A man came into town
And expounded on the Gospel
I listened intently
But could not wrap my mind
Around the whole Message

He was devoted, sincere, well read
But something so very important 
Was missing
He spoke as a learned prophet
He gave his views
Without flinching
He seemed wise and even caring
But something was missing

I read his writings
Listened to his sermons
Heard him sing
Watched his expressions
And still
I was at a loss for discernment

A number of fires were set in town
Houses, homes, lives destroyed
I sat in my rocking chair
Contemplating the entire situation
I was involved in many ways
In the outcome of this tragedy
But could not stop its ugly progress

I saw in the night a figure
Setting a fire
And then waiting by the door
Of a house
To walk a young lady 
Away from the danger
She willingly took his hand
To walk away from the smoke,
The fires

What is the lesson in all this?
Why can't I stop this evil
From happening again and again?
What is missing in this scheme
Of things
That would bring Truth
And shed a Light
On the evil
To cause it to flee?

And then I saw in the Great distance,
A different Figure
One which stood tall
And did not walk about in secret
He came to put out the fires
And end the destruction
He came to shine His Light
Upon the deeds and words
Of the fire-starter
He came to stop
That which I had no power
To stop

I saw Him in the darkness
Grab hold of a man
Not by his wrist, as a friend
Not about his shoulder,
As to walk alongside him
But about his neck
So as to stop his destruction,
All his work of a false
And destructive light

All I could do was pray
For those who had been under
This man's spell
To now see, know the Truth

It was many days
Before I saw the fire starter again
He had spoken of himself 
As one who sets free
Who gives out Truth
Who helps people live out ideals
Who joins people together
With others looking to make changes
But the content of his mind and soul
Made it impossible for him to do
The good he claimed
For his attention
All his attention
Was upon his own merit
All his own achievements
His own glory
His unmeasurable possibilities
And not upon the True Light

For you see
If his eyes had truly
Been upon the Emancipator
His heart would be fully set free
From idolizing his own stature

The cross must come
For Truth to bear witness
The cross of the Lord Jesus Christ
Must put to death
All the merit, ideals,
Fragments of knowledge, false claims
Before this man can be used
For Good

Do not pity this man
Do not look for him in a crowd
For even though many claim
That he helped them
His help was tainted
With his own craving for glory

Lie deep in the grave,
Young man
Die to yourself, Your claims, your prowess,
Your ability to learn and focus
Your craving for attention
Your desire to lead
Those unaware of your true heart
Of pride

There will come a time
In the near future
When people will speak of you
As you have spoken coarsely
And disrespectfully of others
And all you will be able to do
Is hide your face
From the scorn

The grave is oh so deep
Due to your sin
And true lack of repentance
You claim to walk in Holiness
But truly, the holiness is of your own making
Not the Righteousness
Of Blood bought and cleansed
Children of God

I would write you in private
But you refuse all words given to you
So I write to expose
That which is hidden
That which brings harm
That which destroys
That which leads the innocent astray

You have time to repent
You have a certain number of days
To seek the Face of God
But I warn you
God will not turn your way
If your repentance is not true, genuine,
encompassing all your sins and deception

Your false light is going out 
This very day
And God, alone will set your followers
FREE
God, alone. 

Psalm 52