VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH : The Day Is Coming ...! + Prayer: Lord, I Am A Pilgrim

In The Journey
On The Doomed Ship
Bearing Jesus Christ's Apostle
Paul
Was A Roll Call
Of Mankind
That Speaks
To The Life Position
Of Humankind All!

In Life
There Be Sailors
Soldiers
AND
Passengers
AND
Prisoners, Too!
Tell Me, If You Can
Which One Are You?

Sailors - Just Like Ships
Ride The Waves Of Life's Sea
In High Crests
Through Deep Troughs
Tumbled And Tossed
Sometimes Becalmed
Sometimes Resident
For A Moment
Upon Some Foreign Shore
Where Strange Is Exciting
Where Fun times Are Fast
Where Wrong Move May Mean Incarceration
Until The Company Lawyer
Pays
For A Go Home Free Pass!

Some Men Are Soldiers
Battling Ever In Some War
Fighting The Elements
The Enemy Known Unknown
AND
The Enemy Comfortably Resident 
Inside Of All Men!
These Soldiers Are Committed
Trained
Loyal -  'Tis True
BUT
Lest You Forget
Even Among Loyal Soldiers
There Are Traitors Not A Few!

Then There Are Prisoners
Who May Have Been
Sailors
Or Soldiers
Soldiering Sailors
Or Sailoring Soldiers
Men And Women
Just Like Me And Like You
Who
True And Faithful To Their Calling
Suffer An Enemy Broadside!
Freedom Is Restricted!
Freedom Is Denied!
For Some
They Are Caught In Condemnation's 
Flowing Tide
Knowing
That E'er The Next Sunrise
The World Will Celebrate Their Demise!

And, Then ...

There Are The Passengers
On The Cruise Ship Of Life
Living In The Lap Of Luxury
Enjoying The Parties
Insulated
From Life's Strife!
They Eat Of The Earth's Bounty!
They Drink Of Sweet Nectars' Delights!
Their Burden Is Acquisition Of The Best
Entertainment
Apparel
Silver
AND
Gold
With No Thought Or Concern For
The Plight Of The Poor!

In This Broad Scenario
There Be No Absolutes
For
The Spirit Of God
Flows
Among Men
This Is The Truth!

All Start With Known Demerits
For All Have
The Sinner Mien
BUT
There Be Those
The Called
The Few
The Chosen
Who Have Answered The Call To Light
AND
Have Taken The Position
To Be To And Of
The Lord Christ
A Bright And Shining Light
Willing
Ready
Able For Truth To Valiantly Fight!

I Have Been
A Passenger
AND
A Sailor
AND
Now A Soldier
AND
A Prisoner Of God
BUT
I Know The Day Is Coming
If Life Be Spared
AND
Almighty God Allows
That I Shall Be Evil Man's Prisoner
Because Of
The Machinations Of The Furious Fiend
Satan
The Enemy Of The Living Eternal God!

I Seek To Be A Simple Soldier!
No Super Soldering For Me!
I Seek To Be Captive To Jesus
AND
To Walk Before Him
In All Purposeful Humility!

I Choose To Believe God Is Faithful
AND
That In The Fulness Of Time
I Will Rescued Be
AND
I Expect
Fully To Be Rewarded Of God
So
I Will Not Serve Him
With The Minimalist Mentality!

Jesus Christ Gave His All
AND
I Accept On My Life
His Call!
By God's Grace
I Am Off The Passenger Manifest
AND
See
In The Shortening Distance
Zion Hill's Beckoning Crest!

My Back
May Be Breaking
BUT
My Faith Is Not Shaking!
My Eyes May Be Blind
BUT
My Heart Is To Its Living God
Lovingly Inclined!

My Feet May Be Weary!
My Shoulders May Be Sore
BUT
My Head Is Safely Helmeted
And I Know ...

In Jesus' Name

God Will Receive Me

At The Pearl Gate Door!

*********

PRAYER:

Father,

I Am Pilgrim In This World Of Sin

And I

- By The Holy Spirit -

Choose No Longer Its Evil Ways

To Partake In!

Have Mercy, I Beseech Thee

And

In Jesus Christ's Faith

Lock Me In

So That I Will Not

On Satan's Deceptions Trip

And

To Hell Headlong

Fall In!

Guide, Lord

The Faithful Home

Safely Along The Narrow Way!

Help Us To Listen

And

Faithfully Do All That You Say!

Take Us Under The Shelter Of Your Wings

And

Help Us Not To Give Countenance To

The Worship Of Golden Calves

And

Other Putrid Things!

Bless Us

And Keep Us

And

Protect Us, I Pray

And

In The Day Of Dawning

Take Us All To Dwell With You

Forevermore

As Sure Citizens

In The Realm Called Glorious

And

Heavenly

The Land Of Delight

Where Peace Is Eternal

And

There Is No Night!

We Love You, Lord

And

Bless You For Your Blessings Upon Us!

In Jesus Christ's Holy Name

We Pray And Stand!

AMEN.