Is That So?

 

 

Is it really true

I must know my enemy

In order to win the battle

In life’s hostility?

 

It depends

On the battle’s nature,

If it’s between two countries,

Sure, in that picture.

 

In sporting matches

Yes, that’s a definite

And given today’s technology

This is right.

 

However, note this!

Not in the faith

For all we stand in need of

Is by God’s grace.

 

The battle is not ours

It is the Lord’s,

And the enemy is defeated

By His Word.

 

I do not know him

And that is not a need,

I know the Almighty God

And I’m his indeed.

 

 

Victory was wrought

On his “It is finished!”

The adversary was defeated,

Totally vanquished!

 

The need to know

Is to know the Lord

And this is accomplished

Through his Word.

 

There is danger

In knowing the enemy,

Known as the father of lies,

He deals deceitfully.

 

 

Also known as fox

And, specifically so,

“That fox” was how Jesus put it

For all of us to know.

 

That’s all about Satan

That I need to know,

He is the master of deception

And it daily shows.

 

The words of Jesus

At John 8:44b,

Jesus emphatically states it

For all to see.

 

When he speaketh a lie,

He speaketh of his own:

For he is a liar,

And the father of it.

 

Speaking of Satan

That’s Jesus’ summary,

Nothing more we need to know

About this enemy.

 

Stewart Russell © December 14, 2024

 

I Never Knew You

 

 

“I never knew you:

Depart from me,”

The words of Jesus

“Ye that work iniquity.”

 

The first four words

Constitute my focus:

These four harsh words

Are words of Jesus.

 

“I never knew you:”

Follow by, “Depart from me.”

There is something here

We should easily see.

 

Bible commentaries

Give different meanings

And most of them differ

From what Jesus is saying.

 

I know very little Greek

And no Hebrew at all:

Neither is my forte

Neither is my call.

 

I don’t run for a dictionary

For words I understand,

And neither will I now:

That’s not the plan.

 

These words are explicit

They must mean what they say,

They are point blank clear

In them is no grey.

 

Could a mother say such?

Regarding her child?

Not the child she gave birth to:

No matter how wild.

A father could not say such

In respect of his son,

In his words would be no truth

Absolutely none.

 

If Jesus did not mean

What he actually said,

Can I therefore assume

He was not right in his head?

 

If there is a single such instance

in all of Scripture

Then the Word of God

Is less than a perfect picture.

 

Know ye not that a little leaven

Leaveneth the whole lump?

Hence, any falsehood in truth

And truth must be dumped.

 

 

So, consider the word “never”

That Jesus actually spoke

And bear in your mind

It is part of his quote.

 

An essential part at that

And this is a fact:

Jesus has never said anything

That he had to take back.

 

He said what he meant

And he meant what he said;

If he said you were never alive

You were always dead.

 

Such were the Pharisees

That pretended to be alive

But never knew the life-giver

Since the life-giver they denied.

 

Stewart Russell © August 22, 2020