Value of Volition

“I cried with my whole heart... save me, and I shall keep Thy testimonies” (Psalm 119:145,146).  “The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them” (Proverbs 20:12).  “Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall show thee” (Ezekiel 40:4).  “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish… How often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!” (Luke 13:3,34). 

Created things without volition  

Shall do whatever God commands. 
Creation acts on one condition:
The counsel of its Maker stands.

How different is humanity

With hearing ears and seeing eyes,
Yet so inclined to vanity
With hearts refusing to be wise! 

Volition daily is abused

By hearts that will not flee from wrath.
The will of God is thus refused
As many choose their sinful path.

The value of volition is

That we may trust in Christ the Lord.
Our Savior knows those who are His;  
He knows who willfully ignored. 

With eyes of faith, we see His love;  

With ears to hear, we heed His voice.
With hearts now set on things above,
We gladly exercise our choice!

Into this world we are sent

To plead with souls that God has cherished,
Yet warning those who won’t repent
As Noah did before they perished.   

How many times our Savior would

Have gathered those who yet rebel! 
It is by choice they have withstood
The Lord who saves our souls from hell. 

Lord Jesus Christ, in love You came

To bear our judgment on the cross. 
We know there is no other name
That saves a soul from endless loss!

So teach us, Lord, what we should do,

That hearts may wisely be reproved
And thereby put their trust in You
Before volition is removed.