Life is constantly changing.

 

We know that life is constantly changing and that nothing lasts forever. In many ways, this is a harsh and sad reality. Most of us find it hard to accept that we will grow old, that loved ones will pass on, and that children will grow up and leave home. You know the types of things that I am talking about. Sad but true!

 

Please read on, as I have good news for you. The Bible teaches that God made us with an eternal soul. The soul is the real person, the real you. Although the body stops living upon our physical death, the soul lives on. Many people don't believe this anymore. The late Stephen Hawking, a British Physicist and author, dismissed the notion of an afterlife. He once said 'I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken-down computers. That is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark'. 

 

This argument sounds very feasible, especially when proposed by such an intelligent man. However, it ignores that we are not just biological computers. It ignores man's consciousness, which the best of brains have grappled with but have to admit is beyond their explanation. Consciousness cannot be defined in purely physiological terms. Add to this the evidence for the supernatural and the spiritual, and you have many questions that we will struggle to answer unaided.

Six honest men!

 

One of the methods that I use to communicate the message of the Bible is a podcast. You can access it through my webpage - seekthetruth.org.uk. One long-running series I have recorded is called 'Life Questions'. It started when I was asked by a Christian radio station in Canada (Hope Stream Radio) to produce some material for them. People have many questions, and the Bible is the creator's (God's) book of answers. It is a unique book in that the men who wrote claim that they did not write of their own volition 'instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit,' 2 Peter 1:21. This is why you will often read in the Bible, ' Thus says the Lord' or 'This is what the Lord says’ and it is why I suggest that this timeless volume is well worth a read.

 

Questions are the primary means of learning. Rudyard Kipling's famous poem, 'I Keep Six Honest Serving Men,' reminds us of the natural curiosity that is often most evident in children.

 

I KEEP six honest serving-men

(They taught me all I knew);

Their names are What and Why and When

And How and Where and Who.

I send them over land and sea,

I send them east and west;

But after they have worked for me,

I give them all a rest.

Sayings for Sanity - A word for the Wise

 

As anyone who reads this column knows, I love reading the Bible and believe it is the ultimate source of wisdom for every area of life. One section of the Bible comes under the heading of 'wisdom literature'. It starts with the book of Job, where the meaning and purpose of suffering are discussed. It's a thorny problem and one where glib answers are not appropriate. As Job struggles through circumstances that challenge every fibre of his faith, he asks many questions. This is normal and part of working through tough situations in life.

 

In Job chapter 28, he poses the question - Where can wisdom be found? This is still a relevant question. Look at all the intelligence in our nation. We live in a country with many universities, and over 45% of people in the United Kingdom have some form of post-secondary education, but wisdom often evades us. Ultimate wisdom is found in God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Daniel, one of the outstanding Bible characters, said, 'Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him^[1]'.

Three Word Phrases

 

You would not be surprised to learn that I am fascinated with words. It would be a poor job if someone who spends a lot of time writing and public speaking was not interested in the words they use. Our choice of words and vocabulary develops over time and reflects what we read, listen to, watch, etc. Developing a pool of words you can draw from is good, especially if you want to communicate clearly.

 

Interestingly, we love to express ourselves in short, snappy statements. However, I was intrigued at how often we use memorable three-word phrases that communicate our point clearly. Let me give you some examples:

 

Black and White

Haves and have-nots

Kiss and tell 

Pros and cons

Tried and tested 

Flesh and blood

Down and out

 

These expressive short statements convey an idea clearly and in a way that is easy to remember.