Full Well I Know Poem by Kevin Cox

Full well I know the evil in my own heart;
Each endeavor cursèd from the start.
No greater darkness has there ever been
Than this vile flask, a stinking pit of sin.

What reason is there ever to be found
To stay this course so surely hell-ward bound?
If I should die and quickly pass away
Will that not lessen evils I must pay?

A voice I hear persists amidst the din.
It sounds so sweet- so strange calling to me, 'Come in.'
It speaks in language so different, so sublime;
My wretched soul I can't help but consign.

Of legends, tales; I know them all full well.
Of heroes, villains; dragons yet impaled.
But this story's not at all like one of them;
In this new story the hero dies to win.

All worthy tales have heroes strong and great
That lesser ones desire to emulate.
But the hero of this tale was so despised;
They nailed Him on a cross, and there He died.

This is where all earthly tales must close;
The hero dies in ignominy's repose.
In this new tale are found folded grave clothes;
The Son of God up from His grave arose!

Never has there been a Lover such as this;
Salvation won despite a cruel betrayer's kiss.
He came to us sent by His Father's will;
All our sins to bear, His precious blood to spill.

Not to the rich or wise ever did He
Cast His pearls—they were too blind to see.
Twas to the poor, the sick, the lame, the lost—
Three thousand sinners saved at Pentecost.

'What's that to us? , ' the living skeptics bray,
'Tis just a tale and it a tale shall stay.'
Yet in every country, every land;
Knees still bow before this King with nail-pierced hands.

'What's that to me? , ' you hear your heart-voice say.
'I'm not so bad. I did some good today.'
Dear friend my message to you is:
Your sins are either yours or they are His.