Last Sunday’s Sermon
heaven
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE:
Pickering Market Place
Pickering Market Place
This Is The Difference
ANSWERS TO LIFE’S ULTIMATE QUESTION:
What Happens Next!
The Grand Journey of Life Moves on Relentlessly
Time to Go?
OLD CARS CAN BE RESTORED:
Classic Car – E type Jag!
BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO PEOPLE?
No, we are not left to guess, our Maker and Designer has spoken plainly.
Romans 2:4-6 do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honour, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honour, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
HOW CAN ANYONE PREPARE FOR THAT DAY?
That’s the purpose of the Bible and all that other literature on the table – it’s time to ‘HELP YOUR SELF’.
Take up and Read!
I was weeping in the most bitter contritition of my heart, when I heard the voice of children from a neighbouring house chanting, “take up and read; take up and read.” I could not remember ever having heard the like, so checking the torrent of my tears, I arose, interpreting it to be no other than a command from God to open the book and read the first chapter I should find. Eagerly then I returned to the place where I had laid the volume of the apostle. I seized, opened, and in silence read that section on which my eyes first fell: “Not in revelry and drunkenness, not in licentiousness and lewdness, not is strife and envy; but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” No further would I read, nor did I need to. For instantly at the end of this sentence, it seemed as if a light of serenity infused into my heart and all the darkness of doubt vanished away. – Augustine
Romans 13:14 (NKJV) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. God.
Read about the amazing God who made us, His Holiness and Righteousness, His Love and Mercy. How He acted in time to bring about the permanent restoration of the human heart and mind so that men might live in His presence – Forever!
Romans 5:10 (NKJV) For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Romans 3:26 (NKJV) to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Mary had a little pig and it was white as snow,
That is when it had had a bath, as you of course might know.
But Mary had an awful time to keep the piggy clean,
For it was just the dirtiest pig that one has ever seen.
She’d wash him and she’d scrub him, till he would squirm and squeal,
As if he wanted her to know it was an unfair deal.
And then inside his green backyard he’d plan from morn to night,
Unless he happened to sneak out and lose himself from sight.
And then when Mary found him he’d be blacker than ere before,
So Mary’d get the soap again and scrub the pig some more.
Poor Mary thought and wondered much what she could ever do
Until she figured out a plan, and this she carried through.
She took him to a doctor who put the pig to sleep, and then he
Took his heart right out, but not of course to keep.
And then he took a little lamb and took his heart out too
And put it in the little pig before the piggy knew.
When little piggy did awake he had no more desire
To wallow in the mud again or ever in the mire.
And try as hard as ere he could he never understood,
How such a pig as once he was could ever be so good.
And so you see, dear friends of mine, you need a new heart too,
Just like the little piggy did, the old will never do.
If you’ll receive a brand new heart, well, here is how you may.
Accept God’s son as Saviour now and let him in today.
NEED HELP TO UNDERSTAND ALL THIS?
Just Ask!
Ready to Help – Yes It’s Me. Get in Touch.
PICKERING, MARKET PLACE, 13th August 2011.
WERE YOU IN TOWN TODAY?
Here are some pictures around town, can you see anyone you know?
Twelve Thirty Two.
Twelve Forty Nine
Thirteen Twenty
The place remains the same, only the people change.
Here’s where I stand and take these pictures:
ULTIMATE QUESTIONS NEED SATISFACTORY ANSWERS
A Number of People Stopped To Talk, One Lady Even Before The Table Was Setup!
A Methodist Lay Preacher, A Christian Family From Leeds, A Little Old Lady who was frightened off by the mention of being ‘born again’.
Then finally a man who wanted to be friendly with everyone. So concerned that he should not be coerced to conform to anyone’s criteria, he’d invented a whole new set of boxes to tick!
HE RAISES THE QUESTION AS TO WHETHER EVERYONE CAN BE RIGHT AT THE SAME TIME.
Can you be BOTH black and white at one and the same time, I fear not, you are simple left as a shade of gray.
Jesus clearly says, there is only one way to God, you must come through Him:
John 14:6 (NKJV)
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
That’s What Peter Understood Him To Have Said:
Acts 4:12 (NKJV)
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
My friend agreed, as of course you might expect!
Then proceeded to explain that he believed each person would be judged by the light he had received.
This is often thought to be the meaning of:
Romans 2:11–16 (NKJV)
There is no partiality with God. For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
Tragically it describes the fate of ‘sinners’, whether they’ve had the privilege of the revelation of God’s Law or simply the Light of God’s Creation.
Either way they are lost and without hope, it may sound generous to talk about being ‘judged by the light you have’, but in fact its the terrible truth that:
Romans 3:10–12 (NKJV)
As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.”
Romans 3:19–20 (NKJV)
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Those who’ve never heard of the Living God, The God of the Bible, fair no better, the light of creation defines them as sinners too:
Romans 1:20–25 (NKJV)
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Romans 3:23 (NKJV)
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God!
IT’S ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THAT WE ARE HONEST WITH PEOPLE.
Jesus Christ came to save sinners, and all who recognize their name, and only they, will find themselves ‘safe’ in the salvation provided in and by Jesus Christ.
John 3:16 (NKJV)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
NO FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST – THEN YOU HAVE NO HOPE!
TRUSTING ON, BELIEVING IN JESUS CHRIST, YOU HAVE PEACE WITH GOD.
PEACE LIKE A RIVER TRANSCENDS THE BELIEVING SOUL.
CHARITY CASE
A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GOOD WORK IS DONE IN COLLECTING FOR CHARITY.
Charity Collector
It was fascinating to watch how people respond to the solitary figures with their money boxes and giving away sticker badges.
Some completely ignored them, others immediately approached, dropped their coin in the bucket and went away wearing their badge of honour .
The intriguing people were those who felt the need to explain that they’d already given but lost the badges.
Charities are well respected, and rightly so, for the opportunity they provide for donors to be generous and all the good work they do.
The Free Dictionary defines ‘charity thus: [ http://www.thefreedictionary.com/%5D
1. Provision of help or relief to the poor; almsgiving.
2. Something given to help the needy; alms.
3. An institution, organization, or fund established to help the needy.
4. Benevolence or generosity toward others or toward humanity.
5. Indulgence or forbearance in judging others.
It goes on to describe a 6th meaning of ‘charity’:
The theological virtue defined as love directed first toward God but also toward oneself and one’s neighbours as objects of God’s love.
In this 6th sense (???) the work of sharing the Goodnews of God's love for sinners, His provision of His Son as a substitute for sinners, His calling of people to believe and be saved is 'charitable' work of the highest importance.
Charity Display
The Distinctive of This Charitable Work is that it’s about Giving Instead of Collecting.
The greatest gift anyone can give, the greatest good anyone can do is to provide you with all you need to understand the love of God for lost people.
As long as people are around there will be a need to give to those who help cancer sufferers, provide lifeboats, air ambulances and provide for human and animal welfare.
But only the gospel of God’s kindness to undeserving sinners meets mankind’s great need of a Saviour. The cancer of sin, the danger of drowning in it and just plain compassion for mankind is the primary Christian Charitable Cause.
Martin Luther wrote: “The believing man has the Holy Ghost; and where the Holy Ghost dwells, He will not suffer a man to be idle, but stirs him up to all exercises of piety and godliness, and of true religion, to the love of God, to the patient suffering of afflictions, to prayer, to thanksgiving, and the exercise of charity towards all men.”
Because of this the Church in Pickering makes the Good News available to tourist and local people alike.
Mark 16:15 (NKJV)
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Romans 1:15 (NKJV)
So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in [Pickering] Rome also.
1 Corinthians 9:16 (NKJV)
For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!
As A Charitable Act We Would TELL YOU About God’s Great Love and Call You to Receive His Free Gift of ETERNAL Life.
You must either be a ‘Charity Case’ or suffer the ravages of your own sin forever.
A.B. Simpson is reported to have said that the gospel “Tells rebellious men that God is reconciled, that justice is satisfied, that sin has been atoned for, that the judgment of the guilty may be revoked, the condemnation of the sinner canceled, the curse of the Law blotted out, the gates of hell closed, the portals of heaven opened wide, the power of sin subdued, the guilty conscience healed, the broken heart comforted, the sorrow and misery of the Fall undone.”
Evangelism, A Biblical Approach, M. Cocoris, Moody, 1984, p. 29
63395
Market Place Park Street Junction
KINDNESS
People out again after the rain.
Matthew 5:45 (NKJV) He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
“I Think
,
the Most Important
,
Characteristic of God
,
is His Kindness”
That’s What ‘Jim’ Thinks Anyway! We’ve spoken now for 4 weeks or more, and he approached me to raise the matter. “I’ve been thinking since last we spoke, and that’s the conclusion to which I have come.“
He’d gone away the previous week to consider the searching question: ‘Am I good enough to be allowed to enter heaven?’ We’d spoken about the fact that everyone sins, and that there are no perfect people in the world.
Romans 3:23 (NKJV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God .
We’d considered further that God is Perfect, and looks for Perfection in those who would enter His heaven.
Matthew 5:48 (NKJV) Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Concluding therefore that no living person is ‘good enough’ to dwell with God forever.
Romans 3:10 (NKJV) As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one.
What Is Sin?
Sin is anything that is contrary to the law or will of God. For example: if you lie, you have sinned. Why? Because God has said not to lie (Ex. 20:16). If you do what God has forbidden, then you have sinned. In addition, if you do not do what God has commanded, you sin (James 4:17). Either way, the result is eternal separation from God (Is. 59:2). Sin is lawlessness (1 John 1:3) and unrighteousness (1 John 5:17). Sin leads to blindness (John 9:41) and death (Rom. 6:23).
Serious Stuff – Jim had gone home to consider where he stood before God, and came back speaking about God’s kindness!
Like so many of his generation he was hoping in that kindness which simply overlooks imperfections and rewards ‘best efforts’, ‘good intentions’, etc..
I was able to explain a little of the revealed nature of God as holy, righteous and committed to justice, therefore committed to consistently deal fairly with sin of every degree.
A Policeman or Judge might be able to ‘turn a blind eye’, but the living God will not, can not!
Deuteronomy 18:13 (NKJV) You shall be blameless before the Lord your God.
1 Peter 1:15–16 (NKJV) but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
Thankfully, God Is Also KIND, His KINDNESS is Shown in His Amazing Gift of His Only Son to Deliver Sinners from Judgement – That’s KINDNESS!
Titus 3:4–5 (NKJV) But when the kindness and the love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.
In a world changing act of mercy He has shown mercy to millions who deserve punishment – THAT’s KINDNESS! – Love in action, according to Charles Allen.
1 Corinthians 13:4 (NKJV) Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up
Everyone knows the story of the ‘Good Samaritan’, that’s Kindness, a lesson in God’s kindness to those beaten up and left for dead by sin. Jesus [God] is the Good Samaritan who stoops down to tend our wounds, lift us out of danger and provided for all we need to bring us safe to heaven.
How?
Colossians 1:28 (NKJV) Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
Those who understand the KINDNESS of God don’t want Him to turn a ‘blind eye’, they are rejoicing and resting in the work of God’s Son on the Cross to make them perfect, and thereby fit and ready for eternal life in the presence of the Perfect One.
Table loaded with information about the KINDNESS of God.
92214
Locomotive leaving
RUBBISH
Refuse Collection Van
Where would we be
|
without someone
|
who was willing
|
to clean up after us?
27 Million Tonnes Of Rubbish Is Thrown Away In The U.k. Every Year.The Current Population Of The U.k. Is 60 Million. So How Much, On Average, Does Each Person Throw Away Each Year? 27 000 000 / 60 000 000 =0.45 tonnes. Therefore, each person produces 0.45 tonnes of rubbish on average in a year.
"And humans make such a fuss about us"!
Dirt and pollution is everywhere, we may love our steam locomotives, but who would want live near them?
I may look shiny, but I pour out soot all the time.
I'm no different.
Clean enough to eat from .. !
Much as we like our streets to be clean and tidy, it takes lots of work and must be repeated each and every day.
Their task is endless, the rubbish just keeps on coming – and thankfully going – so we live a healthy life in a healthy environment !
The Physical Problem and how it’s managed pictures a far greater pollution, the crippling , all contaminating corruption of sin.
Everywhere is affected, the world itself groans under it’s weight:
Romans 8:22 (NKJV)
For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
Mankind is Corrupt, to the extent that he pretends pollution is good and being clean is bad:
Genesis 6:5 (NKJV)
The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Jesus Christ Came To Cleanse Believers and Restore Them To Their Original Condition:
Matthew 8:3 (NKJV)
Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Those whom He has cleansed are kept clean by the daily application of Jesus’ sacrificial death
1 John 1:9 (NKJV)
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The Work He completed on the Cross has changed the world forever.
1John 1:7b (NKJV)
The blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son cleanses us from all sin.
A preacher was speaking from the text, “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.” Suddenly he was interrupted by an atheist who asked, “How can blood cleanse sin?”
For a moment the preacher was silent; then he countered, “How can water quench thirst?”
“I do not know,” replied the unbeliever, “but I know that it does.”
“Neither do I know how the blood of Jesus cleanses sin,” answered the preacher, “but I know that it does.” —Sunday School Times
RUN, RUN, RUN.
Group Running.
- Front Runner
Running Back
Lone Runner
Hard Work, Running.
Saturday Afternoon
.
Saw The Town
.
‘Overrun’ by
.
Open Adventure
.
Runners.
Their Web Site [www.openadventure.com] tells us that:
Open Adventure was set up by James Thurlow in 2004 in reaction to the lack Adventure Racing in the North of England.
Saturday’s event was an ‘Open 12’ – 12 hours of adventure racing in a wonderful location, and they even paid £110 to take part!
Their Dedication, Effort and Commitment was a Delight to see.
You can only begin to imagine the training and planning that went into such an event.
How Different
.
To The Normal
.
Pickering Pace
.
of Life.
Road Side Cafe.
Train Spotting, Loco 80072.
Pickering Beck and Ducks.
Normally the most exciting thing people do is decide which flavour of ice cream to buy!
THE TWO ALTERNATIVES RAISE MANY QUESTIONS – WHAT IS LIFE ALL ABOUT?
‘Who am I? What is my purpose in life? Why am I here? Where am I going? How can I be sure?
Challenging Physical Exercise Can Give A Sense of Well Being and Achievement.
So can a sweet cold ice cream or stroll by a pleasant stream.
But neither answer the Ultimate Questions, that relate to life and death.
Ultimate Questions Need Satisfactory Answers.
The Bible alone explains the meaning of life and introduces Jesus Christ who satisfies the deepest needs of believers.
It’s pages tell us of our special status as made in God’s image, then that we are made to walk in familiar communion with our maker. It further explains that your whole life is about recovering the relationship with God that is spoilt by sin. That this can only be accomplished through personal faith in Jesus Christ, wherein He delivers you from God’s wrath and eternal judgment. Confirmed as true by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross, on the third day.
Its a lot to take in, but as you can see the table above is loaded with information, which is entirely free. Just ask and we’ll do what we can to supply your need.
John 6:35 (NKJV)
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)
Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Acts 13:38 (NKJV)
Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NKJV)
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
No sense of Danger – or Urgency!
Many different creatures walk Pickering’s pavements, most unnoticed, until they are seen as vulnerable and in danger.
These characters caused quite a stir, some gasped, and then others sighed with relief as they set off in the direction of Pickering Beck and safety.
Ducklings in Danger.
The thought that they might finish their days under the wheels of a motor vehicle filled the pedestrians with horror.
The most puzzling
.
creatures on these
.
pavements are people.
The vast majority of whom have no more sense of impending danger than these ducks.
“Are you going to heaven?” I gently enquired of one young man, “I’ve got plenty of time to think of that later”, came the almost instant retort.
Oblivious to terrible truth that many people don’t live on into old age, and that those who do often forget to give time to answering the question.
There’s Time For Steam Locomotives, Shopping and Food, but no time to settle Life’s Greatest Question.
Tornado - People traverse the country to study her lines.
Bridge Street Junction is negotiated to access the shops.
Sitting at the road side eating.
Jesus Parable of the Rich Fool exposes the danger of this mindset:
Luke 12:16–21 (NKJV)
Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 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.”
Though warnings of danger are freely available, as is information about God’s incredible scheme to guarantee the present safety and eternal security of everyone who seriously seeks to settle the question, yet people naively walk past as if it’s of no concern.
Good News - You Can Know Whether You Are Going To Heaven?
Well then, “Are YOU Going To Heaven?”
Jesus Christ lived, died and arose from the dead that people might believe on Him and so trust Him to take them to heaven when they die now, and then on into the New Heavens and Earth.
Luke 23:42–43 (NKJV)
Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
I would be only too glad to help you settle this question once and for all, ask for help and we’ll do our best to give it.
The View from Pickering Market Place – Saturday 30th April 2011
Park Street from Market Place
Looking East, up Market Place
Some Old Friends
Steam Engine and Spectators
But even they don't always hold the crowd.
The Vantage Point from which I watch the World in Pickering
.
My discussion with Jim followed a familiar pattern:
We’d spoken briefly before, but today he had time to spare and discuss the real issues of life.
“Do you believe in God?”
“Well, yes I do, but not so as to make me a ‘fanatic’.”
“When you meet Him, will you get a welcome?”
“I think I will, I’m as good as any other person.”
“Did you know that God said you need to ‘Perfect’, to be welcomed into His eternal kingdom?”
Matthew 5:48 (NKJV) Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5:20 (NKJV) For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
“Are you perfect?”, “Well, no, but ….”
And off we go to the ‘merry go round’ of life, reflecting on good, even godly people they’ve known, or some description of their own self denial for a good cause.
The religion of their day having told them not to trust the Bible, just the clergy or church, and to do as much ‘good’ as they can, because the God of their imagination will be sure to weigh their good against their bad, and if they have more good than bad, they will be able to enter His abode, heaven.
How very different is the Gospel, Jesus Christ came to establish, and to make available to those who knew themselves to be unable to do enough good to impress God.
Jesus message is one of Grace – undeserved favour – salvation as a free gift, from the hand of a Great Saviour.
Romans 6:23 (NKJV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
A gift which costs the receiver nothing, but the giver everything.
John 3:16 (NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Ephesians 2:8–9 (NKJV) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
How much would you pay for a gift, what would be the effect of trying to pay for it? You can’t pay for a gift, or it is no longer a gift, and when you try you offend the giver.
The lie perpetrated by religions is that you can/must work to pay God for His gift, and the distinguishing teaching of Christianity is that all you must do to become righteous is receive His gift.
John 1:12 (NKJV) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name
John 6:28–29 (NKJV) Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
Dear Reader, Abandon your efforts to win God’s favour and receive His gift, today.
The Theif on the Cross
The thief had nails through both hands, so that he could not work; and a nail through each foot, so that he could not run errands for the Lord; he could not lift a hand or a foot toward his salvation, and yet Christ offered him the gift of God; and he took it. Christ threw him a passport, and took him into Paradise.
D. L. Moody, from “Day by Day with D.L Moody,” Moody Press
Saturday 8th November 2009 Pickering
A FINE AUTUMN MORNING
AND
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY
TO TALK ABOUT
JESUS CHRIST!
The town was moderately busy and some people took the time to speak with us.
Handing over the Good News
Park Street
The Ropery
The Locomotive was on time, and in a rush to be off:-
Steaming off .......
Steaming off .......
I’M GLAD TO SAY
THERE WERE SOME
PEOPLE WHO SPOKE
ABOUT
THE REALLY IMPORTANT
MATTERS OF LIFE.
-
-
Good News Table
I spoke with a couple from Bristol where the wife was a believer and the husband wasn’t.
We quickly agreed that we didn’t want to get into an argument, so I proceeded with caution.
Its always challenging to meet couple’s like this, and its usually the husband who is the unbeliever.
He made clear that he wasn’t anti Christianity, that he had no objections to his wife’s beliefs, but simply didn’t believe.
John’s gospel is clear concerning the tragic difference between believers and unbelievers, even if married!
John chapter 3 and verse 36 says: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
One enjoys a life which has been given by God and will go on forever, the other a life which will soon run out and suffer the indignation of God against their unbelief!
Few people realise the offensive nature of unbelief. God made all of us, provides a beautiful world for our enjoyment, sent His Son to break the power of sin, raised Him from the dead to establish His triumph over the grave, and yet many people audaciously thumb their nose at Him.
Men are easily offended and soon show their displeasure, just cut in front of another car and you’ll soon feel the heat of ‘road rage’. So foolish when you remember there are no perfect drivers.
God’s ‘wrath’ is the expression of a perfect being’s displeasure at imperfect man’s arrogant unbelief.
The sin of taking all the Creator has provided and misusing it, of knowing that Jesus Christ died to save and choosing to drown.
Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 3 says: how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him?
1John chapter 5 and verse 10 says: He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
Those who ‘will not believe’ will find themselves in the most aweful predicament, shut up to suffer God’s wrath, forever!
As you might imagine, our conversation took on a serious turn for I soon demonstrated that his unbelief is a choice of the will, not a lack of information.
Tragically, man’s unbelief is the clearest evidence that he is a rebel at heart, not simply uninformed.
The Good News is that God has diagnosed man’s condition and personally provided the remedy.
His own dear Son has suffered the wrath of God on the cross at Calvary that all who believe might never experience the wrath of God, surely you must abandon your unbelief and cast yourself upon His mercy. TODAY.
Hebrews chapter 3 and verse 15 says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
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