Eyes on the Prize (Part 1-15)

1.

 Oh, what a prize on which to fix our eyes

While lesser gods appeal with pleasure’s trance

And wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing cover lies

With what seems satisfying at first glance

Oh, what a prize for us to press toward

Where Heaven waits beyond this finish line

The High Calling of Jesus Christ our Lord

Will make each earthy sacrifice divine

Oh, what a Prize when all is said and done

If we have fought the fight, finished the race

And kept the faith, then triumph has begun

Henceforth, a crown of righteousness awaits

Oh, what a prize prayer warriors march toward

To hear ‘well done’ from Jesus Christ, the Lord

2.

To hear ‘well done’ from Jesus Christ the Lord

Ah, let this be our hunger and our thirst

To recognize love’s ultimate reward

Makes worth all battles we must suffer first

This day of grace, someday will cease its pleas

The glory of the Lord will dim the sun

The stars will fall like unripe figs from trees

Tossed in the wind; then judgement has begun

Ah, pray we do not wait to bow the knee

And confess with our tongues that He is Lord

Too late; consider now what Then will be

Eternity… who can God’s wrath afford

Then call on Him, the Giver of the Prize

Believe on Him, Author of paradise

3.

Believe on Him, author of paradise

The Way, The Truth, The Life, He came to brave

The horrors only Mercy justifies

On Calv’ry’s cross He died each soul to save

Thus, there is no excuse that will withstand

When grace has sealed the Door to Safety’s Ark

As in the days of Noah, once again

He beckons ‘Come’ before the day grows dark

When everyone will wail because of Him

Yes, even those who pierced Him will behold

Who IS, Who WAS, Who IS TO COME, amen

The Almighty death’s mys’try will unfold

Where keys to hell and Heaven crown the sword

Listen; this is too grave to be ignored

4.

Listen, this is too grave to be ignored

Forbid we jeer or scorn the King of kings

Or turn a deaf ear to His earnest Word

And thus deserve the verdict Judgement brings

When all who have repented and believed

Will witness what faith could not visualize

Hope’s inheritance of endless life received

In Heaven; the unveiling of the Prize

So lift your head, if any suffer, pray

If any receive comfort, praise His name

No one is exempt from Reckoning Day

Will we live for his glory or our shame?

This is no glib, loud-laughing matter, love

No works of man can ever be enough

5.

No works of man can ever be enough

To earn the right to by-pass Calvary

No head-knowledge or vantage-point can prove

Faith’s Rock of Ages and trust’s guarantee

Will we accept His gift; will we refuse

We are creations of free will, not bound

Love never forces but He lets us choose

Who we will serve; there is no middle ground

No, no, oh, do not turn away and laugh

As if this is some scheme that fool’s inspire

For God will clear The Threshing Floor of chaff

And it will feed an unquenchable fire

The wheat He gathers up; it will not burn

Will we be wheat or chaff at His return?

6.

Will we be wheat or chaff at His return?

The Crux of mortal kernel never dies

Will we believe or join the proud who spurn

The gift of God and exchange truth for lies

Come, let us reason while there is still time

There must be more to life than dust-to-dust

There must be more to these moments that chime

Than wish and whim and selfish wanderlust

Where joy would a pitiful prelude

To sorrow’s empty, awful agony

Surely even a poor fool must conclude

There must be more to this than you and me

Aha, small wonder the greatest gifts none can prove

Where now abide these three; faith, hope and love

7.

Where now abide these three; faith, hope and love

The greatest of these, love; God’s All in all

As we who love and have been loved thus prove

What atheistic views seek to annul

For God is love; His Authenticity

In every tear, smile, wave, hug, cuddle, kiss

So we have glimpses of Him whether we

Believe in Him or deny who He IS

His divine essence no one can escape

No skin is thick enough all love to shun

For no one thirsts and hungers after hate

Love made us in His image; every one

Far more we are than a flesh and blood urn

Love is the common quaff for which we yearn

8.

Love is the common quaff for which we yearn

Its second miles and smiles are not in vain

God sent His Son for only He could earn

What only Love’s perfection could attain

Eternal life; for it is not love’s will

That any perish when time’s grace expires

But that all would believe while there is still

Redemption and exemption from hell’s fires

And whosoever calls on Him in truth

His perfect love will, in no wise, cast out

From aged patriarch to tender youth

He beckons come, believe and do not doubt

Love groans and longs to flings wide Heaven’s gates

But too many still wander…so He waits

9.

But, too many still wander so He waits

A Groom eager to meet His precious bride

Where the table has room for far more plates

It is His will that no one is denied

Entrance into the grandest Banquet Hall

But there is just one Way to enter in

Through Jesus’ blood that flowed for one and all

And frees us from the curse of death through sin

Oh, pray that glorious cleansing we have borne

A seat reserved in Heaven for that day

So when the Bridegroom comes we will not mourn

And be at last forever turned away

Doomed to the place each graceless Outcast goes

Rejection for the rejection we chose

10.

Rejection for the rejection we chose

God, rich in mercy, therefore lingers on

The devil rages, roaring to and fro

Knowing his numbered days are almost done

He tackles us, whoever we may be

Deception has no vice it will try

And if we do not stand on guard then we

Might fall prey to some sumptuous little lie

But if we ask of Him it will be giv’n

And if we seek from Him then we will find

And if we knock He, the door will open

No excuses for we, still sound of mind

If we choose to refuse, knowing the stakes

To disregard the love that mediates

11.

…to disregard the love that mediates

Twixt God and man is then to worship sin

Look, here is He whose workmanship creates

The wonders of the world and all therein

Where oft we stand amazed and gaze on He

Who wows us with His Everlasting care

See how the morning unveils land and sea

How spring returns to clothe limbs stark and bare

How rain falls on the just and unjust too

How hope is rekindled in human breast

After the storm of sorrow has passed through

See how, after day’s toil comes slumber’s rest

Then, to disdain what no man can compose

  Justly, befits us for Denial’s woes

12.

Justly befits us for Denial’s Woes

For God so loves the world His kind heart breaks

His Hand that hung the stars and overthrows

The enemy must wonder what it takes

To wake the one who slumbers without fear

When Judgement Day is too near to ignore

And Time, for all its tokens we revere

Will disappear like mist and be no more

He does not shake us to make us believe

We have His Word; ah, what more do we need

What else save His Appearing would achieve

Reaction that more than a few will heed

Oh bow your head, believers, gather where

The devil cannot thwart love’s humble prayer

13.

The devil cannot thwart love’s humble prayer

Here is a bulwark, safe from evil’s darts

And here the hope of nations feels the flare

That finds its way into man’s heart of hearts

Do not grow weary, saints-in-waiting, pray

There is no barrier prayer cannot scale

No prayer of love will ever lose its way

For God is love and love will never fail

Then do not faint or doubt in love’s reward

Remember, Jesus said, blessed are the meek

Know this, that if you labour in the Lord

Then He will make you strong when you are weak

Lift up your weary head, do not despair

God never gives us more than He can bear

14.

God never gives us more than He can bear

Nor will He leave us half-way through the race

His forgiveness, is a thorough affair

Then lean on Him; trust his sufficient grace

Press on; Triumph does not precede the Goal

The prize waits when the finish line is crossed

For all are athletes with a Living Soul

God’s love desires not one ‘runner’ lost

So He keeps vigil over one and all

Counts cups of water given in his name

He hears us call, He helps us when we fall

A friend who does not change; always the Same

Where Heaven is for real; no compromise

Oh, what a Prize on which to fix our eyes

15.
Master Sonnet
(first line of each preceding sonnet)

Oh, what a prize on which to fix our eyes

To hear ‘well done’ from Jesus Christ the Lord

Believe on Him, author of paradise

Listen, this is too grave to be ignored

No works of man can ever be enough

Will we be wheat or chaff at His return?

Where now abide these three; faith, hope and love

Love is the common quaff for which we yearn

But, too many still wander so He waits

Rejection for the rejection we chose

…to disregard the love that mediates

Justly befits us for Denial’s Woes

The devil cannot thwart love’s humble prayer

God never gives us more than He can bear

© Janet Martin