Thursday, March 25, 2010

Bitter is Better

"A faithful messenger... refresheth the soul of his masters. Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain" (Proverbs 25:13,14). "I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings" (Revelations 10:10,11).

We shouldn't think it is a favor
When bitter truth is masked as sweet.
The guilty sinner needs a Savior,
And not a gospel incomplete.

The message isn't ours to change
That we may soothe the sinners' ears.
It isn't kind to rearrange
The bitter truth that judgment nears.

Like clouds and wind that promise rain
Yet never send a single drop,
Their disappointment ends in pain
And thus destroys the farmer's crop.

The prophecies to nations great
That John was told that he must speak
Were sweet as honey which he ate,
But bitter in their prospect bleak.

And so it is with us as well
Who taste the sweetness of God's Book:
We preach with urgency of hell,
So sinners may to Jesus look!

Sinner, look to Jesus Christ
Who died to spare you bitter loss!
For you the Lord was sacrificed
And agonized upon the cross!

How much better than destruction
Is all the bitter truth that's heard!
How deceitful is seduction
That waters down God's faithful Word!

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