Draw near and listen closely
For this is a matter of life and death
A month ago, I sat on a bench at liberty park
A cold wind sent shivers up my spine
Yet I would not leave for I was expectant.
For what, I knew not. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suddenly, a man occupied the other end of my bench
He looked strangely ageless, and eternally wise.
Upon my lap sat the book “The immortals”.
\u201cAh! Immortality!\u201d He said.
\u201cThe desire of kings and paupers alike.
Everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A strangled laugh caught in my throat
For it was as if he read my thoughts
He was neither black nor white
Middle-eastern perhaps <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Into the silence, I felt compelled to speak
\u201cI would die right here, right now\u201d I said.
\u201cIf I was certain heaven would accept me
For the devil and his traps ensnare me more regularly than I cared to count.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cInteresting that you should mention the devil\u201d he said.
For I too wander too and fro
But a distinction I must make
I have no interest in the souls of men
But I take pleasure in the flesh of bulls and rams<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So let us consider immortality:
From the beginning of time, men have sought it.
Kings from the west, and emperors from the east.
Ordinary men and women from all walks of life.
Yet none have found it.
No, not one.
None remain, they are all dust.
All. Is. Dust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But if you would receive it, Lazarus still roams the earth.
Even from the days of Elijah till this very day, there are three others:
\n 1. The widow\u2019s son at Zarephath;
\n 2. he that received life from the bones of Elisha;
\n 3. the widow\u2019s son of Nain;
\nFor it is appointed unto man to die once, and once only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I see your interest. Would you be immortal too?
If so, three things you must do:
1. You must look into the face of God.
2. You must swim the endless sea.
3. You must eat the fruit of heaven.
But three questions you must answer:
1. Can you look into the face of God and yet live?
2. Do you know where the endless sea flows?
3. What is this \u201cfruit of heaven\u201d?
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the life of me, I believed him.
And as he stood up and took his leave,
I asked the only thing that came to mind
\u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou know who I am.\u201d He said.
\u201cBut if you must, then I will.
Abraham paid me tithe.
I was the king of Salem.
I have no beginning of days, and no end of life.
I was here when the world was dark and without form.
I will be here when the world passes away\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then, he was gone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
02\/13\/2023 11:12PM<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Draw near and listen closelyFor this is a matter of life and deathA month ago, I sat on a bench at liberty parkA cold wind sent shivers up my spineYet I would not leave for I was expectant. For what, … Continue reading