[283]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE LORD, OUR HOPE, OUR JOY, OUR END

This is another of my earliest poems. This poem is a personal testimony to a time when I was walking in the valley of the shadow.

STANZA 1 – All dark nights break forth into sunshine and my dark night looks forward to the Lord coming again (for me) and all of us. All the heartaches and sorrow will all be ended in the Saviour’s presence.

STANZA 2 – When we are in trial, or in the valley of the shadow it can be a lonely place with our minds and bodies trying to cope. For the Christians, we have resources as we are kept in the hollow of the Lord’s own hand.

STANZA 3 – When a saint of God is in hard times, God is always on our side. He remains faithful. The body of Christians (the family of faith) can also be faithful to the hurting one but this sometimes does not happen. It is disgraceful when that outcome is not there.

STANZA 4 – This spells out some of our blessings in the future. We are the unique possession of God. In heaven the revelation of God will be so real and magnificent. Joy, joy, joy!

{{2 Corinthians 12:2-4 “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago - whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know - God knows - such a man was caught up to the third heaven, and I know how such a man - whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know - God knows - was caught up into Paradise, and HEARD INEXPRESSIBLE WORDS, which a man is not permitted to speak.”}}

{{Psalm 23:4-5 “Even though I walk THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I fear no evil for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed my head with oil. My cup overflows.”}}

{{Galatians 6:2 “BEAR ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.”}}

================================================================

THE LORD, OUR HOPE, OUR JOY, OUR END

One dark night will soon be ended.

Christ our Lord will come again.

All our grief and loss expended,

And hurts too, and bitter pain.

In His presence, then rejoicing,

The Lamb's praises we'll be voicing.

================

In the valley of the shadow,

Called sometimes to enter there.

Precious Lord! There is a hollow

In His hand; we'll not despair.

Resting there in our strong Tower

Finding strength in His great power.

================

See what joy the Lord's provided,

Even through the darkest time.

And what fellowship's confided,

By the saints through love sublime.

Family members show compassion;

Follow Jesus in this fashion.

================

We shall see Him - our confession. [the One we confess]

Jesus, Lord, we love to claim!

We are His elite possession (elite/unique)

Upon whom He placed His name.

Oh what rapturous joy ascending

And through heaven, be unending.

Alt - (And through heav’n will be unending)

================

Ron Ferguson 9 June, 1997 8-7-8-7-8-8 ABABCC

The third stanza dedicated to my friends in a Christian forum I belonged to. I think most are with the Lord now.

Related Sermon Illustrations

I Read An Account Of A Man Named James Matlock. ... PRO

Contributed by Doug Lyon on Sep 11, 2004

based on 9 ratings
| 24,362 views

I read an account of a man named James Matlock. (He has nothing to do with the old Matlock TV series starring Andy Griffith!) James Matlock was a Puritan who lived in New England in the 17th century. Apparently he was placed under church discipline. And the reason was because he wasn’t having ...read more

Tags: Sexuality, Marriage Faithfulness

Denomination: Independent/Bible
A. W. Tozer, Another Wonderful Devotional Writer ... PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on Jul 2, 2002

based on 17 ratings
| 21,526 views

A. W. Tozer, another wonderful devotional writer said this: The widest thing in the universe is not space; it is the potential capacity of the human heart. Being made in the image of God, it is capable of almost unlimited extension in all directions. And one of the world’s greatest ...read more

Tags: Heart, Miracles, Fulfillment, Giving Yourself

Denomination: Baptist
She Was An Energetic Young Woman Whose Life Was ...

Contributed by Thomas Cash on May 18, 2004

based on 1 rating
| 10,928 views

She was an energetic young woman whose life was forever changed by an accident. Because her spinal cord was severed, she first struggled to survive. Forced to live her life as a quadriplegic, she nearly lost the will to live. Slowly, she achieved the impossible. She painted by holding a brush with ...read more

Tags: Disability

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ
Charles Spurgeon Offers This Warning: "If You ... PRO

Contributed by Robert Leroe on Jul 10, 2002

based on 10 ratings
| 8,217 views

Charles Spurgeon offers this warning: “If you haven’t looked at Christ on the cross, you’ll have to look at Him on the throne—with great trembling. The sacrificial death of Christ will be brought before the eyes of all who refuse to accept His free gift of forgiveness and eternal life. In ...read more

Tags: God's Judgment, Lordship Of Christ

Denomination: Congregational
Advice

Contributed by Kenneth Anthony on Dec 31, 2006

based on 1 rating
| 7,745 views

ADVICE A man was on the practice golf course when the club pro brought another man out for a lesson. The pro watched the fellow swing several times and started making suggestions for improvement, but each time the pupil interrupted with his own version of what was wrong and how to correct it. ...read more

Denomination: Orthodox