On A Leash

 

 

Here is a truth

That I dare to believe

And you will find it in God’s Word

You can go there and read.

 

It was there all along

Though interpreted away

By some genuine and otherwise

In our daily spiritual fray.

 

The main characters involved

Are Jesus and Satan,

They both have a domain

Referred to as their kingdom.

 

One is the kingdom of light

The other of darkness,

Satan’s subjects are cursed

While Jesus’ are blessed.

 

Satan’s subjects are bound

Because he is bound,

Think about this a little

As in your mind it resounds.

 

The main point of this discourse

Is that Satan is chained

And if you are bound with him

You are to blame.

 

Jesus offers freedom

To whomsoever would believe,

Salvation has been given

I can testify that I have received.

Satan is on a leash

This is what I dare to believe,

Anything contrary to this

And such believers are deceived.

 

His going about as a lion

Is a straightforward simile,

He can’t deceive the child of God

Meaning you and me.

 

For we are Jesus’ sheep

And we know his voice,

Come on my brother, my sister

Now is the time to rejoice.

 

Jesus led captivity captive

When he ascended on high,

Hence, that Satan is bound

Cannot be realistically denied.

 

The Pharisees accused Jesus

Of being in tandem with Satan,

You would recall in Matthew 12

When he cast out those demons.

 

If that were the case

Satan’s kingdom would be divided,

Therefore, how would it stand?

The Pharisees he chided.

 

Jesus entered Satan’s domain

And fettered him in chains

And thereafter spoiled his goods

So that Satan is now restrained.

 

That is the only way, says Jesus,

That he could spoil his goods,

Hence, Satan had to be bound

And to do such, only Jesus could.

 

Jesus spoiled principalities

And made of them an open show,

There is no doubt the devil is bound

Why, even Satan knows.

 

Satan is like a mongrel

That’s been placed on a leash

And like the dog he keeps much noise-

His barking has never ceased.

 

Therein lies his deception,

His lies are in his bark

And one day too that will be taken

And to hell’s pit he will depart.

  

Like the dog he will bite

If to him you draw too near

But if you dare to resist him

You will have nothing to fear.

 

Jesus has triumphed over him

And will never lose a battle,

So, my brother, my sister, have faith!

Let not your heart be rattled.

 

Stewart Russell © May 2020

 

Another Closeup View

Yes, I was there, I’ll admit,

For all the world to see,

And yes, I was guilty, that I know,

As guilty as could be.

My vantage point was just as close

As anyone else’s could be

But unlike the other malefactor,

All I could see was me.

I’ll admit, though, I really must,

This man was truly different

But at that time, I wanted out,

I could never be repentant.

What I did I would do again,

That was the way of life for me,

I railed against him, you would recall

But I was being me, you see.

I knew of his exploits and miracles

Of his power and compassion,

And given the trouble we were in,

That was the time for action.

 

If you are the Christ, I called out,

Save yourself and us,

How I would have liked a miracle

From this man they called Jesus!

I was getting my just desserts

But this man had done no wrong,

All the more reason to act quickly

And from the cross get us down.

He did not respond to me

But an interesting thing occurred,

The other malefactor called out

And his request he heard.

 

It didn’t make any sense to me

What the other man requested

But upon the response of Jesus

He decidedly rested.

 

He referred to him as a king

And obviously, as having a dominion,

And asked to be remembered

When Jesus came into his kingdom.

in my desperate situation

I found that quite strange,

All of us in the same predicament,

That man had to be deranged!

You see, I too had a closeup view

But so very different from him,

His spiritual eyes were opened

However, mine must have been dim.

 

In this man, he saw something

That I certainly did not see

And in that enlightened moment

He believed it most assuredly.

The words were spoken with power

They spoke of that very day,

I wish I knew a little more

But that is all that I can say.

There was hope in the recipient’s eyes

Where before there was none

And even the Roman centurion remarked

That this Jesus was God’s Son.

Yes, I had a closeup view too

But that was to no avail,

While the other man was successful

It seems, I had totally failed.

Stewart Russell © April 2020

A Wonder to Ponder

From heaven

To the earth

To a grave

From a cradle

To a cross

To a crown

The Father’s gift

For

Mankind’s drift

To

Heal sin’s rift

Heaven’s glory

Earth’s story

Redemption’s song

Spells out the story

Of the One that came

To man’s aid

In the Father’s name

Jesus the Christ

Made the sacrifice

And gave his life

To pay sin’s price

Walked among men

Met their needs

Showed them love

Instead of greed

Healed the sick

Fed the poor

Befriended the friendless

And so much more

Chose a band

Of motley men

Taught responsibility

To each of them

They wondered

And blundered

And one his chance

He totally squandered

Coming again

For his to claim

All who believe

In his holy name

Are you numbered

Among the lot?

Are you sure

Of an eternal spot?

Confess your sin

Walk close to him

And an eternal home

You shall win

Jesus the wonder

You need to ponder

The only hope

For sin’s plunder

Accept him

Today!

No longer

Delay!

Satan waits to

Waylay

All that

Stray

The world

Is amused

When Jesus

You choose

But hell

Awaits them

That continually

Refuse

Stewart Russell © December 2017