Separate Sorrows

"And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.... Then Judas, which had betrayed Him... brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned, in that I have betrayed innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? See thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself" (Matthew 26:75, 27:3-5). "Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death" (2 Corinthians 7:10).

There is an endless separation
Between the world's sorrow
And the repentance to salvation
With joy upon the morrow.

We see how plain the difference is
As sorrows are explored:
Our Shepherd knows each one of His,
And they shall be restored.

There is a sharp, contrasting case
In Judas and in Peter:
For Peter sought the Lord and grace,
But Judas sought for neither.

For Judas turned to vain religion,
To reconcile thus,
But heard their answer of derision:
Now "what is that to us?"

O how gracious is our Savior
That calls to hearts today
To come to Him, to seek His favor,
And find Him while we may!

We thank You, Lord, that You have shown
Repentance that is true,
That drew us to approach Your throne
And put our trust in You.