Sunny Scotland

We came up to Scotland for a few days to visit my parents. As we were going to Scotland we did not pack summer clothes and we were caught out. I was roasted in my jeans and heavy shoes. The weather was spectacular and we had a lovely time round the banks of Loch Lomond and Strathclyde Park. It would have been more worthwhile to have been well prepared. Thinking things through in advance has its advantages.

Moving into more important areas of life; how prepared are you spiritually? The Old Testament prophet Amos advised the nation of Israel to prepare to meet God (Amos 4.2). When I read and understand what the rest of the Bible teaches I find that it would be advisable for everyone to make preparation for their meeting with God. The Bible teaches that a Day of Judgement is coming (Daniel 12.12/John 5.29) and that all of us will be acountable for everything we do and say (Matthew 12.36). These facts alone raise very important and serious issues about how we live.

The gospel message explains that there is a way of escape from conviction by God. His just and legal sentence of the second death can be avoided if we follow the advice that is given in the word of God. It is as follows:

1. Consider and understand your guilt before God.
2. Confess your sin to God and agree with His sentence of death against us.
3. Consider the death of the Lord Jesus in payment for your sin. Rest on Him as Lord & Saviour.
4. Believe that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead three days after His death.
5. Accept Jesus Christ as the only saviour of sinners.

You can be saved if you come to God, turn from your sin and believe the gospel. I trust that you will know God's richest blessing.

Stephen

My week

I have had a great week this week - not that other weeks are boring. I went to Aberdeen last Saturday to speak at a conference. It was really encouraging to meet believers who are keen to be involved in what God is doing in the world today. We heard from Ian Burness of Echoes of Service about how God is saving people in other countries today and using them to reach their own people with the good news of God's saving grace. I was asked to tell folks about the work that I do pointing people to the Lord Jesus Christ in Liverpool, the North West of England and further afield.

Sunday saw us start a Gospel Mission in Haydock near Liverpool. A friend of mine came up from Southampton to help me and this has really been a bonus. Another friend and I have been preaching at these meetings about God's plans for the future of this planet and for mankind. It is really exciting (and worrying at times) when you realise that Jesus will come again. The birth pangs of His coming could be taking place even now - economic turmoil, wars and rumours of wars, increased seismic activity in the earth's crust. The first thing that will happen is that the Lord Jesus will return to the skys above the earth and remove all the believers from the earth. This will be a silent coming but will no doubt cause great (if brief) consternation in the world. Jesus said clearly to His followers in John 14 'I will come again'. Other New Testament Bible references back this up. After His coming the world will be exposed to seven years of great trouble and turmoil. In the Bible the second half of this period is called 'the great tribulation'. This period of time will be preceded by apparent peace and tranquility. First Thessalonians chapter five states 'For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them'. The prospect of this is scary though not for the believer in Jesus Christ. If you are (or get saved) you will escape the wrath (anger) of God (see Romans 5:9). God is angry because of my sin and your sin but His Son, the Lord Jesus, died for our sins. Whosoever believes in Him shall be saved. We are accountable for what we do and God has defined what is right and wrong in His word, the Bible.

The future of our planet and the souls of those who live (and have lived) on it are in the hands of God. Today you can hear His voice, repent (change your mind, turning from sin) and be saved. Tomorrow may be too late.

May God encourage those of us who are believers to rejoice in what He has done and those who do not believe to 'call upon the name of the Lord'. It's not too late as I write!

Where does the time go?

My son is sixteen (nearly seventeen). He is about to start his GCSE's. School is over (until sixth form - if he gets the right results!). Last night Carole and I attended his leavers service in the school/church. It only seems like yesterday that he started school in Halfway, Sheffield. Where have all the years gone?

You must ask the same question from time to time. Time flies, we age, times come and go and suddenly it's getting late! I am not just talking about teenagers getting home late at night; I am thinking about life. What is going on! Tomorrow quickly becomes today and today has no sooner dawned but it is now yesterday!

And what of your life and mine! What am I living for? What is it all for? There is an answer - read the words of the Lord Jesus in the Gospel of John chapter 10. Read verse 9, 10, 11 - read it all. The Lord Jesus came to give us life - not physical but spiritual. Sin has barred us from knowing God. It's our nature to do wrong and believe wrong things but 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners'. Will you start a new life today? I trust that you will.