31 January 2014

giving no power to darkness

I had more than four decades behind me
before I came to faith, forty-three years
of directing my own story
comedy, tragedy, horror film
I laughed at the idea of sin, hell
didn't worry me, I joked
at least there I would finally be
warm

my dive into Jesus was fast
hard and deep
total submersion, much like baptism
even before I took that step 
of public declaration

acknowledgement of my filth
and forgiveness of the same
walked hand in hand
the exchange of my wretchedness
for His righteousness
a transaction solid and complete
abundant grace
that still brings me to tears

not because of who I was, or am
or will be, but only because
of Who He Is
nothing I can do to make myself better
but surrender to what He has
already done

so I need not think long about sin
I need not give too much power 
to the darkness, no
I won't deny His sacrifice
I instead choose freedom
choose light, choose life

But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ. Romans 3:21-24 The Message



Diana Trautwein - Living the Questions

joining Diana who asks What’s with all this talk about 'sin?'

 

3 comments:

Jody Lee Collins said...

Karin, these lines, "not because of who I was, or am
or will be, but only because
of Who He Is
nothing I can do to make myself better
but surrender to what He has
already done" are so powerful.
Our home group is camping in Romans lately...read Chapter 7 last night.

But God.... Hallelujah!

ElenaLee (Barn Swallow) said...

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing this glimpse of your story.

Joy Lenton said...

Karin, this a powerful declaration, "so I will not think long about sin
I need not give too much power
to the darkness, no
I won't deny His sacrifice
I instead choose freedom
choose light, choose life"
Oh yes, me too!
Thank you for this lovely poetic testimony. Blessings :) x