Apologetic
13th July 2005, 02:26 AM
There are two words I can never learn, never fully believe, never remember: Lost and finished.
There was a man who had the usual yearning of a Christian, not only for faith, but also to be able to find comfort within himself. He was struck down for a long time and prayed: "Oh, how unworthy and sinful I am! Å how wretched, cold and dead! Oh what lack of power! No prayers answered that God will deliver me from my sins! And no true grief over my sin, no true seriousness in me! Oh, how awful!"
This way, he had sunken deep down into himself, walking in darkness and doubt.
Finally, the Lord spoke to him in a special way, this time in a dream. He dreamt he was about to sing hymns with some friends. The book of songs was very old, and the color was brownish yellow from age. When the book was opened, he saw the song they were about to sing in to coloumns down the page. It was a long song, old-fashioned, but clear.
What does he see? When he starts to look at the words themselves, and starts singing, the entire song consists of one word, being repeated over and over:
Finished! Finished! Finished!
He turns the page and looks again, met by the same word: Finished! Finished! Finished!
And another page, the word fills this unending song: Finished! Finished! Finished!
That was the end of the dream, but the precious word "Finished!", which the eternal choir in heaven praise and exalt, was coming alive to his soul. And the Holy Spirit revealed it to him this way:
Everything, everything you should've been and should've done - Jesus has finished it, - finished it for you!
Everything, and exactly that which was impossible to the law, God did it! He came to save that which was lost.
Everything in us is lost, but everything is finished in Christ!
But then I should really fear God? -Yes! But it is finished!
I should at least feel true remorse and have true prayer? - It is finished!
But then I should genuinly love God? - It is finished!
What of my unending sin and disobediance? - It is finished!
But my ungratefulness and slowness...? - It is finished!
Now he cries tears of love to such a God. And now he knows in his heart what truly creates a new spirit and sactification.
Merciful God! Open up this holy secret to my soul! And write with big, burning letters these words to the eyes of my soul:
"Christ: End of the law. Everything, everything in us is lost - everything is finished in Christ!"
This is where I want to stay in silence,
This is where it is wonderful to live.
This is where You promise to give
rest for the weary soul.
This is where, in all kinds of weather,
it's safe to throw the anchor,
My shelter and my nest
even in my death
C.O.Rosenius
There was a man who had the usual yearning of a Christian, not only for faith, but also to be able to find comfort within himself. He was struck down for a long time and prayed: "Oh, how unworthy and sinful I am! Å how wretched, cold and dead! Oh what lack of power! No prayers answered that God will deliver me from my sins! And no true grief over my sin, no true seriousness in me! Oh, how awful!"
This way, he had sunken deep down into himself, walking in darkness and doubt.
Finally, the Lord spoke to him in a special way, this time in a dream. He dreamt he was about to sing hymns with some friends. The book of songs was very old, and the color was brownish yellow from age. When the book was opened, he saw the song they were about to sing in to coloumns down the page. It was a long song, old-fashioned, but clear.
What does he see? When he starts to look at the words themselves, and starts singing, the entire song consists of one word, being repeated over and over:
Finished! Finished! Finished!
He turns the page and looks again, met by the same word: Finished! Finished! Finished!
And another page, the word fills this unending song: Finished! Finished! Finished!
That was the end of the dream, but the precious word "Finished!", which the eternal choir in heaven praise and exalt, was coming alive to his soul. And the Holy Spirit revealed it to him this way:
Everything, everything you should've been and should've done - Jesus has finished it, - finished it for you!
Everything, and exactly that which was impossible to the law, God did it! He came to save that which was lost.
Everything in us is lost, but everything is finished in Christ!
But then I should really fear God? -Yes! But it is finished!
I should at least feel true remorse and have true prayer? - It is finished!
But then I should genuinly love God? - It is finished!
What of my unending sin and disobediance? - It is finished!
But my ungratefulness and slowness...? - It is finished!
Now he cries tears of love to such a God. And now he knows in his heart what truly creates a new spirit and sactification.
Merciful God! Open up this holy secret to my soul! And write with big, burning letters these words to the eyes of my soul:
"Christ: End of the law. Everything, everything in us is lost - everything is finished in Christ!"
This is where I want to stay in silence,
This is where it is wonderful to live.
This is where You promise to give
rest for the weary soul.
This is where, in all kinds of weather,
it's safe to throw the anchor,
My shelter and my nest
even in my death
C.O.Rosenius