Ingredients (Romans 8:28f)

Now, “All things work”, the Scripture says quite clear,
“For good, to those He’s called, so have no fear”
A line which we debate with endless glee,
Then strut the streets the victors which we be.

A fellow said in church the other day,
“I found a way to think on it, I say:
Like items which taste bad in of themselves,
When mixed to make a cake they come out swell”.

And yes, I guess that’s true, but this I’d add,
There’s lots in life that’s vicious, nasty, sad,
Demonic, not your nicer sort of stuff –
I’ve seen my share – those words are not enough –

For me, at least – more like the guy who flew
His plane at Mach 1, first time – no one knew
If it would shake apart as line was crossed;
It didn’t – ’cause of him our fear was lost.

When one is in a plane which shakes about,
And holds the course despite the rising doubt,
Assurance of the course held clear to view,
He does not deviate, but pushes through –

That’s faith – not in some cake he cannot see,
Which turns his trembling flight to party glee,
But rather, faith in One who keeps his soul
Firm in His hand wherever he might go.

For lots of things in life are not so good,
And mitigating cakes are understood;
But they don’t carry freight at crossing time,
When shaking of the plane our faith refines.

Sometimes there is no “reason” things go bad;
Sometimes no silver lining when we’re sad;
Sometimes “pure  ____-ing evil’s” what we face,
When we must push on through in any case.

I have a problem when excuse is made;
Some mitigating factor’s way is laid –
To me it lets the evil slip on through,
And leaves a churning hate in me and you.

To me, God’s word to us resolves the pain:
“Leave vengeance in my hands this time, again;
The perpetrators of this ugly mess,
Full punished are – move on in tenderness”.

Christ took the hit for them, no holding back;
Their punishment He took, there was no slack;
When viewed from in their lives, they’ve been set free;
From here the cost to Christ was plain to see.

An icon of that crucifixion day,
Or broken bread as sacrament today,
Declares to me no mitigating cake,
But ugly end – He died – all this to take.

The question, now that we are freed to go –
“What will you, with your freedom, someday know
Of better life – new ending to your yarn –
Short story’s twist to bitterness from harm?”

Freed up to pass through barriers of sound,
Which shake the rivets loose when life around
Screams out, “Drop back, there is no saving way”,
We hold the course because He did that day.

For, “win” or “lose” is not the issue here,
But faithfulness when vision is not clear;
God honors that, can work through that, I say,
If we will hold His course when comes our day.

navigation