The Carpenter

THE CARPENTER The carpenter was studying a piece of wood, Thinking about designing something nice and good. But a vision entered then into His mind About a day He’d take some wood down roads that wind. He chose a nail from off the shelf and lift His hand As the details of what He’d make began to plan. But then He thought about another nail He’d see When He would lay upon the cross of Calvary. You see, those long, long years He labored there In that small shop His foster father helped to care Were years that He kept looking on ahead To one large cross where He’d be left alone and dead. And when He stretched His arms at end of weary days, The shadow of a cross He formed in evening’s rays. The patterns that He drew with plain and simple lines Were just reminders of the plan of God Divine. For this young carpenter who labored hard and long Had left a home in heaven filled with angel throngs To bear the sins of all mankind upon the tree That those who trust might by His stripes be free. This carpenter was not an ordinary man; He was the Son of God in flesh and had a plan. He shed His blood upon the cross of Calvary And rose again to live on high in victory. Some day this one called Jesus Christ will come and say, “It’s time to resurrect mankind for judgment day.” He’ll not be coming, lengths of wood to nail and saw, But coming to create a world without a flaw. So while you’re busy on your job whate’er it be, Remember that this carpenter some day you’ll see. Can you say you are ready for this coming king And that you’ve been found faithful here in everything? Or will you stand in shame when He will read your fate: Eternity in hell because it’s now too late. You shunned His grace and tried to go some other way, And now you’ve come to final end of life’s short day. You have the chance while there’s still time to make your choice, So come to Him by faith today and lift your voice. Just simple faith in what He said and did for you-- There’s nothing hard and tedious you have to do. And when you do, you’ll find your life has meaning new Because you let the carpenter live there in you.