Olympic Closing Ceremony

What a display! I have just watched the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing. I would love to have watched the opening ceremony but did not manage to fit it in. Every time I see one of these events I am reminded of the brilliance and excellence of human skill and endeavor. We always say 'this is the best ever' and 'no one will ever match this' but time and time again we manage to pull off another outstanding display of brilliance. Beijing was no different.

Why are we so clever? Do you see animals create and design like we do? We are the only living being to have this ability - why? The Bible gives the answer - we were created in the image of God. Our appreciation of beauty and skill is universal. The human imagination is unsurpassed by any other species. When God created us out of the dust of the ground (Genesis 2) and breathed into us the breath of life we received a distinctiveness in makeup and personality that no other creature possesses.

We are unique in other ways as well. We all have a sense of right and wrong. We know good and evil. We react to injustice and cruelty. An appreciation of these values may be deadened by an insensitive conscience (the effect of wrongdoing and sin sears the conscience) but they are universal values. Our awareness of right and wrong and our weakness in doing what is right so often is explained by the Bible statement 'all have sinned and come short of the glory of God'. 

Sin and death came to our planet through the conscious act of the first man (Adam) - 'by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin'. That sadly is another universal fact - we all die. One of the only 100% statistics. The verse from the Bible quoted above explains why this is so.

In closing this blog I want to remind you that mankind's greatest problem has been answered by the creator, God, by a universal solution. 'The Father sent the Son to be the saviour of the world'. Everyone in the world has broken the law of God and as a result is guilty. The penalty and punishment for our sin is eternal death (eternal banishment from God and his love, mercy, kindness, grace etc). The provision of God for all of us is this. 'The Father sent the Son to be the saviour of the world'. The claim of the God's word is that Jesus Christ God's Son 'came into the world to save sinners'. 

Two thousand and eight years ago Jesus Christ was born. He came from heaven to earth. Born of a the virgin (Mary) he lived a pure and holy life - 100% perfect. For three years (approximately from aged thirty to thirty three) he performed miracles to provide evidence to support the claim that he is God's Son. At the age of thirty three he allowed the authorities to crucify him. His death paid the price for all of our wrong and satisfied the creator's heart that justice had been met.

You can have this salvation today if you admit to God (in prayer) that you have sinned and rest on what the Lord Jesus did when he died to save you. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

You need to face up to the truth

There are times in life when we need to stop and face up to the truth. But for most of us it is easier said than done. We often ignore the obvious until it is impossible to ignore it any longer.

Take for instance your health. How often have you ignored the tell tales signs that something was wrong until someone else made you see sense! How many men refuse to go to the doctors or the dentist!

Think about relationships! Did you ignore the way things were going until it is too late? Could you have repaired your relationship if you had been a bit more honest about things?

Finally the big white elephant in the room. God, religion, life and death. It's all there! The issues are real and will not go away yet we all ignore them too often. Make a decison today to face up to the truth before it is too late.

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death (the Bible).

What do I do each day?

Some people ask what I do so I am writing this week a brief summary of how my week usually looks.

My standard week is like this.

Monday
Preparation Day & Personal Time (sometimes)
Tuesday
Tract Distribution at shopping area, Bible Study and Coffee morning in my local Gospel Hall, Street Meeting in the afternoon.
Wednesday
School work, Street Meeting & Home Visitation with the gospel
Thursday
Taking the gospel to business events, Bible Study and Home Visitation
Friday
One to one Bible studies, Street Meeting.

In the evenings I am often speaking at a series of gospel meetings, speaking at Bible Teaching Meetings or attending my own Gospel Hall. I also visit Hospitals, Prison Hostels and meet people for coffee to explain the gospel to them. I also am involved in editing a Christian Magazine (Precious Seed), write, record gospel and bible teaching CD’s for handing out to my contacts.

I am off to Ukraine for 10 days soon to give some Bible Teaching. That will be an interesting experience.

E-mail me and tell me about your weeek.

God Bless you,

Stephen

Nothing lasts for ever!

We often say things like 'nothing lasts for ever' or 'all good things will come to an end one day'. Did you know that Jesus Christ said that 'heaven and earth will pass away' He predicted the end of this universe as we know it. Scientists tell us that the second law of thermodynamics means that everything is degenerating. The Bible in other places (Isaiah 51/Hebrews 1/2 Peter 3) states that this universe will end one day. So what then? The Bible also states that God will create a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3/Revelation 21:1/Isaiah 66:22). There will however be a major difference to the present world. It will be a righteous place. All that is right will feel at home and be welcome in this new heaven and earth. Utopia indeed. This is guaranteed to happen (but we are not told when) because the Lord Jesus Christ came into this sinful world, dealt with consequences of sin by his death on the cross and rose again on the third day.

Where would you rather live? This sad and sinful world or in the new one where everything is right. You can be there courtesy of the Lord Jesus if you come to Him admitting and confessing your guilt before God and requesting forgiveness through faith in Christ.