THE EMPTY THRONE

Hosts of light in ceaseless splendor

                                                            Sound the notes of love and praise

                                                Humbly all their homage render

                                                            Anthems new and old to raise

 

                                                Orbs and systems, law-abiding

                                                            Mark their timeless, cosmic course

                                                Heaven’s fiat, ever guiding

                                                            Beckons life’s eternal Source

 

                                                Yet a distant, dark disorder

                                                            Haunts the joyous, radiant throng

                                                Far removed from Heaven’s border

                                                            Marred throughout by pain and wrong

 

                                                See the calendar of ages

                                                            Shine its ray beyond the now

                                                Light from worn prophetic pages

                                                            Causes hearts and knees to bow

 

                                                Weeks of years, their pace advancing

                                                            Guide to history’s focal point

                                                Love incarnate, all-entrancing

                                                            Boundless grace will soon anoint

                                               

                                                Angels mark the moments passing

                                                            Till the Lord of peace descends

                                                Heaven’s host, its strength amassing

                                                            Yearns for when the conflict ends

 

                                                Yet before the crown of glory

                                                            Must intrude the cross of shame

                                                Not for them the saving story

                                                            Till the price that sin should claim

 

                                                Then at once, while praise ascending

                                                            Sounds a still more sacred tone

                                                Heaven’s host, their God attending

                                                            Now behold an empty throne

 

                                                Michael’s legions pause to wonder

                                                            At the mystery now impearled

                                                God eternal, torn asunder

                                                            To redeem a rebel world

 

                                                Bound within His zygote prison

                                                            Heaven’s sovereign takes abode

                                                Till the words, “The Lord is risen!”

                                                            Through the astral depths explode

 

                                                When at last, His triumph sealed

                                                            God the Son is called above

                                                Sinless beings their homage yield

                                                            To the Source of boundless love

 

                                                Yet for ceaseless ages yonder

                                                            Will the mystery stand alone

                                                O what wond’rous grace to ponder!

                                                            O what price the empty throne!

Pastor Kevin Paulson holds a Bachelor’s degree in theology from Pacific Union College, a Master of Arts in systematic theology from Loma Linda University, and a Master of Divinity from the SDA Theological Seminary at Andrews University. He served the Greater New York Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for ten years as a Bible instructor, evangelist, and local pastor. He writes regularly for Liberty magazine and does script writing for various evangelistic ministries within the denomination. He continues to hold evangelistic and revival meetings throughout the North American Division and beyond, and is a sought-after seminar speaker relative to current issues in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He presently resides in Berrien Springs, Michigan