Who of Us?

Never have I read a poem that expesses the heart of my redeemed children or the lost ones in our own country,

like this-- by  John Piper

If you are... 

on the fence

wondering what you should do to help

waiting for your own redeemed to come home

------

or tragically....deaf to their cries

Please hear their hope--

The Children

Do you hear the children crying?

I can hear them every day,

Crying, sighing, dying, flying

Somewhere safe where they can play.

Somewhere safe from all the dangers,

Somewhere safe from crack and AIDS,

Safe from lust and lurking strangers,

Safe from war and bombing raids.

Somewhere safe from malnutrition,

Safe from daddy’s damning voice,

Safe from mommy’s cool ambition,

Safe from deadly goddess, Choice.

* * * *

Do you see the children meeting?

I can see them in the sky,

Meeting, eating, meeting, greeting

Jesus with the answer why.

Why the milk no longer nourished,

Why the water made them sick,

Why the crops no longer flourished,

Why the belly got so thick.

Why they never knew the reason

Friends had vanished out of sight,

Why some suffered for a season, 

Others never saw the light.

* * * *

Do you hear the children singing?

I can hear them high above,

Singing, springing, ringing, bringing

Glory to the God of love.

Glory for the gift of living,

Glory for the end of pain,

Glory for the gift of giving,

Glory for eternal gain.

Glory from the ones forsaken,

Glory from the lost and lone,

Glory when the infants waken,

Orphans on the Father’s throne

* * * *

Do you see the children coming?

I can see them on the clouds,

Coming, strumming, drumming, humming

Songs with heaven’s happy crowds.

Songs with lots of happy clapping,

Songs that set the heart on fire,

Songs that make your foot start tapping,

Songs that make a merry choir.

Songs so loud the mountains tremble,

Songs so pure the canyons ring,

When the children all assemble

Millions, millions, round the King.

* * * *

Do you see the children waiting?

I can see them all aglow

Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting,

Who of us will rise and go?

Will we turn and fly to meet them

Will we venture something new?

I intend to rise and greet them.

Come and go with me, would you?