Perfecting vs. Perishing

“Though the LORD be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly: but the proud He knoweth afar off… The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth forever” (Psalm 138:6-8).  “I will say to them which were not My people, Thou art My people; and they shall say, Thou art my God” (Hosea 2:23).  “Jesus said… I am the Resurrection, and the Life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die” (John 11:25).

The Lord is reigning high above,

And all His ways are true and holy,
Yet He is looking down in love
And has respect unto the lowly.

The Lord has seen the lofty eyes

And proud hearts whom He will resist
As they profess that they are wise,
Pretending God does not exist.

It’s not religion they’re rejecting

As they assert their proud opinion,
But God Himself, who is perfecting
The souls who trust in His dominion.

The contrast, then, could not be greater

Between those God is cherishing
And those rejecting their Creator,
Who by their pride are perishing!

Yet God in mercy seeks to save

The perishing He has reproved
Before they reach a Christless grave
And all their hope is thus removed. 

He bids them now to cease from strife

Against the Lord through their rejection,
For He would give to them His life,
Perfected in His resurrection.

Lord, show us how to reach the lost

So they may turn to You today,
As they perceive the awful cost
The perishing at last must pay!

O Lord, we are Your people now

Who wait for You to come again.
Perfect in us the knowledge how
To be more like You until then.