Restraining Grace
By Shane Kastler
Sinners, wretched to the core
By nature men and women are.
They long for sin still more and more.
The depths they plunge, so very far.
Daily living for themselves
Thoughts and actions vile and base.
But O how ugly it could be.
If not for God’s restraining grace.
If you’re in Christ please understand.
It’s not your intellect supreme.
That gets you into Beulah- land,
Its God who chose to set you free.
Apart from Him you’re overcome.
Slave of flesh and slave of man.
So used to sin it makes you numb.
A dead man walking through the land.
Restraining grace has kept you thus,
From Being Judas yesterday.
From selling Christ to gain some coin,
And squandering your life away.
Go see the drunkard in the ditch,
And look intently at his face.
Eerily you’ll see yourself,
If not for God’s restraining grace.
The harlot with revolving door,
Of suitors willing to partake,
Would be your lot and destiny,
Had God not chose you to awake.
Or maybe still a star out west.
Rich and famous, yet depraved.
They’ve had their treasure here on earth.
Yet weep and wail in future days.
Restraining grace has kept you from,
A life so worthless as to be,
A pity to behold by those,
Who once were blind but now can see.
So though your life be fraught with pain,
For Christians it won’t last too long.
His grace will keep you till that day,
When in His sight you’ll sing the songs.
Of all that He has saved you from.
Eternal Hell should be your place.
But Glory to the Sovereign One.
Who showed you His restraining grace.
