A Provisional Heaven

 

 

Could there possibly be

A provisional heaven

Where the physical dead definitely go

If their sins are forgiven?

 

Maybe some paradise

Like as in Abraham’s bosom:

A kind of holding area, if you like,

For deceased Christians?

 

Could it be immediately

On passing away,

Or in another way of expression,

On that very day?

 

What does it truly mean:

The dead in Christ?

Are these really in a physical grave

Or experiencing life?

 

If we are joint-heirs

And seated with Christ,

Isn’t this a very telling reference

To a heavenly life?

 

 

Isn’t any man in Christ

A new creation

Already possessing eternal life

Due to salvation?

 

Yet Christians die

And they do so everyday

So where do they go, I must ask,

Where do they stay?

 

In a provisional home

Maybe annexed to heaven

So that we can rest assuredly

They are already risen?

 

 

Would this in fact be

The first resurrection

To which the Apostle is referring

In the book of Revelation?

 

Where go the dead:

The dead that die in Christ?

Is there a provisional heaven

Where they enjoy life?

 

Ever since the creation

Believers have died!

Have they just rotted in the grave

And no longer survive?

 

 

Or, are they somewhere

In a provisional heaven

Still fully functional and conscious

Of sins forgiven?

 

A provisional heaven

Before the eternal one

When God in Christ will judge all

Before time is gone?

 

I am merely asking

And I am yearning to know,

Do you have any clear evidence

You’d like to show?

 

Stewart Russell © June 22, 2025

 

Where Is Paradise?

 

 

Where O where is Paradise?

I’d really like to know,

 I know that it must exist

For the Bible tells me so.

 

I can’t but believe the Word

Especially the words of Christ,

Two inferences I therein see

As he spoke of paradise.

 

Luke 23:43

 

The first is found in Luke;

The second in the Revelation

And both of these I noticed

Connect with our salvation.

 

Revelation 2:7

 

The first is about the thief

That with Jesus was crucified,

The other is about the tree of life

That is in the midst of paradise.

 

1 Corinthians 12:4

 

There is a third reference

And this is attributed to Paul:

He was caught up into paradise

And in the Bible, these are all.

 

Some cite Abraham’s bosom

As recorded in Luke 16:

Verses 19 to 31

Paint a picture of this scene.

 

Much is read into this passage,

Much is generally implied

And when there is speculation

In such I won’t confide.

 

The rich man, it is explicit,

Was definitely in torment,

He wanted Abraham to send someone

To warn his brothers to repent.

 

So, not much going here

To explain about paradise,

It’s not Abraham’s bosom for sure:

This is not even implied.

 

 

 Jesus assured the thief,

On the day he was crucified

“Today thou shalt be with me”

And he ends, “in paradise.”

 

What that fully meant?

I surely do not know;

Jesus was buried that same day

Is what the Bible shows.

 

As a result, some conclude,

It’s a compartment in hades

Where the born-again believer goes

On the event of his demise.

 

There in spirit consciousness

He awaits the blessed resurrection

Which shall be on the last day

As recorded in Revelation.

 

“He that overcomes,” Jesus said,

“Will eat of the tree of life,”

And this tree, he continues,

Is in the midst of God’s paradise.

 

No hard and fast conclusion

As far as these references show

But if any of you has seen more

Please, I would like to know.

 

Stewart Russell © May 30, 2021

 

My Closeup View

There was a difference about him

Even as he hung there,

In spite of His discomfort

He still seemed to say, I care.

How could it be possible

That a man in such pain and anguish

Could think of anything other

Than a selfish wish?

A wish to be set free

Even if that escape route was death,

To be freed from this anguish

And enter the folds of sweet rest.

That was certainly my wish

And the wish of the other

But this man, O he was different,

His was another matter.

We were concerned with the now

But he looked to the future,

We were concerned with the me

But he saw a bigger picture.

His agony was obvious

But his words seemed unrelated,

It was though he were free

And his tormentors incarcerated.

“Father, forgive them,” he cried,

This got home to me,

This man was truly different

That I could definitely see.

He would have to be

To have uttered such a cry,

He was in a different frame of mind

Though we all were destined to die.

  

All around they mocked him

Even the other malefactor,

This man had done nothing wrong

But we both were transgressors.

Suddenly I saw my opportunity

And I grasped it with both hands,

I called out, not in desperation,

But in accordance with his plan.

I rebuked the other malefactor

Then confessed we had sinned,

Then I focused right on Jesus

And I said these words to him.

“Lord, remember me,” I cried,

“When you come into your kingdom.”

That day I was promised paradise

By God’s begotten Son.

Shortly after, all was dark

But I beheld a glorious light,

It was the light of sins forgiven

That instant my heart was right.

I heard the centurion confess

He was a righteous man,

I could not agree with him more

He was the sacrificial Lamb.

For a crime he did not die

But for a wretched soul like me,

It was I who had done him wrong

But yet he sealed my destiny.

Not death, the wages of my sin,

But life he freely gave,

In the closing moments of my life

He saved this worthless knave.

Mine was a closeup view

Just like those beneath his cross,

So was my fellow scoundrel

But yet he ended up lost.

To have been that close to Jesus

And yet reject his call

Is like having everything in life

And then to lose it all.

This need not be your lot today,

He beckons with outstretched arms

Bidding all to come to him

In the midst of their alarms.

So, follow my example,

I am one of the malefactors,

Run to Jesus this very moment,

Invite him to be your Saviour.

Stewart Russell © April 2020