What The Ancients Built

What the Ancients once built,
Time has unbound.
Every great city does wilt;
All are dust in the ground.

Whether small or great,
All like wax will melt.
For all face the same fate,
When Time’s damage is dealt.

No matter how much we increase,
Or make in this life,
There is no lasting peace,
Or freedom from strife.

Our own house will not stay;
It will crumble and fall.
To death and decay,
Each of us is a thrall.

Do you today see a Youth,
Full of strength and vigor?
I tell you the truth,
They too will meet the grave digger.

We all feel the same sting;
The finitude of the mortal.
And we all want the same thing,
To transcend Death’s cruel chortle.

We are trapped; it is hopeless.
We cannot get out.
We will die in deep darkness,
While none heed our shout.

Yet I tell you there’s hope;
My friend, lift up your face.
To those who in the dark grope,
Jesus extends His grace.

Jesus Christ is the Light;
The Creator of all.
To rescue us from the Night,
In our place He did fall.

Though fully Divine,
He took on human flesh.
It was His own design,
To give us life afresh.

In this we see love:
God has died in our place.
To lift us up above,
Jesus faced our disgrace.

He who does not know sin,
Took the world’s on His back.
To bring us, His kingdom in,
He made on Death His attack.

Death thought it had won,
As Jesus laid in the grave;
Yet Death’s shattered and done,
For He rose mighty to save.

From the problem that we,
And our ancestor’s share,
Jesus set us free;
From the depths of Death’s lair.

Eternal life He does give,
In a world that will last.
All who trust Him will live,
A life where sorrows are past.