Beholding the heavens,
I now understand
God measured them all
with the breadth of His hand.
He fashioned the trillions
of stars in the sky,
the sun and the moon
He established on high.
All heaven and earth,
which He made in six days,
Show daily and nightly
His merit of praise.
So wondrously caring
is God ev’ry day,
Creating, sustaining
my life ev’ry way.
Each breath I intake,
ev’ry beat of my heart,
All pleasures well-tasted
are His to impart.
Indeed, for such blessings
He should be adored
And honored supremely
as eminent Lord.
Yet I could not fail God
much worse than I’ve done.
Ignoring His glory,
for mine I have run.
I’ve spurned a life
under His wisdom and care.
Begrudged Him the throne,
and pretended me there.
A prideful and lust-laden
path I have trod,
Transgressing all Ten great
Commandments of God.
But wonder of wonders,
so great to behold,
My God chose to save me
with method so bold.
What I could not render,
God fully has done,
And doing, He rendered it
all through His Son.
He sent Christ to die
on the cross for my sin
To suffer my anguish,
my pardon to win.
That Jesus was willing
His life to lay down,
Be scourged and insulted
and wear thorny crown
For one such as I
who had spited God so,
Amazes and blesses
and makes me to know
That greater a lover
is no man than He,
Who laid down His life
for a sinner like me.
So now God relates
to me only with grace –
The former wrath banished
without any trace!
And each day I’m made
a bit more as I should,
His grace using all things
to render me good.
Yes, even in trials
God’s grace abounds too
And does me the good
He assigns it to do.
So this is my story;
ongoing it is.
How shall I thank God
for this gospel of His?
A gift that keeps giving,
the gospel confers
The bounty of heaven
each time I rehearse.
Deserve it? I don’t
on my holiest day;
But this is salvation,
and herein I’ll stay.
This poem is an excerpt from A Gospel Primer for Christians: Learning to See the Glories of God’s Love by Milton Vincent.
May these words invite you to reflect upon your salvation, and treasure your Saviour, this Easter.
