Purifying Prospect

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God… Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure” (1 John 3:1-3).

Behold, what love has been bestowed

By God the Father on His own:

He laid on Christ our heavy load,

Who purged our sins Himself alone!

When we were helpless, without strength,

The children, not of God, but wrath,

The love of God then went the length

To bear our sins on judgment’s path.

Behold, what love the Father proved

Together with His precious Son:

Our sins forever are removed;

The work that saves us now is done!

Behold, what we are called as well:

The sons of God!  How can it be

That we who once were fit for hell

Are now God’s sons eternally?

And though it doesn’t yet appear

That we are lifted to this place,

The day approaches and is near

When we shall see Him face to face.

We’ll see Him then as He now is,

But not with vision that is dim,

For God shall transform all of His:

We shall be changed to be like Him!

O Lord, we thank You for this view

That shows the manner of Your love!

By faith we see what’s really true,

Which we shall see by sight above.

So purify us, Lord, today,

And every day until we meet,

With joy abounding all the way

By this prospective hope so sweet.