[251]. A Message From A Poem – That Coffin Is Not Me

[251]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THAT COFFIN IS NOT ME

This is a special poem and unusual for my style. It is full of meaning, very serious meaning. It is me telling my story (as if I had died).

Some may find the subject strange; others may not want to think about such things. The point is, we all will die ONCE on this earth for God said so – {{Hebrews 9:27 “Inasmuch as it is appointed for men TO DIE ONCE and after this comes judgment,”}} and that came from a promise given to Adam – {{Genesis 2:17 “but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for IN THE DAY THAT YOU EAT FROM IT YOU SHALL SURELY DIE.”}}

All human beings are spiritually dead until a person places his/her life in the hands of the Saviour and asks the Lord to come into his/her life for salvation.

The bottom line of the poem is that my body may be in a coffin, dead and lifeless but my soul and spirit will be with the Lord in heaven. God tells me that -

{{2 Corinthians 5:6-8 “Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are AT HOME IN THE BODY WE ARE ABSENT FROM THE LORD - for we walk by faith, not by sight - we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be ABSENT FROM THE BODY AND TO BE AT HOME WITH THE LORD.”}} -? ((when we will walk by sight and not by faith any longer))

How can this poem be used? There are two ways. The first is to encourage the saints of God in hope that is a gift from God. The second in by way of outreach, in speaking with an unsaved relative or even at a service – funeral or memorial service for a departed Christian.

Three lines are these –

“But maybe you’ll never see my coffin,

For the Lord is coming, and we’ll begin

A raptured new existence with the Lord –“

This is what I am truly waiting for; to be raptured to meet the Lord in the air according to His promise – {{1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “FOR THE LORD HIMSELF will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.”}}

Death is the end of an existence that lasted maybe 70, 80, 90 years but it is also the start of the eternal state either in heaven or hell. That is very sombre. Where will you spend eternity? Jesus said, {{John 10:9-10 “I am the door. If anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I CAME THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE LIFE, and might have it abundantly.”}}

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THAT COFFIN IS NOT ME

This is my body enclosed before you,

Coffined, but lifeless, in public view

For one last time, before those who knew me,

Who glance at the wood, but not there, I be.

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Some faithful friends and relatives sit there

To say farewell with joy, grief and despair.

The service will be dignified and calm;

Sombre maybe, and graced with a psalm,

But planned with care, thoughtful and specified.

We don’t want a funeral that’s simplified.

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Who likes the events of a funeral

Ending existence with the temporal?

Undertakers do, rubbing hands with glee,

All incognito, not knowing me.

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I am there enclosed, yet there I am not.

That is one attendance I will boycott.

For my home, I departed long ago,

And left this corrupted world down below.

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In glory, I am very much alive,

And I no longer struggle to survive.

I’ve gone to glory land, now with my Lord

Where all the saints are perfected in accord.

Heaven is my home; not this earthly scene

Which was once my home, the place where I’d been.

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Don’t be sad at my departure from here.

All is now perfection – please don’t have fear.

You folk who have gathered, thanks for today.

Friendship here is enhanced by heaven’s day.

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Absent from the body is joy above,

Canopied by God’s grace, and peace, and love.

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Remember me simply as one who’s changed

My residence; all has been rearranged.

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But maybe you’ll never see my coffin,

For the Lord is coming, and we’ll begin

A raptured new existence with the Lord -

Gone to heaven – the Church, the Lord’s reward!

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So when you leave here today, remember this -

There’s a place of torment; and one of bliss

Repent of your sins for the time is short.

For your precious salvation, give a thought.

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Ronald E Ferguson Ended 23 April 2024 10 throughout AABB etc.