The Hated Love

There was a tree long, long ago
With the power to make men know
Or so they were told, so the devil said
And so they ate, and we're born dead.
Thus man fell under the curse
And our good deeds just make it worse.

We founder in a hopeless state,
Hating love and loving hate
Ever deeper, darker we fell,
Seeking heaven to make it hell.
Forming gods that look like us,
Crooked, corrupt, mad with lust.
We call day night and night is day
But there will be a price to pay.

Evil is slow poison and it will kill
Long after the fun, beyond the thrill,
There comes the wave, then rise the flames,
And our souls fall in heavy chains.
When terror comes, when fails desire
Then death will drag us to the fire.

Oh, hopeless state!
Oh, hateful hate!
Dragged, dragged down
To darkest fate!

But who is that? Where is He from?
That stranger there--whence did He come?
He is different; He is good
So we hate Him, as haters should.

He bears with Him the hated love,
A freeing gift come from above.
He calls us wrong; He calls God just.
He reminds us we are only dust.
He is truth, but we love the lie,
So we hate Him; so He must die.

Our world is turning upside down;
Night is fading. Day must dawn.
And so we act, so we rise
And so the truth drowns in our lies.
Mercilessly, cruelly, this man we slay
Lest He bring a strange new day.

But then--what's this?
Poison, the fire's hiss--
On Him they fall, on Him, the flame,
The fear, the pain, the wrath, the shame--
Our punishment burns in His soul
The agony, the death, He bears the whole!

Over the hills breaks the daylight
Brilliant, blinding, the sun in its might.
And He returns to stand o'er His foe:
Conquered is death and hell below.
The abyss is filled, we see His face
Bringing peace, full of grace.

We are drawn up from the grave
By a God mighty to save
The hated Love is lovely now,
As before His throne, we bow.

The broken chain,
Forgotten pain,
Heaven's love:
Infinite gain.