Our Immortal Taskmaster

Knowledge and ability,
With neither wisdom nor humility,
Leads to dreadful disaster.

All of our gifts have been given,
By God who for us was riven;
He is our immortal Taskmaster.

When we forget that we,
Answer to Him who hung on a tree,
We stray into pride’s mournful mire.

Pride leads us astray,
From Christ who is the Way,
To rise up from death’s piteous pyre.

He gives us work to do,
And gifts to carry us through,
All that He has assigned us.

And He puts a gracious limit,
Down to the very minute,
For a merciful King, is Jesus.

Yet when we accomplish something,
Of ourselves, we’re tempted to sing,
Although the glory we share is not ours.

It is a joy to take part,
But sadly our sinful heart,
Leads us to revel in our feeble powers.

But whence comes our breath?
How, each day, do we escape death,
If not by God’s hand alone?

Let us praise and rejoice,
With willing vocal voice,
Our King Jesus who did suffer and groan.

For our Lord, He is the Light,
Who through us shines bright,
When we are blessed to sub-create.

All hail Yahweh whose blood was shed;
To raise us to life He made the ground red,
And the dirt itself will not forget.

Let us who’re made of the dust,
Not allow this memory to rot and rust:
To Christ we owe an unassailable debt.

From Him we receive all,
And though we chose to fall,
Willingly Jesus died in our place.

He was buried in a tomb,
But He rose up from the gloom;
He has shown us immeasurable grace.

Our Immortal Taskmaster,
Has saved us from disaster;
Let all creation rise up, praise and sing.

The Lord of light and life,
Has consumed all our strife;
Jesus Christ is the true, highest King.