In the realm of the blessed children of trust
Dwell those who reject this world and its ways;
The poor in spirit, who're treated unjust,
Will live victorious in heaven's days!
The mourners will be comforted at last,
Their tears dried by the Savior's own hand;
The meek, who never bound any man fast,
Will rule the earth, and all who own its land!
Those who hunger and thirst for Jesus' love
Will find righteousness, and its great reward;
Mercy, the merciful will have above;
The pure in heart finds the highest regard!
Peacemakers will rest in heaven's true calm,
For spreading on earth God's own holy balm!
"Now when he saw the crowds, he went up to a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying:
'Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.'" (Matthew 5:1-12)
This important scripture passage is the first remarks in Jesus' famous Sermon on the Mount, in which He revealed the coming of the Kingdom of God. This "kingdom" refers to Christianity, beginning with His disciples and apostles, the first church in Jerusalem, and all churches continuing until today, and on into heaven, lasting forever. If you are a Christian---a person who has accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord, repented and had past sins forgiven, and are striving to live as the Savior taught, you are a member of the Kingdom. You will go to heaven when you die and be a recipient of the blessings promised in the passage above.
The poem above lists some of the characteristics (more are named in the scripture) mentioned by Jesus that are possessed by Christians and a few of the rewards that come with admission to heaven. The personality traits are some of those each Christian is commanded by God to be shown by us here in this life on earth. These are called the "Beatitudes"; the word "Blessed" means "Happy"; the blessing is not a reward to us on earth; it is a promise of heavenly joys. In other words, we are to show ourselves to be 'poor in spirit', 'mourning', 'meek', 'hungering and thirsting after righteousness', 'merciful', 'pure in heart', perhaps 'persecuted because of Christ', and to show joy when people do persecute us for being Christian. I intend to publish a series of poem-commentaries on these terms, so that you can learn something of how Jesus wants us to live. No, we will never learn it perfectly, but He expects us to strive mightily.
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