Judgment Is Coming.

Writing to the believers in the "eternal city" of Rome, Paul makes this statement: "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." (14:12).

Centuries later, American statesman Benjamin Franklin wrote: "Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." However, there is only one thing that is absolutely certain, and it is neither death, nor taxes. It is that every single one of us will have to face Almighty God for an accounting of our individual lives!

 

So, we would be wise to take heed of the warning given to the Children of Israel, by the prophet Amos, some 500 years before Paul: "Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel" (4:12); and the words of the anonymous wrote of the Letter to Hebrew disciples of Jesus: "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." (9:27).

Of course, the disciple of Jesus has no need to fear, for "There is therefore now no condemnation (judgment) for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Rom.8:1). How can this be? It is so because the Lord Jesus has paid for our sins and purchased our redemption with His shed blood. He "was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification" (Rom.4:25).

Nevertheless, even as His disciples, we still "must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ" (II Cor. 5:10), where "the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire." (I Cor. 3:13-15). In other words, we need have no fear when we appear before the Father, because the Son will be beside us saying "This one, Father, is mine"! However, we will then appear before the Saviour, Who will judge all that we did "in the body" (II Cor. 5:10). Now that could refer to our fleshly, mortal, bodies. However, the same Greek word is used to refer to the church, as the body of the Christ, and so I believe that this is how Paul is using it here. It is our Christian life that will be judged by the Lord Jesus, because all that went before our conversion was dealt with at our conversion.

Those who die in unbelief, however, not having trusted Christ as their Saviour, will face a different meeting with God. The apostle John describes the awesome scene as he saw it in the Revelation he was given of the Lord Jesus. "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done." (Rev. 20:12). But no one can ever be saved by his works (Eph. 2:9). Therefore, "if any one’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." (Rev. 20:15). 

I commented, at the beginning of this post, that not even death is certain! That may have raised a few eyebrows. However, God's Word teaches that there will be a rapture - a snatching up - of true disciples of Jesus before the final time of tribulation. Paul writes: "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.4:16-17).

So, those who are "raptured" will include both believers who have already tasted physical death, and those who are still physically alive at that moment. They are those who will never die! 

I am one of many who are utterly convinced that we are in the very last days, leading up to that rapture. Are you ready for it? If not, then I urge you to act, and to do so quickly. If I may be of any further help, please feel free to contact me using the e-mail address at the top of the blog.

Signs in the heavens, Pt 3.

Isn't it funny (strange, not humorous!) the way things sometimes work out. If I hadn't left my laptop and "banana pouch" behind on that Monday morning, I would have been in my bed, fast asleep, at the time of the storms that I witnessed by having had to return to the home of my hosts, and then start my journey to my own home all over again! And, of course, if I hadn't witnessed the storm, I would have been unlikely to write three posts about the Rapture! "God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform;" as the 18th century hymn writer, William Cowper claims!

Anyway, we have considered that, at the Rapture, there is a departure that disciples of Jesus will make; there is a destination we will have; and, in this post, I want to share that there is a delight that we shall know. 

“… we, who are still living on the earth, will be swept up … into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And, after that, we will be with Him for ever.” (I Thess.4:17; J.B.Phillips).

Each of us, I am sure, knows the joy of being in the presence of a loved one.  It may be a husband, or a wife; it may be a father, or a mother; it may be a brother, or a sister.  It may well be that it is “just” a friend – someone who is as close to us as our dearest relatives.  For me, that person is my wife.  And words alone cannot express my feelings when I am with her – which is, I would contend, exactly as it should be!  Sometimes, I think to myself: “Well, if I experience such an intense happiness when I am with my wife, what’s it going to be like when I am “with the Lord” which, Paul assures us, “is far better” (Phil.1:23)”?!   And I find that I can’t even begin to comprehend the intensity of that delight!  “The principal happiness of heaven”, writes Matthew Henry, “is this: “to be with the Lord”, to see Him, live with Him, and enjoy Him for ever”. (Commentary, I Thess., in loc). 

But, as we think of the intensity with which we will behold Him, we must also rejoice in the eternity for which we will be with Him.  “we shall be with Him – for ever.”  Not only do we have an intense delight in being with a loved one; we also, usually, hate to have to tear ourselves away, to be parted from, that loved one.  We might even go as far as to say that we dread the very thought of separation – and, indeed, is not separation the main factor behind our natural grief on the physical death of one to whom we were at all close?!  But this situation won’t arise for the believer, when the Christ calls us to Himself.  Because we are to be with Him for “the eternity of eternities”.

Our feeble, finite, minds cannot even begin to grasp the vastness of eternity (but it's dealt with, certainly to some extent, in my book "Great Words of the Faith"!).  Even “for ever” is too much for us.  Yet this is the way it will be with Jesus.  We will never be separated from Him, if we truly belong to Him, and He to us.

And that is so important! You see, although it’s exciting to think of the Rapture of the Church - to think of the departure we shall make – the certainty of it, and the suddenness of it; to think of the destination we shall have – the Person we will meet, and the perfection we will gain; to think of the delight that we shall know – in the intensity with which we will behold Him, and the eternity for which we will be with Him. But if you are not "in Christ Jesus" and He is not in you, then that Rapture will only serve to show you that you have missed an amazing opportunity - and that you have only yourself to blame! I happen to believe that there will be those who will be saved during the period following the Rapture, but they will suffer terribly! 

John records: "Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and whence have they come?" I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night within His temple; and He who sits upon the throne will shelter them with His presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (Rev.7:13-17; emphasis added).

Those who are saved during that time will have suffered - perhaps more than any others before them. so may each of us be ready for that trumpet-sound (I Cor.15:52), that we might avoid such persecution, and that ours might be that departure; that destination; that delight.

"Earth's only hope", by Joynell Schultz

It was the title of the book, referred to in the heading, that really caught my eye! (As a fan of Hogan's Heroes, I was also drawn by the surname of the author!). Of course, it is a book from the "science fiction" genre. The accompanying note read: "To escape a failing Earth, Skylar leaves on a spacecraft captained by a mysterious alien she has met before in dreams. But when the aliens onboard start dying, can she save him before it's too late?"

Perhaps I should have purchased it, as I enjoy some science fiction books. This story might have turned out to be one of those "can't put it down" volumes! However, I was so caught up with the title. 

It raises a couple of questions. To start with, I asked, "Is Earth in need of 'hope'?" That didn't require too much thought! Even without the ongoing Covid-19 situation, there are so many who appear to have no hope. I'm thinking of the homeless; the terminally ill; the addicted; the friendless; the persecuted; etc. Yes, I would strongly suggest that there is a great, and deep, need of 'hope'.

The second question must surely be: "Will leaving on a spacecraft, crewed by aliens, be the hope that Earth needs?" My first response is: "How will leaving the planet bring it hope of any kind?" Surely, hope must be here, on planet Earth! If, in the story, Skylar leaves, what hope is that for those who remain?

Thankfully, there is indeed hope for the people of planet Earth. Not by anyone leaving, but through One Who came, and Who dealt with the basic problem that affects humanity - the problem of sin. What is sin? Well, I've shared that information many times on this blog. I always like the definition provided by the Westminster Shorter Catechism: "Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God." What does that mean? Simply that if I fail to match up to the requirements of Almighty God, or if I break His laws, then I have sinned - I am a sinner. Earlier this evening, I was listening to Ray Comfort witnessing to a young Muslim. Ray's method is basically the same for everyone with whom he speaks. He shows them how they have broken just four of the Ten Words (Commandments), and points out that even that is sufficient to ensure that we stand guilty before God. Of course, the young man came back with all of the good things that he does - as Islam teaches that God keeps a "score-card" (two angels on the shoulders - one recording 'good' deeds, and the other 'bad' deeds) and, if I have done more good than bad, then I may be accepted into paradise.

That is referred to as "salvation* by works" - and is doomed for all of us. It is why Paul, inspired by God the Holy Spirit, could write to the early disciples of Jesus in Rome: "... 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, Whom God put forward as an expiation by His blood, to be received by faith." (Rom 3:23-25). Did you read those words carefully? Yes, all of us have sinned, and continue to sin. But because the Lord Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin, we may receive the forgiveness of the Father. So Paul could also write that: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Rom 8:1; emphasis added).

Earth's only hope - and the only hope for you and for me - is found, not in flight to another part of the universe, but in the One Who loved, and loves, us so much that, in the Persona** of the Son, He came into our world; shared our life; was "... in every respect ... ... tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Heb. 4:15); and "... set His face to go to Jerusalem." (Luke 9:51), knowing that He faced mockeries of trials, scourging, mockery, and one of the most cruel forms of executing the death sentence, contrived by man. But He rose from the dead, and is, even now, seated at the right hand of the Father. And He is coming back - sooner than many appreciate! - to take His own to Himself, to be with Him throughout the timelessness of eternity*.

Will you be among those who are awaiting that return with great anticipation? You may be! Just come to Him, in repentance* and faith*, and receive the new life that He has gained for you.

*All of these words, and many others, are explained in my book "Great Words of the Faith" - see the links at the top of the blog. And remember that I do not receive any financial benefit from sales as all royalties are sent, directly, to Release International, in support of the persecuted church.

** This word is explained in the chapter on the Trinity, in "Great Words".

Certainty - in uncertain times!

This morning, I received a 'phone-call from a dear friend and brother in the Lord. He has been sending out a daily devotional to a number of people of his acquaintance, and asked if I would prepare something that he could send out tomorrow. I agreed to do so, but have realised that it might be worth making available to others through my blog, and through Facebook. 

Along with countless others, I am a lover of the Book of Psalms – the “hymnbook” of the Children of Israel. One of my (many!) favourites is Psalm 46, the psalm that was the starting-point for Martin Luther’s great Reformation battle-hymn: “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott” – “A mighty fortress is our God”.

The Psalm starts with these words:

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.” (vs.1-3)

These are words that remind us that our God – the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob; the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, the Christ, is our refuge in times of chaos. And are not the times in which we currently live, chaotic? The Covid-19 virus may be invisible to the naked eye – but what an effect it is having on our contemporary world! No-one needs me to spell out the health issues; the changes in lifestyle; the uncertainty; that surround us – here in France; in the UK; and around the globe.

Yet the Sons of Korah, the composers of this psalm, could face any uncertainty with certainty because: “God is our refuge and strength; a very present (or well-proved, or easily found) help in time of trouble.  Therefore we will not fear ...”   Our true security, our true confidence, our true certainty, is in God – not in God plus anything, but in God alone.

Throughout history, Almighty God has been the refuge and defence of His people; sufficient for all of their needs; the unchanging One in Whom they have found their shelter.  And so, assert the Sons of Korah, even if the primeval chaos of Gen.1:2 should return, when “The earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep ...”; even if “... the earth should change” and “... the mountains shake in the heart of the sea.”; God’s people will not fear.

I have no more knowledge of the future than any of us. However, even in these uncertain times, I may have certainty – certainty that the God of Ages is in control; certainty that He still knows the end from the beginning; certainty that “… in everything [He] works for good with those who love Him, who are the called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8:28).

May all who read these words have that same certainty; and to Him, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, be all the honour, all the praise, all the thanksgiving, and all the glory.

“A mighty fortress is our God; a bulwark never failing.

Our Helper, He, amidst the flood of mortal ills prevailing.

For still, our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe.

His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate;

On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And ’though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us;
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly pow’rs, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth;
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.”

A new year.

It's been an unusually busy couple of weeks! I was aware that this blog was being neglected but - it's all a matter of priorities! Anyway, part of the busyness (that included a trip back to Scotland in order to spend Christmas Day with our family; and leaving early on Boxing Day!) was that I was preaching in one of the French-speaking fellowships with which we are involved, yesterday! Being the final Sunday of the year, I wanted to encourage the people and used the situation of the Children of Israel as, under the leadership of Joshua, they prepared to enter Canaan - the land of the promise of Almighty God. The Israelites had been wandering for forty years - the result of their listening to ten weak spies who were overwhelmed by the difficulties they perceived, rather than the two men (Joshua and Caleb) who had true faith in YHWH, the God of the covenant. The land across the River Jordan was as unknown to them as is the year 2020 to us. So how did they face their unknown, and what lessons can we draw from their experience?

The first thing we see is that the Children of Israel went forward with courage in the Lord. You may read the story in Joshua 2. Perhaps remembering that situation forty years earlier, Joshua sent just two men to spy out the land again. Their report was very encouraging! They assured Joshua that "Truly YHWH has given all the land into our hands;" Take a minute or two to compare that report with the one given by the ten fearful spies as you'll find it in Numbers 13. It's the difference between unbelief, and faith!

Unbelief says “Let’s go back to where it’s safe.”; but faith says “Let’s go forward to where God is working.” In his first letter, the apostle John writes: “… this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.” (5:4).

May I share a very important piece of information? Almighty God has not changed! He tells us so, Himself! “I the Lord do not change;” (Mal.3:6). 

These men of faith were willing to receive this great assurance; to take God at His word. Are you and I willing to do the same as we move forward into a new year? The assurance they were ready to receive, and the assessment they were able to make.  “moreover, all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of us.” was their report. This was a most encouraging report. Not only the inhabitants of Jericho, but of all of the land of Canaan, were afraid of the Children of Israel! The only possible reason for this is that the reputation of the Children of Israel and, of greater importance, of YHWH, their God, had lasted throughout a full generation - that forty years during which they had wandered in the wilderness! The Canaanites took it for granted that nothing could stand before the Children of Israel – and this information was necessary to Joshua to guide him in forming the plan of his campaign.

As we look forward to a new year, let us also recall what the Lord has already done for us – and let us then go into this year, confident that He is still with us, and has a plan for us. It's a plan, of course, that requires us to be led froward by the Lord. For the Children of Israel, that meant being led by priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant - where YHWH had met with Moses. The Ark was symbolic of the presence of YHWH among His chosen people. It was "God with them - Emmanuel"!

Most of us will have heard words like those over recent days. It is the Lord Jesus, Himself, Who is our Emmanuel. It is He Who has promised, “I will never fail you nor forsake you.” (Heb.13:5). It is He Who has said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me.” (Jn.14:6). It is He Who will lead us into a new year – if we will but follow! That involves action on our part! You see, Father God does not force us to do anything. He could do – but He chooses not to. That means that I have a responsibility to co-operate with God the Holy Spirit in the work of my sanctification. Writing, this time, to the brothers and sisters in Philippi, Paul encourages them: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Phil 2:12-13). The Christian life is not one of sitting back and leaving everything to the Lord! It is service; it is warfare; it is walking. But we do not travel the road alone – “for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

However, action is not enough. We need also to display a proper attitude. Concerning the Ark, Joshua commanded: “there shall be a space between you and it, a distance of about two thousand cubits; do not come near it.” (v.4^(b)). Why was this? It was a mark of reverence. It was an acknowledgment that no-one may come even close to Almighty God in their own right. It was a recognition that the Creator is different from His creation.

It always concerns me when I hear some, who claim to be disciples of Jesus, saved by His precious blood, treating Him, the Father, the Holy Spirit, as if they are here just for their benefit. I cringe when I hear people refer to the Creator of all that exists in an overly-familiar manner. Of course, He is my heavenly Father; of course, He is my Friend; but He is also God, and I must display my reverence for Him at all times! “Fear (reverence) God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.” counsels the writer of Ecclesiastes (12:13); while Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus, in what we know as the Magnificat, says: “He Who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.” (Lk.1:49-50).

The Children of Israel as they stood on the threshold of Canaan, faced the unknown with courage in the Lord. They were led forward by the Lord. The result was that they saw the power of the Lord, immediately, in the miraculous crossing of the river Jordan. For many, even although they had been but children at the time, this would have been a reminder of the past when, with their parents, perhaps even their grandparents, their siblings, and their friends, they had crossed the Reed Sea – and seen the mighty Egyptian army perish. You see, even the mistakes of the past may provide good lessons for achievements in the future! Writing about these matters, Paul told the Corinthian church that “…  these things happened to them as a warning, but they were written down for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages has come.” (I Cor 10:11).

I wonder if you have experienced the power of Almighty God in your life – individually, and as a fellowship of God’s people? There are those who condemn “experiential Christianity” and, of course, if we are seeking to build our lives as disciples of Jesus solely on spiritual experiences, then that condemnation is deserved. We need to be solidly grounded in the Word of God; we need to be obedient to the Word of God; we need to be fed by the Word of God. But often, the power of Almighty God touches us in such a way that the experience lives with us for a long time afterwards – and may even be with us for the rest of our earthly lives. The Children of Israel were provided with a reminder of the past, and with a reassurance for the present. 

Being reminded of past wonders is one thing – but we live in the present! And Father God knows! So we read: “Joshua said, “Hereby you shall know that the living God is among you," (Josh 3:10). Almighty God was still on the throne – and He still is! Do you remember those words of the Lord Jesus to His disciples as He prepared to leave them and return to the Glory that was, and is, His by right? They are recorded for us by Matthew: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (28:19-20). “I am not just a figure from history,” says Jesus. “I am the living and eternal God, who never leaves, nor forsakes, my true people.”

The writer of the great letter to the Hebrew disciples of Jesus gave to them, and to us, the wonderful assurance: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.” (13:8). With such an assurance, we may step forward, bravely, and confidently, into the new year that beckons. Are you willing to go into the new year depending on His promises? Then go – and know that He goes before you; and with you; and in you. And know that He will accomplish His purposes through you, to bring glory to His most holy Name.

I wish you a truly blessèd 2020. 

Change!

The following words "jumped out" at me as I read the regular bulletin from Dr Jim Denison that arrived in my Inbox today.

"The best way to deal with a changing world is to depend completely on an unchanging God."

We live in a world that, certainly for those of us who dwell in the so-called "western world", experiences change exponentially!   I am of a generation that can recall 78 rpm records.  Then there were 45 rpm, and 33 rpm (long play - maybe six tracks on each side!).  Before I knew it, recording was being done on tapes - that came in reels from about 3" in diameter to about 6"+ in diameter.  I had barely become accustomed to that medium, before cassette tapes became all the range.  Then it was Compact Discs (I still recall the "Tomorrow's World" programme that 'introduced' them!), and Mini-discs.  My "studio" was filling up - with equipment and recording/playback media that was still perfectly functional, but was already "historical"!  

Now, of course, everything is done with MP3 files, and I can store hundreds of tracks on a mere 1Gb memory stick that is smaller than my thumb!  And all of that has only to do with recording and playing back of sound!

If we look at the world of transport; of communication; of politics; of almost anything one cares to name; then, as the hymnwriter so succinctly put it: "Change and decay in all around I see"!

So Jim Denison's words are a timely reminder.  "For I the Lord do not change;" (Mal 3:6), is the word of Almighty God to His chosen people - the Children of Israel.  When we turn to the writings of the New Testament, we read that: "Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with Whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17); and, of course, the well-known words from the unnamed (human!) author of the letter to Hebrew disciples of Jesus: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever." (Heb 13:8).

It is a simple fact of life that the vast majority of us like to have at least a large element of stability in our lives.  We may sometimes (often?!) complain about the humdrum existence we think that we are living - but we don't really want upheaval - in our homes; in our families, in the workplace; in the church.  

Yet, even within the visible church, is there not a hankering after novelty?  We want to hear the latest "great speaker".  The "new song" must be sung this Sunday.  I have to have the most up-to-date Biblical app on my smartphone (actually I don't even possess one of these gadgets!).  We are constantly veering round in our faith and life, following the latest "new belief," accepting every modern idea, or doubting some established Christian teaching - like children, "... tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles." (Eph 4:14).

Could it possibly be that many of us, in our Christian lives, are not seeking the stability that we are offered?  One of my favourite verses from the Book of Psalms reads: "He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure." (Ps 40:2).  "He ... set my feet upon a rock" - that's stability!  The psalmist-king, David, continues: "He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear, and put their trust in YHWH. Blessed is the man who makes YHWH his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after false gods!" (vs.3-4).  It is as I am standing, solidly upon the Rock (Who is Christ Jesus) that I can be stable - and may attract others to Him.

We have a stable, unchanging, dependable God.  Let us be more stable as we follow Him.

Don't quit!

Ten days since my last post - a record that I do not wish to break!  The problem has been lack of internet access, for a number of reasons.  However, I am back - and trust that I will be able to resume my more regular posting.

I was reading, earlier today, of a pastor who was growing rather weary in his ministry - a not uncommon situation among the clergy!  He had a dream.  He dreamed that he was pounding away at a huge chink of granite, with a pick-axe.  He knew that his job was to break it into small pieces but, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't manage to chip off even the tiniest flake.  At last, tired, disappointed, and disillusioned, he decided to give up.

Just then a stranger appeared and asked, "Weren't you given an order to do that work?  Your duty is to give it your best - regardless of the outcome."  The pastor picked up the pick-axe from where he had thrown it on the ground and, with renewed vigour and determination, lifted it high in the air and brought it down, hard, on the granite.  It broke into a thousand pieces!  He had been ready to quit - just one blow from success.

It's only a story, of course.  However, it does have a profound message.  Certainly, for the disciple of Jesus, it is that we should keep working at any task that the Lord has given us regardless of how difficult it may be.  Even when anything resembling 'success' seems to be remote, if not impossible, we are to remain faithful and obedient - assured that there will be an ample reward for those who persevere.

I wonder if you have grown weary in your service for the Lord?!  Have you become so discouraged that you are ready to "throw in the towel"?   Remember the pastor's dream.  Even better, remember the words of Paul to his friends in Christ Jesus, in the Galatian churches: "... let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart." (Gal 6:9).

Someone has said: "Failure is not defeat - unless you stop trying."!  Don't quit!

Today's news - centuries ago!

In my personal devotions, I have just commenced reading through the Letter from the apostle Paul to the fledgling church in Rome.  Of course, this is not the first, or even the second, time that I have read through that most theological of the letters.  But one of the wonderful things about the living Word of the living God is that, regardless of how often we have read a particular passage, there is something new that jumps out at us as we read that passage again!

This morning, I read Rom.1:24-32.  Here it is:

"Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error.
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a base mind and to improper conduct. They were filled with all manner of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity, they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them but approve those who practice them."

Perhaps you should read those words again!  Remember that they were written almost 2000 years ago - but they are as up-to-date as tomorrow's newspaper!  Paul is describing, quite simply, a society that has abandoned God!  Lest anyone be deceived into thinking that this was no more than the ranting of a Pharisaically-minded religious nut-case, I refer you to the works of men such as Petronius, Seneca, Juvenal, and Seutonius.  These are not familiar names to most of us, but they were all Roman  philosophers, historians, poets, and/or satirists (Seneca was actually born in Spain, but raised in Rome) who lived at the same time, or shortly after, the apostle.  Each of them, in his extant writings, fully supports Paul's grim description.

The words are a warning to all people, and all ages - but they seem to apply, particularly, to our own generation.  Whether it is the sexual immorality that has become so acceptable in so much of the western, "developed" (!) world; or the heartless ruthlessness of the so-called Islamic State and its associated groups; we see, around us, a world that seems to be dashing headlong into moral, social, and spiritual, decay and destruction.

So what can anyone do?  The answer, of course, is already provided for us.  Paul writes, further on in the same letter: "But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction; 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  Whom God put forward as an expiation by His blood, to be received by faith." (Rom 3:21-25).Christ Jesus,

You and I may not indulge in the excesses to which Paul has already referred.  But that does not make any one of us sinless - and we know it!  However, Father God has paid the penalty for your sin, and mine, in the Persona (see "Great Words" above!) of the Son.  The price is paid, and I may go free.  The prison door is open, and I may walk out.  However, I may also remain in my sin - and face His judgement!

What will you do?  I encourage you to: "Come to Him , to that Living Stone, rejected by men but in God's sight chosen and precious; and, like living stones, be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (I Peter 2:4-5).

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