WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN

What Might Have Been

A wealthy young man knelt one day,
Before the Lord to seek the Way;
Christ looked with love into his face,
And called him to a life of grace.

"Go, sell your treasures, follow Me;
Come walk the road that makes you free."
Yet bound by all his riches dear,
He turned away with heart sincere.

He left with sadness in his eyes,
Still captive to earth's gilded prize.
His purse was full, his barns were wide,
Yet something precious in him died.

The Twelve knew hunger, dust, and rain;
Long roads and weariness and pain.
No certain bed, no purse of gold,
Yet hearts on fire, courageous, bold.

They crossed the seas and climbed the hills,
To do their Master's holy Will.
Though earthly comforts they had none,
Their souls rejoiced in God's own Son.

They heard His laughter on the way,
They learned from Him from day to day.
They watched His mercy freely flow,
And felt His endless love bestow.

They shared the labour and the strife,
Yet found the deepest, richest life.
For every burden they embraced,
Was brightened by the Master's grace.

The years rolled by with silent tread;
The young man, now grown old instead;
Looked round upon his treasured store,
Yet found it satisfied no more.

His silver gleamed, his vineyards spread,
His tables groaned with daily bread.
But through the silence came again
The Voice that once had called his name.

He wondered, with a longing sigh,
"What joy have I let pass me by?
What roads with Christ I might have trod,
To build the Kingdom of my God."

"What friends in faith I never knew,
What wonders I declined to view;
What souls I never helped to see,
The love that first was shown to me."

His wealth remained; his years had fled;
His heart recalled the words once said.
Too late he saw what love had shown:
No treasure shines like Christ alone.

So let us heed the Master's call,
And freely yield to Him our all.
Though hardship marks the pilgrim's way,
His faithful Presence lights each day.

The cross is heavy; still we sing,
For Christ is with us, Lord and King.
No sacrifice for Him is vain;
Eternal joy is greater gain.

Let none look back with sorrow's tear,
And wish they had drawn Christ more near.
Walk with Him while yet you may,
Nor grieve for chances cast away.

For those who answer to His call,
Find Christ the richest Gift of all.
The Master's friendship, pure and true,
Is worth far more than all we knew.

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle