The Portrait of Grace
Our eternal Father, the artist grand
while peering down on mortal man
began a portrait only He could paint,
the picture of redeeming grace.
With the dawn of time, His brush's first stroke,
Eve in the garden, sin's first blow.
A sacrifice He made that day,
through the blood of an animal coats were made.
The start of His portrait, centuries long.
A picture of how He would right the wrong.
Another stroke was applied the day
the angel of death went Pharoah's way.
Again a sacrifice had to be made,
from spotless lamb, the blood it came.
To protect all Israel from death's sure sting,
redemption through blood again He did bring.
His portrait was at last beginning to take shape,
one of recognizable redeeming grace.
Many years later, at His project again
the final application, with brush in hand,
He approached the canvas of His portrait divine.
His perfect strokes were applied at this time.
To complete the portrait begun long before
a sacrifice was made once more...
His Son, who was with Him before Earth began,
the supreme sacrifice, His perfect lamb,
walked alone up Calvary's hill,
was hung on a cross till death made Him still.
But death was defeated by this perfect Lamb
who arose and today sits at the Father's right hand.
This Lamb God provided and the blood He gave
finished the portrait of redeeming grace.
by: Joanne Warrick
© 2001