If no hell - why an Eeaster?

If you believe in hell - not out of spite -
but on the basis Jesus died to stop you going there.
If you believe he winced his way through Thursday night
and prayed and cried ‘til blood dripped from his hair.
If you believe that he did that because he thought
that if he'd not, then life for you would quickly turn
into a place of deep regret, where people caught
Like Moses’ bush light up the sky but never burn.

If you believe that Christ wore thorns in place of hat,
And on his hands thick nails in place of gloves,
If you believe that he did all of that
And did it all because he simply loves,
If you believe his side was stabbed and legs were broke,
And he with godly fists unclenched - though spat upon
Still not a word of selfish protest spoke
And never called for Gabriel – though God’s own son.

If you believe and sing at Easter ‘Wondrous cross’
And all of ‘love’ and ‘sorrow’ mingled down,
If you believe your soul cost him this loss
And hail as King the one with thorny crown –
Then how can you – still waste your time with toys
And not give him the very life you owe,
How can your heart be glad with joys
that do not - cannot - crucifixion know?

If you believe in Christ the King of Kings
And you believe in his commands and his decrees
if you accept discipleship and all it brings
then how can you rise from your knees
Without at first agreeing to donate
Your life, your love, your mind, your everything
To one you say is wonderful and great
and in your songs of praise you crown as king.

God is not mocked, and now’s the time
To bring him to him, the minimum he’s bought.
And slightly less than all is still a crime -
For 95% to God is less than nought.
If you can see that Christ his execution wore -
and gladly wore - to set his people free
And those imprisoned you can still ignore
You’re not as safe as he would have you be.

Andrew Bale