Next Thought

Sickness fully overtook him,
Lazarus was in the grave,
Messengers sent to the master,
oh my brother can you save?
After four days he hath rotted,
stinking at the doors of death,
Now could even the Messiah,
bring back mortal life and breath?

“Fear not for my friend but sleepeth,”
said the Christ to those he knew,
“I’m the life and resurrection,”
words still powerful and true.
Then he came and called the brother,
out from tomb and grave clothes there,
Listening to his dear Father,
knowing He would answer prayer.

What was Lazarus’s last thought,
when he ended life on earth?
What was his “next thought” when wakened,
by the master’s holy word?
All was darkness and no memory,
for in death no thought remains,
Till in glory eyes are opened
to a life with no more pain.

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Coldly hammers laid upon nails,
fastening him unto the tree,
Lightning, weeping, accusations,
hanging there in agony.
But the master, Son beloved,
held his thoughts on joy ahead,
Knowing surely, just as Jonah,
God would raise him from the dead.

Words of “I thirst,” “Father, forgive them,”
fell upon a bitter crowd,
Till at last in final triumph,
“It is finished,” strong and loud!
Then his mother and his brethren,
followers few who had remained,
Watched as lifeblood drained before them,
Calvary’s hilltop fully stained.

What was our Lord’s final vision,
what clear message in his mind?
Surely that his work accomplished,
brought salvation to mankind!
What his “next thought” three days later,
when the stone in glory rolled?
Shining forth with a new body—
greatest story ever told!

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So today as death surrounds us,
still influenced by Adam’s curse,
We hold hope of life eternal;
Satan’s lies grow worse and worse.
I press toward my savior’s coming,
giving all I can for him,
Knowing truly deep within me,
with God’s spirit I can win.

“The dead in Christ will rise first,” read it!
“Those alive soon changed” as well.
“In the twinkling of an eyelet,”
overcoming death and hell.
Words of truth where I find comfort,
hope and strength, and might and love.
From God’s right hand Christ is coming,
so I keep my thoughts above.

What will be my final action,
where will life’s days end for me?
Those things yet to come I know not,
still today a mystery.
What my “next thought”? That I’m sure of,
heaven bound for where I yearn.
Thoughtless death then overtaken,
glorious life at his return!