Laodicean Lackadaisicalness - Part 7 (Poem)

(See the series here)

Have you ever noticed or possibly heard,

That faith is strong in those initially stirred,

Compared to us who’ve long been ‘in The Way’,

We in whom strong faith has begun to sway?

So concerned with the extent of its lukewarmness,

And its drift into spiritual lifelessness,

Jesus warned the Church called Laodicean,

Of critical things folk wouldn't be perceiving.

In situations where lukewarmness is found,

The urgent need is that more heat would abound!

‘Lord send Your fire!’, calls once heard across our land,

By saints who in the revival gap would stand.

He is faithful to supply the ‘heart heat’ we need,

As we faithfully do what in His Word we read.

But if we refuse to pass tests He has appointed,

Then out of His mouth we deserve to be vomited.

Many Christians believers across our land so vast,

Think as a Christian nation, America is classed,

Because of a few Bible words in our Constitution,

Though to Bible themes our lives remain ...a contradiction.

If we’re diagnosed with lukewarmness spiritual,

We need to know that to Christ this is detestable.

Thus we need Holy Ghost power that’s unquenchable.

Not the power of social fire that’s political.

God, DIE!

"God, I wish you would hurry up and DIE, so we could get our inheritance and get on with living our lives -- out from under Your shadow, Your system of rules, laws and their supposed consequences!"  

Just as the prodigal son essentially hurled a similar insult to his father, so the insult reverberates across the ages, to our world today -- "God, DIE!" This is or has been the heart's cry of each of us, including me -- judging from our prideful life styles that say, "Let me live MY life on MY own terms, not Yours!"  

Well, my friend, God DID die, in the person of His Son, Jesus, for our lives, and He DID leave us the earth as a (temporary) inheritance. And, man, have we ever messed them both up -- our lives and the earth. Thank God, as with the story of the prodigal son (you know it well), that's not the end of the story.  May we be prompted to ponder ...'the REST of the story', the story of God's loving offer of another chance to each of us individually (that's you) to find His rest and peace through the forgiveness of our sin. This incredible forgiveness is only made possible by Jesus' sacrificial death that paid the immutable penalty for our sinful disobedience when we essentially said, "God, DIE!"  

Ok, He died once.  No more. Now it's your turn, not to die, but to seize your time to live, and I mean REALLY LIVE!

"...For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  (John 3:16)

The 12 Him’s of Christmas (Poem)

What is Christmas as in The Bible entrenched?

Is it like the Christmas ‘stolen by the Grinch?’

Is it about gifts, colored lights, and merriment,

Decorations, and year-end money management??

In Earth, Holy seed was deposited-to-develop

Into Mary’s Babe, God’s Genesis 3:15 set-up.

From Mary’s womb, He was delivered-to-deliver

Us who were struck by arrows from satan’s sin quiver.

For 40 days on a mountain, He declined-to-dine,

So to Father He could say, ‘Thy will be done, not Mine.’

From town-to-town He traveled, the destitute-to-deliver,

With twelve disciples, one of whom would become His betrayer.

A cruel death on a cross He was destined-to-die,

So to Father God we could once again draw nigh.

When whipped, then crucified, He declined-to-decry

His tormentors who said His Truth was just a lie.

When He died, a Roman soldier dared-to-declare,

‘This is God’s Son!’ Voila! He became ‘God-aware.’

From the cross, His spirit descended-to-upend,

the kingdom of satan on the Earth to transcend.

Yep…

From Heaven He had come, God’s desire-to-do,

To show us He’s God’s Son, and we can be, too!

On God’s Throne, He’s now dedicated-to-defend

All who repent of their sins, and become His friend.

Now to us all, He offers a decision-to-decide:

Be horrified in hell, or with Him, saved and justified.

He is willing your judgment dregs-to-drink,

Before into your grave, then hell …you sink.

Friend, He is knocking on your heart’s door, not-to-unnerve,

But from judgment, to offer an escape, undeserved.

I pray you’ll repent, amazing grace-to-embrace,

And into God’s Kingdom be swept, all sins erased.

Devils will prompt you this decision-to-delay.

‘There’s no rush,’ they’ll say, ‘Just decide another day!’

If by their promptings, you are deceived-to-delay,

Don’t think you’ll know when, from this life you’ll pass away!

So what is Christmas as in The Bible entrenched??

It’s nothing like the Christmas ‘stolen by the Grinch!’

In our world that remains full of sinful darkness,

It’s about Jesus, and God’s 12 Him’s of Christmas:

1.     Him, Seed deposited-to-develop…

2.     Him, delivered-to-deliver…

3.     Him, 40 days declining-to-dine…

4.     Him travelling, the destitute-to-deliver…

5.     Him, destined-to-die…

6.     Him, declining-to-decry…

7.     Him, a soldier daring-to-declare…

8.     Him, descending-to-upend…

9.     Him, God’s desire-to-do…

10.  Him, dedicated-to-defend…

11.  Him, knocking not-to-unnerve…

12.  Him, willing, your judgment dregs-to-drink…

About ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’, you have-to-have-heard,

But Christmas is much longer, according to God’s Word.

From what I‘ve read, we’re all forewarned, I now testify:

Christmas lasts from the day we’re born ‘til the day we die.

Christmas is about your decision-to-decide,

‘Who is this Jesus whom folk say for me did die?’

Beware as you ponder, and avoid the derision,

Because not deciding …is clearly a decision.

For more on Christmas, please see:
Christmas Reflections