Testimony = a poem by Bob Vogel

Testimony

 

You know, I am a sinner.

And, don’t hear, “too” at the end of that

I am a sinner, but yes,

Like you.  Everyday, I am a sinner.

 

It makes me sad,

To be, because I want not to be

A sinner, like me, everyday, but how,

To be free, I know, really, I do.

 

But first, I must also tell you

That just because free is there

Does not allow me to go and do

What I do that I don’t want to

 

Oh, no, no, I do it in spite

Of the fact that I know better,

What I’ll say in a moment

Will set you free but it is not

 

A permanent hall pass, a get out

Of jail free card, the short line,

The lottery ticket, ace in the hole,

The whole enchilada, oh no, no

 

Because like all things, you know

For every action there is an equal

An opposite reaction, its not just true

In the physical world, God

 

Is consistent: things fall down when dropped,

Hands are slapped away from the cookie jar,

Ripples roll away from a pebble dropped in a pond,

Hate begets hate, gossip begets gossip, death begets death,

 

Truth is that truth is best and, sin

When confessed can be washed away,

I told you I would tell you how,

So, yes, washed away, and its free

 

Yes, its free, you can’t earn it, buy it,

Rent it, or pay it off, but there is a late fee,

That someone you don’t want to meet

Will collect after you die

 

Sorry, but you needed to know

It all, before you know the final truth

That your sin, like mine, can be washed away

And faith in Jesus Christ can save

 

Even me, so certainly, you, and He loves

Even me, so certainly, you, and can you just

Be loved? Can you just let Him love you?

Its okay, you deserve it.

 

I know, it doesn’t feel that way.

It feels like we are wayward children

Whose father would not forgive us

Even if we went to him to ask

 

Because we have done so many bad things

We can’t think of the bad things

Without feeling bad, so we try to hide

Us and them from Him: but don’t.

 

Really, you can’t, anyway.  If He is real,

And He is, He can see all things, so,

It is futile to hide what is already seen,

Just confess it and let it go.

 

And, if you were in front of your father now

And he knew all the bad things you did

Would you not go down on your knees in tears

And beg his forgiveness and, if you did…

 

Wouldn’t he forgive?  It is the same.

God forgives, just tell Him you want it

And why you need it and, it is okay to cry,

Because it hurts but it’s a happy

 

Hurt the kind of hurt that clears you head

And heart and life from burdens and you

Suddenly feel like you can jump up and run

And laugh, while the tears dry on your cheeks

 

So, go ahead, and cry and then laugh

Dance and celebrate, for as you are faithful

To confess, He is faithful to forgive,

Both of us, He is, and does, thankfully, Amen.