Liverpool to London - 2 Hours 13 Minutes

It is seven years since I travelled from Liverpool to London for a week of gospel meetings and outreach. 

The journey was very easy. My wife drove me to Lime Street Station in the centre of Liverpool. I got on the train, found my seat and settled down for a couple of hours of emails, reading, phone calls, etc. At precisely 1400, we pulled into Euston in central London. 

Once I was out of the train, I made my way to the underground. I moved with the crowds in and out of underground trains until I was at Cannon Street Station. I then rose from the 'bowels of the earth' to stand in the bright light of the day and found myself facing platform 3, from which my overland train would leave. The Abbey Wood area of London was my ultimate destination. I arrived there safe and sound. The journey was over. 

At each stage, I was comfortable and dry, could access food and had the use of a loo. I can't complain as the journey was easy. 

Let me tell you about someone else who made a journey under very different circumstances. His name is Jesus. 

He left heaven to come to earth. The world he left was so magnificent I cannot find words to describe it. Revelation 21, in the Bible, gives us a taste of what it must have been like. It is described as having no death, 'neither sorrow, nor crying'. It is an amazing place that reflects the glory of God. 

Jesus left that place willingly to come to earth to deal with our sins. The apostle Paul writes in Philippians 2:7 about the journey of the Son of God - 'but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men'. 

If you have turned to Philippians 2, read on - 'And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross'. My journey was nothing compared to this. 

The Lord Jesus Christ came to earth, took manhood and endured the death of the cross so that we could have forgiveness, salvation and be right with God. What humility and grace. 

But that's not the end; Philippians continues: 'Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father'.

Check this out: the ultimate purpose of the journey of Christ to earth was to bring you to God. May you discover the truth in Christ today. 

Visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk today. 

Are we ever happy?

When it is cold - we complain that the weather is terrible and wonder why we do not live in a hotter climate.

When it is hot - we wonder why we ever moaned and often find that the heat is more than we can cope with.

Are we ever happy we all ask each other!

The problem is one of contentment. It is great when you meet someone who is truly content and happy. Funnily enough contented people are often the ones who do not have a lot of this world's goods. They have found peace in spite of what they have, not because of what they have.

How about you and me; are we content? When the Lord Jesus Christ was on this planet he was content. He knew that he was facing certain death (in fact, he knew before he left heaven for earth, that he would be crucified) but he talked about his 'joy' being in his disciples (John 15:11) and his wish was for his disciples 'joy' to be full.

The Lord Jesus came into the world 'that we might have life' and the Bible expressly states that Jesus did not come to 'condemn the world' but 'that the world through him might be saved'.

Can I ask you a question? Do you know this type of contentment and joy? If not; you can do. For the Bible states that 'whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved'.

Why not bow your head and speak to God about it now!

www.seekthetruth.org.uk

Abbey Wood, London

Today we were visiting Abbey Wood which is an area of South London. It is quite a deprived area of the city and the housing stock is of a very poor quality. I cannot imagine what it must be like for a mum to bring up her children or for a family to keep their teenagers on 'the straight and narrow' but I am sure that many manage to do it. Proverbs 22:6, in the Bible, says 'Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it'. Some of the mums we met are doing an amazing job at bringing up their children. Despite the difficult circumstances they live in their children are well dressed, clean and have good manners.

Like many areas of our cities some of the residents go to church and are believers in the Lord Jesus. They were delighted that we were there to tell people about the Lord Jesus Christ. But most people just want to live life their own way! The scriptures say that 'there is a way that seems right to a man but its end is the way of death,' Proverbs 14:12. We think we know best but we are on the wrong path - again the word of God, the Bible, states 'broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat,' Matthew 7:13. By the way, this attitude is worldwide and cross cultural! It exists in every strata of society; it is not limited to socially deprived areas. I say that in case you are reading this and feel that this message doesn't apply to you - it does!

 

Our aim is to not to highlight people's problems but to point them to the one person who can meet their greatest need. Our greatest problem is not social, financial, medical or environmental - our greatest need is spiritual!

Sin is the cause of all the other problems we have - 'Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed  upon all men, for that all have sinned,' Romans 5:12. The wonderful solution to our sin is found in the person of Jesus Christ. 'Christ died for our sins,' 1 Corinthians 15:3 and as a result 'God commends his love to towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,' Romans 5:8. The final and important piece in the jigsaw of the message of the gospel is that Christ rose from the dead on the third day. As a result we are confident that we have a living Saviour who will save those who repent of their sin and trust him for salvation. Hebrews 7:25 states 'Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them'.

If I can help your further please contact me, Stephen, at www.seekthetruth.org,uk

Don't lecture me about God!

Don't lecture me about God!

This morning we were in the Abbey Wood area of London sharing with people the life changing message of the gospel of salvation through repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a very poor area of the city of London and despite a few people who don't want to know most are very happy to chat about the special meetings that we are having. The only one who can meet these people's spiritual needs is the Lord Jesus Christ. To benefit from this people have to accept their need as a sinner and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour. 

In the second area, which is a lot more affluent, there is a different reaction from people. Many folk get angry when you tell them that God loves them. The love of God is despite our sin and rebellion; which is absolutely amazing and gracious of God. No wonder John Newton wrote - "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me".  The truth is that the 'Father sent the Son (Jesus) to be the Saviour of the world,' 1 John 4:14. People's response to these things is bizarre but normal. If you had any other problem and I came to you with a guaranteed solution you would be likely to thank me. BUT the normal response in this community is "don't talk to me about God!" Now sad is this!

By the way! That's probably the standard response across the UK today! How sad! May God have mercy upon us!

If you want to get saved or learn more about the Bible please visit our webpage - www.seekthetruth.org.uk.