JOY IN THE HOLLOW

Joy, that blissful state to keep,

is met in a winter hollow,

where tracks lead in, both wide and deep,

by the edge of the firs on landscape steep,

and where I, with wonder, follow.

Over head, the sun shines perfect light

on the snowy hemlock tree,

and the downy bridesmaid’s hearty flight

is joined by grouse in peaceful sight,

where the woods are hushed for me.

You, Maker of my spirit’s smile

by the marriage you impart,

declare Your goodness for my while.

With a skip, I’ll go another mile,

having joy within my heart.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David 

a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 

And this shall be a sign unto you: 

Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 

lying in a manger.

Luke 2:11-12

JOY IN THE HOLLOW 

The Spirit of the Living God satisfies the empty space in the hollow of the heart. He communes with the believing human spirit assisting, instructing, and rooting joy.

Know God, know peace. No God, no peace.

And an highway shall be there, and a way,

and it shall be called The way of holiness;

the unclean shall not pass over it;

but it shall be for those:

the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast

shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there;

but the redeemed shall walk there:

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,

and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy

upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness,

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Isaiah 35: 8-10 

The LORD makes clear through the prophet Isaiah that the ransomed people will walk on the highway in Heaven. The redeemed will sing songs of joy. Nothing unclean nor ravenous will be on the highway in Heaven. God makes a distinction that people not ransomed and people not redeemed will not be there.

If you don't already know, how does one become 'Ransomed'? How does one get the condition of being 'Redeemed'? How does someone walk on this Heavenly highway? How can unholy people (everyone is unholy) stroll The way of holiness? It is only by Jesus Christ who is able to ransom sinners. Only by the way of the Redeemer whose redeeming work on the cross bore all iniquities. Only by the Son of God who allows passage on the highway because He knows who truly believes in Him from their heart.

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Galatians 3: 13-14

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

1 Timothy 1:15-16

Paul, who was a first-rate sinner, knew the mercy extended to him and explains how his decision to accept Christ, awful as he was, might serve to be a model for others to follow.

 

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.

1 Peter 3:18

I am amazed and grateful that Jesus Christ, the very Son of God, gave His life for ours— His righteousness for our unrighteousness. In His work on the cross, He alone makes it possible for an unholy person like me to gain entrance to that joyful, holy highway in Heaven.

Blessed are those who do His commandments, (who wash their robes) that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

Revelation 22:14-15

Who loves and practices a lie? People who haven't had their robes washed. Children of the devil. People who don't care about God's commands. Who are the dogs? The ravenous, unclean, dirty people who have not repented nor have called on the only name that can save them— Jesus. Who are the sorcerers? The ones who conjure up their own self-help devices. The sexually immoral? A long list, including those shameful drag queen dressers. Murderers and idolaters? Wicked people and worship.

We gain from the truths in the Bible that the spiritually blind have no testimony to share because Jesus doesn't mean anything to them. The blind still exist today, even in churches. If the spiritually blind lead the blind, both will fall into the pit. Both will miss the road completely. Hell is as real as Heaven.

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

Matthew 7:13-14

Jesus is the Gate, or Door, to the sheepfold. He knows His sheep by name. And the way which leads to life is difficult. But God desires as many as possible to come to Him through His Son. We're made from the ground. He is eternal. The work of Jesus dying on the cross saves sinners and brings them onto the highway. His resurrection from the dead is the power that changes everything. Believe, if you haven't already, because Heaven awaits.

I am encouraged when I hear someone's testimony and the work God has been doing in their life. I have joy to know true brothers and sisters in Christ who pray together. When we pass away, I know we'll see each other again because of grounded faith and obvious witness. I can tell who is a Christian because the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. In this life, we're walking the highways on Earth and I know we'll be walking on Heaven's highway together, following Jesus— The Way, The Truth, and The Life. Yeah, you can know it!

For The Joy: An Easter Poetry Book …update

I haven't worked much on my next book, which is For The Joy, since my last post but I was able to buy new paint for illustrations and a few new brushes. Always good to find the preferred paint and ideal brushes.

FOCUS ON PRAYER

Please pray that the horrible exploitation of children ends. Please pray for front-line workers, law enforcement and judges to be able to end the abuse, rape, and trafficking that victimized children face. How tragic that children are exposed to sexual sins, and sometimes (if not often) by their own mothers, fathers, aunts, and other supposed-to-be-trusted adults! The trust of the child is ruined. God sees the evil. He knows their hurt and knows their harm. He is a just God, upholding what is good and judging what is evil. Pray that these hurting children can trust a truly loving Heavenly Father even when adults did not love them.

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take care of me.

Psalm 27:10

"But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.' "There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out."

Luke 13:27-28

IN CLOSING

"They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God."

Luke 13:29

Jesus is explaining to the people listening that it is the people who came through Him, the narrow gate, who will have a seat to sit on in the kingdom. They will come from all directions and enter into rest, joy, gladness, singing, holiness, redemption, cleanliness, and safe pasture... all the promises God has made for those ransomed, for those redeemed.

Not all roads (ways) lead to Heaven. Only through Jesus can anyone walk on the highway in Heaven.