We will have the last laugh

I remember as a kid hearing the expression "he who laughs last, laughs longest" and came to realise it means that although a person may lose a few battles, if he wins an ultimate victory he comes out on top.

This occurred to me yesterday when I heard the apalling news that a Christian couple who wish to run a Hotel in accordance with their beliefs have been told to pay compensation to two sodomites. It appears that these two perverts (Preddy and Hall) were not permitted to have a double room. They then launched a vindictive court action against the Christians and won their case (which is hardly surprising given that the judges are biased against Christians).

I have no doubt that Preddy and Hall are full of gloating, self-congratulation, as also is Ben Summerskill, of Stonewall, who wrote a triumphalist article in the Guardian. They have allowed themselves to be used as tools of the devil in order to harass Christians. However, what they need to be aware of is simply this - one day there will be a reckoning; one day they will have to stand before God and give account of their lives. Should they fail to repent then they will experience the eternal wrath of God, not only for their depraved lifestyles, but also for hounding and persecuting the people of God.

Of course, it is wrong to hate homosexuals; and Jesus did say that we are to pray for those who persecute us. The temptation in these cases is to be full of resentment towards our persecutors but we need to pray that they will come to see the error of their ways. Moreover, if they truly repent and accept Jesus as their personal Saviour then He will show them mercy. However, the fact ( and it is a fact) remains - Hellfire awaits unrepentant sodomites. When the Christians are spending eternity in a place of unalloyed bliss, the unsaved will face indescribable torment.

As the Bible puts it: "...and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire". Revelation 20 v 15.

Is God speaking to Australia ?

We have all been following the terrible events in Queensland, Australia, where flooding has wrought serious damage. Not only has this occurred in the country areas but also in Brisbane, the third largest city in the country. Worse than the damage to property is the loss of life. With at least 15 confirmed dead and over 70 missing.

There is a natural tendency when this kind of thing happens to ask the question - "Why does God allow it?" Given the heavy emphasis on materialistic pleasure in that country, and given that the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has boldly declared her atheism, I wonder if God is issuing a wake up call to that nation. How will Australians respond? Will they simply fall back on the principles of self-reliance that have obviously guided them over the years, or will they finally wake up to the fact that all is not well in their country and turn to God.

I seem to recall in 2009, just after Victoria state voted to allow abortion (murder) the state was stricken with terrible bush fires. However, this did not result in the state parliament rescinding the murder act but they continued to fly in God's face by brazenly going ahead with this abomination.

Here in the UK we have had similar evidences of God's judgement. In the 1960s after passing the law which allowed sodomite perversion and abortion this country was afflicted by a foot and mouth epidemic and 30 years of IRA terrorism. Because we have not repented and turned to God we are being afflicted still further.

In the southern states of the US a few years back a massive "gay" parade called "Southern decadence" was due to take place, and then Hurricane Katrina hit them.

Clearly, God is not mocked - the nation that turns it's back on God will incur His wrath.

Now, the people of Australia have been afflicted. I do hope they take the opportunity to repent and put things right with God.

As the Bible says "If my people, which are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will look down from Heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land". 2nd Chronicles 7 v 14

The choice is theirs

In today's local paper for my area a letter from me, outlining the truths of the Gospel, was published. This means that tens of thousands of people across the district will have an opportunity to be saved. For the benefit of blog readers who do not live in my area I replicate the letter below:

"As we come into 2011 most of your readers will be making plans for the year ahead. However, I wonder how many are giving serious consideration to the possibility that they may not be here 12 months from now. The Bible says: 'Do not boast of tomorrow for you do not know what a day may bring forth' (Proverbs 27 v 1.)

Moreover, in James 4 v 14 the following statement is made 'You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appears for a little time then vanishes away".

None of us can be certain of how long we have on this Earth and death may come when we least expect it. Consequently, we need to be ready to face what lies ahead after this event. The Bible teaches that we are all appointed to die 'and after that to face judgement' (Hebrews 9 v 27). We must all give account of ourselves to God, who sees everything, and then we face eternity in Heaven or Hell.

The bad news is that because we have all done wrong in the sight of God, we all deserve Hell, but the good news of the Christian Gospel is that Jesus died as a sacrifice for our sins and rose again to be our saviour. Moreover, He is the only way to Heaven.

Therefore, if we wish to be ready to face God and experience eternal blessing, we need to repent of our sins and accept Jesus as our personal Saviour. For those who do this there is the joy of having peace with God and the certainty of eternal life in Heaven."

Many thousands of people will read this over the next day or so - they will then have a choice. Their eternal destiny will be determined by the choice they make.