'Twas The Night Before Jesus Came

Author Unknown, adapted

'Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house,
not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were laid on their shelves without care,
in hope that Jesus would not soon come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
not once ever kneeling or bowing the head.
And mom in her rocker with baby on her lap,
was watching the late show while I took a nap.

When out of the night there arose such a clatter,
I sprung to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
I tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun, sending forth a bright ray,
I knew in a moment, this must be the day!

The light of his face made me cover my head.
It was Jesus returning just like He said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the book of life which He held in His hand,
was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name.
When he said, "It's not here", my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love,
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without sound,
while the rest were all judged and hell-bound.

I fell to my knees but it was too late.
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight,
"Oh, if only I had been ready tonight!"

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear:
The coming of Jesus ever draws near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call,
we'll find that the Bible was true after all.

Where Is The Punctuation?

F.W. Emmons, 1873

As you read the two statements, please note that each one is exactly the same, word-for-word, yet note how different the meanings set forth by differences in punctuation. Much in life depends on where we put the emphasis or punctuation.

The Good Man

He is an old and experienced man. In vice and wickedness he is never found. Opposing the work of iniquity he takes delight. In the downfall of his neighbor he never rejoices. In the prosperity of any of his fellow creatures he is ready to assist. In destroying the peace of society he takes no pleasure. In serving the Lord he is uncommonly diligent. In sowing discord among his friends and acquaintances he takes no pride. In laboring to promote the cause of Christianity he has not been negligent. In endeavoring to stigmatize all public teachers he makes no exertions. To subdue his passions he strives hard. To build up Satan's kingdom he lends no aid. To support the gospel among the heathen he contributes largely. To the evil adversary he pays no attention. To good advice he gives great heed. To the devil he will never go. To heaven he must go where he'll receive the just recompense of his reward.

The Bad Man

He is an old and experienced man in vice and wickedness. He is never found opposing the work of iniquity. He takes delight in the downfall of his neighbor. He never rejoices in the prosperity of any of his fellow creatures. He is ready to assist in destroying the peace of society. He takes no pleasure in serving the Lord. He is uncommonly diligent in sowing discord among his friends and acquaintances. He takes no pride in laboring to promote the cause of Christianity. He has not been negligent in endeavoring to stigmatize all public teachers. He makes no exertions to subdue his passions. He strives hard to build up Satan's kingdom. He lends no aid to support the gospel among the heathen. He contributes largely to the evil adversary. He pays no attention to good advice. He gives great heed to the devil. He will never go to heaven. He must go where he'll receive the just recompense of his reward.

The Bible In A Nutshell

Author Unknown

The Bible can be put into three headings:

God is the former (Genesis 1-2). "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7). Since God created us, we are accountable to Him. If we never acknowledge the creation, we will never see that we are sinners in need of a Savior.

Satan is the deformer (Genesis 3:1-7). Called the "hinge of the Bible", this passage is crucial. If it were not in the Bible, the whole book would be changed. We finish chapter two with heavenly bliss in the garden, but verse eight shows the creatures hiding in shame. What happened? Sin changes everything.

Christ is the transformer (Genesis 3:15). From Genesis 3:8, God is beginning to redeem His people through the coming seed of woman. "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2).