50 Years on - Aberfan is still remembered!

50 Years on - Aberfan is still remembered!

By John Thorn, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9146083

The Aberfan disaster was the catastrophic collapse of a colliery spoil tip in the Welsh village of Aberfan, near Merthyr Tydfil, that killed 116 children and 28 adults on 21 October 1966. The collapse was caused by the build-up of water in the accumulated rock and shale tip, which suddenly slid downhill in the form of slurry.

More than 1.4 million cubic feet (40,000 cu metres) of debris covered a section of the village in minutes. The classrooms at Pantglas Junior School were immediately inundated; young children and teachers died from impact or suffocation. Many noted the poignancy of the situation: if the disaster had struck a few minutes earlier, the children would not have been in their classrooms, and if it had struck a few hours later, they would have left for the half-term holiday.

By John Thorn, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9146083

There is no easy answer to the question as to why such a thing should be allowed to happen. What had these children done to deserve to die so young? Nothing, apart from living in world where tragedy and sin exist and where disasters are unavoidable due to the fact that we live in an imperfect world. 

Often children suffer because of what adults do. The so called innocency of youth camouflages the fact that they have the same gene pool as each of us - they are also sinners and subject to death. The bible is clear when it states that 'all have sinned and come short of the glory of God'. There are no exceptions to this rule. Even our little darlings are sinners - time proves this to be the case. 

But what happens to a child who dies so young? Are they condemned for being a sinner without the opportunity to repent and believe the gospel. You have the opportunity to consider God's offer of salvation and may choose to reject it but what of the child who dies without this opportunity?

I believe that the bible teaches that a child, who dies before they are able to understand and accept or reject the gospel automatically goes to heaven. The death of Jesus Christ covers them. If you are interested I can send you details of why I believe this to be the case but I feel this is the teaching of scripture. 

But remember that is not the case for you. You have the capacity to believe the gospel, to understand the seriousness of your sin and repent and trust Christ for salvation.

Have you ever done this?

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.

Who will you vote for?

The residents of the UK are about to make an important choice. On Thursday the 7th May 2015, millions will place their trust in one individual! Who will you trust? Who do you believe in? Who can honestly guarantee the future for you and your children?

Who can we vote for?

In this General Election the choices are: Conservative, Green, Liberal Democrat, Labour and UKIP. Maybe there are more to choose from in your area.

How long do we have to choose?

There is no debate about this. The date for the elections has been set and a choice will be made on the 7th of May. We know the date, we know the candidates, we can find out about their policies and their character but a choice will be made when the 7th of May arrives.

Vital life choices we will all make!

Other choices in life are also of great importance! Choices in respect of jobs, money, friendships, diet and health can have a significant effect on our lives. Making decisions without thinking through the consequences can be potentially dangerous. You might muddle through some of the time but thoughtful consideration of relevant facts is always the best policy when making serious decisions. This is also the case with spiritual matters!

Many of you will have enjoyed a break over the Easter holiday period. Easter was originally a "holy" day as opposed to just a 'holiday". It started out as a Jewish festival called 'Passover'. For the Jew this was a time of reflection! Passover started thousands of years ago when the Jews were being persecuted in Egypt. God offered them a way of escape from their troubles and the promise of a return to their homeland. They had to decide whether to trust God and do what he said or ignore what he said.

It's the same for us. We all face problems in life including the inherited problem of wrongdoing (sin). Death and the future beyond death is unknown territory to everyone. Christians believe that God has spoken to communicate his message to humankind through the Bible and in the person of Jesus Christ. The core of the Easter message is that "Christ died for our sins" but the essential fact is that history clearly records Jesus Christ "rose again the third day".

Here is the challenge, the thought provoker and the choice!

If the Bible is truth?
If Jesus really lived and died? and
If there actually is life after death and we will all meet, and be judged by, God one day?

THEN.....

We need to take seriously the offer of salvation offered by God through Jesus, we need to look into the facts that the bible presents and we need to take advantage of the offer of peace with God and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

A choice will be made on the 7th of May. It will have consequences for the United Kingdom. The right choice is essential. You need to make another choice today. Your choice regarding Jesus Christ will have eternal and potentially irreversible consequences. In both matters we trust people will choose wisely!

For more articles, blogs and podcasts visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

Location:From Liverpool