The Five Ws

The news reporter starts with these:
what, when, where, why and who.
To rightly divide the Good News of God,
we need these criteria, too.
We can’t adopt a verse or two
and disregard the rest.
How does it fit with others?
This must be the acid test.
The Bible’s every word is true,
and if it seems discordant,
we haven’t asked those questions
which are the most important.
To whom was the writer speaking?
Was it baptized believers, or sinners?
A congregation mature in the faith
or only just beginners?
The context cannot be ignored
if we hope to learn the truth.
Confusion is the enemy
of a serious Bible sleuth.
The author of confusion
is not God, as Paul has said.
Who could it be but Satan
with whose lies we’re overfed?
Wisdom begins with the fear of God,
the awe that inspires learning,
and the Word inspires obedience.
 From our old ways soon we’re turning.
New attitudes bring happiness
despite the toils and strife.
We’re headed down that narrow road
to heaven’s blissful life.

§

The Trinity

Man is comprised of body and soul,
the essence of his being.
We recognize the way he looks,
but the part beyond our seeing
cannot be known unless he speaks
the thoughts within his mind.
Then we can call him friend or foe,
his ilk of humankind.
This triune combination
makes up the total man,
much like the Trinity of God,
not hard to understand.
There’s God, the Father of us all,
his Spirit that we share
through Christ who is the Word of God,
the Gospel to declare.
Each has his special function
to help us here below
and guide us over Jordan
as heavenward we go.

§

Life and Death

Earthly death is not a tragedy that Christians ought to dread
any more than John the Baptist when he lost his mortal head.
It is just the end of suffering; our worries all have passed.
When we see the promised paradise, our souls are free at last.
Free of sorrow, free of worry, free of this old earthly tent,
there to live in lovely mansions that are even free of rent.
Free of Satan’s constant hassles as he tries to take us down
to the underworld of torment where there is no golden crown.
Only sinners know the second death beyond the Father’s light,
eternal separation in the land of endless night
where no moon and stars are visible, no candle’s golden glow,
no loving arms for cuddling, no friend to say hello.
Our eternal home depends upon the actions that we take
when we rely on scripture for decisions that we make.
God’s Word was given only once, enduring for all time.
No beguiling neo-prophet can change a single line.
It’s all we need, it’s absolute, it’s perfect and complete.
It’s the only way to heaven, so why just drag your feet?

§

Privilege/ Responsibility

In these “last days”, the last dispensation
of God’s holy plan for the earth,
we are specially privileged people
from the very day of our birth.
We have the greatest news of all,
the Gospel, for a guide
to help us live a fruitful life
if its truths are well applied.
Along with this long-sought knowledge
comes responsibility
to share it with our neighbors
and strangers beyond the sea.
The better we understand the Word,
the bigger is our debt,
and as we share with others,
more wisdom we will get.
The prophets gave their very lives
for lost souls to be reached,
although they didn’t understand
the prophecies they preached.
How they would love to own and read
New Testaments like ours.
The Secrets of the Kingdom
they would hungrily devour.
We Christians are his hands and feet,
his tongues to spread the Word
and we must answer for the times
no loving voice was heard.
We plant the seed in varied soils
and water it with care,
but hardened hearts or worldly paths
no Godly fruit will bear.

§

The Yoke of Christ

In Asian countries we can see
the yokes that people wear
to spread the weight of awesome
 heavy burdens they must bear
by using shoulder muscles
 to spread the weight around
instead of stretching arms and hands
and make them drag the ground.
Christ says that if we take his yoke,
 the good news that he shared,
it will make our burdens lighter;
 we will have much fewer cares.
Our eternity can start today
in the kingdom of the Son
as we claim our new inheritance,
the victory he won
when he died upon that cruel cross,
rose from the borrowed grave
and, with his blood, paid for our sins,
our darkened souls to save.

§

Delivered Once for All Time

Abraham is often called the “father of the faithful”.
God spoke to him in patriarchal days.
Then came the time when his descendants disobeyed God’s teaching
and were taken captive as Egyptian slaves.
Moses led them out to freedom, yet they often worshiped idols,
seldom thankful for the blessings God had sent.
Even when the Christ came down to earth, they mocked and scourged and killed him,
his coming kingdom tried to circumvent.
His glorious resurrection set the stage for that new kingdom,
the last age, with the Word as our new guide.
So now “that which is perfect” (the Spirit-breathed gospel)
is complete; we need nothing else beside.
It was given by the Son, authority absolute,
delivered to the saints once for all time.
It will judge us on that day when before the throne we gather,
the only passport to that world sublime.
We can use it for a mirror with which to test our faith.
The truth will never change or disagree.
 What does it say, what does it mean (compared to other scriptures)
and how does all this truth apply to me?
Since Christ is man and also God, he serves as mediator
because his understanding works both ways.
None other can be qualified to take prayers to the Father,
none but the Son who died, our debt to pay.

§

The Meek Messiah

The pompous religious leaders
were blind to the identity
of the humble man named Jesus,
but the two blind men could see
that this was the Messiah
who had the power to heal.
They were unashamed to cry for help,
for compassion to appeal.
Some folks today are still waiting
for the Messiah’s earthly reign
and fulfillment of other prophecies,
but alas, they wait in vain.
When Christ hung on that awful cross,
“It is finished,” said he, and died.
He spoke of his life-long mission,
to fulfill what had been prophesied.
After Jesus was resurrected,
he set up his kingdom, the church,
in the hearts of his believers
who have once-for-all finished their search.
From the kingdom of darkness translated
into the kingdom of light,
the brilliance of God, Son and Father,
offers Christians excellent sight.
This is no place for selfish ambition;
we must be humble and meek
like Christ as he rode on the donkey
instead of a horse, tall and sleek.
We are volunteer slaves for the Master
and his children, whatever the need.
No job is too tiresome or lowly
if only we follow his lead.
He washed stinky feet; can we do any less?
If we see a problem to solve,
we apply our heart and body and soul
and the right answer soon will evolve.

§

Using God’s Money

Everything we have belongs to God,
entrusted to our care
according to ability
and tendency to share.
As we invest in saving souls,
the treasures most rewarding,
responsibilities will grow,
our selfishness retarding.
The rich man in the parable
who stored up all he made
took credit for abundance,
left his debt to God unpaid.
We get in trouble when we think
we own what we possess
instead of giving thanks to God
for money and success
and using it to spread the Word
to sinners far and wide,
expanding kingdom boundaries,
bringing wayward souls inside.
Stock markets cannot limit God;
he will take care of us
and give peace and contentment
unless we’re Gloomy Gus.
The point is not how much we have
but who we’re putting first.
If serving God is number one,
he’ll quench our every thirst.
He’ll bless us in all that we do,
supply our needs and more,
with confidence he’ll lead us
to that eternal shore.

§

Unfruitful Religion

Jewish worshipers from far away had been allowed by God
to purchase local animals when the long road they had trod.
Self-righteous leaders took advantage of the travelers’ need,
were robbing their own people in the house of God, indeed!
Twice Jesus cleansed the temple in holy fits of anger,
overturning all their tables, driving out the money changers.
He often called them hypocrites who worshiped just for show.
The earthly honor they received in this short life below
is all the wages they will have when judgement is at hand.
They’ll never hear the music of that sweet angel band.
They knew that Jesus was the Christ, a threat to their success,
and planned how they would kill him with the greatest of finesse.
Like the devils who also believe, their faith was stinking dead,
as they refused obedience to the saving words he said.
Religious, yet unfruitful, eyes closed against the truth,
they relinquished their own birthright, the kingdom of God, forsooth!
“I abide in the Father’s love,” Christ said, “by keeping his commands,”
and he requires the same from us if we would rightly stand.
His church is the “new Israel,” the bride of Christ the Lord.
His family consists of those who obey his precious word.
No longer Jew or Gentile, no longer slave or free,
no longer male or female, just Christians, you and me.

§

The Crowd is Usually Wrong

Pilate knew that Jesus had no sin, committed not one crime,
and wanted to release this perfect man.
He gave the howling crowd a choice of who should be set free,
 thinking murderer Barabbas would be canned.
But the  power-hungry priests, blood-thirsty, jealous, mad,
incited throngs of people to insist
that Christ be crucified despite his innocence,
to which he did not answer or resist.
Some in this crowd had followed when miracles of Jesus
provided food and healing of their ills,
but in a mob, their common sense became a common hatred
that turned into a fiendish need to kill.
All that happened had been foreordained and often prophesied.
No scripture then or since has ever been proved wrong.
Christ volunteered to suffer the cruelest of deaths
so that the worst of crimes a whole life long
can be obliterated by his precious cleansing blood
if we will follow close the Lord’s commands.
Believe, repent, confess his name and join him in his death,
where we contact the blood that he demands.
The narrow road is traveled by such a precious few,
and still we hear the echo of the throngs
that the wide highway is “where it’s at,” be greedy, “do your thing,”
but the crowd is still ‘most always in the wrong.

§

Good vs Evil

God tests all of his children, hoping we succeed,
supplies us strength and wisdom, everything we need.
But Satan aims at our weak spots, hoping we will fail.
He fans the flame of our desire and laughs at our travail.
Blessed is the man who perseveres in trials big and small,
for he will gain the crown of life, the greatest gift of all.
God says that if we love him, his laws we’ll gladly keep,
but our own desires can drag us down into a shameful heap.
Evil desires give birth to sin, and when sin is full-grown,
death is the wages we have earned for the bad seed we have sown.
Like a snowball rolling down the hill, sin grows so very fast,
and we only have ourselves to blame if we land in hell at last.
From God comes good and perfect gifts, but we must do our part
to honor his commandments, love him with all our heart.
We volunteer to be his slaves, obey him without question.
The laws he made for our own good are more than just suggestions.
Work out your own salvation by studying God’s word
and making it your guidepost; stay firm and undeterred.
Let the word affect everything you do. His will becomes your own.
His spirit gives you confidence that you are not alone.
Too often God is blamed for old Satan’s evil deeds,
and if we doubt the love of God, the devil will succeed.
A loving Father disciplines, but never tempts with sin.
And when we have him on our side, how can we help but win?

§

Taming the Tongue

What we say informs others of what is in our hearts
just as our faith is shown by deeds of action.
The tongue, a tiny spark, can set the woods on fire
and give old Satan lots of satisfaction.
It can corrupt a person, set the course of his life on fire,
and is, itself, set on fire by hell.
It is often inconsistent, cursing men and praising God,
unstable, headed down the slope pell-mell.
The tongue is like a bit in the mighty horse’s mouth,
so tiny yet controls his every move.
With God’s help we can gain control of our unruly tongues,
the messages we send thus to improve.
Man who claims to be religious, yet bridles not his tongue
deceives himself; his worship is in vain.
At judgement we must give account for every idle word,
so let’s take the bit, turn quickly to the rein.

§

Living on the Edge of Adventure

The tangible form of God’s sweet grace is in the written Word.
Christ left his Will to guide us, our precious souls to gird.
It teaches us to just say “no” and walk away from sin.
A great adventure now awaits as this new life begins.
Christ was the “Good Samaritan,” saw our sin-sick, wounded souls,
had mercy, stopped and gave his all to make us well and whole.
He took us to the inn (the church) where others gave us aid
and helped us learn to serve him for the great price that he paid.
He took away our filthy rags, (self-righteous clothes we wore)
and dressed us up in regal robes, his spirit did outpour.
Good fruit began to blossom: Love, joy, patience, peace,
goodness, kindness, self-control were there within our reach.
As children of the heavenly King, joint heirs with Christ the Lord,
we’ve become the “Good Samaritans,” should be of one accord
in striving to be merciful, impartial, gracious, just,
sensitive to the needs of others; unselfishness now our thrust.
Worldly attainment, one-upmanship, insisting on our rights
is past-tense, unimportant; we have left the dark of night.
We’re to have a different spirit, no running the show roughshod,
walk in the light, “Be still,” he says, “and know that I am God.”

§

Be Faithful Unto Death

Are there only horrible people in hell, what we call “scum of the earth?”
No, many just had no use for God, never took part in the new birth.
God’s word has two motivators: punishment and reward.
If we don’t obey, there’s hell to pay; we will burn of our own accord.
Christ has paid for full salvation if we serve him to the end.
He will come to claim his family and together we’ll ascend
to that heavenly home and the crown of life where earthly cares will cease.
There will be no pain, no corroded brain, no hardship, sorrow, grief.
Christ Jesus is the only man who ever earned salvation.
He bought it, paid the cruel price for our ultimate liberation.
The conditions of dispensing this gift which none can buy
were set before the world began - by God, our great ally.
He does not save us IN our sins, but OUT of sin and shame.
We come in contact with his blood when baptized in his name
and rise to walk a brand new life in the church bought by his blood.
Our yoke of bondage is unloosed with such a resounding thud!
Out of the world we have been called, and justified by grace
so that now we may look forward to the sunshine of his face.
With Christ as our example, we strive to imitate
the love he showed to others, even if we meet his fate.
He is our own perfection, ever cleansing us of sin,
yet we’re warned of the danger of falling away
as the world seeks to draw us back in.
Faithful obedience unto death is what the Word requires.
We must be ever vigilant, not returning to the mire.

§

Works of Faith

We could work a million lifetimes
and never earn the gift
of gracious intercession
Christ bought to heal the rift
that sin has caused twixt us and God.
No balm could ever cure
our injured souls without his blood
to wash us white and pure.
We come in contact with the blood
in the ritual he gave
that signifies our death with him
inside a watery grave.
We rise to walk in newness of life,
grafted onto God’s family vine,
and we stay in contact with the blood
through memorial bread and wine.
He gave many stipulations:
Obedience is a must
to show the fullness of our faith,
how genuine our trust.
Cornelius was a good man,
with faith and zealous prayer
but still required baptism,
salvation’s gift to share.
This cleansing gives us freedom
of which we could only dream.
Free from mystic superstition,
we are part of a holy team.
To have the mind of Christ in us
is the goal at which we aim,
to leave behind the selfish world
of sin from whence we came.

§

Gain What You Cannot Lose

Only God’s word is consistent,
as Old Testament history shows.
Men, preachers, teachers, emotions
are changeable - everyone knows.
The Gospel, the Good News of Christ,
is the map of the road to heaven,
and a guide for happiness here on earth,
the last instructions given.
Any spirit that speaks otherwise,
whether preacher, angel, friend,
must be tested by the written word
which will judge us in the end.
Satan can appear as an angel of light
or a charismatic leader
who can draw us away from the narrow path,
far from Christ, our interceder.
The Israelites, God’s chosen race,
would not be of one accord.
“You are bruised and bloodied and beaten,
but still you won’t turn to the Lord.”

“Why are you kicking against the goads?”
Jesus asked the sinner, Saul,
who was struck blind there upon the road
when he heard the Master’s call.
For three days he prayed and fasted
til Ananias said “Arise!
To wash away your many sins,
it’s time to be baptized.”
A wise man will take a lesson
and learn while there’s time to choose,
give up that which he cannot keep
to gain what he cannot lose.

§

Freedom From Fear

We are spiritual descendants of Abraham
through obedient faith to the end.
Christ says if we do as he commands,
he will always call us “friend,”
Not ashamed to call us brothers,
he was like us in every way,
was perfect in spite of human desires
to become our atonement today,
turning aside the wrath of God
that we, in the flesh, have earned,
and freeing us from the devil’s control
when the wide road we have spurned.
Once we were slaves to the fear of death
but have overcome the grave
through the blood of the risen Savior
who died, our souls to save.
We can walk the darksome valley
with Christ close by our side
and emerge in eternity’s sunshine
where the saints of all ages abide.
His sacrifice recaptured
what was lost in the garden of Eden.
With his power available to us,
his word our guiding beacon,
we can overcome temptation,
resist the bonds of sin,
trust in the Great Physician
for a healthy soul within.

§

Thy Will Be Done

Christ had to learn obedience
through suffering and shame,
overcoming all temptation
as our Savior he became.
A sacrifice is nothing
unless it costs a lot.
The price he paid was everything;
we win the whole jackpot!
Any suffering we might endure
can in no way compare
to leaving Heaven’s glory,
that heavy cross to bear.
We cannot learn obedience
up on the mountain top
with the warmth of sunshine on our face,
euphoria non-stop.
Christ’s reverent submission,
as in “Thy will be done,”
was answered with the gift of peace
which he offers everyone.
Our circumstances may not change,
though we strive to do his will
on the risky, rocky, narrow road
that seems always uphill.
He hears our prayers and gives us strength
when the way is dark and drear.
He will never break his promise
that he is always near.
The blessings of contentment
in every circumstance
he offers if we follow him
without a backward glance.

cgtrent@att.net
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