‘Twas the night before Jesus came
poetry - 'Twas the night before Jesus came, a poem by Dianne Frances DonenfeldTwas the night before Jesus came and all through the house.
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.
The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.
When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be The Day!
The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus! Returning just like He had said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said “It’s not here” my head hung in shame.
The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.
I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and this sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.
In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There’s only one life and when comes the last call
We’ll find that the Bible was true after all!
My uncle sent me this poem from Boston Lincolnshire a year or so ago.
Off the top ... I’m not a Christian who sees God as a fear-monger and for the life of me I can’t see why I rewrote the ending of this piece like a Baptist legalist.I guess I was following a desire to be more edgy - what can I say?
But I write ...’Swhat I like to do.
Anyways, here’s another version.
v
‘Twas The Night Before Jesus Came
*****************************************************‘Twas the night before Jesus came, and all through the house,
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that the Savior would soon not appear.The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with child on her lap
Was watching the late show while I took a nap.When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to look into the matter,
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels … proclaiming that JESUS was here!!!!
Our Master, the Potter looked down on the clay
And everyone witnessed the dawn of HIS DAY!The light of His face made me cover my head;
This Jesus made good on THAT promise I’d read!
In confident pride I’d gained savvy and wealth.
But I cried like a baby in spite of myself.The fear in my soul like the edge of a knife,
Laid bare my position with His BOOK OF LIFE
“Your name is not written!” (I was cut to the heart)
He said, “You’re a stranger, you’ll have to depart!”I fell to my knees with regret for my past
For the Truth showed disgrace in the image it cast.
I’d lost all composure, and in a last desperate plea,
I blurted out … “Jesus! Have mercy on me!”I heard the Door closing while the righteous did rise,
And the wails and the sobs of the dead and unwise.
If only! … IF ONLY!!! Was my singlemost thought.
If only, I’d headed the message they brought!Posted by on 11/24 at 04:38 PM
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