Amen

The following poem is by Adrian Plass. I felt it appropriate to share it on Good Friday, it is a challenge to us to really considfer the cost of discipleship and take up our own cross:

When I became a Christian I said, Lord, now fill me in,

Tell me what I'll suffer in this world of shame and sin.

He said, your body may be killed, and left to rot and stink,

Do you still want to follow me? I said Amen - I think.

I think Amen, Amen I think, I think I say Amen,

I'm not completely sure, can you just run through that again?

You say my body may be killed and left to rot and stink,

Well, yes, that sounds terrific, Lord, I say Amen - I think.

But, Lord, there must be other ways to follow you, I said,

I really would prefer to end up dying in my bed.

Well, yes, he said, you could put up with the sneers and scorn and spit,

Do you still want to follow me? I said Amen - a bit.

A bit Amen, Amen a bit, a bit I say Amen,

I'm not entirely sure, can we just run through that again?

You say I could put up with sneers and also scorn and spit,

Well, yes, I've made my mind up, and I say, Amen - a bit.

Well I sat back and thought a while, then tried a different ploy,

Now, Lord, I said, the Good book says that Christians live in joy.

That's true he said, you need the joy to bear the pain and sorrow,

So do you want to follow me, I said, Amen - tomorrow.

Tomorrow, Lord, I'll say it then, that's when I'll say Amen,

I need to get it clear, can I just run through that again?

You say that I will need to joy, to bear the pain and sorrow,

Well, yes, I think I've got it straight, I'll say Amen - tomorrow.

He said, Look, I'm not asking you to spend an hour with me

A quick salvation sandwich and a cup of sanctity,

The cost is you, not half of you, but every single bit,

Now tell me, will you follow me? I said Amen - I quit.

I'm very sorry Lord I said, I'd like to follow you,

But I don't think religion is a manly thing to do.

He said forget religion then, and think about my Son,

And tell me if you're man enough to do what he has done.
Are you man enough to see the need, and man enough to go,

Man enough to care for those whom no one wants to know,

Man enough to say the thing that people hate to hear,

To battle through Gethsemane in loneliness and fear.

And listen! Are you man enough to stand it at the end,

The moment of betrayal by the kisses of a friend,

Are you man enough to hold your tongue, and man enough to cry?

When nails break your body-are you man enough to die?

Man enough to take the pain, and wear it like a crown,

Man enough to love the world and turn it upside down,

Are you man enough to follow me, I ask you once again?

I said, Oh Lord, I'm frightened, but I also said Amen.

Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen; Amen, Amen, Amen,

I said, Oh Lord, I'm frightened, but I also said, Amen.

I just want to say thank you to Jesus for being man enough to pass through Gethsemane... to endure the cross for salvation.... mine and yours. The cross has said it all. As Jesus said, it is finished.... completely completed... the great Amen.

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?" Luke 9:23-25

As I said the other day, enjoy your life... but enjoy it in context. The lives we live today are merely the tip of an iceberg that runs into eternity. You cannot see eternity, but it is there nonetheless. Don't sacrifice that which is eternal for that which is temporary. The Bible speaks of wisdom being supreme and that though it may cost you all you have, it is worth attaining. How much more so is salvation? Accepting the free redemption offered by Christ is the highest wisdom.

For he is no fool

Who gives what he cannot keep

To gain what he cannot lose