The Gift of Life

Life is a gift, was a phrase often repeated in Saturday's message at a funeral I attended.

To God, our worship’s wonder and profound humility

For He saw fit to grant the gift of life to you and me

Then in return the least and best that we may strive to bring

Is to make each new day a gift befitted for a King

To God, the Author of Hope’s Steadfast anchor for the soul

Where mankind’s gift of life is not fate’s free-fall or sink hole

But He who gives and takes offers to all who will believe

A gift of life that does not end with the last breath we breathe

To God, who tucks man’s gift of life within Time’s envelope

Where soon the husk-of live-laugh-love is winnowed from its Hope

Then, all that remains when that which sustains our breath is spent

Is a most sacred face-to-face reckoning appointment

To God who cannot follow; Time’s Supreme Authority

Bids all who hold the gift of life to ‘come and follow Me’

Lest we forfeit His gift of Everlasting life for lesser boast

And in some vain attempt to find we lose what matters most

To God who does not answer to anyone; He is God

The Author and the Finisher of all that we applaud

Where He, though Lord of all, suffered deep loss for sinner’s gain

And grants after this gift of Life His gift of life again

© Janet Martin

Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument. So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath. Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and steadfast. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

 Heb.6:16-20