1 Our God is a God of purpose,
What He plans, He will fulfill!
Shows His full and glorious will.
What He's after is a building.
2 Man was made, the first step God took
Three parts — body, spirit, soul.
God, of dust, a body formed him,
Breath of life into him breathed —
3 In the garden God had planted
Good for food, to sight most pleasing,
Second, then, in God's intention
Was that man should freely eat
4 Third, we see a river flowing,
With its flow in four directions —
East and west and south and north.
5 In the flowing of the river
Gold, pearl, onyx stone we see;
Three materials, raw yet precious,
For God's building meant to be.
Look, these elements are shining!
How can we, then, shine as they?
6 God the Father (in this fourth step),
Source of life, is gold divine;
Christ the Son was wounded by us
7 Insufficient are materials
Precious though they be and best;
These must be built up together
That God's house they may express.
Fifth step: We ourselves hand over
8 Finally, in Revelation,
Is the picture of Christ's Bride —
Consummation of God's purpose;
Is the Bridegroom's counterpart —
9 How can we, as those who truly
Long to see God reach His goal,
As we contact Christ in spirit,