My Advocate

After living what I felt was a "decent" life, my time on earth came to the end. The next thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what appeared to be a court house. 

The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by the defense table. 

As I looked around I saw the "prosecutor." He was a villainous looking character who snarled as he stared at me. He was definitely the most evil being I had ever seen. 

I sat down and looked to my left and there sat my Advocate, a kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed so familiar to me, that I felt I must know Him. 

The door flew open and the Judge appeared, in full flowing robes. He commanded an awesome Presence and, as He moved across the room, I couldn't take my eyes off of Him. 

As He took His seat behind the bench, He said, "Let us begin." 

The prosecutor rose and said, 

"My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this man belongs in hell." 

He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole, and times in the past when I had cheated others. He told of other horrible sins that were once in my life and, the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I sank. I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, not even my own Advocate, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten about. 

As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally upset at my Advocate Who sat there silently, not offering any form of defense at all. I knew I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good in my life - couldn't they at least cancel part of the harm I'd done? 

Satan finished with a fury and said, "This man belongs in hell.  He is guilty of all that I have said, and there is no-one who can prove otherwise." 

When it was His turn, my Advocate first asked if He might approach the bench. The Judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan, and beckoned Him to come forward. As He got up and started walking, I was able to see Him in His full splendour and majesty. I realised why He seemed so familiar; this was Jesus representing me, my Lord and my Saviour. 

He stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, "Hi, Dad," and then He turned to address the court. 

"Satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned. I won't deny any of these allegations. And, yes, the wages of sin is death, and this man deserves to be punished." 

Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, "However, I died on the cross so that this person might have eternal life and he has accepted Me as his Saviour, so he is Mine." 

My Lord continued, "His name is written in the book of life and no one can snatch him from Me. Satan still does not understand. This man is not to be given justice, but rather grace and mercy." 

As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at His Father and said, "There is nothing else that needs to be done. I've done it all." 

The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down. The following words bellowed from His lips.. 

"This man is free." The penalty for him has already been paid in full. Case dismissed." 

As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and raving, "I won't give up, I will win the next one." I asked Jesus as He gave me my instructions where to go next, "Have you ever lost a case?" 

Christ lovingly smiled and said, "Everyone that has come to Me and asked Me to represent them has received the same verdict as you, ....... Paid In Full."

"My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; " (I John 2:1). 

It's only a story - but it does have a message. If we want Him to represent us there; we must be willing to represent Him here!   If you've never done so before, confess your sins to Him now; ask for His forgiveness; thank Him for taking your place on the cross; accept Him as Saviour and Lord.  Then live for Him - "life in all its fulness" (Jn.10:10).

The storm is past.

Although the Dordogne area in France is one of the country's most beautiful, it does have its share of inclement weather conditions - especially from December to February. This includes some fairly violent storm conditions. When we returned from the UK last month, it was to find that the TV aerial had been blown down - taking with it the capping on the chimney, to which it had been attached! Thankfully, the period of the worst storms is now over!

I was reminded of the story of a man who was standing at the rail of a small ship, far out to sea. He was filled with anxiety as he watched a mass of billowing clouds, illumined by flashes of forked lightning. As he watched, the captain happened to pass by. Noticing the troubled expression on the face of his passenger, and the black sky in the distance, he quickly offered some words of assurance. "I hope that you aren't concerned about that storm." he said. "If you are, then you can relax and forget your worries. You see, that storm is already past, and cannot do us any harm."

That may lead us to think of yet another "storm" that is past. I refer to the time when the wrath of Almighty God was poured out in all of its fury, at Calvary. What an awesome, and terrifying, sight that must have been! The Lord Jesus, although Himself perfect and sinless, assumed our guilt and shame, and bore the dreadful penalty that you and I deserved. As He hung on a wooden cross - between earth and sky - the sun was darkened, and rocks were rent asunder. The tempest of God's judgement had broken out upon the beloved Son! Even now, as the old negro spiritual reminds us, contemplation of that dreadful hour causes us to tremble. Yet, as frightening as that spectacle must have been, we may be at peace - because that "storm" is past! In fact, it has provided a way of deliverance from eternal condemnation, and damnation, for all who, in repentance and faith, receive the Son as Saviour, and Lord, and King. For all such, there is the blessing of the grace of God, shown in Jesus, the Christ. I owed a debt I could not pay; He paid a debt He did not owe. 

However, the sinner who has not yet received the Lord Jesus as his personal Saviour still has reason to fear! You see, a day is coming - and it may be sooner than many would wish to believe - when the ominous clouds of God's judgement will finally burst upon an unbelieving world. Only those who have taken refuge in Him are secure. For us, the storm is past! Hallelujah!

May all who read this post find their salvation in Him - "... the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith." (Heb.12:2).

My favourite Christmas text - part 3

In the previous two posts I have shared with you on John 3:16, we have noted:

The Fact – God loved the world so very much; and 

The Act – that He gave Himself, in the Person of the eternal Son. 

Finally, that well-known verse speaks of the Pact.

“God loved the world so very much that He gave Himself, in the Person of the eternal Son, that every individual who has placed their trust in Him for salvation shall not die, but have, here and now, God’s life within them.”

You see, God’s love; God’s gift; are not mere handouts. Free they may be – but only to those who are willing to enter into a living relationship with that same God, through the Son; only to those who have faith in Him, and place their trust in Him. And that eternal life, given to those who believe, is not merely life that never ends, but a different quality of life. It is the life of the age to come of which believers already have a foretaste as they come under the influence of God the Holy Spirit – although its full consummation and enjoyment are only in His nearer presence. But it is only for those who are truly disciples of Jesus. God’s love, and God’s Gift are offered to all. His salvation and the eternal life that comes with it, are only for those who accept the Son as Saviour and Lord of their lives, in repentance and faith, receiving the Gift with humble and thankful hearts.

I suppose that it takes a wee bit of effort to lift our eyes from the sweet, sentimental picture of the Babe in the manger, to the stark reality of the Christ on the cross. In the midst of the fun and festivities that most of us will enjoy, it isn’t easy to remember Gethsemane where the Baby, grown to manhood, sweated great drops of blood. It isn’t easy to remember how Judas betrayed Him; how Peter denied Him; how “they all forsook Him and fled.” (Mk.14:50). Do we really want to remember the scourging; the crown of thorns; how they spat upon His naked body; how they slapped Him on the head with a reed? When we sing “Child in the manger” do we spare a thought for His pierced hands and feet; His agony; His thirst; His cry of anguish and desolation: “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” (Mt.27:46).

“We may not know, we cannot tell

What pains He had to bear.

But we believe it was for us

He hung, and suffered, there.”

The Baby?! Yes. For without Bethlehem, there would have been no Calvary. And it is only as we look at both that we can even begin to see the whole picture of the saving grace of Father God – God coming, and God doing. And then we must look beyond to the empty tomb; symbol of the risen and exalted Christ - yes, and beyond even that to His Second Advent, when He returns in power and glory!

“God loved the world so very much that He gave Himself, in the Person of the eternal Son, that every individual who has placed their trust in Him for salvation shall not die, but have, here and now, God’s life within them”

Perhaps you have never thought of Jn.3:16 as a Christmas text before! But may it be that, in the midst of all of the traditional celebrations; the carol-singing; the special meals; the tinsel and the presents, we do not forget

The Fact – “God loved the world (you and me) so much

The Act – that He gave His only, unique, Son

The Pact – that everyone who believes in Him may not perish, but here and now, have eternal life.”

A very happy CHRISTmas to one and all.

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.

Anniversary!

Today, I celebrate forty-four years of marriage to my wonderful wee wife.  She has been as good a wife as any man could wish for - loving, faithful, supportive, diligent, encouraging, and the mother of our two wonderful daughters.

Thank you, my love, for all that you have been, and continue to be.  I cannot say that I love you as much, today, as I did when I saw you walk up the aisle all of those years ago.  It simply wouldn't be true!  I didn't really know what love was, at that time.  Now - I love you much, much, more.

I pray that the Lord Whom we have sought to serve, throughout our marriage, will grant us many more years to love one another; to share with one another; and to serve Him together.

Happy Anniversary, my love.  :-)

If I were to become a Christian!

One of the aids that I use in my personal devotions is a Prayer Guide produced by the Revival Prayer Ministry.  Yesterday and the day before were covered by one item - about the Christian church in South Sudan.  I was struck by a quote from Bishop Elias Taban of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.  He said: "In my area of Africa, many people think they are Christians because they have a Christian name.   Sadly, many have not heard or understood the message of salvation."

Equally sadly, the same thing could be said of many living in Scotland, the rest of the United Kingdom and, indeed, any part of the world today.

Over the years during which I have been publishing this blog, I have dealt with the question "What is a Christian" on more than one occasion (use the 'search' box at the top left-hand corner of the blog to remind yourself of what I wrote!).  This time, I want to ask what becoming a true Christian - a follower, and disciple, of Jesus the Christ - will bring to you if you are willing to surrender to Him; commit yourself to Him; and seek to show your love for Him by obedience to Him.

It will, first of all, be the greatest discovery you will ever make! Sir James Young Simpson, the discoverer of chloroform – a tremendous benefit to those who had to undergo all kinds of operations and amputations – was asked during his own last illness, ‘What do you consider to be your greatest discovery?’  Back came the answer, without moment’s hesitation – and there was no mention of chloroform!  “On the morning of Christmas Day, 1861," he said, "I discovered that I was a sinner, and that Jesus Christ was my Saviour.”

You see, it's only when I realise that I am a sinner, and am unable to do anything about it - regardless of the number of New Year's Resolutions I may make - that I will seriously even look for a Saviour.  The wonderful discovery that James Simpson, and every other true disciple of Jesus, made is that Jesus can be, and is, that Saviour.  Through Him, and Him alone, my sins not only can be, but are, forgiven!  John assures us that "... if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." (I John 1:7).  Did you notice that?  It's all sin!  That includes even the sins that I have not yet committed!  Now, to begin to grasp something of the dynamics of that, one needs to have some insight to the relationship between time and eternity.  Much too big a subject for a blog post but, if you are really interested, I devote a full chapter to the topic in my book, Great Words of the Faith - details above!

My sins are forgiven, through Jesus; and my life is changed, by Jesus.  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (II Cor 5:17).  But yielding your life to the Christ, you will discover, is also the greatest decision that you can ever take. It is one that involves accepting His salvation.  It affects the whole person – body and spirit; what we become here and now, as well as where we shall spend eternity.  And, in accepting His salvation, I find that I am accepted for His service.

I love those two little verses in Mark’s account of the Gospel.  “Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and they told [Jesus] about her at once. So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.” (1:30-31; NKJV)  Saved – to serve.  When I accept Jesus as my Saviour, I acknowledge Him as Lord.  It’s no longer what I want to do that’s important, but what He wants me to do.  And, for some, most amazing thing is that there’s so much He does want us to do!

Finally, there is in store for you, if you decide to follow Jesus, the greatest difference anyone can ever know.   If everyday decisions can make the differences they do to your life and to mine, how much more can one as momentous as accepting God the son as your Saviour, and Lord - and Friend!  He gives you a new start in life. 

If you have discovered that when Paul says that “…all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal;” (Rom.3:23; LB), his “all” includes you; but you have also discovered that “…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” (I Tim 1:15; TLB), and have now decided to surrender to His loving control; then the change in you is so radical that it can only be compared to being born all over again – a new birth; a completely new start.  

However, that's not all.  He gives you, not just a new start to life, but also a new life with which to start!  Instead of stumbling along in darkness, you walk in light with Him.  From being in bondage to sin, you are set free from its penalty, its power and, ultimately, its presence.  Instead of being tormented by a guilty conscience, you have peace with God through the Son, and the very love of God fills your heart and life.  In receiving Him, you change from being a creature of God to being a child of God, adopted into His family.

The greatest discovery that anyone can make; the greatest decision anyone can ever take; the greatest difference anyone can know.  Why not make that difference yours, right now, just where you are, by quietly handing yourself over to the Saviour.  He is waiting for you to trust Him, and He will never disappoint you.  Will you let Him be your Saviour, and Lord, and Friend?  Will you?  You’ll never regret it if you do.

 

 

He's Saviour - but is He Lord?!

Some of the most chilling words in the whole of the Bible are to be found in Matthew's account of the Gospel, in what is usually referred to as "The Sermon on the Mount", in 7:21-23 - "Not every one who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your Name, and cast out demons in Your Name, and do many mighty works in Your Name?'  And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you evildoers.'"

They are words, I believe, that speak powerfully to the present generation of "western Christians".  So many have been deceived by a "Come to Jesus and all of your sins will be forgiven; all of your problems will be solved; and you can look forward to eternity in His Presence."

That, I have to say, is what Paul would call "... another gospel ..." (see Gal.1:6-9).  You see, while it is true that Jesus forgives sin - He paid the price for all of my sin, and yours, on the cross at Calvary; while it is true that those who are truly His will spend eternity in His Presence; (it is definitely not true that all problems will be solved - indeed, for many their problems only begin when they become His disciples!) - it is also true that He demands repentance, and obedience!

It wasn't just John, the Baptiser, who preached "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt 3:2); The same words are used by Jesus at the beginning of His own public ministry: "From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matt 4:17).  Yet I seldom hear a message of repentance being proclaimed from pulpit or platform.  Repentance - the deliberate, conscious, turning my back on the things that make me just like those whose only reference to Jesus is when they use His Name as an expletive, or swear-word - is not easy.  Much more simple to just repeat "the sinner's prayer" - and go on living my life as if nothing had changed!  Oh, I may be baptised; I may fulfil a function in my local fellowship/congregation/assembly; I may even be a preacher, teacher, or evangelist.  But if I have not repented; if I am not making a conscious effort to effect change in my life; then I am not a disciple of Jesus!

Now, some may accuse me of preaching a message of salvation by works!  Absolutely not.  "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God - not because of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph 2:8-9; emphasis added).  Salvation is all of grace (check out my e-book on the subject: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009EG6TJW ).  However, Paul continues: "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's not an 'either-or'; it's a 'both-and'!

That leads me to obedience. Immediately after we read those words of Jesus with which I commenced this post, we read these further words of Jesus: "Every one then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And every one who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it." (Matt 7:24-27).

Notice that the wise man is the one who "... does ..." the words of Jesus - in other words, the one who is obedient!  "If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.  He who does not love Me will not obey My teaching. These words you hear are not My own; they belong to the Father Who sent Me." (John 14:23-24; NIV).

Of course, all of this is impossible for mortal men and women (and children!).  This is why we need a second birth.  Our natural, physical, birth is not sufficient.  We need a supernatural, spiritual, birth.  So Jesus tells the very religious Nicodemus, who: "... came to Jesus by night and said to Him, 'Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do, unless God is with him.' Jesus answered him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew (literally, "from above"), he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" (John 3:2-3).

Have you experienced that new birth?  Have you repented of your sins, and your sinfulness?  Are you obedient to His commands - whatever the cost?  You may acknowledge Him as Saviour - but is He truly Lord?    Oh, you may "stick out like a sore thumb" - but that's what the disciple of Jesus us supposed to do.  We are called to be "holy" - and that means separated to His service.  May each of us be those of whom He will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your Master." (Matt.25:21).

Personal Testimony

Slogging away at the gym, this afternoon (boast, boast!!), I was listening to some tracks on my little MP3 player.  As I listened to one of my favourite singers, Amy Roberts, singing about the change that Jesus makes in the lives of those who come to Him in repentance and faith, accepting His wondrous gift of full and free salvation, I was reminded that personal experience is something against which it is difficult - if not impossible - to argue.

This is the problem for the secular humanists who appear to be so aggresively attacking the Christian church in our day.  I've listened to Richard Dawkins - the "foremost atheist" according to much of the media.  Of course, he isn't even an atheist!  The man is an agnostic (remember the "bus campaign" with its slogan about not worrying because God "probably" doesn't exist?!).  However, whatever description he chooses to apply to himself (or others choose to apply to him), I have never heard either him, or any of his "disciples", point to lives that have been changed for the better through acceptance of their beliefs.

However, in the name of Jesus, people are still being healed emotionally and physically and spiritually by the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead.  Sinners are being freed from the burden and pain and shame of sin – sometimes immediately; sometimes after long years of steady work by God the Holy Spirit in their lives.  Hearts are being mended and lives are being turned around.   Praise God, there are millions in the world - even in 2012 AD - who can say, "He saved me, and I am not the person I used to be" just as the apostles testified 2000 years ago.  Indeed, many of them are prepared to be incarcerated, physically and mentally abused, even to die, under oppressive régimes, rather than deny the One Whom they love and serve, as Saviour and as Lord.

It's difficult to argue against that kind of testimony!

Death - the real final frontier!

One of today's headline news items is the claim by the shadow Health Secretary that thousands of cancer sufferers are being denied life-extending drugs. I am not in a position to make any comment on the truth, or otherwise, of that claim. However, I do find the expression "life-extending" to be very interesting.

Obviously, most people want to live as long as possible, and to have a happy, productive, life. But is the basic problem in this situation not that we are afraid of death? Is this not why mankind is constantly endeavouring to extend life?

I suspect that the main part of that fear is the 'mystery' of what really does happen to us after our physical bodies have. In Hamlet's famous soliloquy, the English bard has the melancholy prince say: " To be or not to be– that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to sufferthe slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles and, by opposing, end them. To die, to sleep no more – and by a sleep to say we end the heartache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to – 'tis a consummation devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep; to sleep, perchance to dream. Aye, there's the rub, for in that sleep of death what dreams may come, when we have shuffled off this mortal coil, must give us pause." (Hamlet, Prince of Denmark; Act III, Sc.1) The basic thought that is being suggested is that, not knowing what happens when we die, must make us stop to think about it.

This is where the disciple of Jesus has a hope that is based on the resurrection of Jesus which, in spite of many claims to the contrary, and attempted 'alternative' explanations for the empty tomb (of which millions will be thinking, tomorrow), has never been disproved.

"I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again.", was His promise to the woman at the well (Jn.11:25). "There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you", He assured His disciples (Jn.14:2); "We know that the same God who raised our Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself along with you", wrote Paul to the Corinthian believers (II Cor.4:14).

Today is the 'in-between' day. Good Friday is past; the Day of Resurrection has yet to come. But we have that knowledge that was not afforded to the early disciples. Let us rejoice, therefore that, whether death comes to us sooner or later, we may have a confidence that it is not the final word; and that for those who are "in Christ" (Eph.1:4 et al), it is, indeed, the doorway into His nearer presence, and eternity spent with Him.