Safety First

Some while ago, flights in and out of Europe and elsewhere were greatly disrupted because vast clouds of ash were thrown into the sky by the eruption of the volcano Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland. The various bodies that control air travel decided that it would have been too dangerous for aircraft to fly through this ash since there was the possibility that the aircraft engines may have been damaged and even ceased working, as well as the fact that the pilots could not see. There were some who criticised the decision to stop all flights on the basis that the scientific evidence was flimsy. Others considered the problem from an economic perspective and since the loss of revenue was not sustainable, they said that flights should recommence. However, the overriding consideration had to be that of safety, and this gave bias to every decision - it must be safety first.

When pondering things eternal, this also must be the overriding consideration. Every person is in danger of perishing for eternity under the righteous judgment of a Holy God, Whose character demands that He must and will punish sin. It is because of our own personal sin that we are separated from God, "your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear" Isaiah 59.2. This is why we need to be rescued, made safe or, in the word used in the Bible, "saved".

To be saved is not an option; it is a command, "we must be saved" Acts 4.12. The glory of the gospel message is that we can be saved, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" 1 Timothy 1.15; "the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" Luke 19.10; "For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved" John 3.17. The gift of God’s only begotten Son displayed God’s love for lost and fallen humanity, and He devised the means of salvation that allows Him to forgive our sins and save us on a basis that does not compromise His holy character. That meant that His sinless and holy Son had to bare the judgment due to sinners when He hung crucified on Calvary’s cross. It is for this reason that He is called "Saviour" - because He saves, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" Luke 2.11.

Perhaps some think that they can obtain salvation by their own merit, acts of kindness, philanthropy, religious observances and many other man-made schemes and devices. Let the word of God speak, "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.

The question that needs to be addressed is, "Have I put safety first?" In other words, "Am I saved?" It will be sad in the extreme if some eruption of earthly emotion, religious fervour or whatever casts such a cloud across your mind that you can neither see nor think straight. How sad to have to cry for all eternity, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved" Jeremiah 8.20. God calls you to, "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else" Isaiah 45.22. Preachers instruct you to, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" Acts 16.30,31.

Used by kind permission of Assembly Testimony

For more information visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk

Don't waste my death!

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I was reading recently in the business section of The Daily Telegraph, the comments of the Royal Bank of Scotland boss John Hourican who has left his job, he was the Investment Banking boss and as he left his job he made this statement, “Don’t waste my death” as they ordered them to recognise public anger over libel scandal that led to his resignation.

Don’t waste my death. It made me think really about the fact there are people in this world’s history and their death has been for a purpose. Most of us don’t actually realise it but our own death will have a purpose. The Bible teaches that, “the wages of sin is death”a. 

The reason behind any individual’s death is the principle of sin and wrong doing. We don’t intentionally enter into it but as a result of one man’s sin, we are all condemned. Everyone of us practices sin and that corroborates and confirms the fact we were born as sinners, “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”b and our death is a direct result, there’s a correlation between our behaviour and our moral standing before God and our sin, which ends in death.

My message really isn’t to point out to you that your death is significant though it’s not the end I must say, it’s the death of your body. There is a moral death, that’s with you in life, dead in sin. That's the death that’s separating you eternally from the presence of God, who is life and light and liberty and joy and peace. That’s something you don’t want. 

But I would like you to think about these words for a second or two, because I could imagine my Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ saying, “don’t waste My death”. The Lord Jesus Christ came from Heaven to earth, He came and lived a very humble and ordinary life upon this earth. He lived His days upon the earth showing to men the love and kindness of God. He died upon a cross and took the judgement, the legal consequences of sin on our behalf so that we might be forgiven. But if we refuse to believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God, if we refuse to accept His forgiveness, if we refuse to accept the eternal life that He offers, we waste His death.

Can I say to you today? Don’t waste the death of Jesus, trust Him, confess your sin to Him, accept the eternal life He offers to you. 

a-Romans 6v23
b-Romans 3v23 

GPS

Perhaps there are many who do not know what the initial letters used as the heading of this article mean. They are used as a short way of describing the ‘Global Positioning System’. When this device was developed it caused the manner in which directions to desired destinations were found to be rethought. It was very useful on a vast range of journeys, both terrestrial and stellar. The ability to pinpoint a house while riding a bicycle, either in a very large housing estate or a remote rural dwelling, or to know exactly the location of a satellite hurtling through space, is quite amazing.

Flying High

One of the benefits of travelling is that I get to fly from time to time. I enjoy flying and am not too bothered if the plane is large or small. 

Once when I was visiting Vancouver I had the opportunity to fly in a three seater small plane. It seemed tiny to me. We took off and climbed high above Vancouver, had a quick look over the edge of the Rockies, dipped over downtown Vancouver and returned to the airfield. I enjoyed it but I was trusting the pilot, the technicians who maintained the plane, air traffic control and a lot of other people. Events in life are often only safe because people care, prepare and plan things in advance. 

Is Liverpool like the City of Rome?

In a number of ways Liverpool is like the city of Rome; not least because it is built on seven major hills. These are;

• Walton Hill,
• Everton Brow - or Ridge,
• High Park in Toxteth and the Toxteth Ridge,
• Mossley Hill,
• Childwall Hill,
• Olive Mount and the Old Swan Ridge,
• and Camp Hill in Woolton.

The above list make up the seven, distinctive, and genuinely geological ‘high points’ of our wonderful City.

Another association that we have with Italy’s ‘Eternal City’ is our many remarkable public and civic buildings in the city-centre, which were built by the Victorians. these stand as a glorious testament to their belief that, just as Rome was the capital of that great empire, so Liverpool was the trading capital of the British Empire - in fact, it was the 'second city' after London. (information freely available on the web)

In closing may I quote the first section of the Book of Romans in the Bible. These are words that are worth repeating:

Romans 1 New King James Version (NKJV)

Greeting

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Liverpool Airport - Arrivals and Departures

There are many thousands of these daily, throughout the world. The population of this world is continually on the move; some journeys are short while others are ‘long-haul’. Some take us to a nearby village while others carry us to distant countries. Some are one-way while others are return journeys. It is not an exaggeration to suggest that, even now, as you are reading this article, there are scores, if not hundreds of travellers who will not arrive at their planned destination.

We are all travellers on the sea of life; carried by the restless tides of time inexorably to eternity, with but one of two destinations before us forever: heaven or hell. An interesting, two-part question was posed by King Artaxerxes in Nehemiah 2.6, "For how long shall thy journey be? And when wilt thou return?"

Annually, many celebrate the date they arrived in this world though none of us remembers that event. In Job 1.21 we read of that humble beginning, "Naked came I out of my mother’s womb …". We began to breathe the polluted air of this sullied environment and our journey on earth began.

In Luke 2.11 we read of the arrival of a unique Person on Planet Earth. "Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord." That day was planned from all eternity. His birth was neither premature nor postponed; at exactly the hour God had predetermined, Mary "brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger." Luke 2.7. The Saviour remembers it well and the subsequent days He spent so profitably here for the glory of His Father.

In Luke 23.33 we read of His arrival at another place; Calvary, the place of His crucifixion. It too had been planned so that He arrived on the very day and date ordained of God. It could not be delayed or derailed; it must be on the day of the Passover for Christ was the Paschal Lamb by God appointed. Have you ever considered, my friend, that He went there just for you, to bear the fearful penalty of your sins and by His death, provide an eternal salvation for your soul?

It was for me, yes, all for me;

O, love of God, so great, so free;

O, wondrous love, I’ll shout and sing,

He died for me. my Lord, the King.

(J. M. Whyte)

A few weeks after that dread experience, He arrived back in His Father’s home and we who have trusted Him, await His arrival in the air to take us to be eternally with Him in heaven.

In Genesis 35.18 we read an interesting statement, "It came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) …". This informs us that death is not the terminus, but a transition from here to eternity. In Luke 16.19-23 we read of two men, representatives of the entire human race, who left this world and arrived in eternity; one in heaven and the other in hell. Where they arrived, has become their endless and changeless abode. They cannot reverse the change and they cannot now opt for the other destination; their choice is irrevocable. In the past hour, thousands have arrived similarly in their chosen, eternal destination. We will all, without exception, arrive there one day.

Most of us will depart this life, suddenly and unexpectedly but our arrival in eternity is beyond all doubt. In love to your undying soul, I ask you, "Eternity, where?"

Trust Christ and enjoy the confidence of the apostle Paul, "… having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better" Philippians 1.23.

Written by Assembly Testimony Publishing as a Guest Blogger

For more information visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk