CHRIST IS HOPE

Kapil Natesan
Mechanical Engineering, 4th Year
SRM University


He knew me even when I was born,

Even as my sinews were knit by the will of the Most High;

Not one step back he takes, unswerving he moves

Until his purpose is fulfilled.

I caught glimpses of him when mourning someone dear

But I always thought,” Not today, not for me, nothing to fear”.

The young, the old, the righteous, the wicked

No one escapes him.

Riches and knowledge he laughs at,

The fool and the worldly wise,

Everyone conceived of a mother’s womb,

He is their demise.

When at last my dreams started to give way to reality

And youthful strength started to fade

I understood that he was already in my vicinity.

As I began to close the windows to the cold truths

And draw the drapes to keep my present warm

A chill crawled up my spine

To see him walking by the gate.

He entered, at ease,

As if it were his own home

Callous was his stride across the green

That I had strived so long to grow.

My prized flowers that human eyes esteemed

He passed by, seemingly blind to all beauty.

When at last he reached my porch,

I heard a blood curdling cry

As of a soul so long starved and turned from a feast.

I staggered, confused to inspect the cause of this;

And I found the reason why,

Lo behold! There was Another, already, at my door!

Gently knocking, meek and humble of heart,

Yet strong to keep the intruder away.

To the thief’s delight, I wouldn’t let my undeserved Protector in.

As I retreated to the familiar comfort of home,

Leaving the unknown to deal with the unknown,

There upon the pillar of my house did I find to my confusion

A great crack right from the foundation,

So wide and irreparable it looked,

“Enough for today” I cried, “I am retiring for the night”.

Come new Morning, when the dark appeared to have passed

I walked with a song on my lips, the past seemingly in memoriam

Suddenly I let out a silent cry; the song faded, sounding like a requiem.

For the great creak now extended greater than before.

“No! No time now, must get on with life”, I said turning away.

Days passed by and the crack grew,

No precipitation from the heavens it kept away.

One sundown I found my house door ajar,

Crying out I ran in, to see all treasured possession stolen,

Bitter in heart and counting the losses;

Then to my amazement I found some treasure left behind!

“Oh cruel soul!” I cried, “Why did you leave these ?”

For they were half eaten, consumed by moth and vermin.

Now when there seemed no end to woes, again did I find,

At the porch, the enemy mentioned afore.

No need to enter by the door now,

The house itself would come down with a great crash

Under the weight of it’s leaky, soggy walls.

Then did I hear the gentle voice whisper from my doorstep again,

“Come to me my child, the Way, I am”.

With wisdom and understanding calling,

And fear of righteous wrath sweeping my whole being

I finally cried out, “O Sir, come in soon, don’t stand there!”

“I lay down my burden at your feet….”

Oh! That I should see such a thing!

To my astonishment I found those feet, pierced!

Lo! His hands too and even His side!

Looking up I saw, an assuring face and He told me, “this is for thee my child, it is finished!”

Then upon His words I built a new house on a high Rock

And there He supped with me every night.

Comfort and counsel He provided, a path lit in the dark, He is the Light.

Then one day my Savior said, “come with me, I have prepared a new home”.

I gladly went with Him, knowing where He belonged.

Now, Death searched all the worlds looking for my face,

Never will he find me, for now and forever, the Lord is my Hiding place.