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Ken Cooper’s “POETIC POSTLUDE” shares Bible EXAMPLES of everlasting love and rejoicing!
inspired by The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on

 “[N]everlasting Punishment”
for October 30, 2022

  • The story of Tabitha, also read by Sue, is a  monologue as spoken by one of Tabitha’s best friends.

[Ken writes:] “Psalm 37 deals very effectively with the topic of this week’s lesson, Everlasting Punishment, and includes the Golden Text. Here are some key verses:

“1. Don’t be taken in by the wicked ones or be jealous of their wealth. Don’t think for a moment they’re better off than you.

  1. Their evil will not last, it will wither quickly and disappear, as does grass without rain.
  2. Trust in the Lord and do only what is good. Fixing your heart on the promises of God, you will dwell in His land, secure and prosperous, fed by Him alone, receiving all you ever need.
  3. Enjoy serving the Lord, doing everything He wants, making this your true delight. He will then give you everything you secretly want, your hearts true desires.
  4. Give all your ways to the Lord, give God your full commitment, trusting in him completely; and he shall make only good things happen in your life.
  5. All the steps of those aligned with God are made sure and safe by His guiding hand: He walks with them, and delights in them.
  6. Should you ever fall or stumble in your way, never worry, for you are instantly supported, for God is already holding you, sound and secure.
  7. Observe the perfect man, for behold he walks at one with God, and has a life of eternal peace.”

These words are fully supported by the Responsive Reading, also from Psalms, and all indicate clearly that the only thing that is ever punished is the false view of man, consigned for ever to its native nothingness. We see in this week’s lesson the permanence of immortal man, forever glorified, for it is that man that endureth for ever, that is now, that is walking (and rejoicing!) with God.

We know from the Bible of so many people that walked with God, (the steps of good men…) and Noah is such an example. In Section 2 we see Noah listening to God and building his ark, saving the good. My poem Noah’s Ark shows just how much Noah had to be obedient:

Now Noah, do trust me,
You’ve got to build this boat,
I’ll tell you everything you need:
Let’s get this ark afloat!

 The Word of God is speaking to all of us all the time, but how much are we listening? How much do we yield entirely to what God is saying, – for only in that way do we follow His sure guidance and achieve what Mind has planned. We all have our God-given duties, His plans for each of us. Mortal mind will mock what Mind directs, for it has no understanding, but its mortal punishment is everlasting…

Now those that mocked will surely know
A message pure and stark:
If you don’t live as God intends
You won’t get in the ark!

 Citation 8 from Science & Health indicates the need for “Self-immolation”, for in self-immolation the mortal is placed for ever more into its native nothingness, and the everlasting good of God, the immortality of man, is revealed. Wherever we are, the safety represented by the ARK is ever ours.

Your trust in God is always met
Because He loveth thee.

 We are right now that immortal and perfect representation of God’s love, obedient to God alone.

Jesus kept in step with God’s love. (-Makes me think of two people joyously ball-room dancing together, completely at one). In section 4 we see the impact of this expression of divine infinite Love. When Jesus sees Peter’s wife’s mother sick, his response is immediate (automatic?, – what love does)) and brings healing.

In my monologue Love, A Parent’s Revelation, read by Sue, the mother shares her thoughts and experiences. When she looks at Jesus she responds:

In one brief instant I forget myself, my doubts, my concerns for Peter.
How can I describe the Love that radiates from this man?
The complete knowledge of infinite power, Infinite tenderness,
Expressed in his very being,
The effortless outreach of his hand to mine,
Lifting me up.

 The monologue continues, to share the effect of this healing on this dear person, for the love of Jesus has an everlasting effect on her, and she sees everyone in the light of Love.

I behold for the first time God’s true family. His Love embraces and includes us all. And it is my
family too.

 This is everlasting love.

 Section 4 continues with another example of Jesus “annulling the supposed laws of matter” (see S&H Citation 16). The steps of a good man here included walking on the sea!! And when we walk with God the dominion of Spirit over matter is a “given”, – we have the authority of Truth over all forms of error and false belief.

In my poem Peter’s Faith we see this further example of walking with God, as experienced by Peter:

We had left him alone upon the far shore:
This must be a spirit amidst the storm’s roar!
But he felt our fear as waves merged with sky,
Calmly said, “Be not afraid; it is I”

These words “Be not afraid” are such a strong response to the snare of “Everlasting punishment”. The Christ-presence is a healing ever-presence. Peter was willing to take the first step the other disciples could not conceive, he recognised the possibilities, and did what was required, – he stepped out!

I feel the strength of his simple command
For he has said “Come” and I cannot be harmed.

Peter did walk on the water, – he too annulled the laws of matter with the higher law of Spirit, – but then he looked down, looked away from the Christ-presence, and was overwhelmed by depths of the sea. He dropped back into the context of matter, checked where the problem was, (how often do we do that!), a place where Jesus never was:

He answers my need without need of time.
In the instant I call his arm around mine.

As mentioned above, the presence of the Christ is the presence of healing, now -not for a later date! Love is unconditional. It is the everlasting punishment of matter and all things material. The poem concludes with some easily remembered words:

For I will remember, undoubtedly,
When I saw the Christ, I walked on the sea.

The Golden Text rings true with the story of Peter: “23. All the steps of those aligned with God are made sure and safe by His guiding hand: He walks with them, and delights in them.” His progress walking with God is so well shown in the overcoming of death by the story of Tabitha, also read by Sue. This monologue is as spoken by one of Tabitha’s best friends. Tabitha was one of those people who walked with God and did good deeds, but the “storm” of materiality overcame her. This time is was Peter who represented so well “the ideal Truth” (see citation S&H 23), and mentally lifted Tabitha from the false belief of death.  The effect was immediate:

Tabitha stood, held warmly in Peter’s arms, and she turned and looked at us with radiance, looked at me with such love in her eyes, – I felt tears welling: she ran from Peter straight to me, gave me such a hug, then stood back and holding my hands just squeezed them tight and shared with me that lovely moment of life illumined with the presence of the Christ. It was beautiful. Everyone was rejoicing, praising God.

NOT EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT BUT EVERLASTING REJOICING!

When we rejoice we rise above all the false claims of matter, and are at one with God.

In summary, error is nothing, an everlasting fact, because God is everything, the everlasting and eternal truth of now!

WE ARE WALKING EVER NOW IN STEP WITH GOD, IN THE PERFECTION AND JOY OF ALL THAT LOVE IS.


Copies of my poems are available in pdf format in color and B&W as DOWNLOADS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ONLINE VERSION OF THIS POETIC POSTLUDE to this week’s Bible Lesson.  The full range of Ken’s videos on YouTube can be found on KenGCooperPoetry.  All Ken’s poetry and other writings can be found on Ken Cooper Poetry.

 Bible verse quoted above are taken from my file of Combined Translations. A FREE copy is available on an excel spreadsheet for those who may be interested. They have been collated over several years from BibleGateway translations, taking the best from the many translations provided, and taking further inspiration from Christian Science in their compilation. They cover well  over a thousand key Bible verses, taken from both the BibleGateway verses for the day, and from the Weekly lessons. Reading all verses from any one book is insightful and motivating.  The spreadsheet also includes a genealogy from Adam to Jesus as I have set out, with related notes. Shared with love.

Write to Ken on kengcooper@btinternet.com.

 

 

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