He’s broken God’s laws, first and last,
The guilt that he feels he shall never repeal,
God’s judgment upon him is cast;
He remembers the friends he has hurt,
They are polite, but distant, and curt,
Their wounds never heal and their pain is still real,
He’s despised like a worm of the dirt.
The consequences don’t go away,
You break God’s laws, and you pay,
You wish you could stand on some far different strand,
Leaving all to start a new day;
They accept you but never forget,
So, you are overwhelmed with regret,
You can’t blame them, they’ve suffered,
As your lies were uncovered,
You ensnared them like fish in a net.
You wish you could undo the past
But yesteryear’s deeds are now cast,
Those you can’t rearrange, they’re not subject to change,
What is past is past, and that’s that!
But what does he hear? – It’s God’s Word –
Is it hopeless? And is judgement served?
“Hey child, listen here! Come, arise! Do not fear!
Come, see what I have reserved!”
“Where sinners repent, they’re forgiven,
From their sins once for all they are riven,
They are hid from My eyes, ne’er again realised
And My grace can heal every division!”
“But I’ve wounded my friends,” he retorts,
“Their hurt I can never abort,
Their memories remain and they still feel the pain.
Though forgiveness I often have sought.”
“But you have to move on!” – the reply,
“I can heal broken hearts by and by,
But it’s not in your power, though you grovel and cower
To turn back the clock to comply
With your wish to amend all you’ve done,
The price has been paid through My Son:
He died on the Cross to pay all you’ve lost
And the battle’s completed and won!”
“As surely as He’s resurrected,
The work in you can be perfected,
But you have to arise, leave the past all behind,
Believe God, by His Word, be affected;
Place friends and foes in His hands,
He knows and He understands,
By believing God’s Word, though it may seem absurd,
You’ll be freed from guilt’s keen demands.”
“I create new heavens, behold!
And a new earth manifold!
The former forgotten, a new birth, begotten,
The past has now lost its hold.
In My mind, ‘twill ne’er again come –
Forgiven, forgotten, through My Son,
Believe God’s Word, there your future’s prepared
With a new life of freedom begun!”
If we confess our sins, He is faithful
To forgive us, no matter how shameful,
Repent and believe, truth is judgment’s reprieve
For a sinner condemned, broken, fearful;
True repentance is not an excuse
To get out of our past, as a ruse!
We turn from our sin and never again
Do we ever God’s mercy abuse.
“But what man thinks of me preys on my mind,”
What God says is, “Leave all behind!”
“The fear of man bringeth a snare,” He tells us,
To imprison in chains that bind;
Whoso trusteth in God shall be safe,
Heaven and earth shall first pass away,
But His Words shall remain, forever, the same,
And them none shall ever gainsay.
Grass withers, flowers fade, but God’s Word stands forever,
God’s Word formed the heavens and the earth, all together,
We’ll be judged by God’s Word, condemned or preserved,
And the wicked from the just God’s angels will sever;
“For as Heaven is high above the earth, so great
Is His mercy toward them that fear Him,” He states,
Our transgressions are removed – it is written and proved-
Far as East is from West, ‘tis the Word He dictates.
“I will forgive their iniquity” – these – the words of the Lord,
“And their sin I’ll remember no more” – ‘tis His Word!
We rebel against God when we doubt what He’s said
How dare we! We blunt his two-edged sword,
Which is quick and powerful, piercing asunder,
With instant release from past guilt, sin and blunder,
Yes! He can restore years locusts have gorged,
Your shame will be lost in praises and wonder.
You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
Your sons and daughters shall prophesy,
I will pour out My Spirit, all flesh shall see it,
You shall never be ashamed!” I can verify,
“I make all things new – Behold” He said,
“I’ll wipe away all tears, there’ll be no more death,
Nor sorrow, nor crying, no pain of the dying,
All former things passed away!” – As a breath!
Peter Burt
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