Are we getting the message?

I spotted this cute cartoon in local fast food restaurant last week in Birkenhead. It is amazing how a simple sketch can catch your imagination! It gets the message across! I was in no doubt what the message was - put your rubbish in the bin. I didn't need a lot of words, it's simple. Look and learn.

I see life and the message of the bible the same way. The main message is quite simple.




What do you think of when you see this? Do you think of death, finality, fear of the next stage, the end of life? The imagery is not hard to grasp. The bible says "It is appointed unto men once to die, after this....the judgment", Hebrews 9.27.


Most people associate a cross with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The symbolism is clear, a man dying on a cross. There are a lot of questions that this raises if you take the time to stop and think.

Who really was Jesus?
Was his death miscarriage of justice?
Does his death have any real significance in the big scheme of things?
If he never sinned does that mean he was capable of suffering for our sins, to bring us to God?

The answers to these questions, and more, lie in the bible. There is no point in looking elsewhere. The bible is the only communication that God has given to us to answer these questions. I would recommend that you read the following verses for answers. You will get a bible on-line or in most high street book shops. I have quoted the passages below.

Who really was Jesus? John 20:31 says "these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name".

Was his death a miscarriage of justice? The bible says in Acts 2 that Jesus was "a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs" but that the people of the day had taken, and by wicked hands crucified and slain him. In chapter 3 it is stated you "denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted into you". So yes, there was no legal reason to kill the Son of God but his death has provided salvation for those who will repent and trust him.

Does his death have any real significance in the big scheme of things? The bible strenuously states "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and rose again the third day according to the scriptures", 1 Corinthians 15.3,4. Again in 2 Corinthians 5.19 it says "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses into them".

If Jesus never sinned does that men's he was capable of suffering for our sins, to bring us to God? 1 Peter 3:18 states "For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring is to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit".

For more information, podcasts or video links visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk.

All posts have the aim of pointing people to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour or to aid Christian growth and development.

Location:From Perth, Scotland

Are we getting the message?

I spotted this cute cartoon in local fast food restaurant last week in Birkenhead. It is amazing how a simple sketch can catch your imagination! It gets the message across! I was in no doubt what the message was - put your rubbish in the bin. I didn't need a lot of words, it's simple. Look and learn.

I see life and the message of the bible the same way. The main message is quite simple.




What do you think of when you see this? Do you think of death, finality, fear of the next stage, the end of life? The imagery is not hard to grasp. The bible says "It is appointed unto men once to die, after this....the judgment", Hebrews 9.27.


Most people associate a cross with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The symbolism is clear, a man dying on a cross. There are a lot of questions that this raises if you take the time to stop and think.

Who really was Jesus?
Was his death miscarriage of justice?
Does his death have any real significance in the big scheme of things?
If he never sinned does that mean he was capable of suffering for our sins, to bring us to God?

The answers to these questions, and more, lie in the bible. There is no point in looking elsewhere. The bible is the only communication that God has given to us to answer these questions. I would recommend that you read the following verses for answers. You will get a bible on-line or in most high street book shops. I have quoted the passages below.

Who really was Jesus? John 20:31 says "these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name".

Was his death a miscarriage of justice? The bible says in Acts 2 that Jesus was "a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs" but that the people of the day had taken, and by wicked hands crucified and slain him. In chapter 3 it is stated you "denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted into you". So yes, there was no legal reason to kill the Son of God but his death has provided salvation for those who will repent and trust him.

Does his death have any real significance in the big scheme of things? The bible strenuously states "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and rose again the third day according to the scriptures", 1 Corinthians 15.3,4. Again in 2 Corinthians 5.19 it says "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses into them".

If Jesus never sinned does that men's he was capable of suffering for our sins, to bring us to God? 1 Peter 3:18 states "For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring is to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit".

For more information, podcasts or video links visit www.seekthetruth.org.uk.

All posts have the aim of pointing people to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour or to aid Christian growth and development.

Location:From Perth, Scotland

Psalm 69

Save Me, O God
To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. Of David.

1
Save me, O God!
For the waters have come up to my neck.
2
I sink in deep mire,
where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
and the flood sweeps over me.
3
I am weary with my crying out;
my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
with waiting for my God.
4
More in number than the hairs of my head
are those who hate me without cause;
mighty are those who would destroy me,
those who attack me with lies.
What I did not steal
must I now restore?
5
O God, you know my folly;
the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.
6
Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me,
O Lord GOD of hosts;
let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me,
O God of Israel.
7
For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach,
that dishonor has covered my face.
8
I have become a stranger to my brothers,
an alien to my mother's sons.
9
For zeal for your house has consumed me,
and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
10
When I wept and humbledn my soul with fasting,
it became my reproach.
11
When I made sackcloth my clothing,
I became a byword to them.
12
I am the talk of those who sit in the gate,
and the drunkards make songs about me.
13
But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD.
At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
14
Deliver me
from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
and from the deep waters.
15
Let not the flood sweep over me,
or the deep swallow me up,
or the pit close its mouth over me.
16
Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good;
according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
17
Hide not your face from your servant;
for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.
18
Draw near to my soul, redeem me;
ransom me because of my enemies!
19
You know my reproach,
and my shame and my dishonor;
my foes are all known to you.
20
Reproaches have broken my heart,
so that I am in despair.
I looked for pity, but there was none,
and for comforters, but I found none.
21
They gave me poison for food,
and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.
22
Let their own table before them become a snare;
and when they are at peace, let it become a trap.
23
Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see,
and make their loins tremble continually.
24
Pour out your indignation upon them,
and let your burning anger overtake them.
25
May their camp be a desolation;
let no one dwell in their tents.
26
For they persecute him whom you have struck down,
and they recount the pain of those you have wounded.
27
Add to them punishment upon punishment;
may they have no acquittal from you.
28
Let them be blotted out of the book of the living;
let them not be enrolled among the righteous.
29
But I am afflicted and in pain;
let your salvation, O God, set me on high!
30
I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31
This will please the LORD more than an ox
or a bull with horns and hoofs.
32
When the humble see it they will be glad;
you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
33
For the LORD hears the needy
and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.
34
Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and everything that moves in them.
35
For God will save Zion
and build up the cities of Judah,
and people shall dwell there and possess it;
36
the
offspring of his servants shall inherit it,
and those who love his name shall dwell in it.













All posts have the aim of pointing people to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour or to aid Christian growth and development.

Location:From Liverpool

Saved or Lost

Last week a friend and I visited the newest section of the Titanic Exhibition in the Liverpool Maritime Museum.

I was impressed by the stark reality of the lists of names of passengers. Beside each name was one of two words - saved or lost.

O the tragedy of being lost!

O the relief and ecstasy of being saved!

It made me consider this fact. One day the only thing that will matter for every individual who has lived in this world will be if they are saved or lost. Wealth, success, talent and intelligence will not matter then. The thing that will distinguish one person from another will be if they were 'saved' or are 'lost'.

Let me explain.

Sin has affected every human being. The scriptures clearly state 'all have sinned'. Our natural state as humans is 'lost'. We are 'without God' and the 'wrath of God abides on us'. This is all a result of original sin, the first man, Adam's, act of self will and disobedience. The bible says 'by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin'.

Our only hope is to be rescued and saved. We have not the strength to do this for ourselves. The means of salvation God has provided is in a person - Jesus Christ. God has made the way of escape simple. 'Christ died for our sins....he was buried and he rose again the third day'.

You secure the cancelling of your guilt and your safe passage to heaven through Christ. The word of God says 'neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven, given among men whereby we must be saved'.

The step to safety is 'believe on The Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved'.

If the list of names on the other side of death could be read at this moment what would be beside your name - saved or lost?




All posts have the aim of pointing people to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour or to aid Christian growth and development.

Location:Liverpool Martime Museum