Nothing lasts for ever - or does it?

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

I have good news for you. The Bible teaches that God made us with an eternal soul, the real person, and though the body ends in physical death, the soul lives on. Many people don't believe this any more. Stephen Hawking, British Physicist and author dismisses the notion of an afterlife. To quote he said recently '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. It does however ignore the fact 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 which unaided we will struggle to answer.

Enter a book which has for generations provided answers that could not find their source solely in the mind of a human being - the Bible. It is easy to dismiss the Bible as the purely the writings of men but that would not be doing justice to the information it contains and the consistency of its message. The Bible has an inbuilt testing system of prediction and fulfilment which either stands or falls on the substantive evidence of archeology, science, history, geography and social development. There have no developments to date in any of these disciplines which have produced evidence which undermines the truthfulness and probity of the Bible.

If all of this is true may I suggest that we should pay more attention to what it teaches about life, death, the afterlife, God etc. One of the books of the Bible (John's gospel) specifically states that it was written 'that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing you might have life through his name'. My prayer is that this will be the outcome if you choose to read the Bible for yourself.

Ever been really loved?

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life - the Bible - John 3.16.

Have you ever seen the words John 3 v16 held up at a sporting event (see pictures)? Did you ever wonder what it meant?

Have you ever longed to be loved unconditionally, sincerely and consistently? Well listen to this.

For God - the greatest being in the universe loves you.

So loved - His love is the greatest show the greatest degree of love - He gave His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins.

His love is to the widest audience ever - the world.

that He gave - this was the greatest act of love - when you consider that we were His enemies, disobedient to him and sinners.

His only begotten Son - this is the greatest gift possible. Consider the value and status of the Son of the living God. The creator, the supreme one given to the death of the cross to pay the price for sin.

That whosoever - the widest audience possible - no one is excluded. God is not willing that any should perish.

Believes in Him - the greatest simplicity, believe and receive.

Should not perish - the greatest guaranteed promise. No doubt, no maybe's salvation is secure.

But - the great differentiator, we all stand on one side or the other. Saved or lost, dead in sin or life in Christ.

Have - the greatest certainty

Everlasting life - the greatest possession. Nothing else comes near, everything else has an expiry date.

Read this verse until you understand all that God wants to bless you with.

Arrivals and Departures

An Airport can be an exciting place, there are however times when for most of us it has been a depressing place. Saying 'goodbye' is not an enjoyable experience especially when you want to be with the person who is leaving and their absence leaves a void that you find hard to fill.

Maybe you are an upbeat type and all of this is a bit dismal. Pull yourself together you say! Everything will be all-right! It's not for long. I agree that it is good to be positive in your thinking and most of the time this attitude is the best way to deal with most situations in life. But let's be really frank and honest for a minute.

Life doesn't last for ever! Some things in life are not all-right! Some partings are for ever!

If you have read any of my blogs or listened to my podcasts you will understand when I say that I am now going to put my 'Christian' hat on. You see as a Christian I have the most amazing message to bring to you.

It is this: There is an eternal tomorrow, there is a place of no parting, no tears, no death, no sorrow, full justice etc.

Where is it you will be asking if you are taking me seriously. It is in the presence of the creator, the Almighty God. One of the writers of the Psalms in the Bible states that in God's presence there is 'fullness of joy', at His right hand there are 'pleasures for ever more'.

How can you discover if this is true. The only answer to that question is - Read the Bible, listen to God speak directly to you through His book. Start in the New Testament and keep reading. I am not going defend the Bible to you, read it for yourself. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (the book of Romans.10.17). If you do not have a Bible e-mail me with your name and address to stepcar61@gmail.com. I will put one in the post for you, free of charge. (This offer is only open to individuals).

As I finish remember this - we will all face our final departure from this world sooner or later. Be aware - there will be an arrival for each of us in the next life (it's all in the Bible - check it out!). There are only two destinies - heaven or hell! One is an arrival marked by joy - you depart in peace from this life to enter in the presence of the one who died on the cross to save you. The other is an arrival marked by grief - you refused to hear the voice of God (in your conscience, through His Son, Jesus Christ, through His word, the Bible). You are unforgiven because you refused to believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

The simple solution is this. 'Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way and unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon' (Isaiah.55.6,7 - the Bible). You possibly don't feel wicked or unrighteous but believe me I am and we all are in God's eyes. May you know God's blessing today.

What excitement!

You could hardly believe the excitement that the Royal Wedding produced, but it was immense. I am sure that many people really enjoyed the day and found it a happy diversion from the many other difficult issues they currently face.

But the world goes on.

British Boxing legend Sir Henry Cooper dies.

Col Gaddafi survives a very close call but it looks like members of his family die.

Firefighters struggle to contain fires on the mountains of Mourne in Northern Ireland.

Joy here, sadness there. Excitement in different places for different reasons - this is the world we live in.

You never know the moment you say. Life is uncertain, we don't know what a day will bring.

My simple message this week is - be prepared. Sounds like the Boy Scout Movement Motto. Generally we prepare for most things. Education, holidays, retirement etc etc.

Are we prepared for the next life, to meet our maker? The bible warns 'Prepare to meet God'.

It is possible to be prepared. God has made it simple for us. Listen to this verse from the Bible and rest on it for your eternal future.

'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life' (John 3.16 - The Bible)

God has done all the preparing to save your soul and make you safe for ever. All you need to do is acknowledge your needy condition and trust Him to save you. Would you choose eternal life today. I pray that you will.