Friday, July 17, 2009

Swine Flu

Most of us are not sure whether what we read or hear in the media is hyped up or if things are getting more dangerous by the day. Common sense would tell us to take precautions and not to be glib or cynical about what potentially could be a killer. Very wise counsel I would say.

Do you know what really amazes me. In most areas of life we are quite sensible and wise but when we come to spiritual/moral issues most of us stick our heads in the sand. We teach that morals are just our personal perspective on matters yet we are surprised when people take the law into their own hands and harm themselves and others because they do not have a sense of right or wrong and their accountability for their actions. We want a civilized society but cannot seem to see the link between truth and standards (or the lack of it) and the disgusting behavior of individuals in our nation.

Sin and wrong is spreading like wildfire though our society and it will get worse. Not just because the Bible predicted it would but because we now have generations of people who have never been taught what is right and why!

What is the answer? Simply put it is to get back to the Bible. See what God says. It will not make us feel better about ourselves but when we face the reality of our sin we will begin to see why God's Son, Jesus came into the world. God declares in the Bible - 'to save sinners'. Christ died for us - the ungodly. God is willing to save all who come to Him.

Two things are needed. One - an awareness and admission of our guiltiness before God. This infers we accept that we are not capable of improving our moral state and indicates that we understand that God would be within His rights to hold us accountable for our behavior/ beliefs and to judge us for our sins. Two - faith towards God. That accepting His way of salvation (i.e. the Lord Jesus) as the only means of our redemption.

Would you come this way and know life. The price was paid for in the death of the Lord Jesus. Salvation is still on offer. I hope you repent and believe the gospel.
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Friday, July 03, 2009

The King is dead. Long live the King

You will, I am sure see the connection between Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson as being ‘The King of Pop’ and the continuity of commercial interests in maintaining the status-quo, in order for the dollars to keep flowing. Downloads of M.J.’s music shot up after his sudden death and stores across the world soon sold out any merchandise relating to him.
Jackson’s connection with Presley was brought closer by his marriage to Presley’s only daughter, Lisa, but that did not last many months.

It is alleged that though the pop star sold nearly 400 million singles, that he was broke when he died. The world of pop music is so hyped up, and media managed by lawyers and agents. By the time they have had their cut; tax paid to the government and excesses indulged in by the artist, the multimillion pot of cash dwindles to nothing. Proverbs 23:5 says, “Riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away” One should ask Mr. Bernard Madoff if that is true, as he starts his 150-year prison sentence for the world’s biggest Ponzi fraud!

At one of the summer shows last year, where we put a Christian witness, there was a man who came to our stand dressed as an Elvis look alike. He said to me that Elvis was not dead. I assured him that he was very dead. As we talked it began to rain and he said that Elvis was crying. I told him that if Elvis had not repented of his sin and called upon the Lord for salvation before he died, then the place where he now is, he would be weeping and wailing and in eternal torment. For that is what Hell is like and every sinner that dies without Christ as their Saviour goes to Hell. God wants men and women to get a real life, eternal life; this is given to all that receive Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

Matthew ch.2:1 begins, “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?” Jesus was born King and when he began His public ministry at thirty years of age he preached that entrance into the Kingdom of God was through being born again (Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John3:3) Throughout time millions of people have believed and been born again, have you?
One such person was a thief that died alongside Jesus on the cross. Pilate had written the superscription, “JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.” The thief said to the Saviour, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” He believed that Jesus was a King with a coming Kingdom and wanted to be part of it, hence he said, “Lord…”
Christ was born King and died King, He died before the thieves died and the repentant thief could have said, “The King is dead” but I know because He told me, “To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” He knew that death was not the end and could have said of the Lord, “Long live the King.” In fact another will never supercede this King, He would never die again.
The risen Lord said to John in Rev.1:18, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen.” And John wrote in Rev.19 “And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”


Concerning the past, the King has died, concerning the present He is alive, He has triumphed over death and the grave and concerning the future we can say with Paul to Timothy (1:17) “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Have you ever said the words, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Did you really want Christ’s Kingdom to come, and are you a child of the Kingdom? If not. Why not today do what the thief did and call upon the Lord, before it is too late. God bless.


This entry on my blog was written by Stan Burditt of Northampton
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