To Time's Tent-dwellers

 There is only one sure way to be reunited with departed loved ones...

While we are in the tent of our bodies, 

pray, we do what Peter of old urged us to do (his love-letter beneath this poem)

"make our calling and election sure"

Only this makes temporary loss bearable...

and grants peace midst life's storms

As long as we live in the tent of this body

We need reminders to keep us on track

Lest we forget Holy God of salvation

And what it cost Him to buy His own back

As long as we live in the tent of this body

We are the prey that temptation will seek

Then put on God’s armor and never remove it

‘The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!’

As long as we live in the tent of this body

(for we are souls clad in whispers of skin’)

We need to make sure our call and election

Lest we choose hell; the penalty for sin

As long as we live in the tent of this body

We have free access to our gracious Lord

No excuse, precious, to refuse His pardon

He came to rescue us from just reward

As long as we live in the tent of this body

We wear Soul’s envelope of dust-to-dust

Born to decay, there is no escape from it

Born to relinquish all but this tent’s crux

© Janet Martin

  

...and here, as mentioned, is Peter's tender urging to believers...

2 Peter 1

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ 

have received a faith as precious as ours:

Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Partakers of the Divine Nature

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness 

through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, 

so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, 

now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;

and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, 

they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive 

in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, 

having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Therefore, brothers, 

be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. 

For if you practice these things you will never stumble,

and you will receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Therefore, I will always remind you of these things, 

even though you know them and are established in the truth you now have.

 I think it is right to refresh your memory

as long as I live in the tent of my body,  

since I know that it will soon be laid aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 

And I will make every effort to ensure that after my departure, 

you will be able to recall these things at all times.

For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you 

the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice from the Majestic Glory said to Him, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

And we ourselves heard this voice from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

We also have the message of the prophets, which has been confirmed beyond doubt. 

And you will do well to pay attention to this message, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, 

until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Above all, you must understand 

that no prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation.

For no prophecy was ever brought about through human initiative, 

but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.