Behold our God!

It was strange, this morning, not "going to church"! Of course, that is actually shorthand for "going to meet with the church" which, as the current crisis is emphasising, is not the building, but the people of God, wherever they may meet! Jesus said "... where [even just] two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt 18:20), and where He is, that is 'church'!

However, I was able to join with dear brothers and sisters in Jesus, using a telephone link! That was strange as well. Next week may be even stranger - I am the listed preacher (in French!).

This is the sort of situation that, just a few weeks ago, none of us would have imagined coming to pass. It has caught the world by surprise - national leaders as much as the general population. But it has not surprised the One Who knows the end from the beginning. He sees all of time, which He created, spread out before Him 'simultaneously'. He is the Sovereign Lord over all that exists - including viruses that are invisible to the naked eye! And to those who are disciples of Jesus, born again of God the Holy Spirit, He is "our God".

This video clip is one of the most inspiring, and uplifting, that I know. The California Baptist University Choir and Orchestra bring a dynamic, and invigorating, rendition of "Behold our God". Listen - and be blessed.

Shopping, and heaven!

Having returned home early on Thursday morning, it was yesterday before my wife and I felt like going to make some grocery purchases. So, armed with our "Attestation" (the signed paper allowing us to leave the home for specific reasons. Failure to have one leads to a fine of, I believe, 135€ !!) we set off for Leclerc, our local supermarket.

As a food provider, this shop was open, and there were a number of vehicles in the car-park. What was unusual was the queue from the one entrance that was open, and the sign advising customers to maintain a 1 metre distance from other customers! Security personnel were only permitting a certain number of customers to enter - I suspect that the number was based on the number who were exiting the store with their trolleys well filled! Eventually, we were also able to enter - with our single basket!!

I love the old proverbs and adages. Two that have come to mind in recent days are: "Every cloud has a silver lining", and "It's an ill wind that blows no good"! I am discovering that the Covid-19 virus situation is reminding me of so much that is truly important (not that I am suggesting that the virus, and its effects, are not important - especially to those who are being hospitalised, and to those who have already been bereaved!). 

It was as I stood in that queue, waiting to be allowed to enter a supermarket in order to purchase some groceries, and then be obliged to leave, that I found myself thinking of heaven. You see, there will be no queue there. When this mortal body dies, my spirit - the real me - will instantly go to be with the Lord Jesus. And when I am received into His presence, I will not be ushered out again! I shall be with Him throughout eternity - that dimension of timelessness that is beyond our mortal comprehension. What will it be like? I honestly don't know, for certain. However,I have my own beliefs - shared with others, of course - that may be the subject of a future post.

One thing I do know is that it is only for those who have been born again by the grace of Almighty God, through faith in the Lord Jesus, an who are indwelt by God the Holy Spirit. Does that describe you? If not, then I urge you to consider the claim that Father God has on your life.

The well-known (to those of a certain age!) story of John’s boat illustrates this well.  John was a creative child.  One day, he found a piece of wood and, with his trusty pocket-knife (this was also before the days of suffocation by Health & Safety!), he started to whittle away at it until he eventually fashioned a lovely boat.  Every day, he would take it down to the local river, and he would watch with some pride as his boat sailed so beautifully in the water.  One day, however, the river was flowing so quickly that the boat was carried away before John could catch hold of it. John was very sad.  He reckoned that he would never see his beloved boat again.

Some weeks later, John’s mother took him with her to the nearby town.  They visited a number of shops as his mother made different purchases.  Then as they walked past the big toy-shop, John stopped.  There, in the window, was something that he immediately recognised.  It was his boat; the very boat on which he had lavished such care as he shaped it, and added the superstructure; the boat that he had last seen disappearing from view in the rapid flow of the river.  There was a price tag on the boat.  John reached into his pocket, and pulled out the cash that was there.  It was going to take every penny – but he did have just enough to pay for the boat.  He went into the shop, handed over his money, and walked out with the boat in his arms.  Looking down at it he said: “Ye’re twice mine. A wrocht ye, an’ a bocht ye!”  “You’re twice mine.  I made you, and I paid the price for you.”  What a claim John had to his boat! 

And that’s the claim that Almighty God has on each one of us.  “You’re twice mine”, He says. “I created you and, when you were lost in sin, I paid the price for you – I redeemed you!”

May your response be "Here I am; take me; use me; to Your glory."

Home! Home at last!

Yesterday morning, we (my wife and I) left our overnight lodging in Dover, and headed for the Ferry Port. Our first stop was the French Passport Control. Our explanation of why we had been in the UK; our passports; and, most importantly, my French driving licence; had us waved through. UK Passport Control also waved us through. The young lady at the P&O Ferries' Check-in put us on to the ferry that left an hour and a half before the one for which we had booked. The ferry was almost devoid of passengers. The crossing was uneventful. All was well!

Or so we thought! We had already booked in a (budget!) hotel in Dreux for one night, in order to break up the journey. However, when we arrived, we discovered that the hotel was closed due to the restrictions that had been put in place by the French Government. We looked around, but were unable to find any alternative. Driving on to Chartres, we were stopped by the Gendarmerie! Thankfully, we had been warned about the need for a Certificate of Attestation, and so I had hand-written one! We also had retained our ferry-crossing documents, and all was accepted. Mind you, as we were about to drive off again, there was a knocking on the window. I lowered the glass, to be asked about the large, helium-filled, balloon in the back of the car! I guess it was, indeed, unusual, but when I explained that we had been enjoying a belated celebration of a special birthday anniversary for my wife, and that the balloon came from that, the two young gendarmes laughed, and waved us on! We then discovered that Chartres, too, was without any available hotels. Having wasted a lot of time in searching, we decided to drive straight home - a distance of some 560 kms (350 miles). We had purchased a couple of salads to eat in the hotel, so we stopped for a half-hour to have "dinner". Then, about midnight, we were able to park in an "Aire de repos", and sleep for about an hour and a half. We arrived home at 0530 - and went straight to bed. We awoke about 1030, but didn't arise immediately! 

So, it was really good to be home - even if we are forbidden to visit for purely social reasons. However, as I lay in bed this morning, my mind running through the journey home, I found myself thinking of a much longer journey - the journey of life. It's a journey that may be long or short. It's a journey that some don't even have the opportunity to commence. It's a journey that is filled with a multitude of different experiences - some enjoyable; others less so.

And it's a journey that, sooner or later, comes to an end! We refer to that end as "death", and it is the lot of each and every one of us. Our financial worth is not sufficient to avoid it (although a very rich person may be able to postpone it for a time!). Our position in society is not sufficient to avoid it (a dictator, monarch, or president will die just as surely as the poorest, and least socially important, person). 'Religious' people die as readily as those who are totally agnostic (I omit "atheists" because there is no such person as a true atheist - or, at least, who is not also arrogantly ignorant!). Children die as well as adults - and I have just received the very sad news that a former pupil who had recently announced that the child she was carrying had been diagnosed with Downs' Syndrome (but that, to her - and her partner's - great credit, she was determined to keep, and care for) has died in the womb. Death is no respecter of persons.

Yet, for some of us, death will come as a welcome experience! Perhaps not the actual experience of dying - that is, for some, incredibly painful - but the "end result"! That is because we believe firmly that physical death is not the end. There is, indeed, life after death! The only variable is "what kind of life will you have?"

For those of us who are disciples of Jesus, the future is secure. We have the promise in His Word that, our physical deaths are not the end, but that our spirits (the real "us") will go to be with Him (II Cor.5:8). Not only that, but He has assured us that He is already preparing a place for us! (Jn.14:2). And all of this is not just for a specified time, but for eternity (read about that in my first book: "Great Words of the Faith". ALL royalties go directly to Release International in support of the persecuted church).

When that happens, although there is much to take place after it (and, of course, if the Rapture takes place during my physical lifetime, then I shall not experience physical death! Read more of this in the relevant chapter in "Great Words"!), I shall be home! It is something to which, every passing day, I look forward with great anticipation. I shall, after the return of the Lord Jesus, and His vanquishing of all evil, spend eternity in His presence on the new earth that He has ready for me!

Then shall I be able to say, with great joy, "Home! I'm home at last!" Hallelujah! Will you be there with me? Will you?! If you are unsure, please feel free to contact me using the e-mail address above. It is not my primary e-mail address, so it isn't checked every day - but as soon as I read your e-mail, I shall respond. 

COVID-19

It's been some time since I published a post on this blog - mainly because I have been away form home and, as well as being very busy, it is not always convenient to sit down and spend time composing a post when on the move, or when living in someone else's home.

We (my wife and I) are due to head south to Dover tomorrow morning. We have booked accommodation there and, we trust, we all be on the ferry to Calais on Wednesday morning. As long as we manage to get across the Channel, and through the Customs at Calais, we should be okay to get home - although we may find that our booked accommodation for an overnight on the journey south, will have cancelled all reservations! Dear Christian friends have already cancelled a visit for Sunday, on account of the COVID-19 virus, and even the two fellowships with which we are personally involved have cancelled, or are considering cancelling, public worship! France is taking the situation very seriously!

I mentioned this virus - almost in passing - in my last post. However, I have learned more about it in the past couple of weeks, and wish to share some further thoughts and advice just now.

I was challenged a few days ago when I pointed out that influenza is the cause of more deaths, annually, than COVID-19. "They are not the same", I was informed. That, I believe, is true. But that was not my point. What I was seeking to emphasise is the results of both conditions! I have checked the most recent figures for the UK with regard to the present situation. As of yesterday, there have been 1,372 cases reported, and of these 35 people have died. Now, just one preventable death is one too many, and I sympathise with those who have been bereaved. However, it would appear that in most - if not all - of those 35 cases, there were already underlying medical issues that contributed to the deaths. 

Checking the latest figures that I could find for influenza, I discovered that - again, just in the UK - over the winter of 2018-2019, there were 3,157 people admitted to ICU/HDU departments (this figure does not, as far as I am able to understand, include the thousands more who were able to be treated at home) with confirmed influenza. Of these, 312 people died! I don't recall panic buying of toilet rolls, etc., every other winter because of the 'flu!

Of course, we must be sensible. Indeed, one of my former pupils posted on Face book that what we are being advised to do is what any sensible person should have been doing in any case! He is quite right! Let me remind you of some sound advice:

• First of all, washing your hands. The primary way we make ourselves sick is by touching our face. If you pick up COVID-19 by coming in contact with some contaminated surface, you will likely give it to yourself by touching your face. It has been recommended that we wash our hands for 20 seconds. Some have suggested hand sanitisers - but others are more sceptical about this! 
• Secondly, avoid touching common objects when out in public. For example, use a plastic glove when holding the pump as you top up your fuel tank. I now carry a small supply just in case none is available at the pump.
• Thirdly, stay away from people who are coughing to reduce exposure to possible viral infection.
• Fourthly, if you are the person coughing, cough into your elbow and minimise how much travels through the air or gets on your hands.
• And last but not least, conduct your life as you would any other day because we know that Almighty God is sovereign and can handle a simple disease outbreak like this.

(I am grateful to Dr. Andrew Fabich is a professor of microbiology at Truett McConnell University, Cleveland, GA. for much of the above information, although it is really what has been made publicly available by others.).

That final point, above, is the most important. As with any illness, we are being reminded that each of us is "... a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." (James 4:14). However, for those whose trust is in the living God, there is the confidence that, in the words of the Psalmist-king of Israel, during a time of trouble and difficulty, that  He "... will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent, He will set me high upon a rock." (Ps 27:5).

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In this world - a world that has been infected by the virus of sin - we shall always face trouble of one sort or another. In eternity, we shall know true peace. Let the apostle John have the last word from the glorious vision that he was given, and that we know as the revelation of the Lord Jesus: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, «Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them; He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.» And He who sat upon the throne said, «Behold, I make all things new.» "(Rev 21:1-5).

Hallalujah! Come, Lord Jesus! 

For Sinners only!

We live in a world of bad news! Recent weeks have seen a succession of severe storms coming across the Atlantic Ocean. The Covid-19 "Coronavirus" is now said to be active in about fifty countries worldwide. There are renewed attacks by Muslim militants (aka terrorists) in a number of African countries. The Stock Markets have experienced an unusual drop in their indices. It's just one thing after another!

However, there is one piece of Good News that we must never forget! Praise God, that He has never withdrawn His offer of forgiveness of sin! This is, surely, Good News for sinners such as you and me. Sadly, however, there are those who simply don't recognise that they re sinners in need of salvation. Rather, they make excuses for themselves such as:

• My good deeds outweigh my bad ones;
• I'm not as bad as other people;
• Most of the time, I'm a very good person.

Their personal "shortcomings", they feel, don't jeopardise their standing before Almighty God (assuming that they believe that they are answerable to Him in the first instance!).

What a fallacy! Imagine if you will, being charged, and tried, for the crime of theft. You set forward your defense: "Don't forget, Your Honour, that my good deeds outweigh my bad ones. I'm not as bad as a murderer or a rapist. Indeed, there are many other people who are much worse than I!" No judge is going to acquit you on such grounds. The offender must be judged according to the offence, not according to other good deeds, or the deeds of other people! If justice is to be done, then the offender must pay the penalty for his crime.

Or must he?! In one of my books (ALL Royalties go directly to Release International, to support the persecuted church), I recount the following:

"When the well-known American evangelist, Billy Graham, was driving through a small southern town, he was stopped by a policeman and charged with speeding. Dr.Graham admitted his guilt, but was told by the officer that he would have to appear in court. The judge asked, "Guilty, or not guilty?" When the preacher pleaded guilty, the judge replied, "That’ll be ten dollars – a dollar for every mile you went over the limit."

Then, suddenly the judge recognized the famous evangelist. "You have violated the law," he said. "The fine must be paid – but I am going to pay it for you." He took a ten-dollar bill from his own wallet, attached it to the ticket, and then took Graham out and bought him a steak dinner! "That," said Billy Graham, when he recounted the story, "is how God treats repentant sinners!" And that is grace." (Great Words of the Faith, chap.8).

That story also describes what Almighty God, in the Persona (not a typo - see the chapter on The Trinity, in the same book!) of the Son, did for sinners! And we are all sinners! "... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Rom.23:23).

Has false reasoning kept you away from the One Who died, and rose again; the One Who opened the way into the presence of the Father; the One Who "paid the ticket" for your sins, and for mine?

If so, He is waiting for you, now, to confess your sins, admit your need, and put your trust in Him. May you do so - for your own eternal good, and for His glory.