Government - that's quite a story!

There are three principle elements of government, Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. The Legislators make the laws, the Executive enforce the law, and the Judiciary interprets and applies the law.  

There are over 200 different forms of State Government - Republicans, Monarchies, Autocracies and, is some cases, Theocracies. Sadly none as yet own God's rule exclusively.  

The world in its present state is groaning under the burden of sin and is crying out for righteous government; this will be here sooner than many people expect. Demonstrations in many countries are all too familiar, with people objecting to the legislation, the executive and the judiciary in their various countries. Calls for change of government are becoming commonplace, caused by the discontent of the people with their governors.

One Event - Two Reactions

All photos courtesy of Unsplash

In April 2018, on the anniversary of the recommencement of the State of Israel, the Jerusalem Post reported that ‘While Israeli Jews mark Independence Day with fireworks and barbecues, the flags that sprout everywhere in Jewish areas will be absent from Arab towns, and the thoughts of many there will turn to what they term the “Nakba” (catastrophe) that they associate with Israel’s birth. 

The same date and occasion produced two different reactions from two diverse groups of people - gladness or grief, delight or dread, pleasure, or pain.

Control of our laws and our destiny

Photos courtesy of Unsplash 

On 24 December 2020, a week before the deadline, agreement was reached between the European Union and the United Kingdom, which avoided a ‘no-deal Brexit’, the UK Prime Minster declared, ‘We have taken back control of our laws and our destiny.’ On reading this, two questions came to my mind: ‘To what extent is that true?’ and ‘What will the destiny be?’ Then I turned to applying these issues to ourselves as individuals. Can we each decide our ‘laws’? Is our ‘destiny’ in our own hands? What is that ‘destiny’?

It does seem that ‘Brexit’ will give the UK greater control over its law-making, and some gladly say that external bodies cannot now ‘tell it what to do’. In personal life, many also like to make their own decisions, and do not want instruction from others on how to conduct their lives. However, no nation can totally do as it pleases as far as its laws are concerned, for there are serious consequences if, for example, it breaks international law. 

What has gone wrong with the world? Do you think our world is doing ok?

Do you ever hear people say - 'just has gone wrong with the world?'

As we watch the television or read the news we constantly hear of murders, abuse, cruelty and a constant stream of evil. The most unlikely people commit these crimes. We would like to think that we would not do the same, but can we be so sure?

Why is it like this? Does it have to be so? Contrary to popular belief the Bible states that we all do wrong - ‘all have sinned and come short of the glory of God’. It explains that the evil in the world came as a result of one mans actions long ago - ‘by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin’. 

The Bible says that we are in danger of eternal separation from God. What bad news! But it is the truth - God cannot lie. If we were left to die in our sins it would be so sad but there is good news! ‘God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved’. God can save each of us because the Lord Jesus ‘suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God’.

Turn from your sin and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ today! 

To access podcasts and videos explaining the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

This site will give you access to Bible Teaching Audio's and Video's as well.

Brexit - was it a good decison?

Brexit - Was it a good decision?

On the 24th June we in the UK woke to discover that a momentous decision had been made following the National Referendum on European Union (EU) membership conducted the previous day; that decision was to leave the EU. Even though two thirds of the people of Scotland, a significant majority in N Ireland and an overwhelming majority in Gibraltar had voted to remain, because of our links to the UK we all had to accept the consequences of Brexit, whether good or bad. The decision to leave will affect every one of us sooner or later, to some degree.

There was another decision made further back in history at the very dawn of time when the first man, created by God, decided to deliberately and defiantly disobey God. Adam had been placed in the most congenial of circumstances with one simple instruction, one sole prohibition: not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The sad facts of that fateful day are recorded in the third chapter of the first book of the Bible, Genesis, and we have had to live with the disastrous consequences since. Romans 5.12 states, "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."

We tend to segregate people according to their race, religion, colour, social status, etc. but the Bible places us all, without exception on one common platform and describes us unflatteringly as ‘sinners’. Due to our links with Adam, the progenitor of the human race, we have all been affected and infected by the deadly virus of sin; we have been defiled by its contagion and its ravages are apparent everywhere in our world. We have been affected physically, psychologically, morally and spiritually. We are at a distance from God, we are accounted as enemies of God, Romans 5.10, and we are in danger of eternal banishment from God if our sins are not forgiven. The stamp of mortality is on every brow and we began the cheerless tramp to the grave as soon we arrived in the world. Hospitals, hospices, prisons and cemeteries all bear testimony to the seriousness of that decision made in the Garden of Eden. J M Davies said, "Cemeteries, the cities of the dead are more populous than the cities of the living."

Is there a solution; is there a remedy? Surprisingly we do not advocate religion, church attendance or change of lifestyle. We encourage you to live respectably and lawfully but that in itself will not eradicate the problem of sin or fit you for heaven. The Bible does not provide us with a range of options but presents an exclusive Saviour, God’s Son. He is the only Saviour for all men everywhere and "He is able also to save them to the uttermost [completely and eternally] that come unto God by Him". Peter said, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" Acts 4.12. The Lord Jesus Himself said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me" John 14.6.

Only by trusting Him Who died on our behalf at Calvary can we be saved and fitted for heaven and escape hell.

He took the guilty sinner’s place and suffered in his stead;

For man (O, miracle of grace!); For man the Saviour bled.

    (Anne Steele)

Like Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who officiated at the trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, you have a decision to make: "What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?" Matthew 27.22. We urge you to trust Christ and receive a pardon for your sins and be sure of a place in heaven forever.

Used by permission of Assembly Testimony

To access podcasts and videos explaining the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

This site will give you access to Bible Teaching Audio's and Video's as well.

Uncertainty v Certainty

Uncertainty v Certainty

English Football

The dismal performance of England’s footballers against Iceland, at the European Championship Competition in France, resulting in their exit from the tournament caused uncertainty for the players and the national coach. Immediately, speculation regarding the future selection of some of the players was called into question, and similarly the coach resigned and caused speculation as to who would be the next England manager. It is evident that the millions of TV pounds that are swilling around in the Premier League are not producing players that can perform like a national team should do.

The Brexit Vote The Brexit vote in the UK’s Referendum has caused a lot of uncertainty, politically, economically and socially. Prime Minister, David Cameron announced his resignation which opened up further speculation as to who the next Tory leader/P.M. would be. Some thought that the Brexit frontrunner, Boris Johnson would automatically step into Cameron’s shoes, but not so! It soon became known that he didn't have the backing of fellow Brexit MP’s and he withdrew interest in running for the top job in British politics. The UK now has a woman Prime Minister, Theresa May. The Labour Party is passing through equally uncertain times with a bitter struggle as to who will be their leader.

The UK Economy
 Pound sterling has dropped in value on the money markets causing the Governor of the Bank of England to put in place contingency plans to avoid the economy going into recession as previously experienced.

The Housing Market has wobbled into an uncertain period, investors are playing the waiting game to see which way the economy moves.

Some major investors such as Richard Branson have said publicly that they are putting projects on hold which would possibly employ thousands of workers. Other industrialists who wanted to leave the EU see bigger international markets open to them. There is a lot of uncertainty in many quarters, businessmen not knowing what the future holds.

Social Unrest In the U.S.A.  there is uncertainty in some States over Law Enforcement, following the killing of two black people by the police, and later, a revenge killing of six policemen by an ex-military sniper. President Obama has personally intervened to try to quell the racial unrest and violence. Violence still persists in the Middle East causing great concern and uncertainty in the area to thousands of people fleeing their country to try to find a place where a more secure future is assured. Turkey has imploded with a failed military coupe and the arrest of over 50,000 people who are a potential threat to the current government. 

The answer from the Bible Someone has said that there is only one certainty in life and that is death, which is partly correct but not wholly so. Death is a certainty, the Bible says in Heb 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” 

Paul added this thought when he wrote to Timothy in 1st Timothy 6:7 “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” This relates to the physical aspect of birth and death. People generally do not like to think that they are accountable to God for the life that they have lived. But the Day of Judgment is certain and no one will survive it by trying to balance the good they have done against the bad. It does not work like that; the only certain way of safety is to have the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour when you meet your Maker.

The Apostle John was absolutely certain that Jesus is God and that all things were made by Him, he tells us that in the first few verses of his Gospel. Some of you reading this probably do not believe what John believed as you have swallowed the lie of evolution. Other truths that John wrote about were the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. John also tells us in chapter 14 that after the cross Jesus would go back to Heaven. Jesus made the promise, “I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”  Every believer on the Lord Jesus Christ has a certain hope of the imminent return of the Lord to take His Church to Heaven. Christendom is full of confusion and uncertainty because of erroneous doctrine, but the Bible presents truth concerning the future. When Christ returns to the air He will call all believers that have died out of their graves and simultaneously change the body of all living Christians to prepare them for Heaven.

When the Church has gone to Heaven, God will take up His dealings again with Israel He will fulfill all the covenants that He made with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David concerning the Land of Israel and the Throne in Jerusalem, where He will rule the world for a thousand years. Unbelievers will not see that Kingdom, Jesus said to Nicodemas, in John ch.3, “Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” One thing is absolutely certain, only believers will enjoy the answer to the prayer, “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”

All the promises of God are yea and amen in Christ Jesus, we have an anchor within the veil both sure and steadfast that will never fail, salvation is secured by the cross of Christ, His death and resurrection.

1 Corinthians chapter 15 says that “He must reign” and He will reign universally. In that day the earth will be released from the curse which started when Adam sinned against God. When Jesus comes again the earth will yield bountifully and eliminate starvation, there will be no third world nations, and Christ’s rule will be equitable. Nations that are presently jockeying for world supremacy will find themselves subjugated to the rule of Christ. Israel will be born again in one day. 

It is time to choose Christ, to trust Him for salvation and be certain of a wonderful future.

Written by a Guest Blogger

For more information text the word INFO to 07747 101352 

To access podcasts and videos explaining the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

This site will give you access to Bible Teaching Audio's and Video's as well.

All posts have the aim of pointing people to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour or to aid Christian growth and development.

More than meets the eye!

More than meets the eye!

People often say that 'there is more to something than meets the eye'! By this they usually mean that there are hidden values or facts regarding something. Or sometimes when used about a person it can mean that they are more interesting or complicated than they appear at first.

We live in a world where that expression is so true about so many things. The United Kingdom is about to vote on whether to leave Europe or to stay. One of the problems the electorate has is knowing what the facts are! What is propaganda and what is truth!

A lot of people are big into conspiracy theories. I am not of that persuasion but I do think that there is a lot more going on behind the scenes than most people are aware of.

The Bible teaches that there are powers and influences over nations and individuals that people are not aware of. If you researched the book of Daniel in the Old Testament Bible you would discover in a number of chapters that there are Spirit powers (some good and some bad) who influence the decisions that are made by governments and people in positions of power. You may be very cynical about that claim but the Bible teaches it and many a time I have wondered how world leaders ended up making decisions that in the lead up to the vote they were unlikely to make - look into Mrs Thatcher and The Maastricht Treaty in this respect!

In Ephesians chapter two verse two we discover that people 'walk according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience'. We would like to think that we are all free agents and in one sense we are - we are responsible for our behaviour. But on the other hand there are evil influences in this world that find their source in the devil who is described in this verse as 'the prince of the power of this world'. These influences tempt us to do wrong, to look after ourselves, to indulge ourselves and to sin.

This is not the only passage in the bible that talks about the powerful influence of evil that pervades our world. In Second Corinthians chapter four we read that 'the god of this world (another description of the devil) has blinded the minds of the unbelieving ones so that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ (who is the image of God) should not dawn on them'. 

The reality is that the devil wants to delude and deceive people so that they end up in Hell and the Lake of Fire. He wants people to think that they have liberty to live as they like but what he doesn't tell them is that sinful habits ensnare and trap them. His master stroke is to convince people that he does not exist and that the idea of a devil is just a tool of religious people to make other people fear and or behave. He has no desire for people to live life as God intended them to or to know the forgiveness of sins. 

Yes - there is more to life than meets the eye. God is not mocked whatever you sow you will reap and there is an appointed day when God will judge the world in righteousness!

Make sure you see the truth for what it is and 'seek the Lord while he may found'.

To access podcasts and videos explaining the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

This site will give you access to Bible Teaching Audio's and Video's as well.

A Binary Opposition - 1 John 2:7-11

A binary opposition is defined below.

A binary opposition (also binary system) is a pair of related terms or concepts that are opposite in meaning. Binary opposition is the system by which, in language and thought, two theoretical opposites are strictly defined and set off against one another.

Binary opposition - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

We have some examples of this principle in the following verses from the Bible. Old and New, Darkness and Light, Love and Hate. There is no middle ground; you either do one or the other you cannot take the middle ground. 

So it is with your response to the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

• You are either in darkness or light! 
• You are either still a sinner or you are now a saint!
• You have either believed the gospel or you are an unbeliever!
• You are either still dead in your sins or you have eternal life!
• You either love your brother (this is evidence that you are a Christian) or you still hate!

One of the classic verses in the New Testament in this regard is John 5.24; it reads:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Lets analyse this:

• You hear, deafness has passed. 
• You believe that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
• You no longer fear the judgement or condemnation of God. 
• You have passed from a state of deadness in sin to eternal life in Jesus Christ.

Please note the conditions: You hear (deeper than merely listening) the words of the Lord Jesus and you trust God, the Father (the one who sent Jesus Christ, his Son to be the Saviour of the world) for salvation.

1 John 2. 7-11

7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.

8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

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Brexit - Europe - In or Out

UK nationals will soon be voting whether to stay in the European Union or to leave and function outside the E.U. 

Big issues are being addressed, such as security against terrorism by introducing stricter border controls, plus the future of the economy and how trade will be affected if we leave. Restoring sovereignty in government is a big factor, which the ‘brexits’ (people who want to get out of the E.U.) are pushing for, to have greater say in decisions affecting their future. Politicians are urging folks out of complacency, telling them that this will be the greatest decision of their lifetime. I’ve got news for them; there is a bigger decision we have to make in our lifetime that affects where we will spend eternity, that is, whether we are in or out of Heaven.

The protagonists on both sides are using scare tactics. Warning of the dangers that lay ahead if the wrong choice is made, in or out of Europe.

I have never been in danger by having stepped inadvertently into a pit of quicksand, having my feet trapped in the quagmire and my body steadily sinking to a certain death. This must be a frightening experience to be in and requires a powerful person to affect a deliverance from this trauma. Neither have I been in a burning building without any visible means of escape. How one would shout out for someone to help and save them from the flames. In both of those situations described every person would want to be out of that danger.

There are places that we desire to be in. We want to be in a good hotel and a good resort when we take our holiday. Somewhere that will be peaceful, restful and desirable for us to chill-out and recharge the batteries. If we find our accommodation is the pits with rowdy behaviour disturbing ones sleep at night, then you want to out of there ASAP! One needs to make the right choice in securing the best destination. It is great when it works out right.

Some opportunities in life are time critical, when a person has to be in time to get the best result. Too many situations finish disappointedly when the time to decide has run out and the opportunity is missed.

The Bible speaks a lot about ‘in and out’; indeed the first word of the Bible is the word ‘In’. Genesis 1:1 reads, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” The word ‘in’ relates to time and place and both are found in this verse. It relates to the beginning of time, the first tick of the clock, and also the vastness of space and the wonder of Planet Earth. Tim Peake has had some fantastic views from space of Planet Earth and has adjusted to weightlessness in the Space Lab. 

Some people want to propel time backwards, thousands or billions of years to accommodate their evolution faith. Those who believe the Word of God accept that before Christ came to earth about 4000 years had run their course and around 2000 years since He went back to Heaven. 

Not only has the earth seven millenia of time to run but the human body goes through seven year cycles reaching puberty at about 14 years of age with significan changes for males and females. Moses said in Psalm 90:10. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Ten seven year cycles and then where do we fly to?

I do like the truth of the Bible that when a man or woman, boy or girl believes on the Lord Jesus Christ and receives him as their Saviour, at that moment they are born again, they are placed into the family of God, they are ‘In Christ’ and can never be out of Christ. Gal 3:26 says, For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.Three verses in Romans ch.8 are conclusive, Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul continues in 2 Cor 5:17  “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” To be in Christ brings peace of heart and mind, a unique quality of love never before experienced before conversion and a joy that exceeds any human elation.

There are many people at this moment of time who are not in Christ, they have never come to Christ for forgiveness and salvation. Positionally they are out of Christ. Eph 2:12 reads, That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.

Frank M Davis wrote this hymn  ‘Out of Christ, without a Saviour, Oh! can it, can it be; Like a ship without a rudder, On a wild and stormy sea! Refrain: Oh! to be without a Saviour, With no hope nor refuge nigh; Can it be, O blessed Saviour, One without Thee dares to die?’ What is it going to be, in or out? The matter of the E.U. is important, the matter of being in Heaven in eternty is of great import. Be saved today and be ready to go in when you are called.  God bless you all.

Written for Seek the Truth by a Guest Blogger

For more information visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk