[145]. A Message From A Poem – In The World But Not Of It

[145]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – IN THE WORLD BUT NOT OF IT

We are citizens of this world but we are not bound to that, for as Christians, we have a higher citizenship which is in heaven – {{Philippians 3:20 “OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN from which also we eagerly wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.”}} We ought to be living as heavenly citizens but some of us are not doing that. If one is you, you must return to the Saviour and depart from sin.

Naturally we have to live IN the world, but we are not OF the world. If we are OF the world then we are following the world’s desires – {{1 John 2:15-17 “DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD, NOR THE THINGS IN THE WORLD. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world, and the world is passing away, and also its lusts, but the one who does the will of God abides forever.”}}

There is much this next verse can teach us but I won’t do that for it would make this long. Think about it yourselves – {{Hebrews 11:13-14 “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, they confessed that they were STRANGERS AND EXILES ON THE EARTH, for those who say such things make it clear that THEY ARE SEEKING A COUNTRY OF THEIR OWN.”}}

I hope this poem encourages you in the trials often upon us in this fallen world. Our worldly citizenship is temporary but the heavenly citizenship is permanent. God bless you all.

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IN THE WORLD BUT NOT OF IT

Take the world but give me Jesus.

All its joys are but a tear;

All its mirth and jubilation,

Are but bubbles that appear.

Those who live here are uncertain;

Of the future, are unclear.

Take the world but give me Jesus.

There is nothing then to fear.

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We don’t grope here in the shadows;

In the darkness I’m a light.

God supplied for us a roadmap,

With directions glowing bright.

Those who love God push on forward,

Surely with the goal in sight.

Heaven soon will be upon us,

Moved to glory from this night.

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What was foul and evil smelling,

Which to righteousness was dead,

Our Jesus came to remedy;

For me He suffered instead.

Because His sacrifice was made,

Now for me there is no dread,

So in this confidence I go;

Day by day I push ahead.

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Soon the Raptured Church will triumph

In the glory, with the Lord.

There we’ll see the blesse´d Saviour,

And we’ll rise to our reward.

That reward is not of substance,

But we all will then accord

That Jesus Christ is our treasure.

He’s the One we will applaud.

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28 September 2021 R E Ferguson Metre = 8-7 throughout

The first stanza was written on 26 April 2021 and the remainder on 28 September.

Rhyme = ABCBDBEBFB