Thursday, July 01, 2010

Two Turnings

"Turn you at My reproof: behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you.... The turning away of the simple shall slay them. But whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely" (Proverbs 1:23-33). "[John] shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.... and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God" (Luke 1:15,16).

Souls may turn to God today,
If they will hear His voice.
Yet they may also turn away;
God leaves to us that choice.

Given now these two extremes,
This is insanely odd!
Indeed, how very strange it seems
That many turn from God!

What insanity is this,
When choices are so plain?
Who would turn from heaven's bliss
To hell's eternal pain?

How deceptive is the path
Of fools' prosperity
That chooses not to turn from wrath,
Which looms eternally!

As John the Baptist turned the hearts
In his day by God's Spirit,
The Gospel still today imparts
God's grace to those who hear it.

So give us fervor, Lord, like John
To turn hearts now to You.
The day of grace will soon be gone;
The laborers are few.

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