Headed for home!

Tomorrow, as most folk will be aware, marks the 100th anniversary of the end of "the war to end all wars" - that, later, became known as the First World War. Towards the end of that war, the 308th regiment of the 77th Division of the United States Armed Forces launched an attack into the Argonne forest in north-west France. They believed that French forces were supporting their left flank, and fellow-American soldiers protecting their right flank. Sadly, these forces were delayed and, in an age in which the instant communication, which we take for granted, was not available, and the 308 found themselves surrounded by enemy forces, and under severe mortar, and machine-gun, fire.

As every 'runner' dispatched by the Commanding Officer either became lost, or ran into enemy patrols and was captured, carrier pigeons became the only method of communication with HQ. In an infamous incident on Oct 4th, 1918, inaccurate co-ordinates were delivered by one of the pigeons and, on top of all of their other difficulties, the 308 began to suffer shelling - from their own artillery (what is now referred to as "friendly fire"!!). In desperation, a sergeant released the last pigeon available with a note that read: "We are along the road paralell (sic) 276.4. Our artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven's sake stop it."

As soon as the pigeon - named "Cher Ami" ("dear friend") lifted off, a stray bullet grazed the side of its head, and tore out its left eye. Then, a piece of shrapnel hit its chest, shattering its breastbone. However, the homing instinct was strong, and the pigeon struggled on! Somewhere in the flight, another piece of shrapnel tore off its left leg, leaving the message canister dangling from torn ligaments. The pigeon did, eventually, reach its 'home' loft, and the order to cease the shelling went out immediately. Cher Ami had travelled 25 miles (40 km) in just 25 minutes - and was responsible for the survival of almost 200 soldiers.

This week, my wife and I were informed of the death of a very dear friend - a "chère amie" - of almost forty years. She had been diagnosed, about a year ago, with multiple cancers - and that in spite of the fact that she had never been involved in any drug scene, legal or illegal; led a healthy lifestyle; and had no other significant illnesses. She had worked, with her husband (both of them qualified and experienced nurses) in Papua New Guinea, serving people who suffered from leprosy. They have provided hospitality for many, over the years, including my wife and me. Now, she is no longer with us.

However, she was a disciple of Jesus. During the past year, she has undergone much in the physical realm. Medication and chemotherapy caused different physical problems. Nevertheless, from the time of the diagnosis she had the faith-filled attitude that was able to say: "If I am cured, I will have more time with my husband and family; if I die, I shall see my Saviour sooner." She could have sung, with Jim Reeves, "This world is not my home, I'm just a-passin' through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from heaven's open door, and I can't feel at home in this world anymore."

My friend has now reached her true home. I don't know how many people survived various medical conditions because of her tireless work as a nurse. I do know that she is now receiving her reward from the Saviour she longed to see, face-to-face.

As I take part in the Armistice Day Ceremony in the village, tomorrow, I shall think of, and be grateful to, all of those who, in two World Wars, and innumerable other conflicts, suffered and died that we might enjoy the freedom that we do - even if that freedom appears to be being steadily eroded by a political élite who care, primarily, for themselves. I shall also be thinking about my friend and, of course, her now-widowed husband, and the whole family circle.

I shall also be praying for those who, today, do not have the same assurance that my friend had. May all who read this post seek that relationship with the Lord Jesus, that she enjoyed. It will be for your good, and will bring glory to His Name.

A Father's love.

My younger daughter has posted, on Facebook, that it is three years since she was diagnosed with cancer. Obviously, my wife and I, and the whole family, are delighted and grateful that she is here to post about that day, that we recall as if it were, indeed, just yesterday!

We sought to support her throughout her treatment, and are grateful that she had noticed the cancer early, and that she received treatment very quickly. As we sat with her during her chemotherapy sessions - which were the most difficult times - I wished that someone would come into the room and say, "Mr Ross, a new treatment has just been discovered. It involves you taking this chemotherapy on behalf of your daughter, with all of its unpleasant side-effects, but your daughter will then be totally free of cancer, for life."  I have absolutely no doubt at all as to my reaction. I would have taken my daughter's place on that hospital bed as quickly as was humanly possible!

Why would I have done such a thing? Why would I have voluntarily experienced all that she was obliged to experience? Simply because of my love for my own child! I am certain, too, that I would not be unique in that. Surely any loving parent would do the same for their offspring!

As I thought about that, earlier this evening, I realised that it is, in a sense, a picture of the love that Father God has for each one of us. We suffer from the most virulent "cancer" of all - cancer of the soul, that the Bible refers to, quite simply, as "sin". There is no cure that mankind has ever discovered, or ever will discover. However, a cure is available. It's a cure that involved Another taking your place and mine - not on a hospital bed, but on a wooden cross, on a hill named Calvary, just outside the old city of Jerusalem. He took our place; He paid the penalty for our sin; He died, in His humanity,that we might have the opportunity to live.

Indeed, there is even more. Paul writes these amazing words: "For our sake He [the Father] made Him [the Son] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him [the Son] we might become the righteousness of God." (II Cor.5:21). Now, remember that, in the mystery of the Trinity, the Father and the Son (together with Holy Spirit) are One. So, as God, the Son not only experienced the full weight of our sin, He actually became sin! To use my opening analogy, it is as if I was asked to become cancer, in all of its vileness, in order that my daughter be cured! That is, as the hymnwriter pointed out, "love beyond all measure"!

But just think. If the opening picture that I painted had been true, and my daughter had turned round and said, "Don't bother, dad. I'll just suffer all of this myself, and take my chance on the future." Well, any sane person would have said that she was quite mad! They would say that to spurn my love for her in that way was, itself, unforgivable! Yet that is what so many do to God the Son! "We don't really care about what You suffered for us. We'll just carry on regardless, and take our chance with the future!" Sadly, that future is eternity without Him! But He will never force any of us to do what we don't want to do!

Have you acknowledged your own sinfulness? Have you accepted that you can, by yourself, do nothing about it? Then come to the One Whose shed blood can cleanse the deepest stain. He did it for you! "God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16). He loves you, and seeks your love in return. 

If you have any questions that you think I might be able to answer, please use the e-mail address at the top of the page. I don't check that Inbox on a daily basis but, as soon as I read your question, I will get in touch. Just remember, that time is short. We cannot be sure of even the next minute. Come to Jesus now. You'll never regret it if you do. 

True blessing!

In my private devotions, this morning, I was reading the Beatitudes - the passage in Matthew 5 that is often referred to as "the Magna Carta of the Kingdom of God"; "the Manifesto of the King"; or "the compendium of Jesus' teaching".  The word that is repeated in those verses, is the word "Blessed".  It's a word that actually means "Happy", and it reminded me of Sunday evening when, in Wishaw Baptist Church, those of us who had gathered were given a warning that the pastor was going to ask for some 'contributions' with regard to that which had blessed us in 2014!  In other words, he was asking us for examples of what had made us happy in the year just ended.

When the appropriate time arrived, a good number of folk shared an experience.  In my own case, as would not have been unexpected, it concerned my younger daughter and the cancer that was diagnosed in May, 2014.  The blessing was not in the cancer, but in the fact that she discovered it at a very early stage; that she was able to have it attended to very quickly, as her employer had taken out private health insurance for all employees - important because it turned out to be the most aggressive grade of cancer; and that she had coped with the course of chemotherapy that followed the operation (the radium treatment commences tomorrow).  However, having been advised that, had she not been treated as quickly as she was, she might not have survived to see Christmas, the real blessing was, and is, that we still have her with us.

Others had their own stories to tell, but the thing that I noticed was that not one shared about some cash windfall; a flashy new car; a spectacular holiday; a bigger house; or any of the 'material' things that would be considered by "the world" to bring happiness.  Of course, those events, and situations, that were shared could not have been purchased by even all of the billionaires in the world pooling their financial resources!  They were events, and situations, that far transcend any material benefits.   They were events, and situations, that brought real happiness - happiness that lasts, and is not affected by the world's financial markets, and currency exchanges.  They were "true blessings"!  

I trust that you experienced something similar in 2014 - and will, again, in 2015.

Back to the Commandments in the next post!