Halfway Between

Ken Pullen  –  copyright 2011
with help from A.W. Tozer and his book The
Purpose of Man

The spirit of things
determines the external manifestation
of that spirit

Sin scars the world
inharmonious
unsymmetrical ugliness
among this beautiful creation
the mirror has been shattered
fragments of reflection
glimmers of worship of God
being in the Presence of God
seen in fleeting detection

If we love beauty
we had better lay plans
set our course
to steer clear and out of hell
with its putrid smell
the quintessence
of ugliness
is hell

While, where heaven
equals harmonious numbers
place of such loveliness
place of beauty
beyond
knowing beyond knowing
because the One who is all beautiful
is there

Where our heart lies
within our spirit
there is the physical manifestation
on this I implore
spend many hours in quiet
in the Presence of God
in deep contemplation

Earth
this wondrous creation of our Creator
lies halfway between
heaven and hell
here we see the ugliness
set against the beauty
constant battle raging
in dimensions rarely seen
yet felt
even smelled for their stench
or aroma
fills our nostrils
our minds
thus our heart and spirit
for we should not shirk and hide
always thinking we must only
dwell upon the positives
thinking that is the way to live
for the Lord
created the contrasts in order
that our faith might last
giving us definition
leading toward fruition
do not be drawn into the scarring ugliness
within, of this world
but behold it, know it, do not deny it
or hide from it
for then the beauty will escape you
not be known for the beauty it truly is
for if we never feel icy cold
we cannot know the warmth of the flame
if we do not fall
we have no way of knowing
which way is up
the suffering, pain, and ugliness
we must drink of its cup
for we are flesh
upon this temporal plan
yet for a season
and everything
even the morally ugly
and disgusting
all happen with reason

Instead of asking
“Why is life like this?”
“Why is there light and shadow?”
“Why is there so much bad among the good?”
know
know
know
within
manifest in the spirit
without the light the shadow cannot be seen
for its contrast
the bad occurs
such evil abounds
because this earth
and all upon it
reside
halfway between
heaven and hell

Do not become ensnared
in the worldly lie
people are inherently good
if this you believe
than God’s Word you’ve not read
or grossly misunderstood
the body of Christ our Lord,
Yeshua
the Son
is living in pale malnourishment
in these latter days
as the professed live in so many ways
except
in the Presence of the Lord
according to His Word
excusing their behavior
living on milk
underfed
misled
sick in the head
in the heart
soul
body
and spirit

The kingdom of God
is not of this earth
nor on this earth
it lies in heaven
this earth
lies
halfway between
heaven and hell
stop holding your breath
breath in that rancid smell
the stench of sin
beware
the ugliness
just don’t let it creep in
takeover
yet know
acknowledge its reality
seek the quiet place
quiet times
for we are not running a race
trying to keep pace
with this world
among the rats
carrying their plague
carrying us to their demise
as they cloud, close their eyes
seal up their ears
become consumed of this world
its distractions
excuses
its eternal scarring
forever marring our worship of God
which is our prime purpose
for being
go through this life
seeing
through God’s eyes
all that lies before us
living according to His Word

Precarious balance
being placed
halfway between
heaven and hell
we all fail
we all fall
we all are unworthy
yet through grace
and mercy beyond mercy
through the atoning blood of the Lamb
we have been given life
eternal

Yet
we al have those things
in our lives
distancing us from being
in the Presence of God
as we should, as we could
worship is not a one day event
but a condition within
we must kneel before
the altar of God
and set upon that altar
those things which deter
detract
distract
hinder
and scar
asking the Lord
to show us
prove
reprove
if what we lay before Him
is needed in our lives
be it our business
how we think of others
how wrapped up in worldly conditions we become
how we turn to worldly distractions
instead of turning to Him
we must all kneel
before the altar
presenting those things
which may keep us from being
in the Presence of the Lord
living in spiritual accord
to do anything less we cannot
afford

For this earth is as it is
filled with evil and scarring sin
because
we lie halfway between
heaven and hell
and mingled among the fragrance
of the Rose of Sharon
the aloes
and the myrrh
is the stretch of rotting
corpses
decaying spirits
all around
mingled among
the hustle and bustle
and noise and din
in this world consumed in sin

Aspire to look
reach
higher
aspire in that quiet place
setting your spirit right
to spend time each day
in the Presence of the Lord

For upon this temporary
earth
of rock, clay, mineral, and water
amongst the reproving fire
and life giving waters
is the ever deepening scar of sin
because we all lie
halfway between
heaven and hell

Knowing that
the spirit of things
determines the external manifestation
of that spirit
seek to be in the
Presence of the Lord
more than caught in the net
the snare of this world
for we lie
all of us herein
halfway between
heaven and hell