The Portrait
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth... Ecclesiastes 12:1 KJV
Once, there was an artist, who would paint the Savior’s face,
Portraying His great splendor and benevolent grace.
The artist found a model with facial features fair,
And touched his brush to canvass, painting the Lord with care.
His eyes with compassion and his face with love,
Glowed with radiance, lighted from above.
Then for years, the artist was applauded for his art,
And he thought how love binds together, but sin pulls apart.
He’d paint a second portrait, to also share the wall,
Contrasting our need for Jesus, without whom we fall.
Searching in back alleys, and barrooms on skid row,
He finally found a vagrant, the lowest of the low,
With eyes like road maps of red jagged lines,
And a face laced with etchings, seamed with tracks of time.
He would pose for the artist, so they agreed upon a fee,
Enough for a bottle, and another drinking spree.
But when he saw the Savior, framed there on the wall,
He fell upon his knees, and began to bawl.
With his shoulders shaking, his eyes showing pain,
He said, amidst his sobbing, “I have lived so vain.
“When I saw Christ’s portrait, all at once I felt faint.”
“Come on!” said the artist, “Stop sobbing so I can paint.”
“I can’t pose for you, Mister! It just wouldn’t be right.
For I carry a secret that haunts me day and night.”
“Forget it,” said the artist, “and stand up like a man,
Let’s get on with this painting, and do what we began.”
“No,” replied the vagrant, “But I must tell you the truth,
It was me who posed for Christ’s picture, when I was but a youth!”
“Wait a minute,” said the artist, “this cannot be.
That man portrayed innocence, health, and purity.”
“Yes,” replied the vagrant, “but that was way back then.
Later I lived a loathsome life, full of wretched sin.
“I made bad decisions, and now I clearly see.
Satan promised happiness, but he lied to me.
Here I stand unworthy, with tears upon my face,
While in the Savior’s eyes I see amazing grace.”
Live your life I such a way that Jesus can be seen in you.
Copyright © James Tate | Year Posted 2010
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