What People Won't Forget God Can't Remember

Missionary Dave Douglass wrote this poem and gave me permission to post it on my blog. If you enjoy this one, please check out his website. You'll find many more poems he has written there.

What People Won't Forget God Can't Remember

I received Christ as my Saviour, and he forgave my sin,
Eternal life he gave me, his Holy Spirit moved within.
I know I'm fully justified, and eternally secure.
My name is in the book of life, and of heaven I'm for sure.

Not by works of righteousness, but faith in Christ alone.
Purchased my redemption, by his blood I am his own.
I want to face him one day, and hear him say "well done."
And gaze upon his glory whom from hell my soul is won.

When I stand before his judgment seat to face all he did record.
I'd like to meet him on that day having never failed my Lord.
But since the time he saved me, much sin I did embrace.
But never did I even one time, ever fall from his grace.

My sins were never hidden from the eyes of God nor man.
But his foreknowledge teaches me, that he does understand.
No sin condoned nor over looked, each time I was ashamed.
I never minimized my wrongs or on others fixed the blame.

Quite hard it is for me to grasp, difficult to realize,
that never one transgression ever caught him by surprise.
But he saw every action, and he knew every thought,
Not just the ones that were exposed nor times when I got caught.

Each time I bowed before him and pled "Father please forgive."
I was amazed that he still loved me and that he would let me live.
If he'd take me on to heaven, then all my sin would cease.
No sin would be repeated, my list would not increase.

But just and faithful is our God when our sins we do confess.
And he still wants to use us, and he still wants to bless.
He did not cast the clay aside he's still working yet on me.
And when my Lord is finished, conformed to Jesus I will be.

But men are not all like him for his ways are so much higher,
For he alone is very truth, and every man a liar.
When someone seems to feel compelled to speak about my past,
They do not know that all those sins on Jesus I have cast.

Some refuse or can't forgive they delight them to recall.
But they're gone from my Gods memory; he can't remember them at all.
Those forgiven little, only love a little is what Jesus said,
But white as snow I have been washed from my sins crimson red.

My love for Christ consumes me now in fellowship so sweet,
And reaching out to others, I help many that I meet.
But there are yet some brethren, who believe I can't be used.
Invited to walk with me in fellowship, they steadfastly refuse.

I hold no aught against them; they believe things they have heard.
They know not what God's done for me, they take another's word.
They're quick to pick up stones to cast as though they're without sin.
I rejoice that God has kept them from situations I've been in.

I don't seek their support or endorsement, but for them I often pray.
That they'll experience healing, as I have along the way.
Then they, like I, will stand amazed and truly have to say:
God can forgive and change and even use the ones we cast away.

- Dave Douglass, Phnom Phen, Cambodia 2007