[13]

"The man Christ Jesus."

—I Tim. 2: 5.

There's a Man in the Glory I know very well.
I have known Him for years, and His goodness can tell:
One day in His mercy He knocked at my door,
And seeking admission, knocked many times o'er;
But when I went to Him and stood face to face,
And listened awhile to His story of grace,
How He suffered for sinners and put away sin,
I heartily, thankfully welcomed Him in.

We have lived on together a number of years,
And that's why I have neither doubtings nor fears.
For my sins are all hid in the depths of the sea,
They were carried down there by the Man on the tree.
I am often surprised why the lip should be curled,
When I speak of my Lord to the man of the world,
And notice with sorrow his look of disdain
When I tell him that Jesus is coming again.

He seems so content with his houses and gold,
While despising the Ark like the people of old;
And yet, at His coming, I'm sure he would flee
Like the man in the garden, who ate of the tree.
I cannot but think it is foolish of souls
To put all their money in "bags which have holes."
To find, in the day that is coming apace,
How lightly they valued the "riches of grace."

I wake in the morning with thoughts of His love
Who is living for me in the glory above.
Every minute expecting He'll call me away,
And that keeps me bright all the rest of the day.
But the moments speed forward and on comes the noon,
Yet still I am singing, "He'll come very soon."
And thus I am watching from morning to night,
And pluming my wings to be ready for flight!

As fond as I am of His work in the field,
I would let go the plough— I would lay down the shield;
The weapons of service I would put on the shelf,
And the sword in its scabbard, to be with Himself.
But I'll work on with pleasure while keeping my eyes
On the end of the field, where standeth the prize.
I will work for His glory, that when we shall meet,
I may have 1 large sheaf to lay down at His feet.
That He, too, with pleasure, His fruit may review;
Is the Man in Glory a stranger to you?

A stranger to Jesus? What? Do you not know
He is washing poor sinners much whiter than snow?
Have you lived in a land where the Bible's unknown,
That you don't know the Man who is now on the throne?
All! Did you but know half His beauty and power,
You would not be a stranger, another half hour.
I have known Him so long that I'm able to say
The very worst sinners He'll not turn away.
The question of sin I adoringly see,
The Man in the Glory has settled for me!
And as to my footsteps, whatever the scene,
The Man in the Glory is keeping me clean;
And therefore I'm singing from morning to night,
The Man in the Glory is all my delight.

- Author Unknown.