“Prodigal None” Cain calls me
Though Abel’s my name
But my older brother won’t let me be
He constantly whispers my shame
How can you claim to be a son?
I know your secrets
I know who you are
It can never be undone
You wasted your life
While our Father I obeyed
I made Him my Lord
And I never strayed
I reply “Its true, Cain
And worse than you think
I’m ashamed of my stain
And to dust I would shrink
If I didn’t remember
When I crawled home in shame
That my Father came running
To give me His name
In my mind I’d made a deal
He might let me work my way
As a slave, not a son
This sinners prayer I’d pray
I opened my mouth
To make my plea
To offer my sacrifice,
To obey this time, I’d be
The best servant around
I’d make Him Lord of me
I’d never stray again
Here’s my sacrifice for sin
But my Father wouldn’t hear
Instead, He made a sacrifice
With mine He wasn’t pleased
His wrath at my sin was already appeased
As He ran to me, He shouted
Kill my best calf! Spill its blood!
And clothe my son
In robes I’ve provided
Put a ring on his finger
Spread a feast for him!
Rejoice with me!
Do not linger!
Yesterday I was eating with pigs
In my shame I’d fashioned
Wretched robes
With leaves made from figs
Today I feast at a table
Clothed by my Father in robes
Made for me
When I was unable
To make myself worthy,
Death I deserved.
But the blood on the ground
Now reminded me
That my Father had provided
A sacrifice for me
And made me His Son
Never to be
Condemned, I was free
To live in His house
Forgiven and clean
An heir of His promise
But the whisper of Cain
Still haunts as he watches me work
Not to earn my Fathers name
But because He loved first
“I saw you look at that servant girl,
You may believe that the Father’s your Savior
But I know you still want to be in the world
Though He’s shown you His favor
You didn’t make him Lord
As did I
I’ve always obeyed him
And I never lie
That far country still calls you,
The look in your eye
Betrays your true heart
Make Him Lord now if you don’t want to die”
Sometimes Cain’s whispers
Cause my mind
To doubt my Father’s love for me
And try to hide behind
My work for Him,
The sacrifices I now make.
Surely they must be
The grounds on which I can stake
My assurance of His forgiveness
My place as a son
I’ll make Him my Lord more
Than I did before
Then I’ll be assured of my place
Like Cain I’ll bring
The work of my hands I hold out…
Only to see the ring!
This my assurance,
My Father first loved me!
He never loses a Son
Not even one
No Cain, I’ll cling
To the promise of the Father
By the sacrifice of blood
A substitute was there
Reminding me that I never
Could save myself from death
He is my Lord but I did not make Him so
He bought me with a precious price and this for me to know
His love for me has always been
And I can never earn
Salvation from His wrath at sin
And from it fully turn
Lawless I would be to claim
That I’m a son
By turning from my sin
And making Him Lord of one
Who has a flesh like mine
That calls me to return
To that far country every day
And lusts within me burn
But my Father said I’m not condemned
While His robes I wear
One sacrifice I trust
Only one can calm my fear
A lamb whose blood was shed
Is all that I will bring
And shows me that a better one
Will come and be my King
Brother, I forgive you
For you know not what you do
Were my last words
As me his brother he slew
Now with my Heavenly Father I see
That my blood spoke of one to come
Christ, the lamb of God to be
The sacrifice for my sin, it was He
Once for all His blood was spilt
And the Father running came
To clothe me in His righteousness
And cover all my shame
The older brother whispers
But don’t believe his lies
Your sinners prayer, your Lordship life
Will never be enough
To save you from a Holy God
Who gave you life and breath
You cannot make Him Lord enough
To save you from this death
But if to you in shame He ran
And for you killed the Lamb
And clothed you in a robe made white
With blood of His dear Son
You can rest with God as your Father
And labor and love not to prove that you’re a Son
But rather because He first loved you
And made you with Him one
You’ll groan against your sinful heart
And long for the way
To finally be like Him
Glorified with Him on that day