Ben and Mal

Ben and Mal are no strangers

We know them very well,

I’m sure the gifted ones among us

Know the truth this poem will tell.

But read on I must beseech

If only to give me a hearing,

In life’s story we all have our say

Regarding all that we are bearing.

From time immemorial

These two have always existed,

Not in the eternity past

So let not your mind be twisted.

One of them always existed

The other was brought on the scene,

And sometime post his arrival

He hatched a horrible scheme.

The effect ever since

Has been somewhat topsy-turvy

Particularly for the human race

Mal-adjusted and nervy.

So that what started out as good

Turned out very bad

And steps had to be taken

For which I am very glad.

It appears that wherever one is

The other is close around

Waiting for the opportunity

To pull everything down.

From the preceding verse

You should identify these two,

The former one is Ben

Mal holds the opposite view.

They’ve been evident in every era

Their battle raging fierce,

One showing increasing hostility

The other infinite grace.

  

Mal always seems to be gaining

The advantage in the fight

But hope springs eternal

And morning will overtake the night.

It’s like a great chessboard

On which the two best compete

Only that Ben is better

And Mal faces inevitable defeat.

They compete for our attention

In the things we do and say

But use very different strategies

To get us to go their way.

One makes full use of the truth

And presents it clearly to us,

The other infers the truth

To fan our greed and lust.

And as this real drama unfolds

On life’s daily stage

Ben exudes a calming spirit

While Mal explodes in rage.

Mal is ever icing coated

And promises the world and all,

Ben has been revealing Mal’s devices

Ever since the fall.

Mal’ schemes are deathly

Hence the reason for the death of Ben

But Mal’s celebration was cut short

When Ben came back to life again.

It is very interesting to note

The arrangement on that day,

Ben hung between two agents

That had lived their lives Mal’s way.

Do you recall those malefactors?

To the left and right hung one,

In between was our benefactor

The one whom for our sins atoned.

I am sure you are now aware

Regarding the origin of these names,

Ben is our Supreme Benefactor

Mal is Malefactor aka false claims.

Mal’s nature is malevolent

As displayed in the Garden of Eden

When he twisted God’s instruction

And deceived Mr. and Mrs. Adam.

Ben’s nature is benevolent

As demonstrated in another Garden

When to the Father he committed

To die for fallen man.

The battle continues to rage on

For the soul of every man,

Mal is still bent on repealing

Ben’s redemptive plan.

Unfortunately he is succeeding

Every time the truth is rejected

And that impenitent soul or souls

To hell are already headed.

But on the other hand

To the millions that have received

Ben has given life eternal

And unto as many as believed.

Stewart Russell © April 2018