! ! ! I Can See Paradise! Poem by Denis Martindale

From death to Hell, then darkness felt,
Its evil presence feared,
Enough to make all courage melt
As soon as it appeared...
A beam of light from Heaven came,
Christ's hand was seen and more,
While I was thinking Jesus' Name,
I saw an open door...

Now lifted up, ascending high,
Transported safely out,
In time, I saw that darkness die
And love replaced all doubt...
A tunnel beckoned, thus I went
And through it I was moved,
Until at last I saw the friend
Who all my troubles soothed...

If not for love transcending all,
Forgiving all my sins,
How could I hear my Saviour's call
Or see God's Holy Prince?
Ascending high and travelling
Across both time and space,
The darkness thus unravelling,
Until I see Christ's face...

Uplifting light outshining there,
A wondrous, precious glow,
With matchless love beyond compare,
My sins as white as snow...
And grace beyond my wildest dreams,
Forgiveness through and through
And warmth within, like living streams
And liquid love flowed, too...

Unfolding visions met my eyes,
Explaining life and death,
Such that I can see Paradise,
Jesus of Nazareth...
Perceiving truths few souls have known
And lived to tell the tale,
That proved with God I'm not alone,
His love can never fail...

Behold, a future meant to be,
A new world formed in space,
A new home for eternity,
Just for the Human Race...
God's glory found in every part,
God's presence felt within,
Fulfilling every human heart,
Devoid of death and sin...

If only words could thrill your soul,
The way these sights thrilled mine,
A foretaste of the Lord's control,
His majesty divine...
His untold blessings not revealed,
No eyes or ears can know,
Yet all such secrets stay concealed,
So that our faith may grow...

For what is Man if hope is lost,
Receiving all things now?
Except Lord Jesus paid the cost,
With thorned crown on His brow...
But we must wait and yet abide,
The Good News here to tell,
That lost souls need Christ crucified,
To pardon them from Hell...

That's why I preach as years go by,
Determined, filled with faith,
To share God's Word and let it fly,
For it is strong to save...
The Blood of Jesus shed for me,
In death, Christ paid the price,
That's why I share this mystery...
I can see Paradise!