An unpublished poem by D.A. Carson.

“Before there was a universe,
Before a star or planet,
When time had still not yet begun —
I scarcely understand it —

Th’ eternal Word was with his God,
God’s very Self-Expression.
Th’ eternal Word was God himself —
And God had planned redemption.

The Word became our flesh and blood —
The stuff of his creation —
The Word was God, the Word was flesh,
Astounding incarnation!

But when he came to visit us,
We did not recognize him.
Although we owed him everything
We haughtily despised him.

In days gone by God showed himself
In grace and truth to Moses.
But in the Word of God made flesh
Their climax he discloses.

For grace and truth in fullness came
And showed the Father’s glory
When Jesus donned our flesh and died:
This is the gospel story.

All who delighted in his name,
All those who did receive him,
All who by grace were born of God,
All who in truth believed him —

To them he gave a stunning right:
Becoming God’s dear children!
Here will I stay in grateful trust.
Here will I fix my vision.

Before there was a universe,
Before a star or planet,
When time had still not yet begun —
I scarcely understand it —

Th’ eternal Word was with his God,
God’s very Self-Expression;
Th’ eternal Word was God himself —
And God had planned redemption.”

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