Power vs. Message (Poem)

In Eden, The Lord walked with Adam and taught him His way,

Imagine the core messages He taught Adam to obey.

Adam didn’t, then to Him, The Lord’s great power was on display,

Cursed, then evicted, without the power he’d given away. ¹

For decades, Noah warned folks of The Lord’s pending judgment,

They jeered at his boat, but thought his message was not cogent.

By The Lord’s judgment power, their lives were interrupted,

As from the ground, a global inundation erupted. ²

I suppose the ancient Hebrews were thrilled,

The days fear across Egypt was instilled.

To be released from slavery they were elated,

But soon by fear, all of them were baited. ³

They’d appreciated displays of God’s awesome power,

But then they refused to portray His power as soldiers.

They learned freedom comes with a price someone must pay,

And The Lord’s message just wouldn’t turn and go away.

By The Lord’s message, their next generation was confronted,

‘Rid My land of folks by whose sins I am gravely affronted!’

In His power, they upended folks who before Him wouldn’t tremble,

Several decades on, it was these very folks they then resembled! ⁴

By Jesus’ great power, most folks were awed.

But they concluded His message was flawed.

So they thronged to see and perhaps benefit from His power,

Then flocked to see Him succumb to Rome’ crucifixion pressure. ⁵

All His disciples had heard, but did not understand,

His message about rising from being a dead man.

T’was hard to believe even when it happened, but one refused,

Until rebuked in living power by Jesus, then excused. ⁶

Paul was knocked off his ass by The Lord’s power light,

En route to Damascus, some more Christians to smite.

Then blinded, but with both sets of his ears wide open,

The Lord’s message he received, and by it was smitten. ⁷

Hey…

Does this pattern appear to continue in our day,

How in dealing with us, The Lord seems to alternate,

Between leading with His message array,

Versus with His awesome power displays?

In His awesome Grace that to us is so amazing,

He always leads with picture messages portraying,

His loving directions, with warnings appended.

They’re repeated to ensure we comprehended.

But when His Word is long ignored and then forgotten,

And we then experience His power eruption,

It might appear and feel like with power He is leading,

It ain’t, but just that stubborn hearts and lives were not heeding.

When folks ask me to pray for them, I do indeed,

And The Lord gives me a message for them to heed,

I’m not surprised when, in The Lord’s message, there’s no interest.

They don’t regard His message as their faith test, His easiest!

While mankind prioritizes seeing,

The Lord prioritizes believing.

Being moved only by His awesome power displays,

Puts us on the receiving end of judgment relays.

Faith is what He calls believing,

And it’s our door for receiving,

Good things from His all-loving heart.

Thus, believing His message …is smart!

Across our world today, we are witnessing His power displays,

His invitation: Enter through My Bible history gateways.

Perceive My messages that you have long ignored,

Or brace for more power displays …that’ll be abhorred!

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¹ See: Genesis 3. When Adam sinned, he gave to satan his God-given authority and power as the lord of Earth.

² See: Genesis 7

³ See: Exodus 14 and Numbers 13 and 14

⁴ See: Joshua 24, 2 Kings 17 (10 northern tribes called Israel conquered), and 2 Chronicles 36 (2 southern tribes called Judah conquered)

⁵ See: Matthew 27, Mark 15, and Luke 23

⁶ See: Mark 16

⁷ See: Acts 9. Incredible! His physical AND spiritual ears were wide open!!!