[214]. A Message From A Poem - Paul’s Prison

[214]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - PAUL’S PRISON

This is my oldest surviving poem. I had parts of others but they are gone. The poem came about when thinking of Paul in prison in Rome. Everything seemed against him there, but he was never forsaken by God of course.

When Paul was in prison he was nearing the end of his life before being executed by Roman authorities who will answer very harshly at the great white throne. It appears that when he needed some help and fellowship it was not available to him.

Much of the content of this poem comes from the scriptures –

(a). DEPARTURE. {{Philippians 1:23 “I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, FOR THAT IS VERY MUCH BETTER”}}

(b). DEFECTION. {{2 Timothy 4:10 “FOR DEMAS, HAVING LOVED THIS PRESENT WORLD, HAS DESERTED ME and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia; Titus to Dalmatia.”}}

(c). DEVOTION. {{2 Timothy 4:11 “ONLY LUKE IS WITH ME. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.”}}

(d). DESERTION. {{2 Timothy 1:15 “You are aware of the fact that ALL WHO ARE IN ASIA turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.”}}

I sometimes think the Lord allowed His precious servants of note in the Old and New Testament to go through much tribulation, heartache and pain to serve as examples to any of us called to follow that path. As God was faithful to them, so He will be faithful to us also.

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PAUL’S PRISON

He waited there in prison,

His Master soon would meet.

Consider how his feelings flowed,

When he prayed beside his seat.

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“Lord, to be with Thee is better,

Than in this world to be.

My work on earth is finished;

And soon Thy face I’ll see.”

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He reflected on the many years

Of toil and trial and pain;

And on the grace of God to him,

Time and time again.

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He thought of ones who started well,

But naught for Christ became;

Of those who spurned the message true,

Their need they would not claim.

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The heart of Paul was saddened,

And deeply grieved I know;

For some who were companions,

Had left him long ago.

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“For Demas has forsaken me

Having loved this present world.”

That cut deeply through his mind;

Sad facts like this he heard

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“But only Luke is with me.”

What comfort that brought him.

The fellowship of true companions –

The glow that did not dim.

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Not only did they turn from him,

But against him too, they turned.

The ones whom Paul had nurtured well -

Their father thus they spurned.

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The grief, and all the sorrow, his;

The heartaches Paul could bear -

For in the Lord’s sufficiency,

The Lord was with him there.

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9 April 1970 (Revised later) R E Ferguson Irregular metre