I like to take times with the Lord by walking through a cemetery. For me, I seem to meet God better there than anywhere else. The air is still, the sun is warm, the birds are lively, and the distant traffic is drowned out by the quiet whisper of the Lord.
Today, I found myself back at the cemetery on ‘O’ Street here in Lincoln. I was walking among the dead, more so, those whose souls have never been more alive than today. I love cemeteries because of the perspective that is laid deep in my mind and heart as I walk through the dew-filled grass and ponder what a life meant. Today, as I walked, I prayed aloud to the Lord. This was different, however. As I prayed, I sang. I sang my prayers to the tune of “Angus Dei.” I prayed for America. I prayed for lost people. I prayed for future believers. I prayed for my family. I prayed for myself. I praised God. I thanked him for who he was.
As I walked, a thought passed through my mind. What if you are faking it? What if you don’t mean what you are praying? What if you are a praying because it makes you feel good?
Now, for those who know me, I am not a man who believes in looking for signs and stuff like that. But what happened next was a sheer moment of Sovereign brilliance. I turned to my left to look at a grave with the name “Butler” on it. Below the names, the dates of birth and death, was a verse from Psalm 19:14. Without hesitation, I looked it up in the Bible I was carrying.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be accepted in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
After I read this verse, the Lord comforted me in my soul, reassuring me that my heart was in the right place and with my mouth, it was pleasing him. How precious are those words from David! O, Lord, let all I do be acceptable in your sight!
A normal part of my time with the Lord in a cemetery is singing the hymn, “Grace Greater Than Our Sin.” As I move in between the tombstones and sing this song as loud as I can, I cannot help but wonder how many of these people experienced grace greater than their sin. I cannot help but wonder what it is like to walk through life without knowing God’s grace. I cannot help but tremble, knowing that I, too, was once a dead man and now my eyes have been opened to the grace of God through faith. So, I leave you with the words of Julia H. Johnston. May they be as comforting to you this day as they were for me this morning.
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.Grace, grace, God’s grace,
grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
grace, grace, God’s grace,
grace that is greater than all our sin!Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
threaten the soul with infinite loss;
grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
points to the refuge, the mighty cross.Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
brighter than snow you may be today.Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see his face,
will you this moment his grace receive?
JAMES PRUCH 