ANTIOCH CHURCH OF CHRIST

WHILE STROLLING THROUGH THE FIELDS OF TIME
THERE'S MANY THINGS TO SEE
BUT NATURE IS THE GREATEST SIGHT
THAT COULD EVER BE
THE GREATEST OF THEM ALL
IS HOW THE WORLD WAS FORMED
AND WHY A ROSE IS THERE TO LIVE
EACH DAY AMONG THE THORNS

ONE DAY AMONG THE WORLD OF THORNS
A ROSE BEGAN TO GROW
IT WAS THE GREATEST GIFT OF GOD
THIS WORLD WILL EVER KNOW
IT WAS THE WILL OF GOD TO SHOW
THAT SINCE THE WORLD WAS FORMED
THERE HAD TO BE A ROSE TO LIVE
AND DIE AMONG THE THORNS

TWO THOUSAND YEARS HAVE SINCE BEEN GONE
SINCE GOD LOOKED DOWN WITH LOVE
HE FILLED THIS EARTH WITH BEAUTY
WITH ROSES FROM ABOVE
HE HUNG UPON A RUGGED CROSS
TO SAVE THE WORLD FROM SIN
BETWEEN TWO THORNS THIS ROSE HE DIED
THREE DAYS HE BLOOMED AGAIN

ONE DAY AMONG THE WORLD OF THORNS
A ROSE BEGAN TO GROW
IT WAS THE GREATEST GIFT OF GOD
THIS WORLD WILL EVER KNOW
IT WAS THE WILL OF GOD TO SHOW
THAT SINCE THE WORLD WAS FORMED
THERE HAD TO BE A ROSE TO LIVE
AND DIE AMONG THE THORNS

Mark 16:15-16 – "And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Paul gives this principle in 1 Corinthians 3:6, "I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." God's Word will either lead to repentance or cause a sinner to rebel and go further into sin. It depends on the individual. Isaiah tells us, "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11). The Word will always have an effect on hearts. Sometimes sinners may seem callous on the outside, but be struggling on the inside. It often takes years for a person to come to repentance, confession and baptism. God's Word still works.
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9). Let us plant the seed of the Word in the hearts of man. There will always be those who obey. Teach the truth, that a sinner may become a "beautiful rose."