My Only Comfort ( A poem for my dad)

2001 was an eventful year for my family.  Teresa and I were married, my dad returned to the faith, my parents reconciled their marriage, and my dad was diagnosed with terminal kidney cancer.  I wrote a poem for my dad, and my mom and for all who were grieving over this news, based on Lord’s day 1 of The Heidelberg Catechism. I titled it “My Only Comfort.”  I thought it fitting to share it with you on the eve of the Heidelberg Conference in which we heard Dr. Jason Van Vliet speak on the “Comforted I”.  My prayer for all of you is that you will know this comfort.

My Only Comfort

My only comfort in life and death,
Is that Jesus owns my every breath,
He owns me in both body and soul,
I am His, not in part, but in whole.

His blood that spilt upon the tree,
Has fully justified and pardoned me,
And from the Devil’s terrible power,
Christ my freedom won, in that glorious hour.

My Lord preserves me up to the end,
In His grace my faith will never bend,
No not even one hair, can be touched,
Unless He wills it, to be as such.

My Lord and Saviour has assured me,
That all things must work in unity,
For the Good of those who serve the Lord,
Yes He my salvation has assured.

By His Holy Spirit, whom he gave,
I know for certain that He did save,
All His elect from the sting of death,
When on the cross he drew his last breath.

Amazing love and mercies unknown,
Grace and pity, us he has shown.
That he would die, cursed upon a tree,
And give his life, for the likes of me.

To live for him is what I desire,
Us he has saved, from the muck and mire.
Now he commands that we live with grace,
As we shine with His light in our place.

My only comfort in life and death,
Is that Jesus owns my every breath,
He owns me in both body and soul,
I am His, not in part, but in whole.