How much do you value your life?

All photos courtesy of Unsplash

Recently a lady took an oil painting by L.S. Lowry (1887-1976) to an ‘Antiques Roadshow’ to be valued. After inspection by a knowledgeable connoisseur of art she was informed that it could be worth £100,000. The lady was shocked and said, “I had no idea it was so valuable.” For years it had been in the house and few people even cast a second glance at it but the name of the artist so clearly visible at the bottom of the painting meant it was a treasure.

After reading this story I began to think of the people, many of whom have heard the gospel from infancy, who should know how valuable God’s salvation is, and who only discover its importance when it is too late to obtain it and they have found themselves in Hell, on the wrong side of the “great gulf fixed” of which the Lord Jesus spoke in Luke 16.26. For years they were deceived into thinking that salvation was something only for the religiously inclined, a pleasant addition to life but not absolutely necessary; to them it was a mere badge of respectability, but they never considered it a ‘must-have’ in view of an unending eternity.

My friend, you can live quite successfully and happily without salvation but you can never be in Heaven without it; that is a complete impossibility. The main reason for its importance is the name which is linked to salvation. It was the Lord Jesus Christ Who provided salvation at an infinite cost: the giving of His life. Only by accepting Him can you obtain the salvation of your soul. Salvation is not obtained in any place, practices, prayers or piety; it is linked to the Person of the Lord Jesus, God’s only begotten Son. To receive Him as personal Saviour is the only way by which your sins can be forgiven.

What on earth is happening to the world?

Are you frightened about the state of the world at the moment? Many people find it very scary, as every day seems to bring another disaster. Murder seems to be so commonplace! On a daily basis we hear of someone else going on the rampage and killing people! Individual acts of terrorism are on the increase resulting in the tragedy of people being deprived of their loved ones by an act of violence. Events of yesterday seem so long ago as we wake up to hear of another tragic evil act being perpetrated.

I find it all very distressing and yet I, sadly, can see the inevitability of the way the world is going. The Bible teaches that conditions in society will get worse and worse as time progresses. Paul, an old man, wrote to Timothy, a young man – ‘but understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with deceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness but denying its power,’ 2 Timothy 3:1-5. I think what the Bible is saying in these verses is staring us in the face. Do you recognize a description of our society?

If we reject the moral compass of the Bible then ultimately there are consequences. In effect morality becomes subjective and personal. There is no absolute standard of right and wrong. Everyone does what is right in his or her own eyes. This is not a new problem. It happened in Bible times, and many times since but every time is happens the results are disastrous. The old book says ‘there is a way that seems right to a man but its end is the way of death,’ Proverbs 14:12.

If we don’t get back to the Bible we can expect society to get worse and worse. We need to educate the next generation so that they don’t make the mistakes that we have made. The Bible says ‘train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it,’ Proverbs 22:6

I'm also glad to say that the Bible states that ‘where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,’ Romans 5:20. This means that the gospel of Jesus Christ can meet the needs of a wicked society. Forgiveness starts with the individual. The promise of scripture is still true – ‘If we confess our sins, he (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,’ 1 John 1:9. Society will never change by enforcement but by the transforming power of God working in the each individual’s life through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Are you fearful? Scripture says ‘perfect love casts out fear,’ ‘the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord’.

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Post Holiday Stress Syndrome

I'm just back from a week away and trying to get into routine again. Why is it when you come back from a break you often feel more tired than when you left to go? I don't know the answer to this conundrum but I do know the reality of it. Life is a busy business and at times we don't know how tired we really are until we take a break. 

I remember a Doctor saying, many years ago, that you can't really relax unless you take a three week break! Wow, that would be great, wouldn't it! The logic was that you unwound during the first week and then you refuelled for the next two! I can see the sense in it and am feeling that it is really true at the moment. If this is the case then having had one week off I am now ready to relax but have come back to work too early! 

So, see you folks, I'm off for the rest of my holiday!

So let's get down to business; what is today's posting about? 

It's about how to get strength when you are feeling at your weakest. If you are not following me please read on. It might be that you are still a sinner. It's not that you are any different to anyone else - 'for everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard,' the Bible, Romans 3:23. We were all born this way and need a change from an external source to make any difference to our character or behaviour. Thankfully the solution is readily available, the premium has been paid and it's offered free of charge to everyone who has the problem. Remember the bible states that we all are born sinners and therefore imperfect and incapable of this vital change without external help. 

Let me explain the universal solution to the human condition of sin that is freely available to every person who is currently alive on this planet. 

Why do we need someone to save us?

You might be asking why I said that we need someone outside of ourselves to save us? Very simply it's because we all have the same problem of sin. None of us have the moral strength or power to change what we are by nature. So into time stepped the Son of God, Jesus. The scripture says in Romans 5:6 'When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners'. The Lord Jesus Christ was the only person who ever lived who never sinned, nor could he because he was the Son of God. This is why the Bible describes him as the Saviour, the Substitute, the Redeemer and the Prince of Peace. These names describe his character and his achievements on behalf of all who believe.

This act of salvation (Jesus' death, burial and resurrection) was predicted, planned and organised down to the last detail from before the foundation of the world. The Bible is full of predictions (Christians call them prophecies) that can be checked out. Their legitimacy is self evident. One of the key statements in scripture to explain what was going on in the death of Jesus Christ is this. It's found in 1 Corinthians 15:3,4 - 'Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day'.

What you do with this information is the key to your future! Here a few words to the wise!

Time limits 

Let me give you a very sharp reality check. You don't get forever to make a choice about Jesus Christ. The only place where you can choose is here upon this earth. Again scripture states in Mark 2:10 'the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins” and Hebrews 9:27,28 states that 'And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

Choice limits 

Secondly I want you to be aware that there are only two choices. Jesus spoke about coming 'from above' or coming 'down from heaven'. He also spoke about a man who opened his eyes in hell. Please be aware that this topic is not one to be taken lightly and the choice once made, if sealed by death, is permanent.

The moment of truth. 

Finally please remember that there will ultimately be a moment of truth. When you pass the threshold of death and leave this world behind you, you will know for ever whether the Bible is true or false. I believe that you can know the truth before then. Jesus said 'I have come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly'. He also said as it is possible to know the truth and 'the truth will set you free'.

My prayer is that you will come to know God and his great salvation through faith in his Son Jesus Christ. For this to be the case it will involve a choice on your part, turning from your old life and sin and depending on Jesus Christ for eternal salvation.

If I can help you further please get in touch via the blog.

Stephen

Please bear in mind that all of these statements and beliefs are based on the Bible. If you want more information as to why I believe the Bible is trustworthy and the word of the creator, the living God, then you would need to watch one of my videos is it crazy to trust the bible?