Crowns for Christ

“If Thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?  But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared… With the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption” (Psalm 130:3-7).  “Most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? … Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” (Proverbs 20:6,9).  “The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne” (Revelation 4:10). 

The Lord has marked our every thought

With every sinful word and deed,

Yet He can cleanse us from each spot,

For His redemption meets this need! 

Though many think that they are good

(Until they’re measured by God’s Law),

When they are thinking as they should,

They turn to Christ in humble awe!

For surely none of us could stand

Unless our sins were washed away. 

Our Savior met this great demand,

Redeeming us who went astray.

We see the elders all fall down

Before the One who made all things

Where each in worship casts his crown

Before our Lord, the King of kings. 

They cast their crowns before the throne

Of Him who is our great Creator,

Yet with redemption’s glory shown,

We see His praise grows even greater! 

We need this glimpse of heaven now

To fix our eyes on things above. 

Soon every knee to Him shall bow,

Yet we may do it now in love!

In view of Christ’s redemption story,

We seek the crowns He will reward,

Yet never for our own vainglory,

But for the worship of our Lord. 

Majestic Lord of all creation,

What awe the things You made inspire,

Yet as we ponder Your salvation,

Astonished praise ascends still higher!

Eternity shall not exhaust

The praise, O Lord, that we shall give,

For You redeemed us who were lost,

And by Your grace alone we live! 

Until the day we see Your face

And crowns around Your feet are cast,

Lord, help us show the lost Your grace,

So they may turn to You at last.