Yesterday I heard the welcome news that England's overpaid yob footballers were knocked out of the world cup by Germany. It appears that they were not simply defeated but trounced (4-1) in what was truly a goal blitz. You may wonder what this has to do with The Gospel Truth. The answer is simple - there are spiritual lessons that can be drawn from the defeat.
Firstly, pride comes before a fall. Before the match the papers were boasting (as no doubt, were the England supporters) that they were going to win the match. The Bible says: "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall".
Secondly, the myriad of silly England flags flying everywhere before, and during, the tournament give abundant testimony to the fact that many in this dark and godless nation treat football like a god to be worshipped. There is nothing wrong with liking a football team and giving it some support - but the level of hysteria that has greeted this competition reminds me of the worship given to Herod before his demise in Acts chapter 12.
Thirdly, when people get so taken up with football they forget the things that really matter. What is the most important issue that everyone should be facing? - Answer, the fact that they need to get right with God. The devil uses a number of ways to prevent people from giving serious consideration to matters of eternity - no doubt the World Cup is one of them.
Now that England are, thankfully, out of the cup all this hysteria and worship can end and we can turn people's thoughts to eternity. Let those of us who are Christians, concentrate on evangelism and pointing people to Christ. Our lives should be taken up with this more than anything else.
Monday, 14 June 2010
Friday, 4 June 2010
A question for atheists (AKA "fools")
The Bible teaches in Psalm 14 v 1 that atheists are fools. They consider themselves to be too clever and intelligent to believe in God and boldly declare that they are not bound by "the superstition of religious belief". Well if they are so clever let them answer the following:
Two days ago Derrick Bird murdered 12 people in Cumbria and wounded 25 others before killing himself. If there is no God, no judgement and no Hell then he has, quite literally, got away with it. His fate is the same as his victims, they have all experienced nothingness. Of course, our sense of justice cries out against such a notion - but that is what atheists in their "wisdom" believe. Perhaps we could also mention Thomas Hamilton who murdered 30 kids and their teacher and then shot himself. According to atheists he has also got away with a fate no worse than his victims. Expanding this we could highlight Hitler and the leading Nazis who, after having unleashed a carnage which resulted in many millions dying, took their own lives.
Moreover, other Nazis escaped to S. America and lived out their days living the life of riley under the Argentine sun before dying peacefully in their beds. According to atheists they have also got away with it.
My question then for Atheists is simply this: "Do you really have such a warped view of justice that a person can commit the most heinous crimes and not face any penalty because they take the easy way out (by shooting themselves) or because they are protected by others and live out their lives peacefully - like Idi Amin?"
The Bible gives the answer to such a question - there is a God to whom we must ALL give account. Romans 14 v 12 says: "Everyone of us must give account of himself to God". Moreover, there is a place called Hell where those who die in their sins and unbelief will be punished for all eternity.
The bad news is that because we are all sinners we all deserve God's judgement but the good news of the Gospel is that for those who truly repent and accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour there is the promise of eternal life, the slate having been wiped clean.
My hope and prayer is that atheists and all unbelievers will recognise the folly of their position and turn to the Lord - "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while he is near".
Two days ago Derrick Bird murdered 12 people in Cumbria and wounded 25 others before killing himself. If there is no God, no judgement and no Hell then he has, quite literally, got away with it. His fate is the same as his victims, they have all experienced nothingness. Of course, our sense of justice cries out against such a notion - but that is what atheists in their "wisdom" believe. Perhaps we could also mention Thomas Hamilton who murdered 30 kids and their teacher and then shot himself. According to atheists he has also got away with a fate no worse than his victims. Expanding this we could highlight Hitler and the leading Nazis who, after having unleashed a carnage which resulted in many millions dying, took their own lives.
Moreover, other Nazis escaped to S. America and lived out their days living the life of riley under the Argentine sun before dying peacefully in their beds. According to atheists they have also got away with it.
My question then for Atheists is simply this: "Do you really have such a warped view of justice that a person can commit the most heinous crimes and not face any penalty because they take the easy way out (by shooting themselves) or because they are protected by others and live out their lives peacefully - like Idi Amin?"
The Bible gives the answer to such a question - there is a God to whom we must ALL give account. Romans 14 v 12 says: "Everyone of us must give account of himself to God". Moreover, there is a place called Hell where those who die in their sins and unbelief will be punished for all eternity.
The bad news is that because we are all sinners we all deserve God's judgement but the good news of the Gospel is that for those who truly repent and accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour there is the promise of eternal life, the slate having been wiped clean.
My hope and prayer is that atheists and all unbelievers will recognise the folly of their position and turn to the Lord - "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while he is near".
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
I've come for my own - a true story.
The okefenokee swamp is a huge area of wetland straddling the states of Georgia and Florida in the US measuring some 438,000 acres. Many years ago a family were raised not far from the edge -the parents and three sons. The eldest boy left home to study law and qualified as an attorney, the middle son went into the Christian ministry but the youngest was a waster, a prodigal, who left home to pursue a life of debauchery.
In due course the wild ways of this youngest son caught up with him and he became seriously ill. He returned home to be nursed by his parents but, as they were getting on in years, it became too much for them and their own health began to suffer. They asked their eldest son to return home for a while and nurse him while they rested but he refused. They then turned to the middle son who left the ministry to tend to his brother. The parents then went to live elsewhere and and took the rest they badly needed.
This middle son not only nursed his brother but also cared for his soul and often urged him to repent and accept Jesus as His personal Saviour but the rebellious son steadfastly refused to listen to reason and vehemently rejected the Gospel. One afternoon the middle son was so exhausted from his humanitarian efforts he went to lay down and immediately fell asleep.
While asleep he had a frightening dream which I will relate now in his words: "I dreamed that a hideous creature came up out of the swamp and came into our house and into my room! He said 'I've come for my own' and then went into my brother's room. My brother lay there with his mouth open and something came out of him that this creature took hold of and laughed. He then left the house and went back into the swamp.
"I awoke in a cold sweat and went into my brother's room - there he was, as I saw him in my dream, laying dead with his mouth open"
Just as the angels of Heaven take the souls of believer's at death, so the dark demons of Hell take the souls of the unsaved down into the pit upon their death. Let it be a warning to all those who arrogantly dismiss the call to repentance.
In due course the wild ways of this youngest son caught up with him and he became seriously ill. He returned home to be nursed by his parents but, as they were getting on in years, it became too much for them and their own health began to suffer. They asked their eldest son to return home for a while and nurse him while they rested but he refused. They then turned to the middle son who left the ministry to tend to his brother. The parents then went to live elsewhere and and took the rest they badly needed.
This middle son not only nursed his brother but also cared for his soul and often urged him to repent and accept Jesus as His personal Saviour but the rebellious son steadfastly refused to listen to reason and vehemently rejected the Gospel. One afternoon the middle son was so exhausted from his humanitarian efforts he went to lay down and immediately fell asleep.
While asleep he had a frightening dream which I will relate now in his words: "I dreamed that a hideous creature came up out of the swamp and came into our house and into my room! He said 'I've come for my own' and then went into my brother's room. My brother lay there with his mouth open and something came out of him that this creature took hold of and laughed. He then left the house and went back into the swamp.
"I awoke in a cold sweat and went into my brother's room - there he was, as I saw him in my dream, laying dead with his mouth open"
Just as the angels of Heaven take the souls of believer's at death, so the dark demons of Hell take the souls of the unsaved down into the pit upon their death. Let it be a warning to all those who arrogantly dismiss the call to repentance.
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