Pavilions of Splendor
Taking a stand means standing out
It means opening oneself to open scorn
~ I cannot say this isn't hurtful
But knowing what the future holds
Standing becomes Worthwhile
Scorn becomes a badge of Honor
Hurt is transfigured into Joy
And loneliness is eased
By heartfelt longing
For Pavilions of promise
For the Golden City
The New Jerusalem
And the promise of Heaven on Earth
Where God will once more walk
In the cool of eternal day
Desireous that I walk
At His side
All this because when called
I chose to stand, not looking back
To make my way toward Pavilions of Splendor
ELAshley
011707.020756.1
It means opening oneself to open scorn
~ I cannot say this isn't hurtful
But knowing what the future holds
Standing becomes Worthwhile
Scorn becomes a badge of Honor
Hurt is transfigured into Joy
And loneliness is eased
By heartfelt longing
For Pavilions of promise
For the Golden City
The New Jerusalem
And the promise of Heaven on Earth
Where God will once more walk
In the cool of eternal day
Desireous that I walk
At His side
All this because when called
I chose to stand, not looking back
To make my way toward Pavilions of Splendor
ELAshley
011707.020756.1
from the mind of... Eric | 1:33 AM
9 Comments:
Nice poem. And right on. "....I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference..."
The difficulty - and the thing to keep in mind - is that sometimes we may find ourselves all alone because we went down a bad path (as in Saddam, for instance).
Some paths are lonesome and solitary merely because they're wrong. I reckon we must pray for wisdom, as always.
Walking in the Spirit guarantees persecution. Those who do walk in the Spirit will find comfort in fellow believers and the sure knowledge of Grace, but the world will hate the one who speaks the truth of God because the world is at enmity with God, and the things of God.
People who reject the Gospel, typically are not the Christian's sure and faithful friend. According to the Bible we should not allow ourselves to be unequally yoked with such. Those who hear the Gospel and receive it with gladness do so because God has drawn him/er to His son Jesus. No one chooses to seek after God on his/er own.
We are to have compassion and demonstrate genuine love toward the sinner, but not take him as friend. Include him/er when appropriate in our daily life and walk, but not in the confidence of friendship, for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness. This is biblical. We are to love the people of this present world, but not be partakers of their evil deeds.
And allow me to be clear: EVIL does not imply degree; it simply implies unrighteousness. In which case, the smallest of white lies is 'evil'.
This, at least, is what I meant by scorn and hurt. The world does not thank or admire the Christian for walking with God... they see it as foolishness, and a threat to the wants of their own flesh.
"Walking in the Spirit guarantees persecution."
And so what does our relative lack of persecution indicate?
I like that Soren Kierkegaard
quote:
Christianity has been made so completely devoid of character that there is really nothing to persecute. The chief trouble with Christians, therefore, is that no one wants to kill them anymore.
I, of course, disagree with Kierkegaard, as do many Christians worldwide who suffer and die for Christ each year.
A quick visit to Voice of the Martyrs dispells Kierkegaard's sophistry.
I would say our relative lack of persecution here in America means America has compromised the Gospel. But step out on a street corner and preach to the people who walk by... Few, if any, will welcome what you have to say, if you're warning them of the consequence of rejecting God's grace through Jesus Christ. You may very well find yourself in jail for it. It happens all the time... even here in America.
Being thought silly for your preaching would hardly qualify as persecution, I'd think.
And I was thinking primarily of the western church with Kierkegaard's quote.
Which still begs the question, "What then is wrong with Christianity in the West?"
Short answer? A lot.
"What then is wrong with Christianity in the West?"
Short answer? A lot."
With this, I can wholeheartedly agree. I find it interesting, though, that we fully agree upon this statement, both out of love and concern for the church, and yet we may be on opposite sides when it comes to defining what's wrong...
Very nice, lyric and deep. Nicely done!
The comments are edifying as well. Keep it up!
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