Forgotten Light of First Love

“Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom… The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Proverbs 18:1,10).  “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works” (Revelation 2:4,5). 

The days and months have turned to years

Since heaven heard my earnest cry;

I sought the Lord with growing fears

That I was not prepared to die. 

With great desire in my heart

I had begun my separation;

I saw my friends from me depart

Who didn’t like my conversation.

I turned my conversation then

To God, the One I did not know.

I could not speak with mortal men

Who only cared for things below. 

I did not want religious views  

Which offered only more confusion,

But what else was there left to choose

With evidence for a conclusion?

These musings here reflect a taste

Of awkward prayers which heaven heard. 

I wondered if they were a waste:

Then God responded with His Word! 

For someone then invited me

(When in the Navy, in Japan)

To hear the truth that set me free

With evidence that showed God’s plan. 

My Savior’s name was like a tower 

Wherein I fled and thus was saved! 

Receiving Christ, He gave His power

Of His salvation which I craved. 

How well I can recall first love! 

My Savior took me by the hand

And fixed my heart on things above

To show the blessings He had planned. 

He showed me also then His cross,

And all the sorrows that He bore

To purge my sin away as dross,

And thus I loved Him even more. 

Salvation never can be lost,

But first love for my Lord can wane:

If I forget to count the cost

My Savior paid, I live in vain!

O Christ my Lord, I was a stranger,

But You gave me a second birth; 

Yet now I face the subtle danger  

Of waning love for You on earth! 

No wonder, Lord, You gave us bread

With wine that we may thus recall

The life You gave, the blood You shed,

And love that made You give Your all.

Lord, soon we’ll see You face to face,

Without a blemish, fully pardoned.

O keep us from the great disgrace

Of first love left with hearts thus hardened! 

Lord, stir in us the first love flame

When love was burning in its youth,

And send us forth to now proclaim

The Gospel of Your saving truth!