Take some time out this week

 

Some people have good physical and mental health well into old age, but we are all different, and for many, these latter years can be a struggle. However, there are some advantages to growing older. I am writing to highlight these benefits to the individual and the wider society. 

Time to Think

In our busy lives, deep reflection often takes a backseat but taking time to think is crucial for effective decision-making, and certain jobs naturally provide more time for contemplation, such as those that involve long-distance travel.

Unfortunately, some people choose to avoid deep thinking about life and continually focus on the day-to-day grind. The Bible encourages both the young and old to consider life’s deeper issues. The wise sage Solomon wrote, "Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth," and Paul the Apostle said, "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel," Thinking is not wasted time if it leads to wise decisions and positive actions.

If you have not considered "the God question" or the afterlife, now may be the time to reflect on these matters before it's too late.

Life's Big Questions

 

We often ask questions like: Where did we come from in terms of the origin of life? Why is there so much evil in the world? Why can’t we ever seem to find peace? The answers to these big questions can be found in the book of Genesis in the Bible.

Genesis tells the story of our world—God's perfect creation, humanity's rebellion against Him, and the downward spiral that followed. The first book of the Bible describes significant social disruption, domestic abuse, and problems that regrettably have become normalized in our society. It recounts the first murder, lying, scamming, gang wars, riots, and other issues that bring us face-to-face with dysfunctional families and siblings betraying one another. Effectively, it portrays a society remarkably similar to ours, a world filled with selfishness. One major question arises: How did the world spiral out of control so quickly? The answer is later found in the holy scriptures: "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12, Legacy Standard Bible).

Why is the Bible banned in so many countries?

 

Some of you will know that in recent years I have had the joy (and sometimes the stress) of travelling to different parts of the world. The main reason I visit is to share the message of the Bible with unbelievers and to talk with believers about some of the Bible's great truths.  I was once asked what I did for a living. That can either be a conversation stopper (if the person I am talking to thinks being a Christian preacher is weird) or open an interesting conversation. On that occasion, I decided to be a little coy with my answer, so I said, 'I research and promote the world's best-selling book.' Of course, I was talking about the Bible. You might be surprised by that fact, but it is true. Billions of copies of the Bible are sold every year, and every major source agrees that no other book, religious or secular, comes close to its total circulation[1]. Statistically, no other book comes near. The Bible stands at around 5-6 billion copies sold or distributed; Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung, 1.1 billion; The Qur'an, 800 million, and so on. 

There are around six countries where the Bible is either banned or makes owning a Bible so dangerous that it effectively functions as a ban. In nine nations, despite not having a formal ban, the activity of extremists, and the levels of government surveillance make access to or the use of the Bible extremely difficult. You might be asking, "What is your point?" I have a couple, so please bear with me. Firstly, we should all be grateful that we still have the freedom to read and evaluate religious texts such as the Bible. Secondly, you need to ask – what is it about the Bible that makes it so feared?

 

One of the wonderful things about sharing that Bible with people is knowing how powerful it is. It is the word of God (I know you may not agree, and thankfully, you have the freedom to do so), and it claims to be eternal and living. Reading, believing and acting upon its truth will change your life – maybe this is where the 'fear factor' comes from!  The apostle Peter wrote a similar description of scripture in one of his letters. He was describing the effect of becoming a Christian and confirming that the source of that change was God, as revealed in the Bible. Let me quote the whole of his statement so you can read it for yourself:

 

'Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. As the Scriptures say, "People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever." And that word is the Good News that was preached to you,' 1 Peter 1:21-25 (NLT).

 

I challenge you to get a Bible and read it this year. That privilege may not always be available to you, so take the opportunity while you can. Have a good year.

 

[1] Source – Guinness World Records and multiple independent analyses confirm its number one position.

All photos courtesy of Unsplash

The changing landscape of life

 

I was in the Emerald Isle for a St Patrick's Day conference several years ago, and it lived up to its reputation - green and beautiful even on misty and foggy mornings. It was a very sunny day when I arrived, and the views from the plane were stunning. Beautiful beaches and scenery. As I looked out the window, I wished I were there on holiday, but it was a business trip, and there was work to be done.

My mother and my wife are from the north of the country, and there are many similarities in the people's mindset. The way they think and their attitude to life are quite similar, especially those from rural communities. At that time, it was interesting to see the evidence of prosperity; every house I came across seemed to be bigger than the one before. It is, however, not the way things were when I visited. The country was struggling economically, and I was told that there were whole estates of houses which had never been occupied and might even be knocked down. What a shame and a waste of money.