True security

So, the General Election, 2019 is now a part of history - a part that a number of former members of Parliament will be only too eager to forget! I took the time to at least "skim" through the manifestos of the major players in the election. One area that was not given much, if any, space was that of national defence! (I apologise if I simply missed it!).

Yet defence of the realm is, surely, one of the major responsibilities of any government. Certainly, feeling secure is a high priority for many in this unsafe, volatile world. Ask those living in London; or in the southern parts of Israel; or in any of the "hot-spots" - national or urban. I read, earlier today that one private investigation agency (I suspect in the USA!) promises to "work diligently to restore the sense of security and safety that you and your family deserve."

As some may recall, I recently spent the first part of my personal devotions in the Book of Psalms (actually "BookS of Psalms - there are five of them in a single volume!). The composer of Ps. 91 found a place of safety and security. That is good - but what is better is that you and I may rest secure in that same place! The psalmist described it in a number of ways. 

First of all, he writes of abiding "... in the shadow of the Almighty," (v.1). Shadows, of course, provide protection from the direct heat of the sun - something that can be very severe in the Middle East! However, even if the heat is severe, being in the shade reduces what we actually feel. When you and I are under the shadow of Father God - being protected by Him - then we do not face the full heat of our difficulties. We may not be removed from them, but His presence enables us to persevere.

The psalmist then goes on to describe Almighty God as "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust." (v.2).  The Creator of all that exists is the strongest protector we could ever have - and we may run to Him for help in any, and every situation. Nothing can get past Him, unless it is as part of His own loving plan for our ultimate good.

The third word-picture that the psalmist draws is in v.4. "... under His wings you will find refuge;" So many have a picture in their minds of God as some kind of celestial police officer, intent on punishing us for every wrongdoing. They have not read, or understood, what is often referred to as "the Gospel in a nutshell". "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." (John 3:16-17). The God of the Bible is not, of course, some "easy push-over". However, He is soft and tender, like a caring mother bird. Remember when the Lord Jesus wept over Jerusalem? "O Jerusalem , Jerusalem , killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!" (Matt 23:37). When troubles rage, He draws us close - if we are willing! We don't need to fear that He will cast us out, if we are His!

Just one more reference from a number of those available. "Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your habitation, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent." (vs.9-10). If we are dwelling "in the Lord" He will be our home, our habitation, now and forever! 

True security can be found only in the God Who promises to save those who call upon Him; and to hold them close Himself. He is the One Who can be "... Emmanuel" (which means, God with us)." (Matt 1:23) in a personal sense. As the celebration of the birth of the only-begotten of the Father draws close, may all who read these words find, in Him, their refuge, their strength, their eternal hope.

General Election, 2019

Well with only a couple of days to go, I've decided that it is time for me to throw in my tuppence-worth on Thursday's General Election. At this stage of the campaign, I reckon that most people will already have made up their minds as to which Party/Candidate they are going to support (or even if they are going to vote at all!), so I doubt that I will change anyone's mind - but the 'blurb' at the top does state that "Some of my posts stray into politics ..."!!

In the constituency in which I am entitled to vote, there are five candidates, representing (in alphabetical order) the Conservative Party, the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrat Party, the Scottish National Party, and the United Kingdom Independence Party. I am not a political guru, and insist that only the poll that will be taken on Thursday is of any importance, but given the figures from the previous GE, it would be a major upset for the SNP if their candidate failed to secure the seat. However, she will not be receiving my support! Why not?

The reasons for my refusing to back the SNP are the same as those for refusing the Labour, and Liberal Democrat, Parties. The first of these is the support of these parties for abortion. If you have been reading my blog for any reasonable length of time, you will know that I am totally opposed to the murder of a human being, in its mother's womb, for whatever reason, and by whatever nomenclature. Labour are proposing the total decriminalisation of abortion. This would mean that babies in the womb could be legally killed, for any reason, right up to the day of birth. If ever enacted, it would be the most extreme abortion law in western Europe. The Lib Dems proposal on abortion is not quite as extreme. However, they propose to completely decriminalise abortion up to 24 weeks. This would mean that babies in the womb could be killed for any reason with no checks and balances. This, in turn, would legalise gender-selective abortion which must mean that Lib Dems approve of this discriminatory practice.

Where do the SNP stand on this emotive, but important, issue? Well, I read through all fifty pages of the Manifesto - but found no mention of a policy on abortion. However, the party's position was more than hinted at by the furore that followed John Mason's motion, to Holyrood, that access to abortion be restricted. He received no support from the Party!  

The Conservative manifesto does not contain extreme policy proposals on abortion as Labour and Lib Dem manifestos do. Regretfully, there are also no commitments not to further liberalise the abortion laws, and the party has shown, in the past, that it is willing to bring forward liberal policies that were not in the manifesto.

In matters concerning gender self-declaration, or no-fault divorce the Conservatives, again, have no specific policy proposals. However, as with abortion, this does not mean - recalling their 'track record' - that they would not legislate if they take power on Friday.  The other two main (UK) parties, have extreme proposals on gender self-declaration, and both propose to introduce the unilateral destruction of families through no-fault divorce. The SNP appear not to have any policy proposals on these issues, either.

You may have noticed that I have not made any reference to what has become known as "Brexit". However, I find it to be of interest that they state, in their manifesto, that "Unborn children are children. 218,581 abortions were performed in the UK in 2018. UKIP will seek to reduce the number of abortions carried out in the UK, and we will support alternative options such as adoption." This party also " rejects any moves for new laws to make gender a self-declared condition. Gender is not different to biological sex. There are two sexes – male and female – determined by anatomy and chromosomes."

So, for me, given the choice that I have, there is only one party to which I could give support. I hope that others, particularly those who claim to be disciples of Jesus, will have checked out issues such as those I have mentioned, and will prayerfully decide where they should place their X.

Of course, at the end of the day, I believe in the total sovereignty of Almighty God. The Psalmist asked: "Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain?" He went on to paint a word-picture: "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and His anointed, saying, 'Let us burst their bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us.' He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision. Then He will speak to them in His wrath, and terrify them in His fury, ..." (Ps 2:1-5).

May His will be done, on Thursday, and every day, to His glory.

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!