Vanishing Visitation

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost… thou knewest not the time of thy visitation” (Luke 19:10,44). 

The Savior came to seek and save

The lost who needed His salvation.

How great the proof was that He gave,

Yet many missed His visitation! 

The time foretold at last had come

For Christ’s appearance as expected,

And though He was received by some,

By many more He was rejected.

His visitation they foreknew:

The place and time He would be born,

The miracles that He would do,

His death, His resurrection morn. 

How could His people be so blind

And not believe the things He said?

How could they still be so inclined

When He was risen from the dead? 

Alas!  It is the same today! 

How many stubbornly refuse

To see His proof yet on display

Which will convince or else accuse! 

O Lord, Your visitation shown

Is vanishing from those who mock.   

You’ve made Your great salvation known,

And at the door (for now) You knock. 

Lord, help us show the urgency

To souls, before their hope has vanished,

To trust in You and thereby flee

From wrath by which the soul is banished!