If the Dead Could Talk

 

 

If only the dead could talk

What would they say?

Would it mean anything to us?

Would we change our way?

 

There’s a case in the Bible

With which we are au fait,

In which one begged for his brothers

From hell where he lay.

 

He was in fiery torment

And asked to warn his kin,

They were living wretched lives

And would end up like him.

 

They refused to listen

To the prophets of the day

And with ears nigh dysfunctional,

Went their own way.

 

If only the dead could talk

What would they say?

Would we listen to the departed

And change our way?

 

What about our parents?

What would they say?

Would they speak any differently

From back in their day?

 

What about our friends

Whom we loved so dearly?

Would we give a listening ear

And be really sorry?

 

Or, would we like many

Refuse to even listen

And join the ever-growing throng

Incarcerated in prison?

 

 

If only the dead could talk

They wouldn’t be dead

But like our blessed, risen Saviour

They’d be alive instead.

 

But the dead cannot talk,

Neither can they see

Thus, while life is yours today,

Be the best you can be.

 

Talk to an errant one today

To set his path straight,

To express his trust in Jesus Christ

And to love and not hate.

 

For there’s life after death

But only to the saved,

Meaning the born-again believer

Who from sin was raised.

Stewart Russell © April 8, 2025

My Eschatological Puzzle

 

 

 

Whether Idealist, Historicist,

Preterist or Futurist,

I am definitely positive

There is something they all miss.

 

With each of these four

There is an emphasis

And with their intended unique focus

Some information is dissed.

 

A focus on the past

As in the Preterist’s case

May very well overlook the future

In their eager haste.

 

Similarly, the Futurist,

Intent on their peculiar task

Could have inadvertently missed

The prophetic past.

 

Idealist and Historicist

Could be culpable too

Premising their summations

On a partial view.

 

 

Therein is my puzzle

Concerning any eschatology,

And thus, I refuse to be labelled

By any category.

 

I do believe, however,

Most prophecies are past

And I note that this is a position

Most have not grasped.

 

Prophecy fulfilled

Is a vindication of the Word

That God in his infinite knowledge

Has never deferred.

 

Not one has failed,

They all have come true

And the annals of history show

This to me and you.

 

 

Some have been distant

And some near at hand

But that some indication is given

Has always been God’s plan.

 

In Daniel he was told,

Shut up the words, seal the book,

Go now to Daniel 12 verse 4

And have a look.

 

The urgency was not then

But for a while after

And thus, the sealing of the vision

Until the time of the matter.

 

 

But not so in Revelation

In the vision given to John,

This was sent to seven churches,

Yes, to everyone.

 

It was a matter of urgency

Applicable to them

And that’s why with the Futurist

I have a problem.

 

I have a huge problem

With the Preterist as well,

Concerning the current believers,

What hope do they tell?

 

Hyper Preterist teach

Every prophecy is fulfilled,

There remains not a single one

Regarding God’s will.

 

No coming yet to come

And no physical resurrection,

What then, I am forced to ask,

Is my redemption?

 

Regarding life after death,

When does this life truly begin?

And, will there never ever be

Complete riddance of sin? 

 

I am still puzzled

But not unduly disturbed

For there is still much that I glean

From God’s Holy Word.

 

In the 1^st chapter of John

And in the third also,

A wonderful truth has been given

And this truth I know.

 

I am a child of God

Having received Him by faith,

Naught of any good I have done,

Only by God’s grace.

 

But as many as receive Him

Not one of them will perish,

For all will have everlasting life

And this I truly relish.

 

 

 

So though puzzled I may be

Concerning its working out,

That God will bring it all to pass

I have absolutely no doubt.

 

Stewart Russell © March 6, 2025

 

Michael Caines

  

 

I did not know him long

Just a few years as a matter of fact

But one thing was obvious to me

He was a loving Christian chap.

 

I did not see him often

But was so impressed when I did

Regarding his Christian witness

Daddy Caines was most avid.

 

In the short time that I knew him

Something stood out for me

Here was a man of the Christian faith

That epitomized humility.

 

You may say the two go together

And perhaps you are right,

But the ease with which he displayed it

Presented a wonderful sight.

 

I wish I had known him longer

However, that was not to be

But in the short time that I did

I beheld his sincerity.

 

Though a man of tall stature

He was in no way intimidating

For he would quickly put you at ease

With a smile that was most radiating.

 

The first time that I met him

Was at the funeral of Gloria’s dad

And the firm handshake he gave me

Was among the best I have ever had.

 

The second time I met him

We had much more time to talk

And there was no doubt in my mind

His talk was synonymous with his walk.

 

Another thing that struck me

Regarding this most endearing man

Was his high regard for the family

And the need to stick to God’s plan.

 

For family was the premiere topic

As in that conversation we engaged

And as we listened to his wife and him

They were clearly on the same page.

 

One more characteristic I will mention

And this is in the interest of time

He appeared to be rather soft spoken

But with an obvious firmness in his mind.

 

For when he gave his view on a matter

Though he spoke it with such meekness

There was absolutely no indication

That it came from a position of weakness.

 

He has left us all a great legacy

And our lives have been made the better,

The best that we can do in his memory

Is in Jesus Christ to daily grow deeper.

 

As we stood in vigil at his home going

And as we timed his remaining breaths

We became increasingly encouraged by the fact

There is a better life after death.

 

For in Christ we have this promise

That all who die in him shall live again

And when He shall come to claim his own

The glorious song will be his refrain.

 

Hallelujah to the Lamb that was slain!

Hallelujah to the King who forever reigns!

Hallelujah to Jesus he will proclaim

Hallelujah to my Saviour again and again!

 

Stewart Russell © 2016