Mistaken Mountain

“In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?” (Psalm 11:1).  “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD… By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil” (Proverbs 16:5,6).  “Against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high?  Even against the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 37:23).  “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners... Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.  Amen” (1 Timothy 1:15-17).

There surely is time to flee; 

Of this be not mistaken:   
When rebels reach eternity,
Their hope shall be forsaken. 

The time to flee is surely now

To find God’s saving grace,
For one day rebel knees shall bow,
Yet find no hiding place.

Behold, in Christ there is a fountain

Where souls may safely drink!
There is no safety in the mountain
Where sinners proudly think. 

For every mountain soon shall crumble

Before God’s judgment throne.
There is a refuge for the humble
In Jesus Christ alone.

Our Savior came into this world

With truth and saving grace.
What blasphemies the proud then hurled
With insults in His face! 

So how then can the proud thus say

To flee now as a bird?  
When every mountain flees away,
Their voice shall not be heard. 

O Lord, You are the King of kings,

All powerful and wise. 
Our shelter is beneath Your wings;
On You we fix our eyes!

Lord, thank You for the faithful saying,

That tells us why You came:
To save the sinner, fully paying
Our debt of sin and shame!

Lord, till the day You come again

We would not cease to tell
That You alone save sinful men
And rescue them from hell!

Heart Helper

“LORD, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt prepare their heart, Thou wilt cause Thine ear to hear” (Psalm 10:17).  “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good... Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more, then, the hearts of the children of men?... The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility” (Proverbs 15:3,11,33). 

Before a word is even spoken,

The Lord by His examination
Can hear the humble heart that’s broken
That will desire His salvation.

The Lord has searched our deepest part;   

His eyes are found in every place.
No thought is hidden in our heart
That God does not completely trace.

The Lord can see that we’re inclined

To walk in darkness and to stumble,
And therefore He instructs our mind
To turn from pride and to be humble. 

It is His fear that gives instruction,

To sense accountability,
To free us from our pride’s seduction,
And turn us in humility. 

We see the wonder of God’s love

That causes Him to thus prepare
Our hearts that we may dwell above,  
That where He is, we may be there. 

The horrible alternative

To heaven is eternal hell.
Our Savior died that He might give
By grace a place with Him to dwell.

The Lord is helping hearts today

To turn to Him in true surrender.
He thus prepares our hearts to pray,
That He may be our soul’s Defender.

O Lord, we thank You that You search

And help our hearts to come to You,
And thus You’re adding to Your Church
The humbled souls of those who do. 

So teach us in our fleeting days

To show to others what You gave:
The grace that surely does amaze
Our hearts that You have stooped to save!

Heaven's Healing

“They that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee” (Psalm 9:10).   “God will… save you.  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.  Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing” (Isaiah 35:4-6).  “Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself… comfort your hearts” (2 Thessalonians 2:16,17). 
 

They that put their trust in Christ

Shall have the healing heaven gives.
Our Lord for this was sacrificed,
Was raised to life, and ever lives.

The Lord shall open blinded eyes. 

He shall unstop the deafened ear.
The lame shall leap with glad surprise.
The mute shall sing with heaven’s cheer. 

How great is heaven’s remedy

That heals the sickness of our soul,
That fits us for eternity,
And pays our ransom note in full!

There’s no one else who can provide

This healing Jesus Christ imparts.
The Lord resists the heart of pride,
Yet gives His grace to humble hearts.
 
We thank You, Lord, for heaven’s healing
And for Your sacrificial love
Upon the cross You were revealing
And shall unveil more above.
 
How well, O Lord, You’ve done all things!
We see Your beauty, hear Your voice,
We walk with You, the King of kings,
And with our loosened tongues rejoice!
 
Lord, send us forth with ready feet,
With eyes, with ears, and voice to tell
That heaven’s healing is complete
By which You save a soul from hell.

 

 

Mate of the Message

“Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength because of Thine enemies, that Thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger” (Psalm 8:2).  “A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health” (Proverbs 13:17).  “Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for My mouth it hath commanded, and His Spirit it hath gathered them” (Isaiah 34:16).  “The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:7,8). 

 

The little children, by God’s choice,

Were messengers that He appointed

To silence Satan’s wicked voice

And praise the Christ whom He anointed.

 

It is the message God ordains,

And not the messenger, that matters.

His Word eternally remains

When all of earth and heaven scatters.

 

A wicked messenger will fail;

A good ambassador will stand. 

The gates of hell shall not prevail

Against the Word of God’s command. 

 

We are ambassadors of God

Who seek His Book and thus relate

That there is not one word that’s flawed,

For every promise finds its mate.

 

Our Lord shall surely be revealed

When He returns to judge the earth,

When knee shall then be kneeled,

And every tongue declares His worth.

 

O Lord, we thank You for Your Book

And for its sure authority.

We search the Scriptures as we look

And find the truth that makes us free.

 

Until the day that You return

Lord, help us show Your message true,  

So others also thus may learn

To put their faith and trust in You.

Beauty Beyond

“Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off” (Isaiah 33:17).   “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him… And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly… your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.   Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-24).

The day is coming when we’ll see

The beauty of our glorious King
Enrobed with heaven’s majesty,
Surrounded by the host He’ll bring. 

And who is this that shall comprise

His company in robes so bright?
Could this be US He sanctifies,
Preserved as blameless in His sight? 

O, hallelujah!  Yes it is!

The Lord has thus assured our place
With every soul He counts as His
Whom He redeemed with saving grace!

Though we had earned His condemnation  

With sin by which we all were stained,
He died that we might have salvation,
Which by His grace we have obtained!

We see His beauty far beyond

This place so filled with sin and shame,
And when eternity has dawned,     
We shall be with Him without blame.

The Lord has said what He will do:

That’s all we really need to know.
His promises are always true:
He speaks the word, and it is so. 

It’s Christ in us, make no mistake,

Reflecting righteousness so well,
That whether we should sleep or wake,
We shall forever with Him dwell.

We thank You, Lord, for who You are:  

The Lamb of God who died for us. 
You drew us near, who once were far,
With beauty that is glorious!

Have Hope?

“O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake… The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer” (Psalm 6:4,9).  “Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death...  When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth… He that winneth souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:4,7,30).  “Behold, a King shall reign in righteousness… And a Man shall be as an Hiding Place from the wind, and a Covert from the tempest; as Rivers of water in a dry place, as the Shadow of a great rock in a weary land” (Isaiah 32:1,2).  “Sorrow not, even as others which have no hope... For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout… and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).

Our hope is built on righteousness

We surely know is not our own. 
For mercy’s sake our God will bless
Through Jesus Christ our Lord alone.

The Lord will hear the supplication

And prayer of those who are brought low. 
He is the Hope of our salvation,
The ONLY Hope that we can know.

He is our righteous King who reigns,

The Man who died to grant us grace.
No other hope on earth remains;
He is our only Hiding Place.

And though at times we feel sorrow,

We sorrow not like hopeless do:
We see eternity’s tomorrow,
Assured our Savior’s word is true. 

For He has promised to return

To gather all His own at last. 
Our hope is sure as we discern
The days of sorrow shall be passed.

Lord, since we know You’ll come again,

With hope that’s settled by Your Word, 
O make us fishers now of men,
To win them till Your shout is heard!

Shout of the Shielded

“Let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them: let them also that love Thy name be joyful in thee.  For Thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt Thou compass him as with a shield” (Psalm 5:11,12).  “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22).  “So will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also He will deliver it; and passing over He will preserve it.  Turn ye unto Him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted” (Isaiah 31:5,6).  “For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God?” (1 Thessalonians 1:9). 

Let all those who trust the Lord

Rejoice for what He has revealed:

He saves us from the judgment sword,
Defending us as with a shield. 
 
Let all those who love His name
Consider well His reputation
Who takes away our sin and shame
And clothes us with His great salvation.
 
Is not this far beyond a dream
That Christ would come to fight our strife?
Who would have thought He would redeem
Our souls by laying down His life?

Behold His care for Israel,

A nation He will yet defend: 
Though for a season they rebel,
He will restore them in the end. 

We plead with souls to not resist  

The Lord who bore our sin and sorrow.
The blessings that today exist
By death may be denied tomorrow.

Yet as we plead for those in sin,

We shout for joy to praise the Savior
As souls receive Him and begin
To know the safety of His favor.

O Lord, we lift our shout of praise,

Astonished by the love You’ve shown.
How rightly does Your grace amaze
The souls You shield as Your own!

 

Awesome Allowance

“Stand in awe… and be still… and put your trust in the LORD” (Psalm 4:4,5).  “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).  “For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:15).  “As we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4). 

Stand in awe of God, be still,

And trust in Him who has allowed

The privilege to declare His will:

Be ever grateful, never proud!

For wisdom has its true beginning

In recognizing God is holy.

The proud who choose to go on sinning

Shall not be gathered with the lowly.

Yet as our hearts have learned to fear

The Lord who gives us understanding,

How graciously He draws us near

To show the peace He is commanding! 

Now we who once were facing wrath,

Are sheltered here beneath His wings.

And thus He leads us in His path

To show the confidence He brings.

This quietness and confidence  

That weary, sinful souls have craved

Is found in Christ through His defense

Upon the cross by which we’re saved.

Now neither would we speak to please

The ears of those who would applaud,

Nor would we seek to thus appease

The souls who turn their backs on God.

Entrusted with the Gospel’s Word

That saves the souls of the those who turn,

We preach with joy the truth we’ve heard,

Which others, sadly, choose to spurn.

How awesome, Lord, is Your salvation,

And how unspeakable Your love!

Your Gospel is our proclamation

Entrusted to us from above.

Many Mistaken

“Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.  But Thou, O LORD, art a Shield for me; my Glory, and the Lifter up of mine head” (Psalm 3:2,3).  “Whoso findeth Me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD.  But he that sinneth against Me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate Me love death” (Proverbs 8:35).  “Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor Me, but have removed their heart far from Me… the wisdom of their wise men shall perish” (Isaiah 29:13,14).  “Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:9,10).

How many there are who mistakenly said

That there is no help from the Lord for my soul, 

But God is my Shield who lifts up my head,

My Glory, and He who alone makes me whole.

We turn to the Lord, and we thus find His favor  

That He won in battle by fighting our strife. 

All those who will turn to Christ Jesus the Savior

Shall find in His salvation, His mercy, and life.

But those who are turning their backs on the Lord

Are wronging their souls by rejecting salvation. 

They ought to be turning their faces toward

The Lord who alone can remove condemnation.

Yet many mistakenly now stand aloof

And offer to God their religious pretension.

It’s not as if God hasn’t offered them proof,  

But rather by choice they’re denied comprehension.

How great is the joy of the souls who have turned

To God from the idols that rendered them blind!

How sweet is the light which they now have discerned

Exposes the falsehood that darkened their mind! 

O Lord, we give thanks for the mercies You’ve shown, 

As You have declared we shall not be forsaken!

Our labor of love now is making You known,

Proclaiming Your truth to the many mistaken.

Raging vs. Resting

“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against His Anointed (i.e. Christ)” (Psalm 2:1,2).  “To whom He said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear… Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a Foundation a Stone, a tried Stone, a precious Corner Stone, a sure Foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste (i.e., shall be safe)” (Isaiah 28:12-16). 

Why would kings and nations rage

Against our Savior Jesus Christ?

We see it in this present age

And when our Lord was sacrificed.

But God will yet extend His rest

To every weary soul He wins.

In Christ the Lord we are refreshed,

Who cleanses us from all our sins.

The Gospel message is so plain  

Which many still refuse to hear! 

Shall not we count the lost insane

In view of judgment drawing near? 

There is a sure Foundation Stone:

His name is Jesus Christ our Lord.

Our rest is found in Him alone,  

Where we have fled from judgment’s sword.

How solid is this sure Foundation

Where we may rest with certainty.

In Christ the Lord we have salvation

That’s settled for eternity!

O Lord, we thank You for the grace

Which took away our sin and shame,

That You might be the Resting Place

Of all who call upon Your name.