Code Red for Scotland’s Children

In one sense, this post is relevant only to Scots, and those living in Scotland. However, in these last days, it is a warning to others who may, sooner than they think, be faced with the same situation. The post is from David Robertson, who currently lives in Australia, and is reproduced with permission. It is considerably longer than my usual posts, but it is well worth persevering to the end! (Even if you don't read every word, please scroll down to the end for some additional thoughts).

«  It is so important to understand how real this is – the Scottish Government is sanctioning and promoting child abuse.   I do feel upset about this – I was warning about it for years before I left Scotland and got little support – people (including many in the church) saw it as exaggeration, irrelevant and so unbelievable that it would never happen.  One of the reasons I encouraged the Church to consider Christian schools was because I saw this day coming.  They didn’t take it seriously and now the day they said would never happen – has arrived.  We are not prepared for it.  We need to repent and make up for the years that the locusts have eaten.

The cynical would suggest that it’s not often that a politician or government keeps their promises. But sometimes they do. In 2018 the Scottish Government Deputy First Minister John Swinney announced that Scotland would become the first country in the world to have LGBT inclusive education embedded in the curriculum. He was following up on the priority stated in 2014 by his boss Nicola Sturgeon who declared that “it is trans issues that are the next big challenge”.

Sturgeon has been determined to follow the trans ideology – even getting rid of one of her more competent ministers, Joanna Cherry, simply because she dared to stand up for women’s rights. No one should be surprised at the trajectory that Scotland has been going. The SNP promised it and they have kept this promise.

This week it was reported by The Telegraph that “children as young as four will be able to change their name and gender at school without their parents’ consent under new LGBT inclusivity guidelines drawn up by the Scottish Government.”

You have to stop, take a breath and re-read that sentence again. Many people just simply don’t believe it. As someone said to me, it’s so mad that it cannot be true. Four-year-olds sometimes think they are animals or Thomas the Tank Engine – they are certainly not capable of determining that they are a different gender from their body.

When my children were at primary school they were not even allowed to have sun cream put on them by a teacher without written permission from a parent. Now a four-year-old can change their gender without their parents even being told! Following that logic, there is no reason why a child should not also determine that they want to be sexually active! One atheist contacted me to say that if this were true he would be on the streets protesting – but of course it can’t be true. But such denial doesn’t help. This is happening in Scotland today.

The guidance states that pupils should be allowed to use whatever toilet or changing room they want, have gender neutral uniforms, and transgender characters and history should be included. Of course all this comes from Stonewall – who are funded by the Scottish government to tell the schools what they should be doing.

Women’s groups are rightly concerned. Again to quote from the article: “This is really, really worrying,” said Marion Calder, co-director of the For Women Scotland campaign group. “The bottom line is that this is a dangerous ideology that the Scottish Government is pushing.

“It shows a failure in safeguarding and a removal of parental rights. It used to be commonly understood that children should be able to play and experiment with gender roles, with clothing, their likes and dislikes.

“Those children are now being encouraged on to a medical pathway, potentially for the rest of their lives. We should not be teaching children, and especially primary school children, that you can change sex, because you cannot change sex.”

I have a great deal of personal experience of this. I could tell you so many stories. The-7-year old returning home from school in tears because the teacher said that she had to choose whether she was a boy or girl; the 14-year-old teenage boy advised by a guidance teacher that his depression might be because he was a girl trapped in the wrong body (the school was after a Stonewall award and as they had no trans pupils that was difficult); the posters in a classroom for six-year-olds telling them to ‘respect others’ pronouns’ (are you not impressed that six-year-olds know what pronouns are?); the angry young woman in tears because after detransitioning she wanted to know why no one in authority discouraged her from taking such a damaging path; and so many more. A trail of damaged young lives all because our leaders are enslaved to this harmful ideology.

The Scottish government has now gone down this damaging route. What Abigail Shirer calls ‘Irreversible Damage’ in her insightful and disturbing book of the same name, is now official State doctrine in Scotland. The extraordinary thing in this is not just that the government is encouraging this – but that it is also displaying its utter contempt for parents in doing so.

A few years ago, because of my writing on the subject, I was asked by the Scottish government to meet with their civil servants who were drawing up the legislation. They asked me if I could ever see my way to support the proposed gender recognition act and the changes in the law. I said no – but that I would ask for compromise on three things. Firstly, women would be guaranteed women-only spaces in jails, hospitals, refuges and sport. Secondly, I would not go to jail for saying that a man could not become a woman or vice versa. And thirdly, that this queer theory ideology should not be taught to children. At the end of our discussions, it became clear that none of these things would be given. Even then the Scottish government was set on this abusive and destructive path.

A month later I was summoned to meet Shirley-Anne Somerville, who is now the SNP education secretary, and who has stated that the new government guidance for schools does not promote transitioning. When we had what is often called a ‘full and frank discussion’ I suggested to her that this was a suicidal route for the SNP to go down (I didn’t fully realise what a stranglehold the SNP has over the Scottish press and the civic institutions) and that if she and I had a debate on this issue in front of any group of parents in Scotland, she would overwhelmingly lose, not because of my brilliance but purely and simply because most parents have far more knowledge and common sense than our civic elites.

I have never forgotten her chilling reply: “That’s because most parents are ignorant.” In that one phrase the contempt of the Scottish government for parents and the family was exemplified. So this week’s announcement that four-year-olds can transition under the influence of teachers, but not parents, was not a surprise to me.

What can be done about this? You would hope that politicians, teachers’ unions and medics would all speak out. But the truth is that the civic institutions have either been indoctrinated into this insanity, or people within them are too scared to speak out because it could be career ending. This will be even more so now that the SNP are to go into a formal government with the Greens – who under their leader, Patrick Harvie, are the foremost advocates of Queer theory and will insist on even more indoctrination.

You would hope that the Church leaders would speak out. But I suspect that whilst they will have no qualms about making proclamations about racism in America, or Brexit, or climate change, it will be a hot day in Scotland before they say a word on this issue. Perhaps an odd mix of women’s groups, left wing social conservatives, evangelical Christians and parents can be mobilised to work together to oppose this evil. Because it must be opposed.

‘You’re upset,’ I’ve been told. Absolutely! This is not about cultural wars. This is not about politics. This is not about oppressing those who suffer from gender dysphoria and need proper help. This is about the abuse of children. This is about my grandchildren and many others. This is about Scotland heading down into Hellish depths.

I share the upset of Jesus. “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea” (Matthew 18:6).

This is Code Red for Scotland’s children. Enough. »

Those who have read to the end may wish to support the petition against these proposals by the SNP administration. Please follow the link:

https://tinyurl.com/43yzunhx

If you live in Scotland, you may also wish to communicate your concern to your Holyrood representative and, if that representative happens to be Kate Forbes, or John Mason, or any other member who claims to be a disciple of Jesus, ask them to give you a straight answer as to whether, or not, they are willing to go against the Party line if, and when, this matter comes to a vote.

Promoted to Glory.

At the end of last week, my wife and I received the news of the death, in Scotland, of a very dear friend of more than 30 years. Sadly, we were unable to travel back to attend the funeral service. We are so glad that we were able to attend the wedding of our friend Peter, to his second wife, Kate - both of them having been widowed, but having known one another before either of them were first married!

Although current restrictions meant that, in order to broadcast the service, it had to take place in the Chapel of Rest, in the Border town of Dumfries, Peter and Kate worshipped with the Salvation Army. I love the way in which the Salvation Army refers to the death of a disciple of Jesus. The person has not "passed away", or "been lost", or started "kicking up the daisies", or any other euphemism! No! When a disciple of Jesus in the Salvation Army dies, that person is "Promoted to Glory"!

Promotion, in any area of life, is seen as a very good thing. Many spend their lives seeking it - in work, in organisations, in many other fields of existence. However, I have not a shadow of doubt that the greatest promotion that anyone can experience is to be "Promoted to Glory". So what does the expression mean?

Well, "glory" refers to heaven - the "dwelling-place" of Almighty God. The eternal spirit of the  disciple of Jesus, at the moment of physical death, leaves the mortal body that had been its dwelling-place for the earthly life of the individual, and goes directly to be "with the Lord". Paul writes: "So we are always of good courage; we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord." (II Cor 5:6-8; emphasis added). The Lord Jesus, Himself, assured one of those who was being crucified alongside Him, but who had recognised that this Man was no common criminal, that "Truly, ..., today you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43; emphasis added).

Now that, of course, is not the full story! Thinking along such lines was the problem for the early believers in Thessalonica, that led Paul to provide this assurance: "But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord." (I Thess 4:13-17; emphasis added).

What Paul is emphasising is that, until the Rapture*, it is the spirit of the disciple of Jesus whose earthly sojourn has come to an end, that goes to be "in Paradise" - the mortal remains are dealt with in an appropriate manner. Then, at the Rapture, those 'dead' bodies will be resurrected and instantly changed into 'resurrection' bodies (see I Cor.15:52), that shall never decay and, as they rise to meet the Lord Jesus "in the air", those disciples of Jesus who are alive at that moment, will be caught up with them, and all of His people will be with Him throughout eternity*.

Of course, as my repeated reference to "disciples of Jesus", and equivalent terms, will have emphasised, the written Word of God, the Bible, makes clear that all of this is only true for those who are "in Christ" and who have the Christ "in them". If you are not in that position, or if you have some doubts, then I would encourage you to read the previous four posts. I do not believe that it is 'coincidence' that I am composing this post immediately after them!

As always, if I may be of further assistance, at a more personal level, please feel free to contact me at the e-mail address above.

*These words are dealt with, more fully, in my first book - Great Words of the Faith. Please remember that I urge folk to purchase any of my books, not for personal gain, as ALL royalties are sent, directly, to Release International, in support of the persecuted church, but because I believe that they will be found to be helpful to those who are seeking, and also to those who have found!

Holy - me?!

It would appear that a number of those who receive these weekly posts, did not receive the one sent out last week. The post was rejected by about 20 Inboxes! The message, received by me, was "The response from the remote server was: 554 Message rejected on 2021/08/01 22:58:50 BST, policy (3.2.1.1) ID (60CA88F70810F1FD) - Your message looks like SPAM or has been reported as SPAM

As that post was the most important of the little series of three, I would encourage all to check it out on the blog (link below!). The reason for the "spam" message may have been that I included a couple of graphics. Anyway, I believe (but am open to correction!) that if you have my e-mail address in your "Contacts", then no message will be considered to be 'spam' unless you deliberately so designate it. Hope that helps!

Having dealt, in the previous three posts, with sin, I want to move on to something else. You may recall that sin has its consequences. You may be surprised to discover that salvation also has its consequences! Those consequences are summed up in a big, theological word: "sanctification". As with so many great words of the Christian faith, that word is dealt with, more fully, in my first book "Great Words of the Faith". The Kindle version is less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee in an average café (or one cup if you use the more exotic establishments!), and ALL royalties are sent directly to Release International, in support of the persecuted church.

So what is "sanctification"? Well, to the disciple of Jesus - one who has recognised the reality of his/her sinful state; has understood the results of that sinful state; and has accepted the remedy provided by Father God through the Son; the word refers to the process of becoming increasingly more like Jesus. It has to do with holiness. However, holiness is a word that is often misunderstood! There are many who seem to think that it refers to "perfection"! After all, they would point out, does not Father God, Himself, say "... you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy."? (Lev 11:45). Yes, He does! But the word "holy" (qadosh, in Hebrew) does not actually mean "perfect", although Father God is, of course, total perfection. The word means to be separate - and is used, e.g., of the vessels in the Temple that were the best possible - but were "holy" because they were separated from common use.

So, to be holy is, in common language, to be different. The disciple of Jesus should be different - in a very positive way - from those who are not His disciples! I have often been told by people who claimed to be disciples of Jesus that if they acted in a certain manner, that was in line with God's Word, they would "stick out like a sore thumb"! My response was usually along the lines of "That's what you're supposed to do!" Would that more of us were like sore thumbs!

Sanctification, as I point out in the book, begins at conversion. "It begins as soon as I give control of my life to Jesus; as soon as I open my heart’s door to Him; as soon as I acknowledge my own sinfulness, and my total inability to deal with it; and accept His free offer of full salvation." Sanctification follows on from justification. However, while justification is an instant act, sanctification is a process. Just as physical growth begins, in one sense, at birth; so spiritual growth – which is what sanctification is – begins at rebirth.  I have a long way to go; I will make many mistakes; I will fall down again and again.  But I will have started!

Of course, even with the help of God the Holy Spirit, the process of sanctification is not easy! The simple reason for that is that when the enemy - the devil - realises that we are being serious about our new life in Jesus, he doesn't just leave us alone. Rather, he attacks with increasing ferocity! Peter writes: "Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion , seeking some one to devour." (I Peter 5:8). We must expect to take blows: discouragement, repeated falls, temptations. It's a daily struggle for all who want to walk in the Spirit - but this struggle is, in itself, proof that God has done something in us!

However, although not easy, sanctification is possible because God has made us a place of habitation of the Spirit, and John reminds us that "... He who is in you (God the Holy Spirit) is greater than he who is in the world. (the devil)" (I John 4:4). Sanctification is possible because God has made us new creatures, saints, so that we can enter into his pre-prepared works. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Eph 2:10). 

It is also worth noting that sanctification is not an option! Indeed, the very idea that it even could be is a nonsense! Listen to Paul, again. Having shared on the grace of Almighty God, that deals with my sin, and yours, he continues: "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" (Rom 6:1-2). Being saved/born again/regenerated while still wanting to live in sin, is incompatible! Indeed, wanting to live in sin, is to be a slave to sin, while our salvation makes us dead to sin, i.e. we no longer wish to be controlled by it! 

The relevant chapter in my book ends like this:

« "Sanctification – the process of being made like Jesus:

Who are sanctified?  Only true believers – disciples of Jesus - because sanctification begins at conversion.

How are believers sanctified?  Through the indwelling power of God the Holy Spirit, as the process continues in Christian living.

When are believers fully sanctified?  Only after physical death, as their growing more and more like Jesus is completed in glory; as they become like Him; seeing Him as He is.

To the best of my knowledge, the little printed plaque that is on my study wall is a Brian Ross ‘original’ (the words, not the sentiment!).  It reads, quite simply: “In this life I shall never be sinless but, by God’s grace, I may sin less!” »  And that is sanctification. It's amazing what a bit of separation can do! 

Sin - 3

The reality of sin - it is, to use modern terminology, in your DNA and in mine. It is something of which, deep down, each of us is aware. The results of sin - it creates a great gulf between us and our Creator God; a gulf that none of our good works, resolutions, turning over a new leaf, giving to charitable causes, attending worship services, or anything else you care to name, can bridge that gulf. 

However, as I stated at the end of the previous post, this does not mean that we are without hope.  That is because there is, indeed, a remedy for sin - but not one that we are capable of providing by ourselves! Paul writes to his brothers and sisters in Rome that "... the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom 6:23). Notice, if you will, that wages are deserved! If I have worked for my employer, and completed the tasks that have been assigned to me, in the time allotted, then I fully deserve the wages that I am paid. However, a gift is something that I don't deserve, but simply accept - with gratitude! So, my spiritual death is the fully deserved wages of a life lived in sin, and rejecting my Creator. On the other hand, I may receive, here and now, eternal life - the very life of Almighty God in me, now, and throughout eternity.* 

                                                                                                               

In what is almost certainly the best-known verse in the New Testament part of the Bible, the apostle John tells us that "... God so loved the world that He [the Father] gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him [the Son] should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16). The Lord Jesus, Himself, claimed that: "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me." (John 14:6; emphasis added). In those two verses we see both the inclusiveness, and the exclusiveness, of the Christian Gospel. It is inclusive in that it is available to all; it is exclusive in that it is available only to those who come to the Father through the Lord Jesus. Now there are some who will immediately ask about "predestination". That is too big a subject to deal with in a post - but I do deal with it in my first book, "Great Words of the Faith". The Kindle version costs less than a couple of cups of coffee in an average coffee-shop, and the royalties go directly, and entirely, to Release International in support of those who suffer in the persecuted church.

The God-provided remedy for your sin, and for mine, is the Lord Jesus Who, at Calvary, as the perfect spotless Lamb of God, paid the penalty for our sin, and opened the way into the Father's presence - without the need of an intermediary, whether physically alive, or already departed this earthly life. 

There are three things that we must do.

1. We must believe that He was, and is, God the Son - the second Persona (not a typo - see the chapter on 'The Trinity' in "Great Words") of the eternal Godhead. John tells us that he wrote his account of the Gospel "... that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ [the Messiah], the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." (John 20:31).

2. We must repent. Repentance is more than being sorry for our sins. After all, if I rob a bank and am then caught, I will be sorry - but not necessarily for my crime, but for now having to pay the price of that crime. Hell will be full of people who are sorry for their sinful lives - but too late! Repentance is seeing my sin as God sees it. The prophet Isaiah describes it, very graphically, when he writes: "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment." (Isa 64:6). It was a Messianic Jew (i.e. someone born a Jew but who accepts Yeshua [Jesus] as HaMashi'ach [the Messiah]) who explained to me, many years ago, that the Hebrew expression used by the prophet referred to the rag used, at that time, by a menstruating female during her time of menstruation. Not a pleasant 'word-picture'!

3. We must confess. That is to say, we have to share our new life, and our new-found faith, with others! Paul, again in his great letter to the early believers, writes: "... if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved." (Rom 10:9-10). 

All three steps are necessary. My current car is almost too clever for my liking! To start the engine, it is not sufficient that I turn the ignition key. Oh no! I must insert the "key" (that isn't even a 'key' as in my previous cars); I must press down, hard, on the clutch; and I must push the "starter button". No one of those actions, or even any two, will start the engine. All three are required! Would I expect my eternal salvation to be any different?!

However, when I follow the requirements, and the car engine starts, I may go on my journey - should it just be to Pineuilh, to the shops, or much further afield on holiday. So with the Christian life - life "in Christ Jesus". Our recognition of our sinfulness - its reality; our understanding of what it does - its results; if it leads us to the One Who is, Himself, the remedy; provides us with a new birth, that starts a new life, that will not always be easy, but will always be rewarding. 

And there is more! Just this morning, in Lamonzie-St.Martin, we were reminded of Paul's words in Rom.3: 23-24: "... since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, " Now there are some things that don't translate well, and one such is the easy way by which to understand the word "justified"* In the English language, and probably no other, it is that when I am "justified", it means that Father God treats me "just as if I'd" never sinned at all! Do you realise the magnitude of that statement? I am a sinner; I sin on a daily basis; yet because "...  the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." (I John 1:7), Almighty God no longer sees my sin, and treats me as if I am sinless! Wow!

As the Gaither Vocal Band (the best-ever line-up!) sing - the iron bars and chains of the enemy, the devil, that hold us down are broken, and we are free, free indeed.

If anything above has touched your own heart,and you wish to receive further help, please do not hesitate to contact me. I shall endeavour to put you in touch with someone who lives in your own area, and who will be able to provide that help. Otherwise, I shall try to help you, myself, from a distance!

"There's a way back to God from the dark paths of sin; there's a door that is open, and you may go in: at Calvary's cross is where you begin, when you come, as a sinner, to Jesus."(E.H.Swinstead).

* This concept is also dealt with in "Great Words"!

Sin - 2.

In last week's post, we looked at the reality of sin - the simple fact that it taints each one of us from the very instant of our conception. This week, I wish to share something about the results of sin - in your life; in my life; in the world that we inhabit. We might say that if the reality of sin tells us what it is, and what it is not, then the results of sin refer to what it does.

In the last post, we went back to the very beginning, and looked at Genesis 3:1-6. In this post, we move on to the following verses - 7-16. "Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons." (Gen 3:7). The Word tells us that they immediately had their eyes opened, and became aware of their nakedness. May I suggest that they also, at that moment, realised that they had been disobedient? Their nakedness was, I would suggest, symbolic of the removal of Father God's protection. They had sinned, and the consequences had already been made clear! "And YHWH Elohim  commanded the man, saying, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die." (Gen 2:16-17). This was not physical death, but spiritual death. 

Adam and Eve were all too aware of what they had done. So aware that, we read, "... they heard the sound of YHWH Elohim walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of YHWH Elohim among the trees of the garden." (Gen 3:8). Have you ever wondered why so many people seek to deny the very existence of the Creating God? I suspect that, for the vast majority, it's just their modern attempt at "hiding from God"! They are like the ostrich that allegedly hides its head in the sand in the hope that trouble will pass it by (that is, of course, a false allegation!). "If I deny that God exists, then I won't have to deal with Him!" However, that is not how things work!

My sin doesn't affect the existence of the Sovereign God of the universe, any more than did that of Adam and Eve! If I may analogise - the fact that certain people in the UK don't acknowledge HM Queen Elizabeth does not mean that she does not exist. I happen to have stood, on a couple of occasions, less than ten feet away from her, and I can give an absolute assurance that she is a real person. "Ah,", I can hear some folk say, "but you saw her with your own eyes. Have you seen God like that?!" The honest answer to that question is, of course, "No!". But that is not a complete answer. I have never "seen" the wind with my own eyes - but I have certainly seen its effects. I have never "seen" natural radiation, but my SW France body tan is clear evidence of its existence!; I have never seen a quark, but my physicist friends assure me that there is ample evidence of its existence.

Gen.3:9 shows the next stage in the saga. "But YHWH Elohim called to the man, and said to him, 'Where are you?'" The basic result of sin is that it takes us away from our Creator. That question, asked so long ago of our first parents, is one that still rings out: "Where are you?" You see, in spite of your sin, and mine, the loving father-heart of Almighty God, still seeks us out. We may try to avoid Him; to run away from Him; to ignore Him. But still, He reaches out, in love, and grace, and mercy. Sadly, so many refuse to respond. Instead, like Adam and Eve, they do what most of us still do when we are "in the wrong" - they "pass the buck"! 

"The man said, 'The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.' Then YHWH Elohim said to the woman, 'What is this that you have done?' The woman said, 'The serpent beguiled me, and I ate.'" (Gen 3:12-13). During my teaching career, I often wished that I could find the pupil named "Nae-me"! You see, the normal response to the question "Who did that" (and its variations!) was "It wisnae me"! ("It wasn't me", for those unfamiliar with the Lanarkshire dialect. I shall ignore the poor grammatical construction!).  It wis Nae-me. Someone else was responsible. It wasn't my fault! Indeed, Adam even appears to have been laying the blame on God: "The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me," (emphasis added). If I could have identified "Nae-me", I could have put a stop to all disruptive behaviour in the school!

Sin has created a gulf between us and the Heavenly Father. That is its result! It's a gulf that none of us is able to cross. We are stranded, and deserve only the judgment, and wrath of the holy God Who cannot even look upon evil (see Hab.1:13). We may try to bridge that gulf by our own efforts - but we always fail (and we know it!). "New Year Resolutions"; "turning over a new leaf"; "starting all over again". Such concepts have never worked for me - and I would dare to claim that they have never worked for you, either!

So, does that mean that there is no hope. Thankfully, no! But that's for the next post!

Sin.

Sin is something to which I have referred in a number of posts. It is not a particularly popular topic - but it is a very important one! I plan, DV, to look at the subject in this, and the next two (or three!) posts. Budding preachers may even discern a little three-alliterated-point sermon!

In this post, I want to look, briefly, at the reality of sin. This involves asking the question "What is it?" The answer provided by the authors of the Westminster Shorter Catechism (on which, with my Presbyterian background, I was raised!) is that: "Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God." (Q.14). In other words, sin is not simply committing a crime. Of course, in most countries, that which is considered to be a crime is, indeed, a sin. If I murder someone, I have broken the law; committed a crime - and I have also sinned. However, the Lord Jesus says "... that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment;" (Matt 5:22) - and He makes that statement in the context of the sixth commandment. Yet I will not be arrested for being angry with anyone - it is not a chargeable offence.

Teasing out the Catechism definition, it is saying that if I fail to live up to God's law, or  in any way disobey it, then I have sinned. The reality is that not one of us meets those criteria. Every day; every hour; I let God down in one way, or another! Whether, or not, I like the idea, I am a sinner in His sight! And worse - I can do nothing about it! I am not a sinner because I sin - I sin because I am a sinner!

How is this so? Well we have to go right back to the beginning. In his letter to the early church on the great metropolis of Rome, Paul writes: "... sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned." (Rom 5:12). You may read the story (if you don't already know it) in Genesis 3 - read the whole chapter! We see, in the opening verses, the devil's strategy. He starts by sewing the seeds of doubt: "Did God say …" (v.1) He then goes on to "put words in God's mouth: "... You shall not eat of any tree of the garden'?" Now, it is true that, at this point, the woman puts the devil right. (vs.2-3).  However, the devil moves on in his strategy by denying God's Word (vs 4-5). This leads to the woman's defection from the command of Almighty God, and her drawing her husband into the devil's scheme. (v.6).

Note the progression - the woman saw; she took; she ate; she gave. That is the sad progression of defection - and it is a pattern that has been followed ever since. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, brought sin into the perfect world that had been created ("And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good." [Gen 1:31]), and it has been a part of each of us ever since. The psalmist-king of Israel, David, wrote: "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." (Ps 51:5). Now let me emphasise that David, writing under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, was not condemning the act of sexual intercourse which, between a man and a woman in a marital relationship, is God's way of fulfilling His command in Gen.1:28. What David is saying is that from the moment of our conception, we are sinners! 

So that is the reality of sin - it is inherited by each one of us. If David were writing today, he might simply say that it is "in our DNA", and we cannot get rid of it. That is why Paul can state, quite categorically, that "... all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"(Rom 3:23). And, if we look at ourselves, honestly, we know that that is true. You are a sinner; I am a sinner; every human being on the face of the planet is a sinner. There's no getting away from it. And, says Paul, "... the wages of sin is death," (Rom 6:23).

But that is leading on to the next post when, DV, we shall look at the results of sin.

The answer waits!

 After last week's post on the subject of death, I received an email from a very dear young friend. In it, she informed me that she related very much to the post as her cousin, a young woman of only 38 years of age, looking forward to a wedding that had had to be postponed because of the Covid-19 restrictions, had died during the early hours of the previous day, after "a horrendous battle with cancer". She went on to inform me that her mother was struggling to come to terms with the situation, asking the question that most people would ask: "Why her?"

I was able to share with my friend that I could relate to her current situation. I, too, had a cousin who died from cancer (leukaemia, to be precise), and at only 21 years of age. She was, officially, my cousin but, to me, she was the sister I never had. She too was looking forward to her wedding day - indeed, her father and her fiancé went together to cancel the wedding cars, and order the funeral cars. My maternal grandmother was the only surviving grandparent and, at 84, she could only ask, "Why not me?"

A pastor tells of an experience in his youth when he went on a holiday with some friends. he didn't take as much care with his money as he ought to have done and, before the holiday was ended, he had nothing left. He wrote to his father (this happened in the days before mobile 'phones, and WhatsApp!) requesting that he be sent some more cash. However, his father decided that he should teach his son something about the value of money (this definitely happened in an earlier era!), and did not respond to the request. The young man's companions wondered why he had been turned down, but were told, "I'll wait until I get home. Then he'll tell me himself"!

Many of us go through experiences that we don't understand, but the attitude of that son is the attitude that we ought to have towards our heavenly Father - if, indeed, we are His adopted children! Life holds many unanswered questions, but we may have the assurance that the Sovereign God is in control, and that He is working all things out in accordance with His divine plan. He has already said: "... as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa 55:9). That's why we cannot comprehend all that He is doing in our lives.

We may have to wait until we enter His nearer presence before we receive explanations for many of the difficulties that we face, the trials through which we pass, and the wounds that can bring so much hurt. But even that is not guaranteed. Almighty God is not bound to explain His dealings with us and, I suspect that, in His presence, we will no longer be concerned. We will know, as we cannot know here, that He was right.

Of course, even all of that depends on us being in a right relationship with Him now, through accepting the salvation that was gained for us, at such great cost, at Calvary. And let us remember that, at Calvary, even Almighty God was, for a brief moment of earthly time, separated from the Son. Paul tells us that "For our sake He [the Father] made Him [the Son] to be sin Who knew no sin," (II Cor 5:21). When I shared this thought, in a different context, last Sunday in Lamonzie-St Martin, I said "It is an incredible thought! In the plan and purpose of Almighty God, Jesus, the beloved Son became, for a moment, Sin - sin in all its blackness, its grossness, its wickedness and its sheer evil. And the Father, Who is pure, and without sin, could not look upon this evil and had to turn away His holy eyes. And I often wonder if this was the moment when the Son cried out what we often call "the cry of dereliction," "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46)". The eternal bond was, for that brief period, severed. He knows; and He understands! 

Are you in a right relationship with Father God, through the reconciling sacrifice of the Son, by the power of the Spirit? Before those words already quoted, Paul wrote: "... in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (II Cor 5:19-20).

With Paul, I beseech you, if you are not already so, be reconciled to God.

Death.

Some weeks ago, I conducted the funeral service for an English friend who had lived in the neighbouring department of Lot & Garonne, and who had died after a battle with cancer. He was a disciple of Jesus, and that simple fact made it so much easier to deal with the situation, as I was able to easily bring the Gospel message into the service - to the great pleasure of his widow! 

However, I do wish that I had received the following before that funeral. I would have quoted it, verbatim, as I now share it in print. 

« Blessed are the dead. 

"And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labours, for their deeds follow them!" (Rev.14:13).

This promise applies specifically to those recent believers who will suffer martyrdom during the last half of the awful tribulation period (“henceforth,” in context). But dealing as it does with the state of the believing dead, in principle, it surely likewise applies to all who die “in the Lord.”

How are they blessed? In numerous ways, according to this verse.

First, they are blessed in that they “rest from their labours.” In this life we earn our physical sustenance by “the sweat of [our] face” (Genesis 3:19). Here we must work hard to train our minds (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Now we constantly battle our inward, fallen nature: “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24). Even as we attempt to serve our fellow man, our efforts are spurned and rejected. Not so for the dead! There all these labours will cease, and joyous, eternal service to the Lamb will commence (Revelation 22:3).

Secondly, they are blessed in that their labours continue to bear fruit even after they have gone. Perhaps even a previous word, or act of testimony, will be the eventual tool God uses to bring someone to Himself, and the reward will be properly distributed. No act done to the glory of God will pass unnoticed.

 

Thirdly, what a blessing to know that this state is promised by the very Spirit of God Himself. One’s worth at death is not measured by the content and sincerity of the opinions of friends at his funeral.

This doctrine should produce both great courage for the Christian and great comfort for the bereaved. »

Having prepared the above earlier in the week, I also received, today, notification of the death, in Scotland, of the father of David Robertson – whom I often quote, and who currently lives in Australia, so was unable to visit his dying father, and will be unable to attend the funeral service. I had known my English friend for about 8 years; Mr Robertson, Sen. I never met. However, I would like to think that my children could speak/write of me as David described his dad: “He was a humble, hardworking, faithful man who struggled with assurance, self-doubt and yet never let that get in the way of serving the Lord he loved, looking after his family, and earning the respect of all through hard graft, generosity, and dutiful service.  He was a good dad to me.”

Another comment by David reminded me of a man who had a profound influence on my young Christian life – Billy Grant. He died from cancer of the bowel many years ago, while still a relatively young man. I was able to visit him at home shortly before he died. Before leaving, I prayed with him, and his wife Sally (whose funeral service takes place tomorrow – is all of this “coincidence?!). I was thanked by them both for not having prayed that Billy would be necessarily healed, but that he would know the deep peace of Father God whatever happened in the following weeks. David writes, concerning his wife: “Annabel (who is such a strength to me in these times), prayed last Lord’s Day asking that my dad would know peace as he passed through death into the New Life.” I think, too, of a brother in the Lord who was a member of a Baptist Fellowship to which I belonged at the time. He, too, had terminal cancer. One day, while praying for him during my personal devotions, I sensed that I should visit him, and anoint him with oil, in the name of the Lord Jesus. I did so and, although he died shortly afterwards, his widow assured me that his final days were unexpectedly peaceful.

This morning, I was preaching on the topic of being “in Christ”. Those who are need not fear physical death. They will know His peace, and will be welcomed into His presence, to dwell with Him throughout eternity. The world can offer nothing like that!

At last!

As happened when I was unable to post on this blog on an earlier occasion, the ability to do so has suddenly been restored - without either rhyme nor reason! The video, below, is being published simply to check that the post is published. Typos, are not being picked up, and I appear to have no choice of a font. Anyone with greater expertise in such matters (which is probably a high percentage of those who read this!) is welcome to contact me with advice. It will be greatly appreciated! Blessings, and shalom.

It is now more than a month since I have been able to post on this blog. I have sought assistance, but to no avail. I am currently sending out posts, on a weekly basis to a number of people. If you would like to be added to that mailing list, please send me your e-mail address to the addie above.

Watch your tongue!

In my personal devotions I have, for some weeks, been going through the letter from James, the half-brother of the Lord Jesus. I have now completed it (again!) and, earlier this week, I spent some time looking at just one verse. It was the 12th verse of chapter 5 which reads: "But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no be no, that you may not fall under condemnation."

In the earlier parts of the letter, James has shown his concern about "the tongue" - in other words, about our speech. For example, in chapter 3 he writes: "... the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by humankind, but no human being can tame the tongue - a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God.  From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening fresh water and brackish? Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh." (James 3:5-12; emphases added). Sadly, most of us know, all too well, the truth of those words!

Now the words of 5:12 may be interpreted, quite properly, as referring to the oaths that Jewish people of the time were prone to take. Jesus, Himself, referred to this practice: "Again you have heard that it was said to the men of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.' But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is His footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil." (Matt 5:33-37). 

William Barclay explains that there was a distinction between 'binding' and 'non-binding' oaths. Any oath that used the name of God was binding; but those that did not, were not binding! This resulted in people becoming expert in what the Professor names "evasive swearing", and it was to this practice that the Lord Jesus referred.

However, Steve Maltz, a Messianic Jew, makes another valid point - not directly from James' letter! He points out that "Oh my God", "God help me", and similar expletives are all too common - and that they are blasphemous: a breaking of the Third Commandment. However, he points out that one place we will never hear, or read, any such exclamation is in a synagogue, or a devout Jewish home! Indeed, devout Jews have such a reverence for God that they won't even write, or say, "the Name". They will use "HaShem" (the Hebrew for "the Name"), or "G-d/L-rd", omitting the vowel.

Sadly, many who claim to be disciples of Jesus, use the Lord's Name in vain without even realising it! Just exclaiming the Name of God, or of Jesus, even if it is in 'code form', or thinly disguised, (e.g. "Jeeze", "O.M.G.", "Goodness gracious"), is not a reverent invocation, but a casual disrespectfulness. Jesus said: "I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matt 12:36-37).

R.V.G.Tasker, in his Tyndale NT Commentary on James, writes: "There are few spheres of conduct in which the young Christian today needs to take the injunctions of the Epistle of James more to heart, than in this matter of frivolous and indiscriminate oaths, and the thoughtless mention of the divine name in general conversation." (p.125).

I suspect that those words apply, equally, to many who are not "young Christians"! "Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord, keep watch over the door of my lips!" (Ps 141:3).

East is East and West is West.

East is East and West is West … or is it????   No!  East is west … I bet you didn’t know! But you’d better believe it. Read on for an explanation.

 

The story of Sheik Jarrah is as follows.  In 1948 Jordan sized and occupied what they called the West Bank. Jewish inhabitants were driven out (yes there were Jewish refugees from the area occupied by Jordan in 1948.  The houses located there previously in Jewish occupancy were then inhabited by Palestinians rent-free but never owning the properties to which the Jewish owned property company held legal title valid in Israel. When Israel recaptured the “West Bank” in 1967  the occupants of the houses remained rent-free.  When the occupants were recently given notice to vacate the premises they refused. That is when the property company filed a lawsuit to serve the occupants with an eviction order.

 

From that incident has grown the outrageous story that the Israeli Govt is evicting Palestinians in order to Judaize the district which they term “East Jerusalem”  but it’s not in East Jerusalem ; this is the description attributed to the district because international opinion is that Israel occupies "East Jerusalem” illegally!

 

(May 14, 2021 / JNS) CNN ran a news story on May 9 with the headline “Israeli Supreme Court delays hearing on Palestinian evictions from East Jerusalem neighbourhood.” This followed an official press statement issued on May 7 by the U.S. State Department that reported “concern” about “evictions in East Jerusalem, settlement activity, home demolitions and acts of terrorism … .”

The catch? The area in the news is not in “East Jerusalem” at all. What’s more, there is not now, nor has there ever been in history a political entity known as “East Jerusalem.”
A glance at any map of the city shows that the neighbourhood Sheik Jarrah, including the parts also widely known in Hebrew as Shimon HaTzadik for centuries, is not in the capital’s east. It is in the north, about 1.25 miles north of the Western Wall, the Kotel.
In fact, this area is farther west than numerous well-known parts of Jerusalem, such as the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (construction began in 1918) and Hadassah Hospital on Mount Scopus (construction began in 1934).
The term “East Jerusalem” is an artificial construct that supporters of the Arab cause use in their propaganda in order to make it appear as if that part of the city is an intrinsically Arab area that Jews are illegally entering. In reality, there are Jewish neighbourhoods throughout the eastern, western, northern and southern parts of Jerusalem. It’s a pity when American politicians and news outlets play along and use such geographically inaccurate and politically loaded language.
East and West in Israel are not simple geographic terms as they are in the United States, where Northeast Philadelphia, the Upper East Side in Manhattan and East L.A. are used to denote neighbourhoods and sections of a city. In Israel, where Judea and Samaria have been labelled as the West Bank, things are different. The term West Bank was created by Arab propagandists to de-emphasize the area’s inherent Jewishness and to disassociate the land from the State of Israel. East Jerusalem was similarly invented.
“East Jerusalem” has, for CNN, many in the State Department and others come to be shorthand for areas of Jerusalem where the residents are predominately not Jewish and should therefore be surrendered to a future Palestinian state. But this does not mean that “East Jerusalem” has ever been an actual place.
When anti-Israel extremists created the term, it was for one reason: They sought to rip Israel’s capital apart in order to defeat Israel. This effort tragically gained full force with the 1993 Oslo Accords. This was fully explained in the B’tzedek Online Journal in a Dec. 30, 1996 editorial titled “The War Has Just Begun”:
“The Oslo Accords are indeed the fulfilment of the PLO “salami” strategy. That is to say, Israel shall be destroyed not through overt military action of Arab nations, but through the whittling away of Israeli resolve and slow but determined territorial expansion of a Palestinian state. Slice by slice, Israel will be carved away by the knife of terrorism and world opinion, both deftly handled by the Israeli created Palestinian entity.”
The very name Jerusalem means “city of peace,” “city of completeness” and “city of perfection.” In fact, there is no “eastern” or “western” when it comes to Jerusalem. There’s just one Jerusalem in the entirety of history.
In both the Tanakh and the Christian Bible, every single instance when a specific location in Jerusalem is mentioned refers to an area that the European Union and others would now see given to the Palestinian Arabs. The term “East Jerusalem” cannot be found in a Bible.
Put another way, what they would have us call “East Jerusalem” is Jerusalem’s Old City and its surrounding neighbourhoods. The original and oldest parts of Jerusalem are in this “East Jerusalem.”
American policy on Jerusalem had veered horribly off-course until former President Donald Trump followed U.S. law and upheld the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 by relocating the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
The late Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) wrote in 1996 that “Israel is the only nation in the world denied the right to choose its own capital. This second-class citizenship among nations must end.” Helms was right. It is up to friends of Israel in the United States to make sure that the embassy stays put. One way is to keep news outlets like CNN honest when they report on Jerusalem, its neighbourhoods, and its residents. 

"The Old Rugged Cross"

I enjoy a lot of modern Christian music - but, in many ways, there is something about the "old" songs that attracts me. It may be four-part harmony; it may be better theology; it may even be a bit of nostalgia!

Anyway, as some will have realised, I have been enjoying a number of videos from disciples of Jesus in India. This is one that I watch, and listen to, frequently. I hope that you enjoy it too.

Come aside.

There was a time when I assumed (!) that "retirement" would mean long days sitting in the porch, in my late father's rocking chair, a tartan rug over my knees, a good book in my hands, and a bottle of IrnBru by my side. What total bliss!

What total nonsense! I can't recall any time in my life when I have been as busy! Indeed, I am currently giving very serious consideration to stepping back a bit from some of the commitments that I have taken on - especially since coming to France.

Some years ago, I read the story of a group of explorers in Africa (okay, that's a big area, but I can't recall which country!) who hired a group of villagers to help them on their journey through the jungle. The group set out, and pushed forward relentlessly for several days. Eventually, the tribesmen sat down, and said that they would go no farther. When asked for a reason, their leader explained, "We've been going too quickly. We must pause and wait for our souls to catch up with our bodies."! It's amazing how some of those whom we might consider to be "primitive", can be so far ahead of us in certain areas!

Many people in our 21st century world are constantly 'chasing their tails' (think of a young dog!); trying to 'get ahead'; climbing the corporate ladder; seeking social status. This is also true of many who profess to be disciples of Jesus! Many have overextended themselves in a flurry of church activities; involved themselves in other worthwhile pursuits; spending time attending every possible church gathering - and they have experienced the same kind of feeling as those African tribesmen. Being so pre-occupied with these activities, and even with helping others, they suddenly feel as if they have left the most important part of themselves behind - even their soul! They have lost intimate contact with their Creator.

The words of Jesus to His worn-out disciples, as recorded by Mark, were: "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place, and rest a while." (6:31). This shows that He knows our human frailties. He knows that our physical, and spiritual, batteries need to be recharged through a time of rest, and fellowship, with Him.

If our schedule leaves no time for rest, and for nurturing our spiritual life, then we are too busy! Father God does not ask us to be constantly "on the go" - rushing here and there; getting into a frazzle; expending more and more energy that is achieving less and less. Sometimes He simply wants us to "rest a while.", so that our souls may "catch up", and be refreshed for the challenges that lie ahead.

I have just one book by Vince Havner on my bookshelves, but it is full of great illustrations, and pithy sayings. He writes: "If Christians [and the same may be applied, I suggest, even to those who are not!] do not "Come apart and rest a while", they may just plain 'come apart'"!

Just be sure that you don't go to the other end of the pendulum's swing - and stop working!!!

"I make all things new".

The title for this post is taken from the New Testament Book of the Revelation of Jesus the Christ, given to the apostle John while he was in exile on the island of Patmos. It's found in the 21st chapter, and the 5th verse where we read « And He Who sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." ».

The words are spoken by Almighty God, Himself. That, to me, makes them very important. But what do these words mean? I believe that the most important word in the statement is the word "all". It has been playing in my mind for many months. What is excluded from "all"? The answer, obviously, is "Nothing!". What then is included? The equally obvious answer is "Everything"!

Doubtless, I shall (DV), at some point, preach on that statement. However, for this post, I want to suggest just three things that will be "made new" in the new heaven and the new earth.

The first of these is a new body. « Lo! » writes Paul, « I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. » (I Cor 15:51-52). This is a reference to that event - that I believe to be much closer than some are willing to admit! - that disciples of Jesus call "the rapture" (see I Thess.4:13-17). This even will, as Paul makes clear, take place in a flash - less than a nanosecond, to utilise modern terminology! However, the more important thing is not the speed at which it will happen, but the change that will take place. My mortal body - whether I be physically alive at the time, or already physically dead - will be instantaneously changed to an immortal body. Paul has already made reference to this earlier in that chapter (and see, also, Phil. 3:20-21). The physical body that I currently use will be of no use to me in the new heaven and the new earth. It is a body that is tainted with sin - and there will be no sin there! I need a "resurrection body" that is fit for the new environment in which I shall be living. Oh, and note - it will be a "physical" body, just as was the resurrection body of the Lord Jesus. He could be touched; He could eat and drink; yet He could suddenly appear in a locked room! I have my own theory as to how that might have happened - but it would take too much space in this post to explain! Suffice it to say that it has to do with molecular structure!

The second of the "all things" that I want to consider here is a new mind. I never even try to suggest that I am a perfect man - and if I ever did, a few minutes chatting to my wife, my children, other family members, and numerous friends, would quickly set the record straight! I freely acknowledge that I am a sinner. I am, it is true, a sinner who has been saved by the grace of God - but for as long as I live in this mortal body, I share the experience of Paul: « ... I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death ? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! » (Rom 7:21-25). However, I would claim that most of my sin is "mind-based". Not that that makes it any less sin! The Lord Jesus, Himself, made clear that, while the thought is not as bad as the deed, it is every bit as much sin! (cf. Matt.5:21ff). So, just as I need a new body to replace this body of sin and death, I need a new mind - one that has not been filled with sinful thoughts.

The third thing that I wish to mention is new relationships. When I was much younger, I thought as many still do, that when I got to heaven I would be meeting with those who had arrived there before me! Now, in my later life, I have come to the conclusion that that will not be the case! I won't be asking Paul for his personal exposition of his letter to the believers in ancient Rome. I won't be telling David, and Peter, what a great comfort each of them was to me. I won't be running around looking for my parents; my wife; my children. So what led me to that conclusion? Simply the words in the Revelation that state: « ... I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them; He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away." » (Rev 21:3-4; emphases added).

Now, if I were to be in the new heaven and the new earth, and knew that some of my most-loved ones were not there, I believe that I would be saddened beyond words. Therefore, I have concluded that I will not have that knowledge. I will be aware of others who are there, and who may well become my new friends. However, these will be new relationships at a level of which I am, currently, unable to perceive! Effectively, I will even have new memories!

These thoughts, of course, are my own. I have quoted God's written Word - but the ideas are not spelled out specifically. However, while I am not setting myself up beside Paul, I would dare to use his words (written in a totally different context) and: « ... give my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. » (I Cor 7:25).

Of course, all of the above is purely academic if one is not in a right relationship with Father God, through new life in the Spirit, because of the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus at Calvary. If that is you, then there are links on the sidebar of the blog that may help and, of course, if I may be of any assistance, please feel free to contact me at the e-mail address at the top of the blog.

Do secular governments have the Biblical authority to deny Christian worship?

There is, at the current time, a point of view that claims that the Government has Biblical authority to shut down church buildings, and deny disciples of Jesus the right to meet together to praise and worship, in fellowship with one another.

This claim to Biblical authority is based on Paul's words in Rom.13:1-7, and Peter's exhortation in I Peter 2:13-17. This video clarifies the situation!