Great Book!!!

Here is a poem that I really really love so much that I wanted to share it all with you. It is by Enos D. Stutzman. It is in Pennsylvania Dutch. After the poem in Pennsylvania Dutch I will post below it a paraphrase of it in English. It really is best in Pennsylvania Dutch but I know that not everyone may understand PA Dutch so please enjoy the translation if you don't know PA Dutch.

Es War Schadde uff Golgotha

Es war Schadde uff Golgotha seller Friedaag Nochmiddaag;
Den die Sunn hat sich verschteckelt so das ken Mensche Aug
Uff der Heiland gucke kann; iwwerall war Alles schwatz,
Wie Er dat am Kreiz hat ghanka in Sei leiblich Doodesschmatz.

Drei Schtund lang war es ganz dunkel, wie Er am schterwe war,
Un das Donnakronen Blut war fescht gedrickelt an Sei Haar.
No hat Er mit sei letscht Often naus gerufe zu die Leit,
"Es is faddich!" un Sei Seel is weck gefahre von Sei Leib.

Felse hen sich no verisse un die Erd hat sich gebedt,
All die Leit hen no venumme es der Heiland nimme lebt.
Un der Hauptman es dat gschtanne war hat allemnooch geglaubt,
"Wahrlich war des Gottes Sonh," hat er druff anna gsaad.

Finf daag erschder war der Heiland nei geridde in die Schtadt;
Er war uff en Esel Hutschli; niemand hat's gebroche ghatt.
Leit hen Gleeder uff der Bodde un Ihn wunderbar ge-ehrt;
"Des is unser Yudde Kennich," un "Hosana!" hat mir gheert.

Von en Keenich zu dem Kreiz in so en glenne, katze Zeit!
Wie hen sich so schell verennert die Gedanke von die Leit?
Was hat Jesus dan geduh fa so en Dod verdiene datt?
War Er der schlimmscht von alle Mensche? Hat Er veil Sinde ghatt?

Nee, die Sinde wo im Vorschein warre dat an selle Zeit
Warre meine gwest, un deine; ya, die Sinde aller Leiet.
Unser Sinde sin die Schuld es Er dat im Gaarde war;
Dat im Gaarde Gethsemane mit Sei Leewe in die Gfarr.

Selle Sinde hen Ihn gnomme niwwer zu Pilatus' Thron,
Wo Sei  Buckel blitich gfitzt war, der unschuldich Gottes Sohn.
Die hen Ihn an's Kreiz gebrocht, un Er hat's aa gern geduh,
Weil Er, darich Sei Leewes Opfer, gebt Sei Kinner eewich Ruh.

Sitter es die Sache gscheh hen is es fascht zwee Dausand Yahr,
Un die Welt geht alsnoch an, graad es wie sie hat davor.
Set mir awwer net dran denke? Wie mir darich des Leewe gehn,
Wann mir allfatt in die Gfarr von diefe, schwere Sinde stehn,
Wie der Heiland glidde hat, darich die Sinde von die Leit,
Wo der Schadde uff Golgotha war; Sell is noch fa uns heit.

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"Twas Dark upon the hillside (Parapharse of "es war schadde uff golgotha")

'Twas dark upon the hillside on the Friday long ago;
the sun was black as velvet, so no human eye could know
The horror of the suffering of the dying Son of God;
He hung there, lifted up  above the jeering, mocking crowd.
Three hours it persisted; then the time had come to die;
The Son of God departed, "It is finished!" was his cry.
The rocks were rent asunder, and the earth began to shake;
In the graves beneath the city many saints were stirred awake.
The soldier who was stationed there by Caesar's stern decree
Responded, "Of a truth I say, the Son of God was He!"
The curtain in the temple was completely rent in twain;
Man's broken fellowship with God was now restored again.

Why was this lowly Nazarene the One who had to die?
Was He the worst of sinners? Is this the reason why?
And did the motley multitude, who clamored for His blood,
make valid accusation, as before them Pilate stood?

Yes, it was sin that brought Him there unto the cross of shame;
But not His sin; for He had none; we are the ones to blame.
'Twas your iniquities and mine that nailed Him to the tree;
The sin of Judas, Pilate, us; it's all the same, you see.
Our evil brought Him to the cross; it drove the nails in;
It put the thorns upon His brow, our vile, repulsive sin.
And yet, He was not forced to go this lonely, Calv'ry way;
Not God nor man compelled Him there to die for us that day.
He chose, Himself, to give His life, ;ost mankind thus to save;
'Twas voluntary, ev'ry step unto the borrowed grave.

Two thousand years have nearly passed, since this event took place,
Providing full salvation to the fallen human race.
'Tis free for all who trust in him, and follow Him each day.
Although the price was far beyond what man could ever pay.
But for the one who turns his back, His death was all in vain;
That, not the nails or thorns, became the source or greatest pain.
And so, when in your walk of life, the temter comes along,
Entices you alluringly, to think or do some wrong,
Remember the tremendous price our Saviour chose to pay,
When darkness fell upon that hill so long ago that day.

People teach that if we just support our families and give donations to the church and various relief organizations that God will look at them as a “good person” and view them as being worthy of entering Heaven when they pass from this life. But is this what the Bible really teaches?

 Romans 3:10-12 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Man is corrupt in his nature. He is bent on doing evil and man’s relationship to a holy God is unholy and he is a wicked and vile sinner in God’s sight. Man is polluted with sin.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God

If there are no good people in the sight of a holy God then how does a bad person like yourself get into Heaven? The answer is simple and very obvious. You must understand that you are a sinner before God’s presence and that you are actually a bad person. You must see yourself as God sees you – an evil person who is separated from a holy God because of your sin. You must understand how bad you are before you can see how much you need Christ as your Savior. Once you understand how bad you are before God only then can you repent about your own sinfulness before God and your need for Christ.

Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish

Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.

The Bible teachers that Christ actually bore your sins upon Himself on the cross and rose again from the dead to offer salvation to you today as a living Savior (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). If you will call upon the Lord Jesus today believing that He died bearing all your sins and judgment, only then can you be made right in God’s sight. Faith is a personal response to Jesus Christ believing that He has become your substitute for sin and judgment. Faith is that which reaches out and receives the gift of salvation, which Christ offers through His finished work.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

When compared to God’s perfect standard there can be no righteous or good people on earth. We all have sinned and that makes us dreadfully bad before God. For this reason, all the righteous or good things that we think are good are viewed by God as filthy or soiled rags.

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Well, the Bible says that we are bad – 100% bad in God’s eyes. God says that lost man is 100% bad. That is not a good percentage. We are all at the bottom of the barrel. And when God saves us He scoops us off the bottom. You see, God only saves bad people and allows them to go to Heaven. Good people do not go to Heaven!  Jesus verifies this to us. Only those people who realize how bad they are before God will turn to Jesus Christ and ask for forgiveness and receive this right standing before God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ. The Bible concludes that good people do not go to Heaven! Actually, only those people who realize that they are bad or evil before God and receive the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ go to Heaven (Rom. 6:23). You must understand that you are not good but bad in God’s sight and put your faith in Jesus Christ to save you. You must compare yourself to the only perfect standard. This standard is God. And God says that you are a sinner who has offended His perfect righteousness and holiness. Don’t fool yourself by comparing yourself to other people. Compare yourself before God’s perfection and you will fall short (Rom. 3:23 – “All have sinned”). You are not a good person. You are a bad and evil person before the presence of the holy and righteous God. 

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.

Romans 3:12 There is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God can make bad people good in His sight! Bad people can receive a right standing before God through Jesus Christ. When you by faith receive Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior, it’s then that the saving work of Jesus Christ is applied to your own life.  This results in God the Father seeing you through the work and perfection of His own Son.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Maybe you have for the first time realized that you are a bad person before God’s holy sight. And you may feel hopelessly lost and on your way to hell. If so, Jesus wants to extend and invitation to you today, so that you might be saved, through receiving the perfect righteousness of His own Son for your own life. This saving righteousness can be yours through personal belief in Jesus Christ.

Jesus came to save bad people. He did not come to save good people. Do you know why? It’s because everybody is bad! In God’s sight everybody is bad.

Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

You are bad. You are a lost sinner before God. You are going to hell. Therefore, you must repent about your sinfulness before God and your lost condition before God and your own need for His salvation. Then you will be ready to make a personal response of faith in Jesus Christ to bring His wondrous salvation into your own heart and life.

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Pray to God and receive His gift of eternal life and salvation from hell.

Will you believe on Jesus Christ today? Don’t put off or neglect this commitment of your faith to Jesus Christ alone for salvation. Proverbs 27:1, “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Tomorrow may be too late! You may die tomorrow and have no other chance to believe on Christ for salvation. Hebrews 9:27 says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” If you die without believing on Jesus Christ you will be judged in hell for all eternity. You will die and go to hell. You will have missed your chance to receive forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life. Don’t wait. Believe on Jesus Christ today for your personal salvation from hell.  Belief involves a choice. What is your choice?

Are you ready to tell God that you are going to only trust in Jesus Christ to save you and get you to Heaven? Go ahead and address God right now in prayer. You can express your belief or faith in this way:

“Dear Lord Jesus, I admit that I’m a sinner and deserve the punishment of hell for my sins. I understand that Jesus died in my place, taking my own sins and judgment upon Himself, which I deserved. I understand that Jesus rose from the dead. Today I want to place faith in Jesus Christ for forgiveness of my sins, salvation from hell, and the gift of eternal life. Right now I choose to commit my faith only to Jesus Christ for salvation believing that His death and resurrection will save me from hell and give to me the gift of eternal life. Thank you for personally dying for me, rising from the dead, and saving me today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

If you have believed on Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life, then please let me know. Either tell me in a comment or a private message. I would love to help you with your christian walk.

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Hath broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, of that free love
The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!