To Live Is Christ Poem by Michael P. Johnson

God takes no joy in death of man
It’s through His hand man lives!
Serving His name the best we can
With all the grace He gives

Who die in Christ, need have no fear
Instead our heart should glow
Not one should grieve nor shed a tear
We know where seeds must go

For Christ God’s Seed had first to die
According to God’s plan
The truth would then so multiply
And spread to every man

To live for self, we’ve no reward
To die for God, there’s gain
Who serve the truth through Christ The Lord
Their toil is not in vain

Though Christ; to man makes one appeal
Serve God with great desire
Receive through Him His truthful Seal
And spread the truth like fire

Just like a seed, once self has died
In Christ we’ve second birth
Thriving in Him, all else denied
We’ll grow throughout the earth

When deep in Christ, when rooted fast
With branches stout and long
The fruit we bear, will always last
Within Life’s Tree so strong

Who from this tree would care to eat
Who’d taste the fruit so good
Have first to sit at Jesus’ feet
And live the life they should…