Got It

 

 

Not an unfamiliar expression

I am sure

But nowadays for different reasons

You hear it much more.

 

I receive a note from someone

And my response is “Got it.”

Could be an email or a WhatsApp

But this is my habit.

 

Or you were waiting on a parcel

You purchased on line

And given the agreement

It had exceeded the time.

 

Then finally one day

A particular vehicle appears

And you shout out to the others “Got it!”

And there’s lots of cheer.

 

And what about that situation

You could not resolve?

You just could not find the concept

Around which it revolved.

 

Then comes the “Aha” moment

And you see what’s involved,

And you suddenly shout, “Got it!”

The problem is solved.

 

 

It is sometimes a question

Especially if in the classroom

And you are teaching something;

It could be a tune.

 

A pupil’s eyes light up,

“Got it?” you expectantly ask,

And the pupil’s affirmation confirms

The end of an arduous task.

 

But here is a final one,

It’s been running for three years

And though it’s not as bad now

We still have some fears.

 

A bout of coughing or sneezing

And a question arises:

“Got it?” the inquirer asks,

As he also surmises...

 

COVID-19 is the expectation

And it appears on the rise

As more than ten persons in Barbados

Recently met their demise.

 

 

If “Got it” is the response

Then you are sure to beware

For “Got it” in this sense

Is sure to cause fear.

 

So, “Got it” can be positive

Or “Got it” can be negative too

And sometimes positive can be negative

If COVID-19 is in view.

 

Stewart Russell © July 2, 2023

 

It Is Enough

 

How often we have said,

It is enough

During one of those occasions

When life was too tough!

 

There and then we decided

Something must be done

And we took a course of action

To end such a run.

 

Life can be so overwhelming

Some want to end it all,

And I’m sure you knew someone

That took the suicidal fall.

 

It is enough

They decided right back then,

They took the plunge

And that was the end.

 

Some even at this moment

Contemplate this course,

For them, it is enough,

It could not be worse.

 

But I have news for them

And every single reader,

There is someone who came

To provide life’s answer.

 

A songwriter reflected this

With the words “It Is Enough”,

We can stand firm in Jesus

When the going gets tough.

 

“I need no other argument

I need no other plea,

It is enough that Jesus died

And that he died for me.”

 

A hymn of reassurance

Midst myriad challenges of life,

An affirmation of redeeming grace

In the Saviour’s sacrifice.

 

“I need no other argument

I need no other plea,

It is enough that Jesus died

And that he died for me.”

 

It may be negative or positive

When we cry, “It is Enough!”

But which one will you hold to

When the going gets tough?

 

When those accusing fingers

Point to the guilt in us,

“It is enough,” we will respond,

With our faith in Jesus.

 

When people demand of us

Even our sweat and blood,

“It is enough,” we will affirm,

In Jesus is our good.

 

For Jesus paid the price

That a Holy God demands,

And in Christ alone “It is enough”

It we hold on to his hand.

It is enough

May be a cry of desperation

Or in positive contrast,

A song of salvation.

 

Stewart Russell © November 28, 2021

 

Hell: Not to be Taken Lightly

In Robert Morey’s book “Death and the After Life” its title

He draws our attention to a “discernible historical cycle”,

Starting with ACKNOWLEDGEMENT the first of seven stages,

It ends with affirmation; it’s been like this through the ages.

In acknowledgement most were clear on the doctrine of hell,

It was then an eternal punishment the Bible clearly did tell,

Sinners were warned to flee the wrath of God to come,

It was either an eternity in hell or forever in God’s kingdom.

But then came those who teach hell is not eternal just temporal,

INDIFFERENCE becomes the next stage in this historic cycle,

Sinners will be raised and judged and then be eternally dead,

No relentless consciousness of punishment, enough said.

God is a God of love; how dare one ascribes such hate to Him

To banish anyone to an eternal hell just for committing sin!

Why, how much sin could a person commit in his short lifetime

To warrant an eternity in a flaming hell with no chance of a lifeline?

This introduces IGNORANCE that sniffs at indifference heels

Since the biblical theme of God’s judgment is being repealed;

Now the people in the pew know not why to believe in hell

For little is said on the subject, apparently no one dares to tell.

Does God’s word really warn of an eternal hell? Of course not!

DOUBT rears up its ugly head and facilitates the devil’s plot,

“An eternal hell what!  Such a loving gracious God would be unkind,

Awhhh man, get that nonsensical folly clean out of your mind.

Think on this: a person who has had a short sixteen-year slice

Was never a bad fellow but had never accepted the Christ,

How could God in His mercy not only cast that youngster out

But commit him to an eternal lake of fire?  That I must doubt!”

The cults quickly advance universalism or annihilationism

Causing many to deny the true doctrine and accept their schisms

So that DENIAL becomes prominent since the orthodox teachers

Have not instructed their people, neither they nor their preachers.

The Universalists propagate, “Don’t worry, everyone will be saved!”

While the Annihilationists present hell not much different from the grave,

So that basically what will happen is the unsaved will be judged

Then punished in hell for a period, from this no need to budge.

At first orthodox theologians are not inclined to treat to the issue

Choosing to believe instead that theirs is still the established view

But then IRRITATION sets in as the opposing pressure begins to mount

And orthodox theologians see the need to put again the biblical account.

There is need for such irritation as we wallow in undue compromise

While accepting heresies that will contribute to our spiritual demise,

Heresies that will dull our spiritual sense and thus cause us to reject

The infallible word of God and the doctrine of hell it clearly projects.

Clearly the Universalists and Annihilationists don’t intend to go away

So AFFIRMATION is needed concerning this serious matter today,

There is dire need to reaffirm the biblical stance once taken on hell

And reach a lost and dying world before its final death knell.

There is a heaven to gain as certain as there is a hell to shun,

There is a common characteristic to both hell and God’s kingdom,

Eternal consciousness will be the fact regarding both destinations:

Eternal torment verses eternal bliss, heaven or hell the only two options.

After affirmation the Christian Church begins to acknowledge again,

Most are comfortable to propagate that hell is eternal conscious pain,

Such ACKNOWLEDGEMENT acknowledges that God is just though merciful

And has provided a way of escape from a horrid hell that is surely eternal.

Acknowledge with me to what God subjected His beloved begotten Son,

View with me his horrible death at Calvary and his tormentors’ fun,

Think with me concerning his resurrection and his subsequent ascension

To prepared a place for every born again believer in His coming kingdom.

God is not willing that any should perish but that all come to repentance,

Hell was not prepared for man but for the devil and his co-dependents,

Then shall Jesus say to them on his left, “Depart from me into everlasting fire!”

But what if some still don’t believe?  Let God be true and every man a liar!

Stewart Russell © 2016