Time to move on!

Migration of people from Africa and Middle Eastern Countries to Europe is a major problem for the leaders and politicians of all the nations that comprise the European Union. Why are there thousands of people who want to move on from their home and family and friends, to go to a foreign land and people who do not speak their language? There are numerous reasons, some are fleeing for their lives, their homeland being torn apart by war and the violence of wicked men and women. Some see that in their homeland that they will always be poor, with no prospect of improving the quality of their living.

One could ask who or what is causing all this distress to thousands of people making them uproot from the land of their birth to risk body and soul on perilous jouirneys, moving on to a better life and place? Religion must be held responsible for many lives being lost, and exploitation of the poor by rich businesses, politicians and landowners, the list could go on, but I must move on.

If there is security and prosperity to be found in Europe why are there terrorists from Africa and the Middle East who want to kill and maime folk, taking their own life in the act of bombing innocent people in European Countries. It is senseless murder!

Personal relationships can sometimes hit troubled waters and tears are shed. Thankfully, those experiences can sometimes deepen the love and trust between folk and move on to happier days. Sad to say, the opposite can be true. Often because of selfishness, one is let down by the behaviour or lack of love by one, and the other chooses that it is time to move on. If that is the case with a married couple then that is a tragedy. Men and women should be able and responsible to sort out their problems under their own roof and not walk away. It is adisgrace that there are so many broken homes with one parent families on the increase. When a wife or husband chooses to move on into another relationship, sadness and heartbreak is often left behind, particularly with children.

In work relating matters it is good at times to stand still and take stock of what is happening in the workaday life, or, we can get into a rut and things become mudane. It is good when a person loves their work and is being adequately rewarded for their effort.

There are times along life’s journey when you are wronged financially, which can be very distressing, particularly when friends or relations are involved. It can take years to resolve but sometimes it cannot be resolved and you have to walk away from the trouble. 

It is always good to seek God’s will and direction in life, and when one does that He will move you on to bigger and better things for family and livelihood. The gospel is not a health and wealth message but those who trust the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour are in His hands and are kept by the mighty power of God. It is great to move on with  the Lord.

The Bible reveals many examples of moving on, going forward to something better, leaving behind disturbing unhappy situations into the mists of time.

In Noah’s day things were horrific, Genesis 6:5 and 11 reads, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” God gave to Noah instructions and plans to build the Ark, a massive vessel with sufficient accommodation for any who would go on board. Only eight people believed that God was going to bring a universal judgement by flooding the world and destroying all flesh upon the earth. It took 120 years for Noah and his family to finish the Ark.

Did you ever think of the vastness of that work that Noah undertook, for example, how many tons of pitch did they use to cover the vessel inside and out? Incidentally, the word ‘pitch’ is the Hebrew word ‘Kaphar’ which means ‘to cover over’, it is also translated ‘atonement’, meaning to propitiate. The blood of the sacrifice covered sin in the Old Testament, the blood of Christ takes away sin in the New Testament. The pitch covered the Ark and protected all that were inside from the judgement waters outside.

Moving on, Jesus said in Matthew 24:37, “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”  The Ark was the means of salvation for eight souls, only a few were saved, the majority, who did not believe, perished. Christ is the means of salvation today, for all who believe and receive Him as their Lord and Saviour.

The children of Israel were glad to move on, away from their slavery and bondage in Egypt, to the promised land and their inheritance. God is good! What He promises He fulfills, and He always will for it is impossible for God to lie.

The Apostle Paul was always moving on in his service for the Lord, for he had set his sights high, he said in Phil.3:13, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” He had expressed his choice in ch.1:23, “having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.” And so it is!

Last week I attended the funeral of an aged sister in Christ, she was the same age as the Queen. During her working life she was in the Police Force moving on through the ranks to become the first woman Police Inspector in Northampton. When the coffin had been lowered into the grave I said quietly to her younger sister, “She won’t be here long, the Lord is coming!”

When that lady died her soul and spirit went to be with Chist. She left the ranks of the Police and now she has moved on to join the ranks of the Christians in Heaven. It will not be long before the SHOUT is heard, and the dead are raised. It’s moving on time.

Written by a Guest Blogger for FTMP.


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

Migrants

One of the most pressing problems for the European Union presently is that of the migrants who set out to cross the Mediterranean every week in search of a better life. In the Far East a similarly ghastly scenario is unfolding as thousands of Rohingya migrants flee persecution in their homeland, Burma. Some of these have not been allowed to disembark in neighbouring countries and have been turned away to face the perils of the merciless Andaman sea, the horrors of further weeks adrift and the all too real possibility of perishing in the insatiable waves.

While many flee persecution, others are ‘economic’ migrants wanting to escape poverty, while yet others merely want peace and safety for their children. All have paid substantial sums to unscrupulous human traffickers and smugglers; they are herded like animals on to flimsy, unsafe boats that were never built for the journey they have to undertake. Many have perished, lost at sea and their hopes of reaching safety have been cruelly dashed.

They entrust their future to dishonest people who have no interest in their welfare and who could not care less if they ever reach their desired destination; all they are interested in are the ill-gotten gains of their evil trade. In some cases, crews have abandoned the boats and left their hapless passengers to face whatever dangers may befall them.

We are all migrants, crossing the uncertain sea of life with its countless dangers. We are being swept by the restless tides of time towards eternity with only one of two destinations ahead; heaven or hell. Every second of every minute of every hour of every day; even as we sleep, we are drifting nearer and nearer to the great forever that lies beyond this fleeting life, this brief crossing. We are moving inexorably from time to eternity, yes, but ‘whither, whither bound’? It is a journey from which we cannot escape; we cannot reverse, we cannot drop anchor and remain stationary, we cannot decelerate and yet many are careless, drifting aimlessly, with no assurance as to which destination they will inevitably arrive.

Many heed the unwise and mistaken advice to keep going and not worry about the outcome; it will all work out well eventually. Others have placed their hopes in religion, good works, charitable deeds, sailing along, with many a nagging doubt, towards an uncertain future. Others try to convince themselves that there is no great, eternal world on the other side, making lies their refuge and trying to rest and shelter in the tattered tent of atheism and agnosticism.

However, there are many of us who are sure as to where we are going and like the apostle Paul, we can confidently affirm, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day" 2Timothy 1.12. We knew that we could never reach heaven by our own feeble efforts, nor did we deserve a home on that celestial shore and so we trusted our eternal wellbeing to the capable and competent hands of the Lord Jesus. We were certain that if we remained as we were, we would undoubtedly arrive in the eternal night of hell.

In spite of knowing all this, many, like the ill-fated mariners on board the ship where Jonah was a passenger, row all the harder and hope against all hope and sanity that they will at last make it to heaven. You have one; one only option, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" Acts 16.31.

We have an anchor that keeps the soul

Steadfast and sure while the billows roll;

Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.

For more information please visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk.