Twas the night before Jesus came
And all through the house
Not a creature was praying,
Not one in the house.
Their Bibles were lain
On the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus
Would never come there.
The children were dressing
To crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling
Or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker
With baby on lap
Was watching the Late Show
While I took a nap.
When out of the East
There arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet
To see what was the matter.
Away to the window
I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters
And threw up the sash!
When what to my wondering
Eyes should appear
But Angels proclaiming
That Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun
Sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment
This was THE DAY!
The light of His face
Made me cover my head
It was Jesus returning
Just like He had said.
And though I possessed
Worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him
In spite of myself.
In the Book of Life
Which He held in His hand
Was written the name
Of every saved man.
He spoke not a word
As He searched for my name.
When He said "Its not here"
My head hung in shame.
The people whose name
Had been written with love
He gathered to take
to His Father above.
With those who were ready
He rose without sound
While all the rest
Were left standing around.
I fell to my knees,
But it was too late;
I had waited too long
And thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried
As they rose out of sight; Oh,
If only we'd been ready tonight.
In the words of this poem
The meaning is clear,
The coming of Jesus
Is drawing quite near.
There's only one life
And when comes the last call
We'll find that the Bible
Was true after all!
Author Unknown
