A Deep Conversation
Whenever you kneel to pray, and converse with God in prayer,
Do you do all the talking, not the conversation share?
Do you pause to let God speak, then listen attentively?
As something He might say, friend, could avert calamity:
…………
“Are you grateful, son?” “Grateful?” “Yes, for what I did for you.”
“Of course, Lord, very grateful, as I’d be lost but for You.”
“I’m really glad to hear that, as I gave My all for you.”
“Yes, I know You did, Lord, and for that, I truly thank You.”
“Tell me, do you love Me, son?” “Yes, Lord, I certainly do,
There’s no one I love more so, for no one loves me like You.
I can’t wait to be with You, right throughout eternity,
For You, Lord, are my Saviour, yes, You, Lord, have redeemed me.”
“I’m glad to hear that too, son, it means everything to Me,
However, there’s something else.” “What’s that, Lord?” “Proof, I’d like to see.”
“Proof, Lord?” “Yes, proof, son, something that shows you’re genuine.”
“Like what, Lord?” “Obedience, that is willingly given.”
“Is such necessary, Lord? Aren’t we saved regardless?”
“Such questions trouble Me, son. They don’t express eagerness.”
“Ahh…well...we are human, Lord.” “I don’t expect perfection,
Just willingness displayed. Surely you’ve no objection?”
“No...but…” “Do you love your wife?” “Yes, Lord.” “Don’t you like to please her?”
“Yes, Lord, I try my best to.” “And no doubt you sometimes err?”
“Yes, Lord, but she understands, she’s very forgiving too,
She knows I’m sorry, and that hurtful things I try not to do.”
“That’s what it’s all about, son. Can’t you see the parallel?
You show that you love Me too, when My requests you fulfill.
I’m understanding also, and I will forgive you too,
If you’re sorry, but doing your best, and rebellion don’t pursue.”
“Though you’re saved by grace alone, that’s not a license to sin,
For hearts that are rebellious, the Spirit cannot live in.
You see, son, sin is sin, and sinning I can not excuse,
Otherwise, there’d be Christians who My grace would just abuse.”
“Where does that leave someone, Lord, who still continues to sin,
Knowingly, that is, and yet, Lord, still says they’re a Christian?
Will they still be saved, Lord, given that they’re rebelling,
And as I understand it, the Holy Spirit repelling?”
“Tell Me, what would you do, son? What I mean is, if you were Me?”
“Well, seems they’re not deserving, Lord, of Heaven and eternity.
They’re somewhat like employees who’re still wanting to be paid,
Yet, haven’t turned up for work -- in other words, in bed stayed.”
“I guess I wouldn’t save them. After all, Lord, why should I?
How could I justify that, given they hardly qualify?
You died for the repentant, Lord, who seek to do Your will,
Because they’re very grateful and find serving you a thrill.”
“Grace isn’t a blank cheque then?” “No, Lord. On it, there’s an amount,
It’s a cheque that pays a debt, a cheque banked on our account.
It doesn’t pay for sinning, but for those who’ve died to sin,
Who the Spirit then empowers, living and working within.”
“I like how you’ve put it, son. Seems you’re getting the picture now,
Sin is such an ugly thing, thus, willful sin I can’t allow.
Hence why I’ve expectations I must take into account,
When an investigation in to who’ll be saved I mount.”
“An investigation, Lord?” “Yes, son, before I return.
I’ll be going through the books -- then each person, their fate will learn.”
“What books, Lord?” “Heaven’s record books, where everything’s recorded,
Then each person with eternal life or death will be rewarded.”
“Every word, thought and action I will be scrutinizing,
And then, the sheep and the goats I’ll be categorizing.
You see, I’m not just your Saviour, but also your Judge as well,
Mentioned in Revelation, and elsewhere -- for example, Daniel.”
“I can’t leave one stone unturned -- I must be, and be seen to be, fair,
Lest someone get to Heaven who really shouldn’t be there.
Plus, Satan would be complaining, telling others I’m unfair,
And pointing out those Christians he thought shouldn’t Heaven share.”
“And even those I save, son, when in Heaven might wonder why
There are certain folk up there, and how such I could justify.
Thus, some time spent in Heaven to peruse the books with care,
Will help each saint to see why certain ones are or aren’t there.”
“Don’t the saints remain there, Lord?” “No, son, only for a while,
Then to earth they’ll return, along with Me, in lavish style.
It’ll be a renewed planet where I’ll be living as well,
And there in peace and safety all eternity we’ll dwell.”
“But first of all, son, there’ll be that investigation,
Where each person’s life is weighed, receives examination.
But those who truly love Me, and whose walk with My Word squares,
Have Me as their Advocate, no reason for any fears.”
“When will the ‘saved’go to Heaven?” “When I come back again, son,
For just prior to My return, My investigating will have been done.”
“Why can’t they go before, Lord?” “Because that would be unfair,
Besides, every saint at the same time, My wedding feast will share.”
“Will there be tears in Heaven?” “Oh, I’m sure there will be, son,
Only on the earth made new will any tears cease to run.
That’s recorded in My Word, and the reason there’ll be tears,
Is folk will be perusing Heaven’s books with intent stares.”
“I think I understand, Lord. Many will need time to grieve,
For they’ll see why some loved ones eternal life couldn’t receive.
That’s why you’ve allotted time in Your mansions up above.
Wow! You think of everything, because You’re a God of love.”
“You’ll help them through that process, further questions answer too,
And then You’ll escort them back to this earth You’ll renew.
After they’ve had time to grieve, enjoyed their Heavenly stay,
They’ll never share tears again, just happiness day after day.”
“How could I not obey you, Lord? After all, You know what’s best,
And You never force our will, Lord -- no, You simply request.
Effectively it’s us, Lord, who select our destiny.”
“Yes, son, and why I’m hoping it’s eternal life with Me.”
“Oh, just one more thing, Lord”…
“Yes, son?” “When a ‘saved’ one dies naturally or by accident,
Does a soul ascend to Heaven at that very moment?”
“No. One does not have a soul, and like I said before, son,
No one’s going to Heaven ’till an investigation’s done.”
“However, man is soul, he doesn’t have a soul, soul’s the complete man,
Some versions state ‘being’ instead of ‘soul,’ where they rightly can.
When the ‘breath of life’ has gone, from someone that I have made,
They then cease to exist, except in the grave, where they’ve been laid.”
“True, a few have gone to Heaven, but they’re simply exceptions,
Like Moses, for example; so, son, beware of deceptions.
That you’ve a soul, or go to Heaven at death, is incorrect.
Such are simply heresies, and Satan’s their architect.”
“They’re just pagan beliefs, that sadly, into the Church crept,
And that ever since, as a Christian precept have been kept.
In line with the Scriptures, son, I would like to remind you,
That neither David or Lazarus for example, up to Heaven flew.”
“I’m in to restoration, therefore, the earth I’ll renew, son,
I’m not making a new earth -- I’ll just restore the old one.
And it’s the same with people, for I’ll restore the saints too,
Back to the pre-Fall state where folk had flesh and blood like you.”
“When I arose from the grave, My body was flesh and blood too,
And that’s the way it’ll stay, son, thus, My wounds the saints will view.
The ‘saved’ will not be spirits, nor have some kind of a soul,
But will be made perfect, and immortal, as restoration’s My goal.”
“No, between death and resurrection, humans don’t exist,
But metaphorically sleep -- while I, in Heaven, the ‘saved’ ones list.
When I return to earth with their blueprints at hand, so to speak,
I will bring them back to life, and angels each saint will seek.”
“I guess there’s no Hell either?” “Not as some perceive it, son,
It’s certainly not a place, like some wrongfully have spun.
Hell’s just a ‘lake of fire’ intended for the wicked it’ll destroy,
Which stops when its done its work -- thus, it won’t rob the saints of joy.”
“No, I’m not vindictive, son, eternally they won’t burn,
Such is out of proportion, no behaviour such should earn.
Seventy-odd years of wrong doesn’t equal eternity,
Thus, their destruction by fire will be over very quickly.”
“Satan loves to portray Me in the worst way that he can,
And Satan hasn’t ceased such since that time when he began.
He wants Me seen a monster who unjustly inflicts pain,
Rather than a God of love, whose cross bears a bloody stain.”
“No, My son, I would never act in such an unjust way,
For what a lack of judgment such behaviour would display.
I know very clearly, son, that punishment should be fair,
Lest those punished, or observing, no longer respect, but fear.”
“So, when does such take place, Lord” “When the saints and I to earth return,
Then, Satan and the wicked in the ‘lake of fire’ will burn.
But first, the wicked who died at My coming, and throughout history,
I will bring to life again, and the following will be:”
“They’ll team up with the devil, and his evil angels too,
Who were left to roam the earth, while the saints, those books went through.
As the saints and I approach, Satan’s army will attack,
Only to be destroyed by fire — My counter attack.”
“Yes, fire comes down from Heaven, a ‘lake of fire’ engulfs them,
Turning them into ashes, an act no saint could condemn.
Both death and sin are vanquished, Satan and his angels too,
The new Jerusalem settles on the earth then made anew.”
“It’s all revealed in My Word, the latter in Revelation,
It’s what I call My strange work, for I’m into salvation.
I’d rather no one perish. My desire is to save all,
But to each I’ve given freedom -- thus, it’s effectively their call.”
“I’m extremely glad, Lord, that we’ve had this conversation,
Now I’ve a clearer picture, a greater appreciation.
Thus, You will have my loyalty, and my undying love,
And I’ll always be grateful for what You’ve done, and do above.”
By Lance Landall
To read the biblical texts that relate to this poem's contents, click on the following poem titles: Where Are They?; Grace And Obedience; Yes, A Judgment Does Take Place; Once Saved, Always Saved?; The Lake Of Fire; He's Coming; That's How Much; God's Gift Of Grace; Balancing Grace.
