Before the first horizon Before the clocks of dust

The Word was there with God The Word was God in

truth

All things rose through him, no hidden thing began alone. Life

burned within him, and life became the light of men.

The dark leaned hard against it, but could not make the

shining end Light in the darkness,

life without end The word before creation Came near

enough to dwell with men

A man was sent to testify Not as the dawn, but

as its sign He raised his voice so hearts might turn

Toward the true and coming light The world was made through

him Yet did not know the Maker's face He came among

his own And many closed the door to grace But every

soul receiving him Was given more than blood could give A

birth that human will could never make A name among the

children who would live Light in the darkness,

life without end The Word before creation came near

enough to dwell with men

The Word

was made flesh, not distant, not disguised He pitched His dwelling

in our dust And glory stood before our eyes Not glory

built on terror Not truth without a tender face But

glory as the Father's only Son Abounding still

in truth and grace Moses gave

the Lord's honored place Through Jesus Christ

came truth and grace No mortal I had seen the

Father's throne The only Son made the

unseen known Light in the darkness,

life without end

Before creation Came near enough to dwell with men Grace upon

grace The Father's heart expressed The Word was made flesh

And heaven entered human breath

The dark has never mastered Him

The light is shining still