In the Beginning, God

Christians of all sorts of denominations and theologies have differing views on the path of human life after initial creation, but we all agree on the origin of man. It is clearly taught in the first verse of the first book of the Bible, Genesis, in the familiar words we all know, “In the beginning God created”. It is after that point the various differences and even disagreements come in. How old is the earth? What part, if any, did evolution in any form play in the way we adapted and changed to our environment? To be more accurate, we usually refer to Charles Darwin’s book “On the Origin of Species” and the furore it caused when his Theory of Evolution was first introduced and published in 1859. That was over 150 years ago and we still debate its truth and relevance.

I sometimes wonder why we have so much trouble reading and understanding from Genesis 1:2 onward, when we seem to be happy to accept the first four words of verse 1? We can rule out the atheist community because they don’t believe in God anyway, and at the time Darwin’s theory had a willing audience because this theory doesn’t require a God to make it work for them. In fact Darwin wasn’t happy with his research and didn’t publish for many years because he did believe in God.

Professors of Theology of various church groups and denominations are happy to debate creation and evolution for as long as you like, and never seem to agree. If evolution was a certainty, the theory would be fact, and the case for evolution would be proven. But it can’t be shown by science. It’s like proving the Loch Ness Monster does or doesn’t exist. It is subjective, and there is no scientific evidence for either. This is a matter of faith alone and not hard science.

So, for my own part I will accept the Biblical account of creation in faith as fact, until it can be proven without any shadow of a doubt that there is no God, and I don’t see that happening. Science can address many laws and prove them by repetition of results and the application of time, but science cannot address feelings and emotions like; love, joy,  peace, patience, hate, life, death, right, wrong, good, bad, altruism and the list could go on. I find the God of the Bible the perfect Person and place to go in times when I don’t need a scientific proof, but I do need comfort and understanding. Try putting these under a microscope to prove their existence!

I Don't Gossip?

For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 2 Corinthians 12:20

The apostle Paul knew the people he was writing to, and was aware of their hearts. They claimed to be following Jesus, but they had some serious shortcomings. We think this verse can be discounted compared to some ‘bigger’ sins considered more significant, so why did he have to bring slander and gossip up at all? After all, we know better nowadays and don’t do that in our church, and anyway I wouldn’t stoop to that level when talking about anyone, and certainly never about my fellow believers. Right?

Do you ever listen to the words as they come out of your mouth, raw and unfiltered? Others listening might hear clues like, “Did you see what she did”? Or, “They made a right mess of that”. Or, “I wouldn’t have done it like him”. Or, “Other folk don’t like her, and I can see why”. Or, “He’s no good at that job, so he should quit and let someone else do it.” Or, “Are they really Christians, because you would never know”. Do you see yourself in these critical comments now?

Face it. You gossip, and so do I. Paul saw it in his Corinthian friends, even though they didn’t, and we are no different. Gossip is one of those sins we can see easily in other people, but don’t recognise it in our own lives. Because everybody does it, we just fit in so readily. The final word must come from Paul’s word to his church in Ephesus:

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29

Goodbye

It sounds so final, like you won’t be back. A one way ticket somewhere. Said when our children leave home for college, or move out to get married. Said at train stations and airports, and even at a graveside. It’s not a nice thing to have to say.

I prefer cheerio, aurevoir, see you, or the like. Even farewell doesn’t sound so bad. However, when you think of the word goodbye it does hold a truth none of the others do. This is the shortened term for ‘God Be With You’, and in truth I can think of no better way to describe the process of leaving loved ones. You are committing them into the hands of a loving God, until we meet again. That really IS a good thought!

Celebrity Death

There have been a few famous celebrities who have died recently, some better known than others, but each one gets the same reporting importance. Rightly so, because death is no respecter of persons and every loss is significant and important to those left behind, and even many grieving people who didn’t know them personally. In essence, we identify with a person who can excite us, make us laugh or cry, and do good in the community. We mourn the death of people we respect and honour.

I wonder what the media and community would make of the situation in the unlikely event that any one of these celebrities suddenly appeared on our news screens again as if nothing had happened to them, and it had all been false reporting? The world would buzz with excitement that our ‘beloved celebrity’ was back with us alive and well! Maybe then we could believe that death is not the end of things.

We should never lose sight of the fact that there already has been such a miracle, where a good person was killed and a few days later walked the streets with friends who had trouble believing their eyes and ears. Jesus died, rose, and is now in heaven speaking on our behalf to His Father God, and we treat this with a shallow level of importance. History confirms the fact that Jesus rose from the dead, and we do celebrate that resurrection in a fitting way with chocolate eggs and fluffy bunnies. What?! Would you be happy with that for your celebrity? Why then, do we accept these insignificant trappings as symbolic of the coming back to life of the person who died for us, to give us the gift of salvation and eternal life?

Next time the media gushes over the life and death of a celebrity, pause for a moment and recognise the comparison of screen time given to them, against the historical fact that Jesus also died, but significantly is the only person who rose to secure our victory over death. After all, as a result, we have the prospect of a real eternal rest in heaven. So, let’s never forget or minimise the comforting words that Jesus said in John 11:25 ...“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.”

The Truth of the Matter

It is election time in the UK. The Scottish parliament elections for a new group of MSPs and the in/out EU Referendum are constantly in our media streams, and if I hear the words “The truth of the matter is…”, I will not be responsible for my actions. Whose truth? These words are spoken with passion and conviction by all sides, and about the self same question or situation. No wonder we are confused and switched off.

Politicians are famous for doing it, but we do too. Truth is bandied about like a shuttlecock in a badminton game. It becomes a tool to be used to make a point, and the meaning of the word is completely lost on us. So how can we know what the truth is? I suppose the truth, or part of it, is hidden in among the arguments used but it is disguised by the lies and half truths that surround it, so where to turn? We have some serious decisions to make, but we are left to our own devices on what to do. We certainly can’t trust any of the politicians. None!

But is the truth a ‘what’, or a ‘thought’ to be figured out? I don’t believe so, but I am convinced the truth is not a ‘what’ but a ‘who’ in the form of a person who cannot lie or tell half truths, or even mislead to suit his own ends. Having said that we must be prepared to hear the truth, and recognise it as such. Jesus tells us directly in John 14:6,  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” So, the next time you hear a politician, or anyone else for that matter, say the words, “The truth of the matter is…” don’t ask where the information came from, ask yourself if they are the kind of person who is close enough to Jesus to know that truth for themselves? Then and only then will you and I have the truth to the question being asked and answered!

Until

...and we do not know with what we must serve the Lord until we arrive there.” Exodus 10:26

Life is a great unknown, and this thought can either distress or comfort us. In a way, it’s better not knowing about future health issues, but sometimes we want to have some peace about important things like what is ahead for our children and grandchildren. We want them to be safe, healthy, and secure. But at what price?

The children of Israel were waiting to leave Egypt for the promised land, but having lived in the foreign country for hundreds of years, they didn’t know how they would get on leaving. They were used to the restrictions of their masters, but wanted some comforting words about the journey they faced. The words of the Lord, given to Moses are: we do not know ... until we arrive there.

Would you be happy with this level of uncertainty? After all, God knows everything and He could have said more. The fact is we all must deal with not knowing the future until we get there. I take comfort in the fact that when I get there, I will find that Jesus has already arrived! There are sad and bad people who claim to know the future, and some gullible folks will pay good money to know their ‘good’ future. Be warned, there are no psychic lottery millionaires!

Having lived through a loved one’s serious illness, pain and ultimate passing to Glory, I will be content not knowing what is ahead, and happy to leave my times in God’s loving and comforting hands. In the words of the verse, I am content that I do not know until I arrive there.

Similar?

Picture the scene. There is a disturbance and your life is threatened, so you call the police to step in and stop the gang fight right outside your house. A crowd is gathering to watch and some are stepping in to take a side, and then the police arrive. Only now you realise the police are also dressed like the brawling gangs, so when they try to stop the fighting no one knows who is who, and the criminals escape while the police sort out who is on their side. It’s so much easier when you can tell the lawbreakers from the lawmakers, right? That’s a very good reason for our emergency services wearing a uniform. You know who they are.

Why then do Christians try their best to fit in with the rest of the world and be like them? We try to be one of them, because we don’t want to scare them off we argue. A similar discussion follows with dress code, music, places we go, movies we watch, magazines we read, what we drink, and the list goes on. In the meantime, we see our declining church attendance, and continue to think being the same is the answer, so when one similarity fails, we try to add another, and we find that doesn’t work either.

If you want a different answer, you have to try a different approach. Doing the same thing time and again, gives the same result time and again. The Christian life makes us different on the inside, and so we should be different on the outside too. What will the enquiring, unsaved person think when they look at us, and see a mirror image of themselves? If we are going into the world to fight against the evils of sin, shouldn’t we be seen as different?

We are called to be a sanctified (set apart) people, with an obvious love for the Lord and each other. That means seekers of truth should be able to know where to turn, and who to turn to because they should see Jesus in us. Churches do not need to copy the clubs and pubs in the world with lights, music, and feel good speakers who do it better than us anyway. We should be preaching the gospel of repentance and salvation, not cosying up to people and groups who already may know where the truth lies, but all they can see in us is a shallow form of Christianity. May we never be like the church group mentioned in Matthew 23:27 when Jesus says “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of …….all uncleanness.

Evil into Good

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Genesis 50:20,21

The old saying goes, “Bad things happen to good people” and how true. I’m sure bad things have happened to you, but I wonder how we cope and react as Christians? Bad things take many forms from sudden poverty, loss of employment, serious illness, and even the death of a loved one. Christians are not immune, no matter what the so called prosperity gospel preachers tell us.

Joseph had it bad. Hated by his brothers, thrown in a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused, imprisoned for years, forgotten by those he had helped. Joseph had every reason to believe that God had abandoned him, but somehow he held on to his faith until he came out the other end of his long dark tunnel. The end of the story sees Joseph reunited with the brothers who had hated him, thrown him into a pit, and sold him to a travelling group. I’m not sure what I would have done, but Joseph was overjoyed, and wept.

He knew the bad stuff had happened for a purpose, and he recognised that reason when it came, even though it was many years later. The lesson is clear. When bad things happen, and we think God has left us alone, hang in there because there will come a time when God will turn things around, and in doing so reveal His eternal plan for your good. Our problem is that we want the answer right away, so how long are we prepared to wait for God to intervene in our broken life? Sadly, we might give up before God’s plan unfolds fully, so let’s determine to stay the course and “wait patiently before the Lord” Psalm 37:7.

My Eyes

I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully…. Job 31:1 NIV

My understanding is that the book of Job is one of the first full books ever written in the Bible, sandwiched in between chapters Genesis. This verse almost seems to be aimed at our age and generation in the 21st century, but obviously Job is dealing with an age old problem, and we are still trying to deal with it today. I think the advance of TV, magazines, and of course the internet has made it much more important that we need to keep a careful rein and guard on the things our eyes see.

There was a time when I would have said this kind of warning would be aimed on our young men, but that is wrong on at least two levels. The problems of access to indecent images, and the effects from it, are not confined to the young. Nor are they limited to the men in our society. The old saying goes, “monkey see, monkey do” and this applies to the lessons, good and bad our next generation learn from the previous one. So, the more lax and accepting we become to the images we take as normal on the TV, internet etc., the lower the bar gets for each succeeding generation.

For those over the age of 50, cast your mind back to your own youth, and note how things have changed. There are images and shows that would never have made it to our screens, but lo and behold they are there now, and we have become used to them. The taboos of yesterday are tolerated, and even encouraged today. Why should this be, and have you ever wondered what will be tolerated in another 30 years? Love has given way to sex, and we have accepted them as the same thing. We treat both as equal, and that is not the only immorality we have accepted as equal. In fact we have even gone as far as legalising, condoning and encouraging immorality. Is it any wonder we are experiencing an epidemic of child abuse and sexual crime? Or are we in our modern minds not able to equate the obvious connection between abuses and what our eyes have seen and accepted as ‘just the way it is’?

Forgiveness

And forgive us …..    as we also have forgiven. Matthew 6:12

Are we serious about forgiving those who might have slighted or wronged us, whether in a small way or a massively huge way? Don’t gloss over the question. Give it the consideration it deserves in light of the words of Jesus in the Lord’s Prayer.

It is quite easy for us to wrong someone, whether deliberately, or even unintentionally, but it is another matter altogether to reach out in forgiveness, and importantly, to be sincere about it. There is the small matter of our pride which gets in the way, which means we will have to climb down publicly. The more people we have involved, the harder the climb down and greater the humiliation. We don’t like that, do we? I know I don’t.

If we are serious about claiming the name of Jesus, and calling ourselves Christian, we cannot ignore the words of Jesus which simply say, I will forgive you when you forgive your brother or sister. Ouch. Really? Is it that serious? It certainly is, and it will benefit us in ways we cannot imagine. After all, saying sorry releases you from the burden and guilt of unforgiveness, and lets you breathe easily again. Sure, your brother gets forgiven but I believe the bigger benefit is for the one who forgives!

Lost

She was 8 years old, pretty as a picture, the apple of her mum and dad’s eye, and she was lost. Panic had already set in when meal time arrived and she wasn’t in the back garden where they had last seen her, when they told her to play until dinner was ready. It wasn’t a long time, but she was gone and a search party was organised quickly. They lived on an estate which opened out to a large open field and wooded area to the rear of the property. No one wanted to say what they were thinking, or dreading.

After a short time which felt like an eternity, the lost was found, curled up under a small bush fast asleep. Unharmed and unafraid. Before daddy could sweep her up into his safe arms, he noticed that the fingers of one hand were wrapped tightly round the fourth finger of her other hand. In no time, Betsy was home, having dinner, none the worse for her ordeal. In fact she was the only one who wasn’t worried.

When it was time for bed, mum took her little girl upstairs and after reading a story, asked why she had been clutching her finger so tightly. With a big smile, Betsy told how she had listened to her Sunday School teacher the week before who told them how to remember the first part of Psalm 23. Pointing to each finger in turn, she recited, “The-Lord-is-MY-Shepherd” and when she had strayed from home and got worried, she clutched the fourth finger that said ‘MY’ and the fear left. So from a little girl we are reminded of the lesson in Psalm 23:1 we all need to hear. “The Lord is MY shepherd”. Mine. It is personal. Jesus is mine, and let’s never forget it! Amen.

Refuge

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

When you get into trouble, where do you run? Where is your comfort zone when circumstances change around you, and you feel lost? Depression and physical harm are no stranger to the Christian, because although sinners saved by grace, we are still human.

There is a natural attraction to using retail therapy, or immersing yourself in your spouse, children, or grandchildren. You might even get over it by visiting someone less fortunate than yourself, and that is commendable. But what if the trouble you face is personal, and affects your health in a major way? Doing these things may take the edge off for a short time, but they don’t really do the job completely, if at all.

You need a person you can trust completely, and the closest person to you might be your husband, or wife, although in severe health issues they will almost certainly be out of their depth, no matter how much they love you. All’s not lost though because there is another person in the form of the Lord Jesus Christ, and He is well able to shoulder every trouble or burden you will ever have. There is a condition of course. You have to come in faith, and in repentance put your trust totally in Him by choice because He cares most of all. Just as the verse says:

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Which is Better, Large or Small?

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20

Recently it has been my privilege to worship in a church of around 150+ on a Sunday morning, and enjoy the fellowship, preaching, and the singing of praise songs to the music of an amazingly gifted group of musicians who give their time and talents freely. It is easy to enjoy these benefits of a ‘larger’ church in the same denomination.

You see, my own home church has an attendance of around 35. Similarly, the Word is preached, fellowship shared, and songs of the Kingdom are sung, led by a much smaller group of musicians who are equally dedicated to providing the music to worship. I suppose the biggest differences between the larger and smaller churches are the volume of music and open style of songs used. The smaller congregation is used to older hymns and songs, and the larger one uses more modern (less than 20 years old) contemporary songs, but both are used to worship the same God. One encourages a demonstrative participation, and the other experiences their joy in a quieter way.

Another major difference between the two church services, is the use of the open altar for voluntary prayer or seeking during the service. This is a dedicated, sanctified place to come and pray and leave your burdens and requests with the Lord. (I have asked myself if this is partly the reason for the larger church being more relevant and better attended, especially by youth).

There is a trap set for me, and I tend to fall into it easily. Having spent time with family, and shared the experience of the larger church for a time, I find it hard to return to the older form of worship when I return home. But then I am reminded of the verse in Matthew 18:20, and the fact that in God’s eyes, numbers, volume, and style are not important. The key is the last phrase, “there am I with them.” Thank you Lord for your promise which applies equally to small and large services where You are lifted up.

A New Commandment

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34,35

A new commandment? What’s new about it? For a start it isn’t listed in the 10 commandments, and Jesus seemed to think we needed a reminder that love is important, and to get our priorities right. These verses are packed with good things we need to take to heart.

Jesus said said it, so we need to take notice of His authority.

Jesus loves us, always has, and always will, with an unconditional, pure love.

We are to love one another, because that is the best way. It’s Jesus’ way.

People will know we are His followers without any doubt or guessing. Do you want to show others you are serious about their salvation? Love them. Do you want to witness in the greatest way possible? Love them. Do you want to be like Jesus? Love your friends and your enemies.

People will then see Jesus in you, and what better way than love to be a witness, and to draw people to the gospel of salvation?

Holiness

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Romans 12:17,18

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:14,15

There is a part of holiness that seems to be missed, or perhaps ignored, and that’s the part we play in the process of spiritual growth. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, and the writer to Hebrews (who may also be Paul) makes it very clear that we have a responsibility to respect and be at peace with all men. He also makes clear that it might not be easy. Why else would he say, “Make every effort”? The goal is holiness, and reminds us that “without holiness no one will see the Lord”. That was a very serious charge for the first century faithful, and no less of a charge today.

We like to get our own way, and come out on top in everything, even matters of faith, but we are warned against it. We also like the easy way, which takes least effort, but also has least reward. But the downside is that we might fall short of the gift of grace God has for us, causing bitterness and no sincere believer wants that!

Holiness is a process of growth, but since we have a responsibility of our own to fulfil, we would be wise to make a firm decision to start. Otherwise, how does anyone know we are sincere? These verses remind me of my obligation as a Christian to live peacefully with men, and as much as possible not become bitter. Anything less is not a good example or witness for Person whose Name I bear.

It is summed up nicely in the words of the Psalmist: “How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1

Don't Worry

"So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today”. Matthew 6:34

It might be easy for you to live life without worrying, but not me I can hear you say. You don’t know what I’ve been through, and you are right. But then how can anyone fully know what another person has to handle? After all, everyone of us wears a mask, and we seldom let it drop to show how we cope with life.

It is thought that Scottish theologian Ian Maclaren was the original source of the quotation “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle,” and how true even today. So, when you meet up with your friend next time, look carefully and listen, because you might be the friend they need to listen. Really listen, and hear their worries.

Of course, you and I will also need a friend to hear our worries, to let us unburden ourselves, but we probably don’t know who that will be. After all, we are also wearing that mask that shouts “I’m fine” so it will need to be a real friend and not just an acquaintance who will have the ability to help us drop our own mask and become vulnerable. Thanks to those we can call true friends!

Minority

Do you ever feel that your voice isn’t heard and that your life or opinion are not valued or important? I understand, but as I thought some more about it, I discovered that minorities can and do make a difference, some for good, but mostly for ill. Let’s take a few minority groups and see what difference they are making.

• The LGBTI group are less than 2% of the UK population, but speak with a loud and confident voice, and we all take notice. Governments change laws for them.

• Gay Marriage supporters have forced their way into the laws of the land because we have been convinced that they are victimised because they are not considered equal.

• Grown men who want to use girls and ladies toilets, and vice versa. Another minority who wants to be heard and we listen! Laws are being changed.

• Muslim fanatics who kill, rape and maim in the name of their chosen god, causing grief and terrorism across the world. They are not representative of mainstream muslims, however misguided, but still cause us to take notice of them.

• Voters in a referendum for National Independence who lose in a democratic process, but still loudly shout in disbelief “We were robbed”. Another referendum is planned.

• Court systems that protect the minority lawbreakers, and ignore the victims.

• Do you need to be reminded that some world leaders were in a minority, and yet did much evil. Despots like, Stalin, Lenin, Pol Pot, Hitler to name a few. It should be remembered that they were ALL atheists!

Armed with this very incomplete listing of how much attention a minority can get, and the changes they can achieve, what kind of noise should the Christian church make? After all, Christians and Christianity have now been sidelined in most areas of society, and are viewed as an official minority. It’s about time the mouse roared without apologising!

Why Church?

...not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the Day approaching. Heb 10:25

We’ve all heard the reasons and excuses for not going to church, and probably used some ourselves at some time in our lives. As Christians the Word is clear, we are commanded to attend church and we should be encouraging others to do the same. But why? Why is church even necessary?

The most extreme reason would be that of the person who doubts there is a God, so church is far from their thinking. But other reasons are given and don’t really stack up, with the most used being, “It’s not relevant anymore”. This usually come from the lips of someone who has never given church a serious chance. Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him”, so it would seem that we have to give church attendance a fair chance, by tasting (checking) and making a reasonable effort to be there each Sunday.

The benefits are obvious to the Christian. We have fellowship with like minded people, no matter where we travel. It’s true that the Christian community is a welcoming group. Then there’s the encouragement of praise and worship as we sing to the Lord our thoughts, feelings and prayers. Church would not be complete without the Word of God taught and preached by a Godly pastor whose job it is to draw us closer to the heart of the Lord, and even convict of sin through the work of the Holy Spirit. When leaving the service, you often feel like the psalmist when he said, “I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the Lord” in Psalm 122:1.

So, why not give church the chance it deserves, and you need?

Love

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1 John 4:7,8

In the words of the old song, “Love is a many splendored thing”, and how true even today. Love takes many forms, from the deep love of a mother to her new born baby, to the mature love of the old doting couple in the twilight of their years, and all the love we enjoy in between.

Do you remember your first date? Your first kiss? When you proposed? When you were overwhelmed by the feelings of love for your children? These are as nothing compared to the love shown to us by God. We are reminded that, “Anyone who does not love does not know God.” How sad to think that there are many who have never loved, or been able to love, and yet take the name of Christ.

But look at the credentials that God shows when the verse continues, “God is love”. Not almost, or nearly, not even mostly, but God IS love. Nothing less and nothing short of full love for all His creation. Faced with a love like that, our human love pales in comparison, so how can we turn our backs on the intensity of God’s unconditional Love? And yet we can do just that, so why not determine to live a live worthy of the love He shows us, and as the verse says, “ let us love one another, for love is from God”? Then there would be fewer problems in our churches and communities.

The Greatest Question

Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" Acts 26:28

I believe the biggest question you may ever wrestle with is whether or not there is a God. This is not a light or frivolous thing, but deadly serious. If you decide there is no God, saying you are an atheist, there is a risk you may be wrong and the consequences are great. On the other hand, if you believe there is a God, and act on that knowledge, the benefits are eternal. Of course this brings on many other questions, but you have to start somewhere.

Some folks look at faith as a kind of insurance policy, and will accept faith, live a good life here on earth, and eventually get into heaven. This is good, but is it enough? Believing that there IS a God, and believing IN God are two different things. It is fair to say that everybody has to answer the question for themselves, but if we are serious in our belief in an all powerful, all knowing Deity, who created us because He loved us, that would mean we should respond in some way. It is easy to agree that some superior being created us, and all things, but what happens if we do not respond in love?

Do we go to church? Maybe, but in a half hearted way? Do we say we are as good as the next person, but lack any moral compass? Maybe, but does that make us any better than the next person who might not even believe in God? Do we love our neighbour, brother, sister, as Christ loved us? Now we are getting closer to our best response, because make no mistake, how we respond to our belief that God exists, makes us the kind of person we will become. Yes, with repentance, that makes us more like Christ. Only then we are not just someone who believes in God, we become a Christian. What a difference, and for eternity!

The Gift of Grace

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8,9 ESV.

It’s your child’s birthday, and you buy a gift, wrap it lovingly, and hide it so that it can’t be found before the big day. After the family dinner, the cake is presented, the candles blown out, and now there is the giving of the gift. “Have you been good this year?” you ask. “Did you do everything you were told by mum and dad?” followed quickly by “Have you had good school grades?” If you have done all these things, we can give you a gift now. What a strange set of circumstances to unfold at a birthday party. What parent would do such a thing to their child?

I love the idea of God’s Grace. It’s free for the asking from a full heart. It has nothing to do with how much I deserve it, or have worked for it. I can’t brag about it, and I am saved through it. Going back to the child at the birthday party, the gift does not become anything to the child until it is given, and accepted. So it is with God’s Grace. It doesn’t become ours until we accept the gift that is offered freely. All we have to do is take it. None of us wants the justice we deserve, but we all do need mercy, and Grace is that perfect gift. It’s yours and mine for the taking, so why not accept it?

Conclusions

It is very important when doing a calculation in Mathematics or Science to arrive at the conclusion of any piece of work or equation, only after you have taken the time to calculate your way from the first line to the conclusion. That is normally the way things are done, and no student would be marked ‘up’ for jumping from the first line straight to the end. In fact it would be considered foolish because invariably the student would reach the wrong answer.

Why then, do we (and I include myself in this) persist in seeing a statement from a friend which may offend because of its source, and jumping to the most obvious, but perhaps wrong conclusion? In the past I have been caught out on social media when I shared something, but didn’t take care to notice where it came from. Fortunately, I have a loving family who saw it, and immediately told me what I had done and it was quickly removed. Of course it was an honest mistake, but my real concern was this: What would my family and friends think of me when they saw the abbreviations at the top of the post, and knew that they stood for a swearing phrase and against all that a Christian would stand for? As a Christian, it horrifies me that I might do the same thing again, and as a result I tend to look more carefully where a shared post comes from.

Normally, and in the vast majority of cases, there is nothing to offend or make me cringe when I read shared items. However, I am left with a dilemma when I see something from a Christian friend which is not in keeping with their faith or witness, and is obviously an oversight. Should I draw it to the person’s attention, or hope that someone else does? Or maybe leave well alone and try not to let it trouble me? In my own conclusion, I need to afford the same forgiving grace to others, that was afforded to me through Jesus.

Your Biggest Decision

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

It’s the most important question and occasion in your life. You are staring at your choice of life across a fancy restaurant table complete with the romantic candle and a twinkle in your eye. Or maybe you are walking barefoot across an empty beach at sunset together, hand in hand. Or maybe even on bended knee, looking up to those beautiful eyes, and you whisper “will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?”. So far so good, it’s all looking so right, and then she says, NO!!

That is enough to put anyone on a downer. Imagine you did the same to Jesus? You got close, and then decided you wanted to complete your life by making Jesus the head of the rest of your days here on earth, until you get to share heaven with Him and all those loved ones gone before? You are looking into those compassionate and eternal eyes, asking if He will accept you. He stops you and says, NO! That is unthinkable, or is it?

The most famous of all Bible verses is John 3:16, and the wording is simple and easy to understand. Words like “WHOSOEVER believes”, “will NOT perish”, and “have ETERNAL LIFE”. What’s not to like? So, would Jesus ever say “NO” to you when you approach Him in simple faith, with a heartfelt desire to spend the rest of your life as a Christian, living and growing in your Spiritual life? NO. NEVER. NADA. ZILCH.

If any convincing is still needed, then how about this verse? Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door [of the church] and knock. If ANYONE hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him (restore him), and he with Me.”