You cannot outgive God!

One of the lasting memories that I carry from my adolescence, concerns my late father. We were a "churchgoing" family and, in the congregation to which we belonged, most people, including the Ross family, gave their offering in special envelopes. These, my mum and dad filled each Saturday evening, one for each of them, and one each for me and those of my siblings who were old enough to attend the worship service.

I recall, clearly, one specific Saturday. I don't know if there had been some additional, and perhaps unexpected, household expense during that week, or coming up in the week ahead, but my mum told my dad that they would have difficulty putting the usual amounts in the church offering envelopes. However, my dad had one personal pleasure - he smoked a pipe. Suddenly he said that if he did without tobacco in the coming week, the envelopes could be filled as usual. 

My mum tried to dissuade him, but he was adamant. "After all", he said, "the Lord is no man's debtor". I had never heard that particular saying before - but it has stuck in my mind for, now, some 65 years. I should add that, on the Monday evening, there was a knock at the front door. My dad went to answer it, and I could hear him speaking with someone. When he returned to the living room, he had a smile that stretched from one ear to the other! "Who was that?", my mum asked. My dad named the person. "What did he want?" my mum asked. "Nothing!" replied my dad, enigmatically! Then he put his hand into his trouser pocket and pulled out a £5 note. "Which bank", he asked, "would take a deposit of  6 shillings on Sunday, and give me £5 on Monday?" It turned out that that my dad had done some work for this other person, and had never been paid. He had accepted the loss but, that evening, he had been paid - with interest!

Many years later, as a student at the Bible Training Institute in Glasgow, the student body were addressed by Stanley Collins, the then Superintendent of the Tent Hall. His message was on the subject of tithing. I had heard the word, but it wasn't something to which I had given a great deal of thought. However, he did say something that brought me up short! He made the point that many of us had given up much to study at the BTI, and that we probably appreciated every penny we received. Then he also told us that if we received a gift of £1 (remember that this was in the latter half of the 1960s) 2 shillings belonged to the Lord - our tithe! 

I am not able to claim very much for myself, but I can say that I have tithed ever since - and eventually added a "love offering". 

One more story! I was now married and the father of two healthy children. But I was also unemployed! I had occasional teaching jobs, but nothing permanent. Three or four times each week, I would sit down to check the family finances. I didn't have a computer with a spreadsheet programme, but pen and paper did the job. I wrote down our income; I wrote down our necessary expenditure; I arrived at a balance - usually "in the red"! However, we maintained our tithes and love gifts. Then, one evening, the Lord spoke to me. "Are you going to get through this month?", He asked. "No, Lord. It looks as if we will be short." "Were you going to get through last month?" came the question. "No , Lord, it didn't look possible." "Did you get through?" A moment of thoughtful silence, then "Yes, Lord. Actually we did!". "And the month before?" "Okay. That was the same." "Has there been a month since you became unemployed , in which you were definitely going to make it?" "No, Lord." Has there been a month when you didn't make it?" Another thoughtful silence. "No, Lord. There hasn't!" "Are you getting the message?" "Yes, Lord. Your mathematics work on a different plane than mine!" Since that evening, I only check the figures when there is a change in our income. 

I can testify, from personal experience, that I - and my family - have never lost out by giving to the Lord. I think it was the late Billy Graham who said: "The Lord can do more with the 90%, than I can with 100%! As my dad said, "The Lord is no man's debtor." 

For Sinners only!

We live in a world of bad news! Recent weeks have seen a succession of severe storms coming across the Atlantic Ocean. The Covid-19 "Coronavirus" is now said to be active in about fifty countries worldwide. There are renewed attacks by Muslim militants (aka terrorists) in a number of African countries. The Stock Markets have experienced an unusual drop in their indices. It's just one thing after another!

However, there is one piece of Good News that we must never forget! Praise God, that He has never withdrawn His offer of forgiveness of sin! This is, surely, Good News for sinners such as you and me. Sadly, however, there are those who simply don't recognise that they re sinners in need of salvation. Rather, they make excuses for themselves such as:

• My good deeds outweigh my bad ones;
• I'm not as bad as other people;
• Most of the time, I'm a very good person.

Their personal "shortcomings", they feel, don't jeopardise their standing before Almighty God (assuming that they believe that they are answerable to Him in the first instance!).

What a fallacy! Imagine if you will, being charged, and tried, for the crime of theft. You set forward your defense: "Don't forget, Your Honour, that my good deeds outweigh my bad ones. I'm not as bad as a murderer or a rapist. Indeed, there are many other people who are much worse than I!" No judge is going to acquit you on such grounds. The offender must be judged according to the offence, not according to other good deeds, or the deeds of other people! If justice is to be done, then the offender must pay the penalty for his crime.

Or must he?! In one of my books (ALL Royalties go directly to Release International, to support the persecuted church), I recount the following:

"When the well-known American evangelist, Billy Graham, was driving through a small southern town, he was stopped by a policeman and charged with speeding. Dr.Graham admitted his guilt, but was told by the officer that he would have to appear in court. The judge asked, "Guilty, or not guilty?" When the preacher pleaded guilty, the judge replied, "That’ll be ten dollars – a dollar for every mile you went over the limit."

Then, suddenly the judge recognized the famous evangelist. "You have violated the law," he said. "The fine must be paid – but I am going to pay it for you." He took a ten-dollar bill from his own wallet, attached it to the ticket, and then took Graham out and bought him a steak dinner! "That," said Billy Graham, when he recounted the story, "is how God treats repentant sinners!" And that is grace." (Great Words of the Faith, chap.8).

That story also describes what Almighty God, in the Persona (not a typo - see the chapter on The Trinity, in the same book!) of the Son, did for sinners! And we are all sinners! "... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Rom.23:23).

Has false reasoning kept you away from the One Who died, and rose again; the One Who opened the way into the presence of the Father; the One Who "paid the ticket" for your sins, and for mine?

If so, He is waiting for you, now, to confess your sins, admit your need, and put your trust in Him. May you do so - for your own eternal good, and for His glory.

Where, death, is your sting?

As far as I can recall, the first piece of poetry that I ever wrote was for my maternal grandmother - on a card that was placed on a wreath at her funeral service. It read, very simply: "Today are met both joy and sorrow. Gran's gone just now; we'll meet tomorrow." Okay, hardly worthy of the Poet Laureate - but those simple words contained a great truth; one of which I was reminded again this morning when my wife and I were informed of the death of a dear friend of many years. 

She has been suffering from Motor Neurone Disease, as did the late Stephen Hawking. However, that was not the only thing that they had in common. It wasn't that my friend ever had the celebrity status of Stephen Hawking. He was known all over the world; she only to her family, her friends, those whom she served for many years in Nepal, those who knew her at a personal level. No, the other thing that they had in common is that both were sinners in the sight of Almighty God.

That, of course, is also where there was a major difference. To the best of my knowledge, Stephen Hawking did not acknowledge his sinful nature, not least because of his declared personal conviction that the Creator God does not even exist. My friend had confessed her sins, and sinfulness, and accepted the salvation that was made possible for her through the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus at Calvary. She is with Him today - not because she was a good and faithful daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother; not because she served for all of those years in Nepal; not because she was kind and helpful (but with, at times, a "wicked" sense of humour!). She is with Him because of the grace of Almighty God, and nothing else.

When I e-mailed her husband, this morning, I reminded him of Paul's words "...  we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope." (I Thess.4:13). The point that I made was that we do grieve! He no longer has the physical companionship of his wife of so many years; their adult children no longer have a mother with whom they may share. However, our knowledge of his wife's life in Jesus assures us that, to use the now well-known words of the late Billy Graham, "She is not dead. She has simply changed address, and is more alive now than ever she was on this earth."

It was Billy Graham who also said that our last breath in this life is immediately followed by our first breath in the next - the fuller life that is assured for those who die (physically) in Jesus. Paul made the same point to the Corinthian believers: "...  we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord." (II Cor.5:8).

Whilst I was never a committed "Trekkie", I did enjoy the early series of Star Trek. However, the opening sequence was in error. It is not space that is the "final frontier", but death! It was Benjamin Franklin who said, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." and, as the Rapture is delayed, that is most certainly true. Of course, I at least know beforehand what taxes I have to pay, and when they are due. Death is not always as considerate! It can come at any time, and tomorrow is not guaranteed to any one of us - rich or poor; male or female; famous or unknown; black or white; religious or atheist. The important thing, therefore, is to be ready for whenever it comes!

How can we be ready? By following the example of my late friend, and coming to the foot of that cross of which many will be thinking especially deeply on Friday, there to confess our sins  and claim the salvation that is available to all who will come to the One Who hung on that cross, in repentance, and faith, and yield their lives to Him.

Have you done that? If you have, then death holds no terror for you, and you may state with Paul: '"Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?" ' (I Cor.15:55). If you have not, then I urge you to do so, and to do so while you have time. Stephen Hawking, as far as I know, did not do so and, with all of his great intellect, has now entered a Christless eternity. Do not join him there. 

Home at last!

Today, the physical death of Billy Graham was announced. The following words, that he uttered many years ago, have been extensively quoted: “Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.”

What a wonderful attitude for anyone who claims to be a child of the living God - adopted into His family; a joint-heir with the Lord Jesus, the Christ. Another quotation from Dr. Graham was:"My home is in Heaven. I'm just traveling through this world."

Of course, there are those who, even at such a time, choose to rake up what they consider to be errors in the evangelist's recorded words. I would only make two comments - the first a question; the second, some words of Jesus.

1. What have you done in the Kingdom of God, in the preaching of the Gospel, and the leading of many to full salvation?

2. "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone ..." (John 8:7).

Of course, I am fully aware that not everyone who "went forward" at a Billy Graham Evangelistic Rally was soundly converted. I know some who fell away very shortly afterwards. So what? Did not Jesus, Himself, foretell that such would happen? 

“A sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away. Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matt.13:3-9). If not even the Lord expected all who initially responded to remain, why should anyone be surprised that some of those who made a 'confession of faith' under Billy Graham's ministry should do so?

At the end of the day, of course, all final judgement belongs to Father God. In the meantime, we may all remember that although they sorrow, not as those who have no hope (see I Thess.4:13), the family of Billy Graham do sorrow. Let us uphold them in our own prayers that they may know the additional strength that is required for those who must deal with this parting in the public gaze.

I have posted a video on my Facebook that may be worth watching - assuming that anyone can access it!

The Marjory Douglas Stoneman High School

On Wednesday of last week, a mass shooting occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Marjory in Parkland, Florida. 17 people were killed and 15 more hospitalised, making it one of the world's deadliest school massacres. Nikolas Cruz, the teenager arrested as the shooter, is in custody of the Broward County Sheriff's Office, charged with seventeen counts of premeditated murder.

Understandably, there has been outrage, and the usual calls for stricter gun control in the United Staes of America have been made. However, much of this is a "knee-jerk" reaction - one reason why I have waited for a few days before making any comment of my own!

The first thing I would wish to point out is that many of those who are making such calls do not even live (and have never lived) in the USA. This means that they have neither experience, nor understanding, of the culture of that country. Cultural differences are very important. I know that since my wife and I moved to France, we have had to make a number of adjustments because of the cultural differences between Scotland and France.

The second thing I would wish to do is to back almost to the beginning of this millennium - to the event that is remembered simply as "9/11". It was on September 11th, 2001, that four commercial aircraft were hijacked by Muslim terrorists. In one case, the hi-jackers were overcome by passengers and, although all on board perished, the intended target was spared. However, thousands died in the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre, and a couple of hundred died in the Pentagon.

I am unaware of anyone then,. or since, calling for a ban on flights! I can understand that. You see, the aircraft were not "responsible" for those many deaths (and don't forget the members of the emergency services who died even as they endeavoured to save the lives of others!) - it was the hi-jackers who were then flying them. Likewise, it was not an assault rifle that was responsible for the horrendous situation in Parkland - it was the mentally disturbed teenager who had managed to acquire it, and was fulfilling a desire that, apparently, he had expressed beforehand. Again, it was fallible people who failed to follow up on those threats!

Of course, every single day, whether in the USA, in the UK, in France, or anywhere else in the world, tens of thousands of lives are callously taken - without a single protest from the majority of people! I refer, of course, to the practice of abortion! Is it not sadly strange that this murderous procedure has become so common that so many simply accept it as being somehow 'inevitable'? I am not suggesting, for one minute, that the end of abortion would automatically bring about the end of terrorist attacks, or massacres in schools. However, I do find it the difference in attitudes to be of more than passing interest.

One final point. Some have asked - as some will always do in times of tragedy - "Why did God not stop this dreadful thing from happening?" I think that the response of Anne Graham-Lotz, daughter of Dr. Billy Graham, to that question after the 9/11 atrocities is as good as one could find. She said, in an interview on "The Morning Show": "I say God is also angry when he sees something like this. I would say also for several years now Americans in a sense have shaken their fist at God and said, God, we want you out of our schools, our government, our business, we want you out of our marketplace. And God, who is a gentleman, has just quietly backed out of our national and political life, our public life. Removing his hand of blessing and protection. We need to turn to God first of all and say, God, we're sorry we have treated you this way and we invite you now to come into our national life. We put our trust in you. We have our trust in God on our coins, we need to practice it."

Those words can, surely, be equally applied to many other countries in the world today. Nations that were founded, and built, on solid Christian principles, have turned their backs on the Creator. As a family member posted on Facebook: "The problem is not guns! It's hearts without God; homes without discipline; schools without prayer; and courts without justice."

St Andrew's Day

I wonder if I am alone in sometimes wishing that I was "someone else"?   Not that I have any desire to be one of the modern, so-called, 'celebrities' - whether in the world of sport, or of entertainment, or of business.  No, when I think like that, I want to be a Billy Graham; a Luis Palau; a John Wesley; a Martin Luther; even a Peter, or a Paul!

Of course, such idle dreamings are exactly that - no more, and no less.  I have not been gifted in the same way as these men were/are.  I believe that I may have been used by God, just as they have been - but not to the same extent.  That's why their names are known to history; mine is confined to family, friends, and acquaintances - and a few Christian fellowships!

Today is November 30th, the day in the Christian calendar dedicated to St. Andrew, one of the first of the disciples of Jesus, the Christ, and the patron saint of Scotland (as well as Greece, and Russia).  According to John, it was Andrew who first introduced his brother, Simon, to Jesus, (John 1:40-42) and Jesus gave Simon that name of Peter, a rock: an indication of what he was to become, but certainly not what he was then.  I find that to be very encouraging!  God sees you and me, not as we are but as what we may, by His grace, become.

Peter became one of great leaders of early Christian community.  He wrote two of the letters that have been preserved for us in the Bible.  But without Andrew, there might not have been a Peter.

Some may recall the old Negro spiritual that says:  “If you can’t preach like Peter, if you can’t pray like Paul; just go and tell your neighbour, and say Christ died for all.” (There is a balm in Gilead).  And it may be that, by the grace of God, it is your neighbour who will then be the Peter, or the Paul, or the Billy Graham.

Tradition says that Andrew was crucified – but on a cross shaped like an X.  That’s the origin of the Scottish national flag, the Saltire.  The story is that, before a battle with an English king, Angus mac Fergus, king of the Picts – the people who lived in the lowlands – had a dream in which Andrew appeared and promised him victory.  During the battle, a Saltire cross was seen in the sky and this encouraged Angus and his troops.  After his victory, Angus ordered that the Saltire be the badge of the Picts.

Andrew is a saint – but according to the New Testament, so am I, and so are you if you belong to Jesus.  A little boy was asked to explain what a saint is.  He remembered that, in the church building his family attended, there were stained glass windows with pictures of some of the saints in the Bible, and how beautiful they looked when the sunlight shone through them.  So he answered that a saint is somebody that the light shines through!

Jesus said: “I am the Light of the world”.  But the only way in which some will see Him is if we allow Him to shine through us! 

You and I may never be a Peter, or a Paul – but we may be an Andrew, letting the light of the Lord Jesus shine through us, that others might come to know Him, and receive Him as their own Saviour and Lord.

Of cars!

On our way back from neighbouring Wishaw, late this afternoon, my wife had to visit a couple of shops.  My presence not being required, I sat outside, in the car, and listened to some good music emanating from the ICE equipment (how many understand the acronym?).

After the first stop, as I indicated that I was pulling out on to the main road, I realised that the power-steering was not operating, and that the battery icon was showing on the dashboard display.  I drove round a corner for my wife's next stop, and had a look at the battery connections.  All appeared to be well.  I nursed the car back home as, one by one, additional icons lit up, and various functions ceased to operate!   Having 'home-start' cover on my breakdown plan, I then 'phoned for assistance.  When the young gentleman arrived, he quickly informed me that the alternator had packed in!

The annoying thing about that news is the fact that it was replaced, in France, in July - at what was, to me (and my local mechanic) an exorbitant cost.  The car is only five years old, with a mere 51,000 miles on the clock, so I am more than a little peeved.  The alternator will have to be replaced - I need the car - but the question then is: do I keep paying out from a limited cash supply, or do I replace?  I try to be a good steward of my finances, and would want to make a wise decision, and one that would be honouring to God.

Of course, any financial decision can be tough.  Billy Graham is recorded as having said "If a person gets his/her attitude toward money straight, it will help to straighten out almost every other area in life."!  In doing some clearing out, this evening, I came across some ideas worth considering when faced with decisions regarding money:

Check to ensure that you are following God's priorities.  Are you giving to Him, and to others? (I Cor.16:2).  Are you taking care of family needs? (I Tim.5:8).  Are you taking care that money doesn't control your life? (Lk,16:13).

Research the situation. Consider all of the options, and the pros and cons of each one.

Ask God for wisdom.  Pray, pray, and then pray some more.  He will direct you as you submit to His will in your life. (Prov.2:6).

Trust God, and make the decision.  I recall,many years ago, a friend who had not long been converted speaking with me.  In the conversation regarding a potential initiative by the fellowship with which he had become involved, he informed me that the Lord had spoken to him.  "He told me," he went on," that it was time to stop praying, and start obeying."!  Often, we must use the wisdom and knowledge that we have gained - and commit our decision to Him.

Whether, or not, the decision is a financial one, obedience to God nurtures a growing 'love-and-trust' relationship with Him.  Each decision may be seen as an opportunity to draw closer to Him.

Got a decision to make?  Don't forget to allow the Lord to be a major part of your decision-making process!