“For his [Apostle Paul’s] letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” 2 Corinthians 10:10, KJV
This poem is based on the meaning of the original Greek word — “pistos” — which is translated as “faithful” in the King James version of the Holy Bible.
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:2, KJV
In the Old Testament, God seems to have established an age of accountability. This may possibly be at the age of twenty when young people can begin to think for themselves more maturely, make their own decisions, and strike out on their own.
This possibility finds support in the fact that only Israelites twenty years of age and older died during the forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Also, adults twenty years and older were required to make offerings in the Old Testament.
If we truly believe in God’s righteousness, then we must be willing to consider that He has made some provisions for aborted fetuses, children who die young and who never heard about Jesus, etc. Righteousness is an integral part of God’s nature. He is not a cruel, heartless monster, as certain religionists would have us to believe.
“And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.” Numbers 14:26-31, KJV
“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14, KJV
“For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:” Deuteronomy 10:17, KJV
“The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,)” Joshua 22:22, KJV
“[A Psalm of Asaph.] God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.” Psalm 82:1, KJV
“Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.” Psalm 86:8, KJV
“For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” Psalm 95:3, KJV
“For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.” Psalm 96:4-5, KJV
“Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods . . . For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.” Psalm 97:7, 9, KJV
“For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.” Psalm 135:5, KJV
“O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.” Psalm 136:2, KJV
“The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.” Daniel 2:47, KJV
“And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.” Daniel 11:36, KJV
“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:22, KJV
“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,” Isaiah 46:9, KJV
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” Romans 1:20, KJV
“The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.” Proverbs 16:4, KJV
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1, KJV
“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1:3, KJV
“And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:” Acts 14:15, KJV
“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands . . . For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.” Acts 17:24, 28 KJV
“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” Romans 11:36, KJV
“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” 1 Corinthians 8:6, KJV
“And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:” Ephesians 3:9, KJV
“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Colossians 1:16-17, KJV
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” Hebrews 1:1-3, KJV
“For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” Hebrews 2:10, KJV
“For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.” Hebrews 3:4, KJV
“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Hebrews 11:3, KJV
“For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:” 2 Peter 3:5, KJV
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11, KJV
The belief that God cannot look upon evil is apparently a false, modern doctrine which is not based upon the Scriptures. Consider what the Bible really has to say concerning this issue:
“The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3, KJV
“For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.” Job 34:21, KJV
“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5, KJV
“And he did EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.” 1 Kings 15:26, KJV
“And he wrought EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made.” 2 Kings 3:2, KJV
“But he did that which was EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;” 2 Chronicles 33:22, KJV
“Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.” Psalm 90:8, KJV
“For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:14, KJV
“Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:24, KJV
“He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.” Daniel 2:22, KJV
“. . . Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.” Mark 4:21b-22, KJV
Not only does God look upon evil, but contrary to what some Christians believe, the Scriptures inform us that He creates evil as well, as we see by these verses:
“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” Isaiah 45:7, KJV
“Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?” Amos 3:6, KJV
“Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?” Lamentations 3:38, KJV
“Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:” Daniel 2:20, KJV
“Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:” Luke 11:49, KJV
“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” Romans 11:33, KJV
“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe . . . But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God . . . But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” 1 Corinthians 1:21, 24, 30, KJV
“Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Corinthians 2:6-8, KJV
“And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:” Ephesians 3:9-11, KJV
“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:17, KJV
“To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 1:25, KJV
“Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 7:12, KJV
“And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.” Nehemiah 9:17, KJV
“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.” Psalm 103:8-18, KJV
“The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.” Psalm 145:8, KJV
“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23, KJV
“The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.” Nahum 1:3, KJV
“And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.” Jonah 4:2, KJV
“And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.” Joel 2:13, KJV
