The Beast

The Beast inside is hungry

It yearns for every meal

And cares not how it gets it

Whether barter, beg, or steal.

The Beast will slay a hundred

For the chance to sate its need

Whatever obstacles it finds

Will soon be made to bleed

The Beast inside is hungry

And grows stronger every time

You give in to your desires

Or when I give in to mine.

The Beast will quickly bore

Of the same old tired treats

It will pursue and soon require

Ever stranger meats.

The Beast is always with us

Though not quite from the start

It lurks in deepest shadows

In the corners of our hearts.

The Beast is quite a foe to face

And believe me, though I've tried

It cannot be defeated

Despite earthly strength or pride.

~However~

Once there was a Man they say

Who came prepared to fight

A strong two-edged sword he bore

to mend what wasn’t right.

He gave us strength to fight the beast

and behind Him we aligned

And then He died, accused and killed

When mortal pierced Divine.

Yet death could not contain Him

and in three days He arose

The beast thrown down in victory

Our sorrows overthrown.

That Man was more than human

For God had put on skin

His perfect life a sacrifice

To free us from our sin.

So does the beast still haunt you?

Can you feel its rasping growl?

Does its hunger still compel you?

Do you fear its wretched howl?

Don't listen to its grumbling

ignore its hollow boasts

a toothless beast cannot compete

with the Lord of heavenly hosts!

Turn your eyes to Jesus!

Turn from shadows unto light!

Accept from Him, freedom from sin

He'll make your pathways right.

You need not spend eternity

In the prison you have built

For God still loves you dearly

Though He knows your crimes and guilt.

Our nature ever drives us

To turn and walk astray

And you'll find your only hope is in

The Life, the Truth, The Way.

by. Jonathan Schaefer

06/25/2014