The Return of the Glory of God to the House of God

Once bound by self I lived to me,
Peculiar and set, independently;
Unbuildable, no preciousness,
Just earthen and dross, heap of worthlessness.
Then light shined penetratingly
True condition exposed entirely.
Abhoring self, my desp’rate plea:
Strip me thoroughly, Lord; from self set free.

His sov’reign mercy made me see
The only way in God’s economy—
The cross applied effectually;
What I am and can do must all desist.
My person of whate’er repute,
My devices, must not Christ substitute.
The center of my universe—
The all-op’rative cross; let Christ be first.

Now here we are, called on to build.
As members of Christ, we are richly filled.
As He increases, we decrease;
The one new man wondrously comes to be.
Our inward being we open wide,
Let the Spirit transform and occupy;
Soak, saturate, with Christ inwrought,
Till from glory to glory we are brought.

Laid hold by vision of His house,
We build earnestly, from indiff’rence roused.
Although the world thinks us but fools,
To God, we’re exceedingly precious jewels.
Our eyes behold eternity,
Glorious destiny seen transparently.
Arise! Make haste this age to turn
That the glory longed for may soon return!