Thursday, December 01, 2016

Brexit - was it a good decison?

Brexit - Was it a good decision?

On the 24th June we in the UK woke to discover that a momentous decision had been made following the National Referendum on European Union (EU) membership conducted the previous day; that decision was to leave the EU. Even though two thirds of the people of Scotland, a significant majority in N Ireland and an overwhelming majority in Gibraltar had voted to remain, because of our links to the UK we all had to accept the consequences of Brexit, whether good or bad. The decision to leave will affect every one of us sooner or later, to some degree.

There was another decision made further back in history at the very dawn of time when the first man, created by God, decided to deliberately and defiantly disobey God. Adam had been placed in the most congenial of circumstances with one simple instruction, one sole prohibition: not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The sad facts of that fateful day are recorded in the third chapter of the first book of the Bible, Genesis, and we have had to live with the disastrous consequences since. Romans 5.12 states, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."

We tend to segregate people according to their race, religion, colour, social status, etc. but the Bible places us all, without exception on one common platform and describes us unflatteringly as ‘sinners’. Due to our links with Adam, the progenitor of the human race, we have all been affected and infected by the deadly virus of sin; we have been defiled by its contagion and its ravages are apparent everywhere in our world. We have been affected physically, psychologically, morally and spiritually. We are at a distance from God, we are accounted as enemies of God, Romans 5.10, and we are in danger of eternal banishment from God if our sins are not forgiven. The stamp of mortality is on every brow and we began the cheerless tramp to the grave as soon we arrived in the world. Hospitals, hospices, prisons and cemeteries all bear testimony to the seriousness of that decision made in the Garden of Eden. J M Davies said, "Cemeteries, the cities of the dead are more populous than the cities of the living."

Is there a solution; is there a remedy? Surprisingly we do not advocate religion, church attendance or change of lifestyle. We encourage you to live respectably and lawfully but that in itself will not eradicate the problem of sin or fit you for heaven. The Bible does not provide us with a range of options but presents an exclusive Saviour, God’s Son. He is the only Saviour for all men everywhere and "He is able also to save them to the uttermost [completely and eternally] that come unto God by Him". Peter said, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" Acts 4.12. The Lord Jesus Himself said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me" John 14.6.

Only by trusting Him Who died on our behalf at Calvary can we be saved and fitted for heaven and escape hell.

He took the guilty sinner’s place and suffered in his stead;

For man (O, miracle of grace!); For man the Saviour bled.

(Anne Steele)

Like Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who officiated at the trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, you have a decision to make: "What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?" Matthew 27.22. We urge you to trust Christ and receive a pardon for your sins and be sure of a place in heaven forever.

Used by permission of Assembly Testimony