It came in the twinkling of an eye, I had no time for fear.

I found myself in one great line, with men from every land.

Men from every race and age stood like grains of sand.

Then Christ took the book of life and read the names within,

There were many that once were there but were blotted out by sin.

I wondered if I'd find mine still for it had once been there,

Would my name be covered with a stain, or would my name be bare?

I stood in fear before the throne and thought back on all my like,

How I'd fought to keep God's word and flee from sin and strife.

I never failed to read God's word: my love, it never died,

I taught my children right from wrong, I told them not to lie.

I never failed to worship God on Sunday and Wednesday night,

I often traveled many miles to hear the word of Light.

I gave my goods to feed the poor and never ceased to pray,

I've always kept my tongue in check until this very day.

So surely will the Lord know me and tell me to walk in,

But Lord please have mercy on all those lost in sin.

And as I thought, the crowd moved up, and I was fifth in line,

The men that stood before me were ready to pay their fine.

The first man stepped to meet the Lord, and fell upon the floor,

Then I saw just who it was; it was the man next door!

Jesus took the book of life but could not find his name,

My neighbor said, "I have not heard." I knew I was to blame.

Next in line was sister Anne who once in Christ had been,

Because I failed to admonish her, she continued in her sin.

Her name had once been written in the pages of that book,

But I never even took the time to see why she forsook.
 
Then a black man came before the throne, he had worked with me for years.

He knew his name would not be there, his eyes were filled with tears.

This man had never learned the truth and neither had his kin,

For I would not talk with them because of the color of their skin.

And then the man before me I suddenly recognized,

And as he stepped before the throne, he looked into my eyes.

He was my roommate from college days, he had been my greatest friend.

We'd always helped each other out down through thick and thin.

But I never told him of the Lord, it seemed to trivial then,

For we were young and had plenty of time to talk of God and sin.

And finally on the judgement day, I meet with him once more,

But now there is nothing I can say to open to him the door.

And now I stood before the Lord, my soul was filled with fright,

Why hadn't I taken the time to teach them what was right?

And then the Lord spoke to me, "I've found here one dark blot,

You've hid my name from all these men, depart, I know you not!"

"You met them every day in life and knew they were astray,

But you never even cared enough to tell them of my way."

Darrell Hymel