Power or Powder

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7).  “Open thy mouth for… the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction” (Proverbs 31:8).  “Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The Stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the Head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?... And whosoever shall fall on this Stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder” (Matthew 21:42,44). 

The law of the Lord has the might

To lead trembling souls to the Savior,

To turn them from darkness to light

Exposing their sinful behavior. 

The Scriptures are opening eyes

Which once had been hopelessly blind. 

The simple are thereby made wise

With truth that enlightens the mind.

The Gospel of Christ has the power

To save those who humbly repent. 

We’re called to go forth in this hour

To preach where our Savior has sent. 

We open our mouth with instruction

To those on the path that is broad,

Persuading those led to destruction

To turn in repentance to God. 

It’s time now to make the truth known

Regarding the great consequence

To those who refuse Christ, the Stone,

Rejecting their only Defense. 

All those who resist Him will stumble

In darkness wherein they shall fall. 

Yet still there is hope for the humble

Who fear, and upon the Lord call. 

Alas, there is coming a day

When hope shall forever be gone

As those, still refusing to pray,

Have entered eternity’s dawn. 

In that day all hope shall be hushed,

When sinners rejecting God’s grace

As powder forever are crushed;

How dreadful at last is that place! 

Lord, thank You for walking that path,

Becoming that Stone once rejected,

To rescue our souls from the wrath

That otherwise must be expected. 

O Lord, we are living in days

When mockers are still growing louder.

We show what the Gospel conveys

Regarding both power and powder! 

Reviewing the Reasons

“I will love thee, O LORD… The LORD is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my Strength, in whom I will trust; my Buckler, and the Horn of my Salvation, and my High Tower... Who is worthy to be praised” (Psalm 18:2,3).  “Every word of God is pure: He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him” (Proverbs 30:5).  “The Son of man came… to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). 

How many reasons can I see

To love my Savior, Christ the Lord? 

The list goes on eternally, 

Which in His Word, may be explored! 

My Rock, my Fortress, my Defender,

My God, my Strength in whom I trust,

Now guards me with His love so tender

And shall when kingdoms turn to dust. 

He is the Horn of my Salvation

Who thrusts my enemy away,

My Tower, high in elevation,

And there is so much more to say!

He shields me with every word,

For not one promise ever fails. 

He renders every doubt absurd,

For every prophecy prevails! 

My Savior came in His due season,

To pay my ransom’s price in full. 

He loved me!  That’s the only reason

He laid His life down for my soul! 

Lord, thank You for Your wondrous love

Compelling You to come to earth,

Descending from Your throne above

To Bethlehem in lowly birth. 

The reasons, Lord, for loving You

Continue evermore to mount

As I consider and review

Your mercies, more than I count!

In view of reasons that exhaust

My comprehension of Your ways,

Lord, help me to persuade the lost,

To thus repent and give You praise! 

Muting the Murmuring

“Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers… twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod… And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from Me the murmurings of the children of Israel... And it came to pass, that on the morrow… the rod of Aaron… brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds” (Numbers 17:2-8).  “As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness” (Psalm 17:15). 

The Lord reproved the rebels when

Their murmurings were very great,

For He resolved their problem then

With proof they could not duplicate. 

In Moses’ day when they complained

Regarding those they thought should rule,

The Lord Almighty then ordained

The means to silence every fool. 

Since Aaron was ordained by God,

The Lord showed this was absolute,

By calling for each prince’s rod,

To see which blossomed, bearing fruit. 

These rods were sticks which had no life,

So this would take a miracle,

And thereby God would end the strife

And murmuring that plagued the soul.

Let murmuring forever cease:

Our Lord has risen from the grave!

He is the Author of our peace;  

There is no other who can save! 

Behold the glory of the tomb

Where Christ had promised He would rise. 

The Lord has robbed the grave of gloom;

Upon His triumph fix your eyes! 

We know when we shall yet awake

That we shall see Him as He is,

For every soul He saves He’ll make

In that same likeness which is His. 

O Lord, You surely made it plain

That You alone could be our Savior! 

The world’s blindness is insane

That still rebels against Your favor! 

We know, Lord, there is no defense

For rebels whom You have refuted 

Who yet will bear the consequence

When murmurings have all been muted!

Lord, till that day, we show Your proof

To souls in jeopardy today,

So they may no more stand aloof,

And trust in You, as yet they may! 

Running to our Rescue

“Aaron… ran into the midst of the congregation… and made an atonement for the people.  And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed” (Numbers 16:47,48).  “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope” (Psalm 16:9).  “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost” (Matthew 18:11).  

It was through sin the plague began

Which would destroy the congregation,

But Aaron, with atonement, ran

And stayed the plague with God’s salvation. 

He stood between the dead and living,

And thus portrayed our Lord and Savior. 

This illustration God was giving

Foreshadowed thus His saving favor.

The plague of sin is in our midst;

Yet many will not count the cost!

The Lord, whom sinners still resist,

Now stands between the saved and lost!

How greatly does my heart rejoice,

My soul and flesh are glad as well,

That Christ has offered me the choice

To trust in Him, escaping hell! 

For me my Lord was sacrificed;

There was no other saving path. 

I praise my Savior Jesus Christ

Who ran to rescue me from wrath!

O Lord, I see You stand between

The souls who have eternal life

And those in death, unsaved, unclean,

Exchanging peace for hopeless strife! 

O Lord, I thank You that You came

To save me from eternal loss!

You ran to rescue me from shame

By dying on that awful cross! 

Lord, help me now to run the race

With patience, yet with urgency,

To show the lost Your saving grace

That rescues us eternally!