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

 

Prediction Versus Prophecy

 

 

A great divide between these two

And I hope you can see,

A prediction is speculation

While prophecy is history.

 

Hey there, don’t fret yourself,

Give me a chance to explain,

The confusion surrounding these

Is enough to make one insane.

 

A prediction is just what it is:

A projection of the future,

It is premised upon a certain trend

And thus, it is conjecture.

 

Should conditions continue

There is a very good chance

But such as we know is speculation

However much advanced.

 

The weather is a case in point

Where predictions are rife

But we’re all aware of the inaccuracies-

For such is life.

 

The hurricane season is on us

And so are the usual predictions,

But between La Nina and the Sahara dust

We have uncertain calculations.

 

 

 

 

Predictions are man-made

And therefore, fraught with error

But it is still good that we be prepared

For any anticipated terror.

 

If it does not happen

Do not regret having been prepared

But be grateful and thankful

That the prediction failed.

 

Predictions are a staple

When it comes to everyday life,

Some of them are of positive outlook

And some anticipate strife.

 

Prophecy is different, though-

And is certainly not man-made,

It is divinely appointed

And can never fail.

 

Some prophecies are conditional

And were so indicated,

A careful study of the scriptures

Shows where this is stated.

 

 

However, unconditional prophecy

Is documented history

Revealed before it unfolded

By the I AM that I AM, the Almighty.

 

It is He that created time

And He inspired the holy scriptures

Such that, anything God says,

Must be fact and not conjecture.

 

700 years before the event

It was recorded Jesus had died,

Yes, it was stated in the past tense

And he was not yet crucified.

 

 

Go to Isaiah chapter 53

And there you’ll see the details,

Prophecy, unlike man-made predictions,

Can never ever fail.

 

Heaven and earth will pass

But the word of God forever stands,

Predictions, my friend are speculative

But prophecy is God’s plan.

 

False prophesies are predictions

Usually given by a man,

The number of women is increasing

As though by demand.

 

They label them as prophecies

Saying they had heard from God

But the unfulfilment of so many

Shows they are frauds.

 

They call themselves prophets

Some, even apostles,

And some even make their living

Off gullible people.

 

Beware of those prophets

That foretell rather tell forth,

The former has personal agendas

And in their prophecies boast.

 

These are the foretellers

Who declare they heard from God,

Having received extra-biblical info

Which they then spread abroad.

 

Their pass grade is 60%

And sometimes it can be lower,

One time they would have attracted

Many a stone-thrower.

 

Prophecy is not a prediction

But in fact, the word of the Lord,

And there is always 100% accuracy

When delivered by the prophet of God.

 

Note I used the definite article-

‘The’ prophet of God, I said,

These prophets are still speaking

Though each one is dead.

 

They are found in the scriptures:

Each and every one

And their words still ring true

Although they are gone.

 

Stewart Russell © May 30, 2023

 

In My Opinion

“In my opinion”…

A phrase that is very overworked,

“This is how I see it”

And the relevant information skirts.

Bill Bullard was a politician

He would have known a lot of this

And perhaps in the American Senate

Many such opinions dismissed.

He too might have used the phrase

I guess from time to time

No doubt with an aim to impress

His opinion on someone’s mind.

It sounds particularly scholarly

But it really carries no weight

Unless of course the erudite speaker

Is a colossus from some state.

But both high and low I note

Use it with great emphasis

And so too the educated and otherwise

To show something one has missed.

It matters not the topic

Be it politics, religion or philosophy,

“In my opinion” is a clincher

Usually void of modesty.

It should put an end to the argument

It’s information coming to hand,

It’s like the ace in a pack of cards

It’s the pearl in the oyster clam.

“This is really how I see it

This is just my humble opinion,

I am not asking you to agree with me

After all I am not officialdom.”

“I don’t know much about the topic

I haven’t done much research

But I too have an opinion.”

It could be in parliament or at church.

I have an opinion about your opinion

And this is just my opinion,

Your opinion in my opinion

Lacks both understanding and reason.

In the final analysis my friend

Opinion is rather superficial,

It’s the lowest form of human knowledge

Whether it comes from a novice or official.

Opinion requires no accountability

And no understanding, Bill Bullard states,

So building upon someone’s opinion

Is really playing around with fate.

You had better know for yourself

By investigating the matter thoroughly

Then take my uninformed advice

And submit your findings guardedly.

An opinion is just what it is

An assumption, a feeling or speculation,

It may be the result of composite opinions

Or simply a person’s own suspicion.

I too have had my opinions

They have changed time and time again

And I have no doubt if you’d be honest

Your experience has been the same.

So spare me your opinion

Give me some hard facts instead,

Your opinion is I might be sleeping

But I might just be lying in bed.

One opinion is worth a hundred

They are like spinning top in mud,

However, this is just my opinion

If you can do better, you should.

Stewart Russell © March 2019

“Opinion is really the lowest form of human knowledge.

It requires no accountability, no understanding.”

Bill Bullard