Running with the Heavenly Vision: Endtime Christian Poems

By Eferovo Igho

This is a Christian book of poems touching on sundry topical issues bordering on making heaven at last. Leading Christian writers over the years used poetry in disseminating Gospel truth and uncompromisingly exhorting in sound doctrine. Christian poetry, though sadly a dying art in this Christian age, its place in clearly and spiritually communicating the deep things of God cannot be overemphasized, hence a work like this.
It is hoped 'Running with the Heavenly Vision' will help Gods people put their visions down and run with same; all, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith until we apprehend that for which we are apprehended and ushered into that eternal joy set before us.
But of Habakkuk 2: 1, 2 the main spur of this work we should briefly refer. Couched poetically itself, it does not only ties up naturally, but led us to many a topical Christian issues that point the way of eternity with God to an age bustling and hustling over the demands of the flesh. It is a clarion call to run according to the rules of the heavenly race laid out in the New Testament, an alarm to pilgrims who would want to be divinely told by the Lord Himself on the last day: Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eferovo Igho
• Release date: Sep 21, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463213407

Eferovo Igho

Eferovo Igho is a Christian writer, poet and hymnist; he has been widely published and had a Christian column stint with the National Mirror (a Nigerian newspaper). He is into secular writing as well and has also been extensively published by leading Nigerian dailies including the old Daily Times, The Guardian, Vanguard, Daily Independent and had an op-ed column stint with Daily Independent at a time the paper won the Best Nigerian Newspaper Award back-to-back. Igho is member and contributing author to great international media websites. Most of his works have been highly syndicated. For instance, his “Bible, Science, Creation, Evolution/Atheism, Civilization and Eternity”, a research work in science, astronomy, space science (with Bible illuminating the way) has been syndicated by leading science groups such as NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (in Science), Scientist of the Year, Telescope, Galaxy Science/Magazine Back Issues Online Now, Sacred Earth Institute.org (in Exploration Science) and many others. He is the author of the Science cum Christian book: The World: Bible and True Science versus Evolution; and four other Christian books: Pondering Eternity; Creation Earnest Expectation, Manifestation of God’s Sons & the Rapture; Defining Christianity & Christ Call Biblically Again; and Prosperity, Eternity: Why receive, why give!

Book preview

This is a Christian book of poems telling of the goodness of God to mankind, the place of His blessed Word and the Cross of Jesus Christ, Paradise yon and the Holy City of our God and home of His angels and saints; and sundry Visions from all of those and how to tap from them – through different subject matters visited here poetically – to successfully run the heavenly race and conclusively end it all at His feet yon in Heaven and thus be ushered into eternal bliss with the God of all creation, even the Eternally Blessed Godhead.

Poetry as a way of conveying ideas is not alien to Scriptures. The Pentateuch is replete with them. For instance, Lamech of the seed of Cain was poetic in his song in Genesis after killing a man, and Genesis 49: 3-27 which is about Jacob blessing his children has poetic rendering. The book of Numbers has a couple of them too. For instance, God Himself told Balaam to say what He puts in his mouth, and we may see two of such statements, poetic lines, in Numbers 23:19-24 and Numbers 24:2-9. See also Numbers 24: 15-19. There are in Scriptures at least other 14 male and female composers of songs and, or lines with poetic effect: Moses, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, David, Solomon, Asaph; others are Heman, Ethan, Isaiah, Hezekiah, Zacharias, Elizabeth and Mary, with Moses, David, Solomon and Isaiah each having more than one.

Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon are actually seen as poetical books. Lamentations and Hosea are each saturated with free verses. Of course, 2 Samuel 1:19-27, is regarded as one of the greatest piece of poetry in the English language and to this we may presently visit:

The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places:

How are the mighty fallen!

Tell it not in Gath,

Publish it not in the streets of Askelon;

Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,

Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew,

Neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings:

For there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away,

The shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty,

The bow of Jonathan turned not back,

And the sword of Saul returned not empty.

Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives,

And in their death they were not divided:

They were swifter than eagles,

They were stronger than lions.

Ye daughters of Israel,

Weep over Saul,

Who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights,

Who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!

O Jonathan, thou was slain in thine high places.

I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan:

Very pleasant hast thou been unto me:

Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

How are the mighty fallen,

And the weapons of war perished!

The New Testament is not altogether devoid of poetic lines. The Beatitudes of the Lord Himself bore some poetic marks; ditto the Holy Spirit’s counsel through Peter on Diligence in 2Peter 1: 5-11, and through Paul on Christian Virtues in Philippians 4: 8 among others.

Many leading Christian writers over the years used poetry in disseminating Gospel truth and uncompromisingly exhorting in sound doctrine. Christian poetry, though sadly a dying art in this Christian age, its place in clearly and spiritually communicating the deep things of God cannot be overemphasized, hence a work like this.

Though here amateurishly and feebly done, it is hoped Running with the Heavenly Vision will help God’s people put their visions down and run with same; all, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith until we apprehend that for which we are apprehended and ushered into that eternal joy set before us.

But of Habakkuk 2: 1, 2 the main spur of this work we should briefly refer. Couched poetically itself, it does not only ties up naturally, but led us to many a topical Christian issues that point the way of eternity with God to an age bustling and hustling over the demands of the flesh. It is a clarion call to run according to the rules of the heavenly race laid out in the New Testament, an alarm to pilgrims who would want to be divinely told by the Lord Himself on the last day: Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.

SECTION ONE:

Poems

CHAPTER ONE

Running with the Vision

Write down the vision, all you sundry watchmen!

Your tongue, make the pen of a ready writer;

Write, makes him that reads run, others to sharpen.

Your inkhorn engage – fear not, so truth offer,

But first get it first hand from Spirit Divine,

Your closet employing for great inquiries:

Scriptures so searching; His Face on you to shine.

With sweet meditations and informed queries,

God’s Heart penetrate into, His truth to know,

And with heartfelt prayers the vision firmed up:

Thus now, be His man from whom His Word can flow,

His oracle now tell, His truth your heartthrob.

O publish it, publish truth – it not to sell!

Never with filthy lucre be you clouded,

‘Cause to men’s souls God appoints you His channel

That through frail you, He may reach them unclouded!

So fear much in this work as gracious proxy,

Know in heart it’s not of them that will or run,

Let alone them that do so unlawfully.

To the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls turn;

Thus His mercy He’ll show in way measureless.

His mind may we search, His path should us enthrall

In this duty of souls precious, souls priceless,

And indeed, souls spiritual, souls eternal!

Man! Mammon subdue, the world shun, flesh conquer!

God’s presence know than all else, His mind take on.

For His Word spirit, soul parting asunder

Goes further till spirit-heart it home in on

This man’s spirit, abode of Spirit Divine

It combs, discerning that which contrasts Its end

That, It cleanses up, to have abode so fine.

Ere in the heart It is hid, thus It must tend.

Yet, It, write down that you may It well proclaim.

For now from the inside, with great might outing,

It, never to the ground falls, but goal to claim!

For quick is the Word, all foes’ plantings ousting;

And powerful, all that’s of God bringing to pass!

Shouldn’t then our sermon notes thus be drawn up,

And our pulpits showcase true watchmen en masse?

And shouldn’t our Christian books thus be firmed up,

In truth, of sincerity God’s Word sharing?

That target folk be fired up and run with it;

That you and I are heard, as from God hearing.

Thus great there shall be publishers of God’s truth

For when the Word He gives, great the publishers!

So, with first hearers let not our sermons end

Let alone stones, thorns or birds – the Word stealers –

Vision from His throne heard, should people-ward trend

First, to their inner hearts thus the man changing,

And from the heart It with pureness, power spills.

Coming out thus, O what wholesome publishing!

So, the Word source well, in heart lodge as infill.

Your writer’s inkhorn too, engage right away,

As food for ages to come, this, please enter,

It, as a ready writer, see you convey –

Not for filthy lucre sake or as masters,

But as they who must account give at the end.

Fear Him Who pulls from Hell, Shepherd so gentle,

If Hell you have left, and His Mission you tend.

Divinity-humanity you settle –

O then Preach, teach Gospel’s weightier matters!

Never no more be blind leader of the