Sin's Solvent

A High Demand

I looked and saw a Light so true,

  That covered blushes to my face,

And made me cower in the shadow with shame,

  Yea, shame for my sinful race.

It was no maiden blush-indeed!

  My heart quickened it was true,

But it was because the righteous Man I loved,

  His footsteps mockingly saying, “they come not for you.”

I cowered in the doorway,

  Yet snatched His face, and locked it in my heart.

For though how could He love a worm as I?

  My heart so pierced with worldly dart.

But as I lay, in misery,

  My Love did not pass me by,
But drew me up, and smiling said,

  “Maiden, why do you sigh?”

But I sprang from His touch, so gentle and pure,

  Yet burning as if from flame.

For that very reason; His righteousness,

  Kept me from even speaking His Name!

So I whispered, not daring to up look,

  And see His shining face,

But said, in sadness, oh how deep?

  “Oh, sir, I cannot accept Your grace.

For how high a demand, oh yes, how true!

  To offer up my heart so ill,

So scarred, so deep, so black with sin,

  Yet longing to find You still.”

I then dared, to see His face,

  The face I love so well.

And found only pity without contempt,

  And into His lightening eyes I fell.

He spoke of love, so deep and true,

  A solvent for my dark sin,

Healing oil to purge, and hyssop pure;

  His mansion I would dwell therein.

So I whispered to my Love,

  so deeply aware of my sin,

“Sir, to accept You, must not I be pure?

  And if not, could I ever come in?

Mistake me not, Sir, (my Love so dear),

  I would come into Your mansion above,

If a mire of despair and a book of sins,

  Did not overshadow my love.”

But again, I dared to see His face,

  And look upon Those eyes,

That told me that I am welcomed there,

  And to dry my tears and ease my sighs.

He set a crown on my head,

  And His throne He took me to,

But with joy, not pain, I threw down my crown,

 And cried out, “My Lord, it is You!”

--Chandler Hamby