Last Word

Trevor Peterson 1993

Do you see, do you see All the people sinking down? Dont you care, dont you care; Are you gonna let them drown? How can you be so numb Not to care if they come? You close your eyes And pretend the jobs done. Oh, bless me Lord, bless me Lord; You know its all I ever hear. No one aches, no one hurts, No one even sheds one tear; But He cries, He weeps, He bleeds, And He cares for your needs; And you just lay back And keep soaking it in. Oh, cant you see its such sin? Cause He brings people to your door, And you turn them away, As you smile and say, God bless you. Be at peace, And all heaven just weeps, Cause Jesus came to your door; Youve left Him out on the streets.

Open up, open up, And give yourself away. You see the need, you hear the cries, So how can you delay? Gods calling, and youre the one, But like Jonah you run. Hes told you to speak, But you keep holding it in. Oh, cant you see its such sin? The world is sleeping in the dark That the Church just cant ght, Cause its asleep in the light. How can you be so dead, When youve been so well fed? Jesus rose from the grave, and you, You cant even get out of bed. How can you be so numb Not to care if they come? You close your eyes And pretend the jobs done. Keith Green Hear the words of the Prophet! From the dawn of creation to the fall of man; from the catastrophic deluge to the dividing of tongues; while Israel scorned his God, through the countless ages of darkness; to that most cursed, most blessed day when the Son of Light hung dying on a splintered wooden tower and the veil was torn asunder, I surveyed the deeds of humanity. I was present when Paul died; to me the Disciple whom Jesu loved breathed his nal words. I strove against the barbarian hordes, that the godly Summer Realm of Arthur might stand. I saw the Harlot carry Christs Bride to her deepest sin and stood by the courageous Monk as he strove to resurrect the fallen Church. I preceded the Europeans in America, and I witnessed the foundations of a spiritual fortress. Hear the words of the Prophet! They are the words of no mere human. I am the chosen vessel, the scroll upon which is written the glorious living Word of Yahweh. Saints of God, warriors of the Most High, this is your nal 2

call to arms! You who have been selected to ght in the battle of the ages, rise up! Your Commander sends forth his standard. O people of God! What is time if we spend it on ourselves? What is life but a chance to serve the Holiest One? What are possessions, talents, gifts, abilities, opportunities or relationships if our focus is on ourselves? What is compassion unless it comes from the One Who is True Love? My dear children, when time draws to its end, when our lives here are completed, when we stand before the Throne of our Lord and all these things we consider important or even worthwhile are arrayed before us, what will stand? When we take time to consider our goals, our pursuits, all the things we strive after, what is really signicant? I saw Lucifer pursue a dream to be his own god; he got what he wanted, but what was it worth? I witnessed your parents follow him, and you all pay the price for their sin. I saw a world lled with lust, grasping at fulllment through their own desires, ultimately swallowed up in the ood of Gods wrath. I saw Israel do what was right in his own eyes until his people were carried away. I have seen self-righteousness, good works, power struggles and every other human eort to nd something of worth, but all to no avail. In the end, the Teachers words stand: Vanity of vanities! All is vanity! For what then is this creature called man placed upon the earth? Why bear the agonies of life, with all its sorrow and destruction, ending only in death? My children, we have the answer, for our God is with us, but the world must hear, that they too may know. Listen now, saints of God! Hear my tale of a fallen people, without meaning or purpose, wandering blindly. It is a tale of despair and solitude, of isolation and agony, but by the grace of Jesu, let it become a song of hope within your souls. It begins with one wayward traveler, desperately navigating a bleak and barren life . . . In the early days of this earth, before the ood waters had risen and when the ground was yet stained where the Cursed One had slain his brother; when the Nephilim walked and 5 centuries was middle-aged, there lived a man named Arnil. His childhood was pleasant enough, raised by loving parents who taught him to enjoy life. He had free access to whatever the earth could oer him, but that took just a bit too much work, and being wealthy, he could aord to let others bring him his food and drink, waiting on him hand and foot. He grew fond of the things produced by man, but hating the gifts 3

of nature, he lived in a house without windows, in perpetual twilight. He seldom went out and lived life as easily as he could; after all, nine hundred years is a long timebest to conserve energy, he told himself. Arnil paid little heed to things that passed outside his house. He hardly even noticed the servants who brought him his food, for they too were products of nature, and of course his love was given to things made by men. One day, however, he did notice them, or rather he noticed their absence, for they failed to come. This did not bother him too much; it might be worth missing a meal, he told himself, if that meant he would not have to see the servants who brought it. When the next day came, however, he began to worry. It had been years since he had ventured outside, and he hardly wanted that situation to change. After two more days had passed, and still the servants had not come, he knew he would have to at least open the door and look around. What Arnil saw nearly caused him to faint on the spot. Where once a bustling city had stood was nothing more than a barren wilderness. As far as the eye could see was bleak wasteland. Confused beyond imagination, but knowing he had to nd food and possibly (though even then he wouldnt admit it) other people, he set out walking. How he was able to keep going for so long without food or water remains a mystery, but nally after weeks of wandering, he collapsed. His strength was gone; his muscles screamed with pain; every inch of his body ached as if he had been beaten for days on end. His skin was burned, his tongue was thick and black, his lips were parched, and his sight had long own from the blinding sun. He lay in the sand, preparing to die. But death would not come. Instead he was greeted by a Voice; a Voice full of life; a Voice which brought to his scorched mind images of lush, green vegetation in a cool valley, with a stream, clear as glass, owing through it. He thought of birds singing, of joyful shouts, of laughter and excitement; of springtime as he remembered from his distant childhood. And as the Voice spoke, his mind was dazzled with such color and light that he was overwhelmed and rendered speechless. This is what the Blessed Intruder said: My son, do not think you are truly alone or that you will surely die today. The power remains in you to live, if only you will ask forgiveness. You turned your back on My creation and set your heart on the things of men. Now you have tasted of that bitter 4

cup you gave yourself to drink. In a world without these things I have provided, only death and despair can result. My son, if you will only return to Me, you shall have life, and this wilderness can become a eld of blessing. What could he say or do in the face of such love? That day Arnil turned to follow the Great Redeemer Whose gift of peace was his only hope, and healing water was provided. The land once more sustained life, and he knew the true joy of surrender to the Master of all creation. Yet this world is full of deceived individuals, with no hope to grasp. How many more still wander, blind and futile, not realizing that the peace they seek is so near at hand? Arise, therefore, children of the King! You are the warriors, the ones set apart to serve the God of all creation. How can you sit by and watch His beloved people enter eternity without hope? You are fed weekly, even daily, with the Bread of Heaven, but without exercise it has only made you obese. Is it possible to glut the soul with such a blessed meal? The cross stands throughout history as a grisly reminder of our precious Jesus suering sacrice. True, you have come to take it up, but He pleads with you to go and tell so many who need to hear about His love. The purpose, the way to fulllment for all mankind is so simple, so plain, but they must somehow discover this truth. If you love the Lord, why do you not hear His call? If you love your neighbor, what holds you back from rescuing him in his misery? If you have been commanded to go, why do you wait at the table? There are still empty seats; the feast will begin only when they have been lled. Arise, Church of God, and seek out the lost! Hear the words of the Prophet! Mankind has rebelled from the beginning. Israel rarely had a moments peace because of his constant, foolish wandering. America has declined almost to the point of absolute perversion. You have been warned time and again. The signs are drawing together ever more rapidly. Remember the admonition of our Lordwatch! Do not let His coming take you by surprise. Dear people of God, your call awaits you. Must your Heavenly Father walk alone? Who can say when He will return, but be it one hour or one millennium from now, you have a task to fulll. When all is said and done, what have you accomplished for the One Who gave His life for you? Hear the words of the Prophet! My book is closed; I will speak no more! 5