Sunday, June 26, 2016

So Far, So Near - A Poem by Martha Snell Nicholson




Revelation 14:12-13  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

In loving memory of my husband's grandmother who stepped across that great divide into the presence of her Savior this month, and in memory of my sister-in-law's mother who took that same journey ten years ago this month.


So Far, So Near


Such a little while
In which to go so far.
A heartbeat . . . She was gone
Beyond the farthest star!

But space as well as time
To God are but a breath.
And He who gave us life
Is master too of death.

And whether quick or dead
We rest within His hand;
Whether here or in
That brighter, fairer Land.

These precious dead of ours,
They will return some day
Along the star-strewn road
Which took them far away.

The Lord Himself our Guide-
A shout of joy, a light-
And through the open skies
We too shall take our flight!

A Jacob's ladder there,
By faith I see it rise,
A pathway up to God,
A stairway in the skies!

By Martha Snell Nicholson

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

7 comments:

  1. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)
    Thank you for posting this, Mary.

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    1. You are welcome, dear sister! God bless you with comfort and peace.

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  2. Such a blessed comfort that one day we shall be with the Lord alway and also with those we love who have gone on before us in the Lord.

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  3. I have lived 2 states away from my parents for almost 30 years, but as they approach the end of their lives and have more and more health problems, I have had lots of regret about being so far away and unable to help mom with what she had to do, but also just unable to be with her. I was pouring out my heart to the Lord about this and he plainly said "You will have plenty of time with your mom." It was such a sweet reminder of the promise of eternity. Thank you for posting this poem that dovetails right with those comforting words.

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    1. I'm so glad that it was a blessing to you, Karen! It is important to remember as our parents age that this is not the end of life with them for those of us who are born of Spirit of God by faith in Jesus Christ. My own parents are in their 70s. They live next door to us, for which I am greatly thankful, but their health is such that either of them could reach the end of their journey at any time. It is sobering and sometimes very sad to think about, but it is so important to look beyond the temporary separation of the grave and see the eternal life we have together in God's good future for us!

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  4. AMEN to this! Great poem!
    I saw this saying and it is a great reminder of what faith truly is: "FAITH SEES FURTHER THAN SIGHT"

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    1. I'm glad it blessed you! The hope of the believer is a wonderful thing.

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