The Promise

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by: Nicholas M. Halkias



I am quite a sinful man,

I am a thief that lives off the hands

Of other people who work in the street

To make sure that their children eat.



I am ashamed of the things I do,

But I know that someday too

I'll pay the price for my selfishness,

That causes others so much distress.



I was put into prison because I got caught

I should have listened to what I was taught

So, I stayed there waiting for my life to end

And thought of the people I did offend



They must be happy for me to die

So they can say, "An eye for an eye"

That is the way things have always been

When someone does wrong, do it back to him.



But I have heard of a different Man

Who says to love others as much as you can

His words like Himself are gentle and meek,

"If somebody hits, turn the other cheek."



He gives a message that no one has heard

And some people say that it is absurd

The Messiah, they say, is supposed to be strong

But, this one is weak, that has to be wrong



So they didn't believe Him, and took Him to court,

They stripped and whipped Him and did things of the sort.

They put a crown of thorns on His head,

And to Golgotha, He had been led.



When I saw Him suffer, I became distraught,

This Man did nothing...why was He on a cross?

Me, I deserve it for all I've done.

This is the punishment that I have won.



This Man fed thousands and made the blind to see,

So they nailed His body high on a tree

He cured the sick and healed the lame

But in the end He was to blame



His courage moved me to be unafraid,

'Cause in His humility, He was betrayed.

He was put on a cross, hung on a tree

They crucified Him right next to me.



As I watched Him I marvelled at His face

It seemed so kind and full of grace

I felt my heart about to burst

When He said in His quiet voice, "I thirst."



For someone at the end of His life,

He seemed so peaceful, not filled with strife.

He was awaiting some higher power

To come and glorify Him in this hour



I felt in my heart a sudden change

Like Something or Someone made me rearrange

I all at once felt so full of love

That I knew it had to come from above



The peace that I felt had come from this Man

He made my heart whole through His outstretched hands

I used all the humility He gave me to say,

"Lord, remember me in your Kingdom, today."



I searched my heart, and I just knew

That the words He spoke would have to be true.

'Cause what He said then was simple and wise

He said, "Today, you'll be with me in Paradise."







For more information, contact Nick Halkias at this address:



"nmhst4@vms.cis.pitt.edu