I'D RATHER DIE
(July '82 I surrendered my life to Christ, and was born again)
IF I HAD TO LIVE AGAIN
AS BEFORE JULY '82:
TO LIVE AN UNSURRENDERED LIFE,
I'D RATHER MY DAYS BE THROUGH.
I'D RATHER DIE THAN SAY GOODBYE,
AND LIVE WITHOUT GOD'S POWER.
TO LEAVE BEHIND THIS FRIEND OF MINE,
WOULD BE MY DARKEST HOUR.
THE JOY AND PEACE BROUGHT TO MY LIFE,
SINCE MY CROSS I'VE CARRIED;
IF LOST THROUGH SOME SELFISH MOVE,
I'D JUST AS SOON BE BURIED.
I'VE SEEN THE MEN IN GOD'S DEAR BOOK
WHO HAD AND LOST GOD'S FAVOR;
LORD HELP ME TO LIVE AND DIE,
WITHOUT THAT TASTE TO SAVOR.
THE VERY NIGHT I GAVE MY ALL
THE PRECIOUS SPIRIT CAME
TO FILL MY HEART, SOUL, AND MIND;
TO NEVER BE THE SAME.
MY FRIENDS ALL CHANGED, MY LIFE WAS NEW:
NEW PURPOSE, DREAMS, DESIRE.
WINNING SOULS WAS NOW THE LIFE,
MY SOUL WAS SET ON FIRE.
I SAW MY SCHOOLMATES TURN TO GOD,
THEIR SOULS AND LIVES NOW SPARED.
I SAW GOD MAKE ME PROSPER,
WHEN TRUSTING HIM I DARED.
I'VE ENJOYED SWEET FELLOWSHIP;
THE JOY OF ANSWERED PRAYER;
A HAPPINESS THAT'S SO DIVINE,
SIN'S PLEASURES CAN'T COMPARE.
HE'S PULLED ME THROUGH DARK VALLEYS,
WE MOUNTAIN TOPS HAVE SHARED;
WITH HIM I'VE CHARGED THROUGH BATTLES,
WHEN ALONE I'D BE TOO SCARED.
I'VE FELT HIS ROD AND STAFF BESIDE
TO CHASTEN AND TO GUIDE.
HE'S WALKED WITH ME IN FURNACE HOT,
WHEN I WAS CAST ASIDE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT LIES AHEAD;
WHAT STORMS I'LL YET GO THROUGH;
BUT I PRAY AS I SAIL ON
HIS HAND WILL BE THERE TOO.
LORD, LET ME DIE, AND PASS AWAY
AND NEVER HAVE TO LIVE
WITH ICHABOD WRITTEN OVERHEAD,
LORD, THIS REQUEST PLEASE GIVE.
I'VE SEEN OLD SAMPSON FULL OF MIGHT
SLAY A THOUSAND MEN;
BUT THEN A GRINDING AT THE MILL,
BECAUSE OF CARELESS SIN.
I'VE WITNESSED DAVID YOUNG AND BOLD,
WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH;
THEN SEEN HIM LATER ON THE FLOOR
PRAY HIS SON WON'T DIE.
THERE'S SOLOMON WITH TEMPLE NEW,
GOD'S GLORY FILLED THE ROOM;
BUT LATER WITH HIS WICKED WIVES,
HE CAUSED A NATIONS DOOM.
I HEAR OF PREACHERS ALL AROUND
WHO ONCE HAD MIGHTY POWER;
BUT WALKED INTO SATAN'S SNARE,
THEIR MINISTRY'S GONE SOUR.
I WONDER HOW IT IS TO LIVE
REMEMBER WHAT YOU HAD
WHEN UNCTION FLOWED FROM YOUR LIFE;
THERE'S NOTHING QUITE AS SAD.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER KNOWN,
AND ONES WHO ONCE POSSESSED,
THAT ENDUEMENT FROM ON HIGH,
I'VE A BURNING IN MY BREAST.
HOW I WISH THAT I COULD LEAD
YOU BACK OR ON AHEAD
TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU CAN KNOW
GOD'S POWER IN SORROW'S STEAD.
I'D RATHER DIE AND SO WOULD YOU
THAN TO LOSE THE PRECIOUS WALK
I HAVE WITH JESUS EVERY DAY
AROUND LIFE'S BUSY BLOCK.
WHEN I AM OLD AND DYING
I WANT TO RAISE MY VOICE,
AND PRAISE THE GOD OF MERCY
WHO'S KEPT ME TO MY CHOICE.
THE CHOICE I MADE IN '82
TO SERVE WITH ALL MY MIGHT;
AND STAY RIGHT CLOSE TO JESUS
TILL I SEE HIS FACE IN SIGHT.
MARK BULLEN