What is our most valued possession?

What is Your Most Valuable Possession?

It’s a good question; I wonder how you would answer it? If we are being honest our answer will depend, to some extent, on our circumstances. For instance, if I was terminally ill what I thought was important would be completely different to my choice in sunnier days. Car, homes, holidays and technology might be important to me now, but they have little value if life is slipping from my grasp. I hope that family, relationships and my spiritual condition will be my focus if I get time to contemplate my departure from this life to the next.

Is Your Most Valuable Possession a Bucket List?

So be honest with me – if you were facing the dying moments of your life on Earth what would your checklist look like? I often hear people talk about a bucket list of things they would like to do before they die. It might be to climb this mountain, fly to this destination or enjoy this particular experience. Please don’t get me wrong, I understand that you would be creating memories for those who will be left behind. I appreciate that you may be seeking to ensure that the final moments of life are full of genuine rich and familial experience.

Sought and Found

SOUGHT AND FOUND

In February 2013, an 18-year-old British backpacker went missing in the Australian outback for three days. He was young, healthy and very fit, since he was a keen long-distance runner. He had been working on a cattle station in Queensland and decided to go for a jog. In the heat of some 40oC he became disorientated and instead of running back to the cattle station and safety, he was going in the opposite direction. Thankfully, there were folks searching for him and he was found during a helicopter search of the region. It must have been a dreadful ordeal for this man and his family; almost unimaginable.

Why you will need the Bible in 2019

The Bible is the world’s best selling book. It doesn’t need any one to defend it. It is the word of God and as such is powerful and effective without human intervention. The bible claims to be able to ‘discern the thoughts and intents  of the heart,’ Hebrews 4:12. It also stated that it is ‘able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus,’ 2 Timothy 3:15. 

Here are some comments famous people have made about the Bible:

                                                              John Quincy Adams

"So great is my veneration for the BIBLE that the earlier my children begin to read it, the more confident will be my hope that they will prove useful citizens to their country and respectable members of society"

New Year Challenges & Changes

A new year brings challenges and changes. Can I remind you of some of the more important challenges we may meet in this life, and the changes we need to make to be prepared.

New Year Challenges

A New Year brings fresh challenges and opportunities but life is so unpredictable! At times, the variety life brings can be very exciting but sometimes it’s a bit frightening. That flood in the house, the illness that took us by surprise! The speed of change and our helplessness can be disconcerting! As mere mortals, we cannot control our circumstances and have to try to cope with what is inevitable as well as we possibly can.

What Britons believe about God!

What Britons believe about God!

A recent survey concluded that Britons are more likely to believe in ghosts and karma than a Creator. It’s probably important to note, however, that ‘Christian’ is a cultural identification for many. Last year, YouGov found that only 55 per cent of self-identified Christians believe a God exists.

In fact it would seem that in British society a trend of ‘christianaphobia’ is rising. Christianity is accused of some amazing things. A couple of years ago, in a large circulation Regional Newspaper in England, Christianity was accused of being the source of the 'tide of disrespect engulfing us'. Is this really an honest assessment?

The impact of Christianity on the world is indisputable! Following the principles Jesus taught produced social reform, improved education, the development of science and medicine and influenced literature and philosophy!

The consequences of failing to follow the teachings of Jesus will be catastrophic both for society and the individual! The Bible teaches that Jesus will return to earth one day to judge the world righteously, Acts 17:31. All wrong will be judged; sadly unbelief in God, and his Son Jesus, is one of those wrongs that will qualify. 

This may seem harsh but essentially unbelief is the worst crime of all because of what it leads to. 

God is light therefore unbelief leaves you in moral darkness. 

God is truth therefore unbelief leaves you with all that is false. 

God is life therefore unbelief leaves you with death. 

God is holy therefore unbelief leaves you with sins unforgiven.

Ultimately unbelief leads to all the depravity that we readily accept is wrong and harmful. Thankfully today we all have the opportunity to 'believe in the Lord Jesus Christ'. In that day it will be too late.

In closing I want to pass on a ‘Global Warning,’ (excuse the pun)! This is not about the effect of the mismanagement of our planet and its resources, important though that is, but about an issue which has a longer lasting effect. This planet will come to the end of it's life cycle one day, see 2 Peter 3. However our souls will never die! The warning is that if we do not actively get back to God then we will find that we are, on death, forever at a distance from God and all that God is i.e. love, justice, peace etc. 

How can we come to God? The answer is in seeking the Lord while he may be found, repenting of our sin (turning away from it) and placing our personal trust in Jesus Christ.

The scripture teaches - 'Christ died for our sins....and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day,' 1 Corinthians 15.3,4.

The solution is to 'repent and believe the gospel,' Mark 1.15.

May you come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour as a result of considering these thoughts from the Bible. 

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.

How to deal with the fear the unknown!

The fear of the unknown!

Most of us are frightened of the unknown. Maybe you wouldn't used the word frightened but most of us prefer to be sure about what is going on, what is coming next or what to expect in any given situation. 

A friend of mine was asked to come to a clinic in a local hospital to have his eyes checked. His doctor was a bit unsure about his pheriferal vision and wanted it be to be checked out. This referral generated anxiety and stress. I understand exactly how my friend felt as my mother has macular degeneration and finds it very debilitating. 

Fear is a very real emotion. Sometimes our fears are imagined nevertheless the feeling of fear is very real. Other times our fears are justified and we take precautions or prepare ourselves mentally for the worst. There are also times when we are not aware of danger, we have no idea what is going on and so we are blissfully ignorant of what we are facing. It's this last type of fear I want to talk to you about. 

The danger we are unaware of!!

Most people in the 21st century live for the moment. They ignore the bigger issues of life after death, our responsibility for our life choices and day to day decisions and the existence of an almighty God to whom we are answerable. 

Are you aware that we are accountable for every action, every thought, every word, every motive, and every belief we hold? Our maker, God, is the ultimate judge. The Bible describes Him as the Judge of all the earth. Please be assured of this; He will be absolutely fair and just in all the assessments and decisions He makes. Genesis 18:25 states 'Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just'. 

The standard that God judges us against is written in black and white in the Bible. One day God called Moses up Mount Sinai. Over a period of forty days He wrote His law so that Moses could teach his people the standards by which God operates. Until then humanity only had their conscience to judge right and wrong. From that date it was written down! No excuses! When Moses came down from his meeting with the Almighty God he presented the people with a book, the Book of the Law. Since that day the human race has been aware of God's law.

The problem is that we all struggle to live by God's law. We know that it is good. I mean most of us would agree that the principles of loving your neighbour as yourself, not stealing, not lying, no swearing, no sexual sin are all very good for us as individuals and as a society. But if we are honest we all struggle to live up to these standards.

You see God didn't give us His law to make us feel good about ourselves but to prove us guilty. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. Compared to God's law the whole world stands guilty. This is what I mean when I say that we are in danger but we are unaware of it!

I am not writing this blog post just to make you aware that you are a sinner and come short of God's standard. My real purpose is to make you are aware of the danger and then to point you to the solution, the salvation that God has provided in His Son, Jesus Christ. 

As I close here a couple of verses from the Bible that should help. If you are really interested in avoiding the danger of God's judgment then please read and think about these verses (and have a read of some of my previous blog posts as well).

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish it have everlasting life - John 3:16

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - 1 Timothy 1:15

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved - Romans 10:9. 

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.

You can be sure of heaven - 1 John 5:13-21

1 John 5:13-21

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Explanation

John is writing to Christians, verse 13 makes that very clear. He is writing, however, so that the believers instead of doubting their faith in Christ might know  that they have eternal life. That means it is possible to have eternal life but live a life of doubt where you are lacking assurance. That need not be the case. The Lord wants believers to live lives in full assurance of faith, enjoying and appreciating their faith in the Lord Jesus. When John wrote his gospel he ended it by saying 'these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life through his name'.

Here is a disciple who is confident that if he asks God for anything that is in keeping with His will that it will be granted, v14,15. The question and challenge then is to seek out and find out what the will of God is! Searching the scriptures is the only realistic way to do this. The first and biggest aspect of God's will for any person to discover is that he 'will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth,' 1 Timothy 5:4. 

In verses 16-18 we are confronted with the fact that there are some sins which can be forgiven and some that cannot. You might have thought that all sins could be forgiven. This is basically right but there are a couple of exceptions! The only sin that I can think of that cannot be forgiven is the sin of unbelief. That is if you refuse to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and you reject God's offer of forgiveness then you are excluding yourself from forgiveness. All the other examples are closely linked to this. There might be a sense in which this verse has a very special meaning that was unique to Bible times. For instance the sin of attributing the power behind the miracles of Jesus to the devil would be relevant in the days of Christ and similar to refusing to believe the gospel.  Again turning your back on Jesus as the Messiah, Lord and Saviour and going back to Jewish beliefs and sacrifices was described as the sin of apostasy; this again is a form of unbelief. 

Verse 17 confirms a fact that is often spoken about in the Bible - 'all unrighteousness is sin'. That is a definition of sin. Sin is everything that does not come up to God's impeccable standard. Romans 3:23 states 'for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God'.

The next three verses (18-20) show that there is a marked difference between a believer in Jesus Christ and an unbeliever. This is seen in their behaviour. A Christian is not expected to constantly sin. It is also seen in the fact that a believer is careful about how they live and what they allow into their lives. The Christian is also preserved from the wicked one (the devil) getting a firm grip in their life. The world is under the devil's control but the believer's source of life comes from God.

In summary - 'We know that the Son of God is come and has given us an understanding'. The reason is that 'we might know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life'. 

A warning - Little children, keep yourselves from idols, Amen.

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.

Jesus - Liar, Lunatic or Lord?

Can I say first that the Lord Jesus was most humble and unassuming!

You will search in vain to find any proud, arrogant, assertive statements about himself. 

BUT you will never find a denial about who He is. 

All of this is a fulfilment of another bible prophecy - Isaiah 42:2 "He shall not cry, nor lift up, not cause His voice to be heard in the street". 

Note when He had carried out a miracle he often instructed the person not to go and broadcast what had been done, see Mark 7:36 "And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more He charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it".

THE LORD JESUS LEFT ANY RECOGNITION AND ACCLAIM TO BE GIVEN BY HIS FATHER, GOD, MEN AND WOMEN WHO RECOGNISED HIM FOR WHO HE IS - HAVE YOU?

God spoke from heaven - "this is my beloved Son/Thou art my beloved Son as recorded in Matt 3:17, Matt 17:5, Mark 1:1, Luke 3:22, 2 Peter 1:17

Men said - Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God - Matthew 16:16

Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel - John 1:49

I perceive that thou art a prophet - John 4:19

Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ - John 4:29

This is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the world - John 4:42

You have to decide who you think Jesus is? This is not an option! Either you decide in life and come to know Him as your Lord and Saviour or you leave it or ignore it and find out that He is the Son of God when it is too late to accept him as your Saviour. 

For more information and further explanations of the message of the bible via videos, blogs and podcasts please visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

Are you searching for utopia?

“God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain” Revelation 21. 4.

Many countries in the world are facing severe social problems due to the influx of illegal immigrants. These are people who seek to enter a country without going through the due legal processes. Such statutory requirements are usually clearly defined by the host country but there are people who will not bow to authority and others who want to get in some way of their own devising.

It appears that these people, while in their own land, heard about a country where life was reported to be very much better than what they were accustomed to and they wanted to enjoy it. Even if they do not meet the entry qualifications they have a determination to gain entry no matter what and their decision often ends in disaster.

Many people who condemn such actions actually behave similarly themselves. They have heard of a place that is immensely superior to earth in every respect. This place is called heaven, which is the eternal abode of God and His people. There every problem, pain and sorrow of life are gone forever. The Bible, the Word of God, says about it, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain” Revelation 21. 4.

Just as earthly governments decide the criteria required for entry to their country, so God, to Whom heaven belongs, has decided the entry requirements to heaven and these are non-negotiable. God unambiguously states, “there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” Revelation 21. 27. Despite the clarity of this, some people want their own way and of this God has said, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” Proverbs 16. 25; see also Proverbs 14. 12. Jesus Christ, God’s Son said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” John 14. 6.

The Bible teaches that we are all defiled by sin and so records twice, “all have sinned” Romans 3. 23; 5. 12. It is very clear that if we want to be in God’s holy heaven, this defilement must all be washed away. There is only one method of cleansing, “the blood of Jesus Christ His [God’s] Son cleanseth us from all sin”, 1 John 1.7. You may think you have a better way, but good works and religious observances will never take away sin. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” Ephesians 2. 8,9. Again it is recorded, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” Titus 3. 5. A profound question is asked in Proverbs 20. 9, “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” The Psalmist knew only God could do this cleansing and so he cried, “Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” Psalm 51. 2. This underlines the truth that God and God alone can save and the only righteous basis on which that can be accomplished is the sacrifice of Christ when crucified on Calvary. Hence the words of Revelation 1. 5, “Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood…”.

If you really desire to be in heaven then you must accept God’s terms and not be as foolish as the illegal immigrants. A jailor asked the question, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” The answer was just as succinct, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16. 30, 31.

For more information and further explanations of the message of the bible via videos, blogs and podcasts please visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

This article has been reproduced by kind permission of the Editor of Assembly Testimony Magazine. 
 

Would a loving God send people to hell?

Would a loving God send people to hell?

Is this the right question or at least does it ignore some of the other issues of justice, choice and righteousness?

To start with let's look at what the bible says about life after death

No 1 - You are not just a body, you are made up of body, soul and spirit.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thess 5.23

No 2 - You are dead in sin (no relationship with God) long before your body dies. That's the result of Adam's sin.

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

No 3 - You can have eternal life long before you leave this life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life - John 3.16

No 4 - You will never cease to exist, only your body will die temporarily. You will be raised to go to either heaven or the Lake of fire.

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt - Daniel 12:2

But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days - Daniel 12:13

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire Revelation 20:13-15

In regard to why a loving God would punish people, I recently heard one homeless man wisely tell another, “You wouldn’t want to live in a world where God didn’t punish injustices and just freely forgave sin—without any request for someone to choose the salvation He offers back. Imagine a place where injustice was never punished and people never recognized their sin and need for salvation. That would be terrible and painful.”

We all want justice to reign. For a good God to be truly good, injustice must be punished. This is why it makes complete sense that Jesus had to die. There must be a payment for the evil we inflict on the world and one another. Jesus’ death epitomizes God’s mercy and justice—and it all happened in one act.

Let me leave you with a couple of quotes that help as we consider good and evil, right and wrong and heaven and hell.

"Right is Right even if nobody does it. Wrong is wrong even if everybody is wrong about it."—G.K. Chesterton

“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. Those who knock it is opened.” 
― C S Lewis, The Great Divorce

J B Phillips said "God is indeed all goodness and light but he will show no more compunction towards the evil things that we have allowed to grow in our hearts than a human surgeon would to a malignant growth'. 

C. S. Lewis: "The Christian does not think that God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because he loves us."

Have a think about these things; they are too important to ignore

For more information and further explanations of the message of the bible via videos, blogs and podcasts please visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk