Quite a few changes are expected this weekend! There are routine ones like the clocks going an hour forward to British Summer Time, bringing the prospect of more daylight hours in the evening, and warmer ones too.
Then there’s the one most of us have been looking forward to, when we can meet again for our church services. We’ll be starting again in the Gospel Hall here this Sunday in a limited way, but then hope to be able to open up more freely again soon for more people. But that will depend on the Covid situation throughout our countries, as people mixing more with each other can push up infections. I think it’s still ‘go slowly and cautiously, a step at a time’.
We would like to hope and believe that lockdowns will soon be a thing of the past. The first lockdown a year ago brought the biggest change any of us had ever seen in every aspect of our lives, and all over the world. We could hardly believe it at first, hardly knew how we would cope with those awkward restrictions so that we could stay safe, but we have got through what has been a very difficult year. It may be, however, that some changes will be permanent, or at least long lasting. Some changes for the better will maybe come with us into the future, for I think during the year we have learned to value even more some of the really important things in life.
Once again I think it’s time for me to cut back on the frequency of these blogs. I’ve enjoyed the challenge of always finding something meaningful and relevant to bring to you where you are. Thank you for your appreciation of my efforts! But now I hope that for local people at least, we can soon meet together again to hear the Word of God. I don’t intend to stop writing altogether – wait and see what comes next and when!
But as I wind down just now, let’s not forget that another and bigger change is coming sometime, and it too will affect people all over the world. Our Lord Jesus Christ is coming again, coming a second time! Before He went to the cross to die for us, He made this promise: “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14.3).
When Christians die, He receives them into heaven one by one. But when He comes this second time He will call every Christian alive at the time to come to be with Him, without them dying. Read 1 Thessalonians 4.16-17 for more details of this. He could come any day, maybe very soon, and it’s so important that we are sure that we will be among those who will go when He comes, not left to face the terrible judgements which will happen on the earth after that.
We can easily see that many things are wrong in the world today, how much evil there is all over. But when our Lord returns, His justice will deal firmly and finally with all that’s wrong everywhere, and His mighty power will make everything right again. His coming will bring about the greatest change this world has ever known.
Jesus is coming! Sing the glad word,
Coming for those He redeemed by His blood,
Coming to reign as the glorified Lord!
Jesus is coming again!
Jesus is coming! His saints to release,
Coming to give to this warring earth peace;
Sinning and sighing and sorrow shall cease;
Jesus is coming again!
(Daniel Whittle, 1840-1901)
Bert Cargill
Gospel Hall
St Monans
27 March 2021
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