Life at the End of the Line.

The train might turn around, but all the passengers had to get off.

PICKERING  – THE END

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OF THE LINE FOR MANY.

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THE BEGINNING FOR SOME.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is a heritage railway in North Yorkshire, England. First opened in 1836 as the Whitby and Pickering Railway, the railway was planned in 1831 by George Stephenson as a means of opening up trade routes inland from the then important seaport of Whitby. The line closed in 1965. It was reopened in 1973 by the North York Moors Historical Railway Trust Ltd. The preserved line is now a significant tourist attraction and has been awarded many industry accolades.

The NYMR carries more passengers than any other heritage railway in the UK and may be the busiest steam heritage line in the world, carrying around 350,000 passengers in 2009. The 18-mile (29 km) railway is the second-longest standard gauge heritage line in the United Kingdom and runs across the North York Moors from Pickering via Levisham, Newton Dale, Goathland and terminating at Grosmont. Some heritage rail operations continue along Network Rail tracks to Whitby.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Yorkshire_Moors_Railway/

http://www.nymr.co.uk/

Thousands of Journeys have been made on this rolling stock, each one different yet because of the limits of the track and equipment there are obvious similarities.

You buy your ticket, take your seat,  then enveloped in oily clouds of steam and smoke you enjoy the scenery along the way, but all too soon it’s over and you return to the hum drum routine of life.

A snapshot of life itself, we are all on the same journey, whatever our individual variations of race, colour or creed we relentlessly move along the rail track of life from the cradle to the grave.

A highlight of the train journey is the arrival of the ticket inspector to check the validity of your ticket, you mustn’t travel without one. You may have to buy it yourself, or perhaps enjoy the benevolence of a generous friend, parent or companion, but not to have a ticket is to contravene the railway’s regulations. Those who break the rules must pay up, immediately or find some generous soul to bear the cost.

The Journey of Life is relentlessly traversed  by every human being, and like on the underground/metro/tube, tickets are checked at the exit barrier.

Do you have one? We begin this journey by just being born, using the amenities and consuming resources day after day after day, no one has a ticket, yet everyone needs one to exit on the right side of  the track at the end of the road.

NYMR Station, Pickering.

Wise travelers check the timetable and plan their journey.

Wouldn’t You?

Yet billions muddle along the journey of life without giving a thought to where they are going and how it will end.

Offer them a timetable or details of what to expect at the terminus and they foolishly brush you aside with a curt, ‘No thanks I’m OK’ . What a tragic mistake, for it’s not a train they miss but the privilege of knowing God and the provision He has made for all who can see their need and accept His ‘gift’ of the full and free cancellation of all charges incurred enroute, with a guaranteed welcome into His world of beautiful peace and joy at the end.

Proverbs 14:12  There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

John 14:6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Acts 13:38–39  Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;  and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Acts 16:30b–31 “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Meandering through Life without Checking your Ticket is Madness.

Luke 12:20–21 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

REAL LIFE, putting the extra into the extraordinary

The Leaflet We Give Away.

Tells the story of Olympic

 ..

Silver Medalist Debbie Flood.

Her accomplishments in the games at Athens and Beijing are a great testimony to her hard work and determination.

In Her own words, there is something more special than her well earned success as an athlete.

"In my teenage years a local worker in a church challenged me about where I stood before God. Despite going to church and praying every-so-often I knew I needed to accept Jesus into my life. I needed to say sorry to Him for the wrong in my life and ask Him to forgive me, change me and be King of my life."
"I knew that I couldn't fool God - He created me - and there were things in my life that were far from what God would want. God the Judge said there has to be a penalty for the sin in my life."
But Jesus died for me and paid the sentence for my sin. Asking Him to become my Lord and Saviour is something that no Olympic success could bring. He has given me more than any Olympic medals could. However sorted my life might be, without Jesus it means nothing."

Another leaflet taken away to read.

It Was Our Privilege to hand out this leaflet, and many gladly received it:

Will you take a Christian leaflet?

Inside you will find a description of the One whom Debbie, and many others, depend upon to deliver them from sin and to give meaning and purpose to life. The One to whom you must turn in repentance and faith if you would find the kind of peace which she has found.

 

Mark 9:23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

John 11:26 whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Hebrews 11:6  he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

 

Sir Nigel at Pickering Station

 

 

 

 

 

No thanks, I’m Ok!

Market Place – It’s Cold!

Cold Hearts on a Cold Day.

One of the most regular responses to the offer of literature is “no thanks, I’m all right”.

While the right to think and say this must be respected, it does trouble me. It is a good example of the proverbial Ostrich burying it’s head in the sand.

Head in the sand.

How does anyone know what a piece of paper has written on it unless they read it? How can you know whether what’s being offered has any relevance to you unless you take time to read? Could it be that they are really just being polite, or is it that they are so self confident they can’t imagine that anyone offering literature on the street has anything to say worth listening to? It was cold, and I could understand people not wanting to hang about, but I don’t understand why people won’t just accept  what’s offered and read it later!

Is It Possible That There’s Another Reason For Burying Your Head in the Sand?

While it’s always possible to point to Satan’s delusion of every unbeliever, let’s not forget the choices people make are their own responsibility! Acts 7:51 You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.Not just blinded by the god of this age, but an evil heart of unbelief keeping each individual from seeking and finding the Living God?

“No thanks, I’m OK”  is the worst kind of delusion found in a human being.

You are far from “OK”, you are in desperate trouble, lost, without hope, ignorant of God and His salvation, guilty, etc., etc.. Ephesians 2:12 at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Those little pieces of paper are invitations to find out the truth about yourself and the wonder of God’s love for people like you. So many said “No thank you, I’m OK” to Jesus, only to find out too late that their condition was in fact desperate. Jesus described such people as play actors: Luke 12:56 Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time? HYPOCRITE — one who puts on a mask and feigns himself to be what he is not; a dissembler in religion. The only person they fool is them-self, and when the mask is finally removed it will be a time of inconsolable sorrow and suffering!

Those Little Pieces of Paper Would Have Explained God’s  Incredible Good News

Diagnosing man’s sorrowful solution and Dispensing God’s way of Salvation. You are far from “all right”, but don’t despair, Jesus Christ takes dying sinners and gives them everlasting life. Matthew 9:28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” And their eyes were opened.

 Jesus makes broken people whole, but you need to admit you are in need of help and call upon Him until He delivers you.

THAT’S WHY I’M OUT ON THE STREET ON SUCH A COLD DAY, OR ANY DAY!

Jesus’ Diagnosis and Remedy.

Cock O’ the North at Pickering Station

Bittern at Pickering Station.