Running "posthaste" for the Master.

"End of the world FEARS as THREE Apocalyptic signs come true in MONTHS"

This was the headline a day or two ago! It was fuelled by three events taking place within just a few months, allegedly echoing scriptures about the end of the world. These are: the birth of a red heifer in Israel; the claim that the Dead Sea is now populated by fish and other forms of life (with a reference to Ezekiel 47:8-9 - but no mention that the picture given there depends on water that has flowed from the Temple!); and a snake slithering out from the Western Wall on Oct 31st.

Of course, there is only one relevant Scripture in this context. Referring to the end of the age, Jesus said: "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." (Matt.24:36).

However, although we may not know the day and the hour, there are many genuine signs (not just three doubtful ones!) that we are, indeed, in the end times. How do disciples of Jesus react to this? Sadly, it would appear that many who claim to be Christians remain unmoved and complacent in their attitude. This means that, with the exponentially explosion in the population on the one hand, and the lethargy of professed believers on the other, we are losing out on the great task of going and making disciples of all nations, baptising them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that Jesus has commanded us. (see. Matt 28:19-20).

In the light of this, someone has made the point that, "We must go posthaste and full throttle if we are to reach this dying generation with God's message of hope and salvation."

"full throttle" most of us will understand. But what about "posthaste"? Well, the word goes back all the way to the time of Henry VIII, king of England. At that time, postmasters were given relays of horses to carry messages for the king to important cities of the realm. Because some couriers were irresponsible, and wasted time in taverns and inns on the way, a drastic law was put into effect demanding that every dispatch rider should "ride for his life"! 

The king's edict meant that anyone caught delaying his messages would be publicly hanged! Often, upon particularly important messages, the figure of a man suspended from a gallows, was drawn. Beneath this was the ominous warning: "Haste, post, haste! Haste for thy life!" A number of men were put to death because of their inefficiency, but the practice was eventually discontinued. However, the old expression remains as a reminder that the utmost speed and urgency is required when the king's business is involved.

Writing to the believers in Corinth, the apostle Paul states that we,who claim His name, are ambassadors for the Lord Jesus (II Cor.5:20). Are we, as His ambassadors running "posthaste" to deliver His message of love and grace to others? "The harvest is plentiful," said Jesus, "but the labourers are few; pray, therefore, the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest." (Matt.9:37-38). There is, let us not forget, a compelling GO in the GOspel!

Falsehood in the Church.

Every person who claims to be a Christian should watch this clip!

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With God's help - you can!

It is probably safe to say that few will have heard of Eric Weisz! Born in Budapest to a Jewish Rabbi and his second wife, he was one of a family of seven (including a half-brother, the son of his father's first wife). The family emigrated to the USA in 1878, and his father served as the Rabbi of the Zion Reform Jewish Congregation, in Appleton, Wisconsin. The family name was changed to the German spelling of Weiss, and Eric became Ehrich. 

However, he is much better known as "The Great Houdini" - escapist par excellence! One of his claims was that he could be locked in any jail cell in the country, and set himself free within minutes! This claim he made good in every city he visited - except one! That day, something went wrong. He entered the cell in his street clothes and, as soon as the heavy, solid-metal, door clanged shut behind him, he removed from his belt a concealed piece of strong, but flexible, metal, and went to work on the lock. Soon, however, he realised that he wasn't getting anywhere. For thirty minutes he worked, without success. Then an hour passed. This was much longer than he usually took, and he began to stress out - but he still was unable to pick that lock!

Finally, after labouring for two hours, and feeling a total failure, he leaned against the door and, to his utter amazement, it swung open. It had never been locked in the first place!

How many times does something look impossible simply because we think that it is? However, many have discovered that, when they have focused their faith on the situation; removed the word "can't" from their vocabulary; and sought the help of Father God; the impossible becomes "do-able"!

When God called Gideon to deliver His people from the Midianites, he replied: "I don't have the right connections." (Judges 6:15). When He called Moses, he replied: "I'm not a gifted speaker." (Ex.4:10). When He called Jeremiah, he replied: "I'm too young." (Jer.1:6). To each one God said: "… fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." (Is.41:10).

Of course, if we are to hear these words for ourselves, we must be certain that we are walking in His way, seeking to do His will, and open to His commands. When Paul assured his believing friends in Philippi: "I can do all things in Him Who strengthens me." (4:13), he was not suggesting that he could hold his breath for twenty minutes; run a mile in two minutes; or lift a ten-ton weight with just one hand! He was making the point that anything God told him to do could be done in the strength of the Lord.

So what is God saying to you, today? Perhaps it is simply the call that every disciple hears: "Follow Me"! If you do, you will not be called upon to do so in your own strength. He will be with you, to guide, and encourage, and uphold. You may take Him at His word! Will you do so?!

Where is your treasure?

In my Inbox, this morning, I received a link to a video-clip that asked the question in the heading to this post. It's an important question. Various places are chosen for the protection of what we consider to be valuable - be that cash; jewels; special memorabilia; or important documents . Many people, I believe, have a safety deposit box in the vault of a bank. Some have a secret hiding-place within their own homes. Others may use a false breakfast cereal box, or can of baked beans.

I was reminded of the story of one saint of God - by the way, that does not mean that the gentleman in question had been 'canonised' by one particular denomination, having already died, and having had a sufficient number of miracles attributed to him! Biblically, a 'saint' is simply a disciple of the Lord Jesus - had something far more secure than any of the above, for his treasure! Nearing the time of his mortal death, he asked a visiting friend: "Will you bring me my Strong Box, please? Since I am very rich, I would like to look again at some of my most valuable documents." The visitor hesitated, wondering if the elderly man's mind was wandering. However, the man was quick to respond. "It's bound in leather, lying there on the table." The visitor looked, and saw a leather-bound Bible, which he brought to the old man.

The man leafed through it with much delight, enumerating some of its contents:

First document - my great Gift: "For 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);

Second document - my present Possession: "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." (John 5:24);

Third document - my life insurance: "Jesus said ..., “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." (John 11:25-26);

Fourth document - my accident policy: "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are 'the called' according to His purpose." (Rom.8:28);

Fifth document - my fire insurance: "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire! But according to His promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." (II Peter 3:10-13);

Sixth document - my identification papers: "Beloved, we are God’s children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." (I John 3:2).

"Yes," exclaimed the dying man, "all of my treasures are in safe-keeping."

The believer's Bible is, indeed, a "Strong Box", filled with many valuable documents  and other items. There is no danger of it being broken into and anything stolen from it. Promises backed by the Sovereign God "... who never lies ..." (Tit.1:2) are guaranteed. Riches of inestimable worth are locked in this vault of truth. For those who truly believe, what moments of pure delight await when we ponder over its priceless documents! 

Have you taken time, recently, to look at some of the valuables in your own "safe"? 

And, now, the video that set this particular train of thought in motion.

Disappointment - His appointment!

A Christian friend who has been working, as a church planter, in a particular area of France, has been asked by the organisation, with which she has been working, to return to the area in which she had formerly worked. She writes: "This has obviously been difficult for me to digest and I'm still processing and trying to make sense of this "detour" that God has me on."

This is not a unique experience! Sometimes, the disciple of Jesus must not only endure "fiery trials", but also encounter baffling circumstances that may seem to be a hindrance - even although (s)he is earnestly seeking to do God's will.

Some two hundred years ago, Rev. Barnabas Shaw experienced such difficulties. Appointed as a Methodist missionary, he had hoped to serve God in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Suddenly, there was a change of plan and he was directed, instead, to minister in Cape Town. When he arrived there, however, the British Governor, who was hostile to the Gospel, forbade him to preach to the indigenous nomad tribes. Shaw, and his wife Jane, were very disappointed. Like the psalmist, their spirits were overwhelmed with sorrow (see Ps.142:3). They were so desirous of serving the Lord yet, twice in just a few months, their high purposes and plans had been frustrated. With the little money they possessed, they bought  yoke of oxen and a cart, loaded up their goods, and headed towards the interior of the country, to set up a mission outside the Governor's jurisdiction.

On the twenty-seventh day of their journey, they met a company of Khoikhoi (aka Hottentots) - the non-Bantu indigenous nomadic cattle-farmers of South Africa. To their astonishment, they discovered that these peaceful people were trying to make their way to Cape Town. They were, the Shaws were informed, searching for a missionary  who, they had been told, was being sent to teach them "the great Word of God"! That their paths should cross in such dense jungle, has been described, by the American Baptist preacher and writer, A.J.Gordon, in his book The Holy Spirit in Missions as "such a juncture of Providence as has rarely occurred in the history of missions." A.J. Gordon, by the way, also wrote a number of hymns, including the well-known "My Jesus, I Love Thee".

The chief of the Khoikhoi led Barnabas and Jane some two hundred miles farther inland, where the faithful missionaries were able to establish a spiritual outpost for the Lord. Barnabas also taught the Khoikhoi to cultivate the soil, as they had previously never grown any type of crop. Their only source of food was the cattle with which they travelled South, in their constant search for fresh pastures. The disappointments that the Shaws has experienced had really been the over-ruling hand of God directing them into His perfectly appointed way.

When our trust is in Him Who says: "... I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all My purpose,’" (Is.46:9-10), then we may be certain that, although He may lead us in what we perceive, at the time, to be a roundabout way, He will always lead us aright.