Away with Escapism

Come, Lord Jesus,

And help me escape

This terrible world

That is full of hate.

I have had enough

And I am ready to go,

I know you’re looking down

And you must know.

Every single day brings

Some new terror,

Nightmare after nightmare

Like a Hollywood horror.

People don’t even care

About your precious word

Hence, I have given up

On this unrepentant world.

There was a time

When people would listen

But now, to oppose you

Have become the fashion.

I know you have a day

When you will return

But it is a waste of time

These people won’t learn.

They are stiff-necked

And rotten all the way through,

I see no hope for them

And so should you.

I am ready to come home

I am serious, Lord,

I yearn for you to come

Like you said in your Word.

I am tired of down here

Tired witnessing too,

I just want to leave

And be with you.

This is your faithful servant

All of these years,

And this is my prayer to you

Dear Lord, please hear.

My child

There are many to come in

Just like you did,

Don’t forget the times I called

When you ran and hid.

Finally, you responded

And you were doing well,

Your work isn’t finished yet

There are many you must tell.

Of course, if you are tired,

And really want to escape

Death could be your relief,

Should I hasten the date?

 

On second thoughts, Lord,

I would rather remain,

It is not so bad after all

I guess I became vain.

I have heard so much

About the bad things to come

That praying for your coming

Was my way to run.

There are many like me

That are growing tired of the work

And they are finding ways

In which they can hide and shirk.

They too long to escape

From whatever is to come

Forgetting they have been called

To a work in the kingdom.

Thank you, Lord,

For opening my eyes,

Please help me to love those

I would ordinarily despise.

Brothers and sisters

With such a great work to do,

Escapism as an option

Is neither for me nor for you.

To the work; to the work

As the great song of the Faith says,

Every new born-again believer

Makes for better days.

Making the world a better place

One believer at a time

Through your effort at witnessing

And also through mine.

Stewart Russell (c) June 2020