1. Seek ye first of all God’s Kingdom!
Jesus’ challenging words are these.
Enter through the narrow gateway
To eternal life and peace!
Our wishing and waiting bring small consolation;
With vague speculation no victory is won.
It takes faith and courage to win our salvation;
And we must determine whose side we are on.
2. In the midst of Earth’s great market
Anxiously we look for gain;
We expect to be rewarded,
While avoiding work and strain.
The Lord who is offering work in his Vineyard
Has called us to work and has promised to pay;
He calls for more workers to offer their service,
Although it is almost the end of the day.
3. In the hierarchy of beings
God has offered us first place.
In the past, man lived in glory,
Then through sin he fell from grace.
To help us escape from the bondage of evil,
God sent us His messengers, noble and wise;
Though we are below other creatures at present,
To man’s destined place among angels we’ll rise.
4. Aiming for the goal He set us,
Toward the treasure let us steer;
Vague and sentimental feelings
Of devotion won’t help here.
We have to exchange for it all other treasures;
Our lives express thanks for the prize we have gained:
Now who will be baptised with fire and Spirit?
Who’ll drink from the same cup that Jesus once drained?
5. Jesus trod life’s path before us;
He was spared none of life’s pain.
Every word He spoke had purpose,
Not one deed was done in vain.
He then pursued death to its terrible stronghold
And finally conquered it, wounded and spent;
No longer invincible, death met its Master.
To share in Christ’s victory is our intent.
6. Reign of love, of truth and justice,
Which the prophets have foretold,
And for which our souls are longing,
Let your glorious days unfold!
With strength for the future endow our society,
To be an example for those who have strayed.
Your enemies strive to achieve might and power,
But those who defend you will not be afraid.
7. In the end God’s power will triumph
So in God we place our trust;
And the beast, against Christ raging,
Will lie vanquished in the dust.
Then warriors will melt down their swords into ploughshares,
And under the fig trees will people drink wine.
Jerusalem will gather all nations about her
And mother and queen in a radiance divine.
8. Those who wish to find fulfilment
And seek immortality
Have before them an example
Of a man’s great piety.
For Enoch the Patriarch lived in God’s presence;
Though he was born mortal, his work withstood time;
So death did not end Enoch’s earthly existence,
God took him to Heaven while still in his prime.
9. From our present situation
Toward the goal we raise our eyes.
Let us constantly be striving
Lasting truth to realise.
This standard will help us to measure correctly;
We learn to distinguish the glass from the gold.
Not frightened nor tempted by cheap imitations,
We seek only that of which Jesus has told.
10. To remember His commandments
And obey with heart and mind;
To believe His words of promise
Of God’s Kingdom for mankind;
To recognise justice in Jesus our Saviour,
Through whom God has offered redemption to all;
Let this be our goal and continuing purpose:
To hear Jesus’ message and answer His call.