There is a dark mist all around, an evil vapour, a poison defiling in the mouth and blinding in the eyes. It brings tear, pain and anger. It flows around us rising and blinding, overpowering us, destroying and defiling, making all things dark. It is in the air we breath, it is in the ground beneath us, it is Satan’s ways are all around, destruction and deceit are in all things, and all things are crafted to bring ashes and decay. There is no escape.
There is an evil vapour all around, it flows through our veins, oozes from our thoughts, we spread it with our mouths and infect all we touch. Wicked people craft it and lesser people spread it. We fill the earth with decay, we strangle joy, oppress the weak. Our ways are evil, they work with the Evil one, to bring all to dust, ashes and to ruin.
But God is at work, He works through His people. There is one over there laying a brick, and one over here, digging a foundation. And every now and then, as the dark vapour moves there is a glimpse, a glimpse of a building, dull in the shadows but full of hidden colour. The wrights help those who have stumbled and speak soft words of strength to the weak, and ever there is one among them, robed in white, with a sash of gold moving from person to person, healing, freeing, loving.
A day is coming when the wind will blow, the vapour will pass and the sun will blaze out and, behold! a Palace is there, built amongst the mist. A towering building filled with light, a place of freedom and sight, a place to sing, a place to dance. And Oh that man, that good man, He has a throne! He will be revealed and we will be with Him. Him in glory and us set free. Set free from pain, oppression and darkness and brought into light and life, to sing and to dance, and to love Him, our great King and Friend.
Do not despair when all you can see is mist, know that God is greater, Satan’s plans will be thwarted and glory will prevail! And we will be with our Captain, our Lover and our Lord.
There is a dark mist all around. An evil vapour! It parches the mouth and stings the eyes, choking life, inflicting pain, brining forth anger through despair. It flows around us, rising, blinding, overpowering us; destroying and defiling. It wears all things to dust and consumes them in darkness. Wicked men craft it, and lesser men spread it. It is in the air we breath, it is in the ground on which we stand. Satan’s ways all around us. Destruction and deceit are in all things, and all his works are crafted to bring ashes and decay. The colour dies and all fades to wretched blackness. There is no escape.
Oh man blinded by the vapour, parched for want of water, oppressed by evil and filled with pain, look forward; look up! A day is coming when God will say to the winds of the earth: “Come oh winds, blow away this foul vapour!” Then the wind will howl and carry away the vapour. The sun will shine out and the wicked will perish!
Rejoice oh people, sing aloud to God the just! For he will remove the mist of wickedness and cast out the evil one! He will restore the light and restore life. Rejoice! But rejoice with fear! Tremble before the Lord of light. For there is an evil vapour all around.
It flows in our veins, oozes in our thoughts. We breath it out with our words and infect all we touch. We fill the earth with decay, strangle joy and oppress the weak. Our very ways are evil, the work of the Evil one, to bring all to dust, all to ashes and to ruin! We will be cast out, we will be blown away in that terrible storm.
Oh trembling man, blinded by the vapour, look up through you’re strained eyes, listen with hurting ears. God is at work. Look over there as the mist lessens for a moment, see a man toiling to dig a foundation. Listen carefully and hear a brick is laid. Look out into this grey world full of evil and perceive a glimpse of a building rising, dull the shadows, but full with hidden colour. Even now one of the wrights comes and gives you a drink of water, then moves on to find the next anxious soul.
Oh, take heart broken man and strain you’re eyes see the work of God through His people. These wrights help those who have stumbled, speak soft words to the weak and bold words to the fearful. They tell of their chief, a man who cleanses you of this evil, removes this foul slime and washes you clean. He is always about, building up and strengthening. You catch a glimpse here, a whisper there. One robed in white with a sash of gold moving from wretch to wretch, healing, freeing, loving.
A day is coming when the wind will blow and the vapour will be dissipated, but you will not go with it. The sun will shine out and behold! a Palace is there, built amongst the mist and decay. A towering stronghold filled with light. A place of freedom and sight. A place to sing and a place to dance. And Oh than Man! That Good Man! He has a throne. He will be revealed and we will be with Him. He in glory and us set free. Our thirst quenched and our mouths filled with good things. Our backs made strong, our voices restored, and our hearts made clean. And there we will sing to Him, our great King and Friend.
Oh my broken friend, who is overwhelmed by the evil, do not despair. Trust in Jesus who loves you and makes you clean. Trust in God who is at work in this fallen generation. Satan’s plans will be thwarted and glory will prevail! And we will be with our Captain, our Lover, our LORD!