What shall it profit a man....?

A few days ago, in Norway, a young lad of 17 was killed by a Polar Bear and four others badly injured. It appears that this lad was part of a scientific expedition when they were attacked in their tents. Of course, it is right to have a deep sense of sympathy for the dead boy's family and for those injured; but as I pondered this tragedy I was drawn to the fact that he was a student at Eton and, humanly speaking, had a brilliant future ahead of him.

However, what good does it do to have such a head start in life if one's soul is not saved? A person may come from a rich family and have all the advantages that money can buy but if they are not saved then all the money in the world cannot save them from the torments of an eternal Hell.

It may be that this lad was a Christian and a believer in Jesus - I hope so. However, Jesus said "What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his soul?" Mark 8 v 36

Over the years of doing street evangelism I've observed a number of people who seem to be doing very well as far as this world's goods are concerned - but appear to have no time for God. In most cases they refuse the offer of a Gospel leaflet, no doubt because they think they don't need God. I wonder how many of them have since passed into eternity and are now bitterly regretting their folly. It is true that wealth and prestige can so easily blind people to eternal realities.

Moreover, with wealth and a prestigious education, also comes a high degree of arrogance. We only need to look at the way these Eton snobs walk about with haughty looks to see that they obviously think they are above everybody else. Arrogance is sinful - I wonder how many of these people, with their lives in front of them, are giving any thought to the fact that one day they will face God.

Death is the great equalizer - no matter how rich or poor we are, we all face death. Then we all spend eternity in Heaven or Hell. Only those who have repented of their sins and accepted Jesus as their personal Saviour are going to have a blessed eternity. The rest will suffer the indescribable punishment of Hell. The onus is on everyone - whatever their "status" in society - to get right with God before it is too late.

".......to kick against the goads"

Perhaps one of the most encouraging chapters in the Bible is Acts 9 where we read of the conversion of Saul. He was at that time on the way to Damascus to persecute Christians but God (who is sovereign) had other ideas and saved his soul.

As I read that chapter again this morning I noted afresh the words of Jesus when he said to Saul "it is hard for you to kick against the goads". What does it actually mean? The answer is simple - when an ox was set to work he had goads attached to him to make him work harder (hence the expression "goading" someone) and he would often kick against these goads in order to vent his frustration. However, kicking against the goads simply increased his pain and frustration because he was hurting himself!

This was so true in Saul's case - the more he persecuted the Christians, the more he hurt himself. This is also true of all those who oppose the Gospel, they are simply hurting themselves because they are making themselves more and more frustrated by their failure to stop the Gospel being spread. This is why they get so angry when people get saved!

We see evidence of this in many ways. For example, atheists organise events so they can boast about their unbelief (such as Questival) and homosexuals get angry when Christians tell them the truth from Romans chapter 1.

I also note on my blog that sometimes people put foul mouthed comments on to try and unsettle me. (Of course, such comments don't see the light of day as they are routinely deleted).

However, at the end of the day - no matter how much anger and opposition is directed against the Gospel - God will have His way and the Gospel will continue to be spread.

Those who oppose truth are simply hurting themselves because, not only will they become increasingly frustrated and angry but they are heating up the furnace of Hell for themselves. In other words, Hell will be the hotter because they have shaken their fists at God.

As Christians we can be supremely confident in the Gospel's power to save the elect no matter what opposition we receive from the devil's servants - Jesus Christ is Lord, His followers will never be silenced!

Psalm 115 v 3 is appropriate here: "Our God is in the Heavens, He has done whatsoever He has pleased".

Never truly saved in the first place

I note that a man by the name of Tom Crawford has written a book entitled "Bible thumper to atheist". Mr Crawford claims that, as a young man, he was converted to evangelical Christianity and for a few years was zealous in spreading the Gospel; he then rejected the truths of the Bible and became an atheist. Now he seeks to dismiss the Bible's truths in this book.

Of course, our atheist friends are jumping for joy when they read such material as they seek for new ways to convince themselves that God doesn't exist; but the question for those of us who do believe in the Lord Jesus is simple - how can such a thing happen? How can it be that a believer can be so zealous for evangelism and then turn completely the other way? After all didn't Jesus promise, in John 10 v 28-29, that His followers would never be lost?

The answer to these questions is simple - people such as Crawford were never truly saved in the first place!

It is very easy to take on board a belief system and be zealous in spreading it. This may be a set of religious beliefs, or it may be something completely secular such as communism or "green" issues. Anyone can have a natural enthusiasm for such beliefs - however, if someone is not truly born again as a believer in Jesus then they will eventually grow cold and may even ridicule the very faith they claimed to have at one time.

In 1st John 2 v 19 we read that those who fell away were never truly "with us" because if they were they would have continued in the faith. Moreover, in the parable of the sower Jesus warned that there would be those who profess conversion but fall away because there is no depth. In the same parable He also stated that there would be those who profess conversion but fall away because of persecution or love of the world ( an example of this would be Demas in 2nd Timothy 4 v 10).

To put it bluntly, those who have backslidden and fallen away were never "frontslidden" to start with.

Jesus made it abundantly clear in His teachings that those people who have been given to Him by the Father would come to Him (John 6 v 37) and they will persevere to the end.

Consequently, we should never be shaken in our own faith when enemies of the Gospel like Crawford start doing the devil's work by publishing blasphemy - everyone of God's elect will be saved, they will continue in the faith to the end of their lives, and they will spend eternity with Jesus in Heaven.

Poor, deluded fools

I was intrigued to read of an event due to take place next month entitled "Questival". This event has been organised by an atheist group in order to allow such people to gather together and convince themselves that God doesn't exist. We all know from Psalm 53 v 1 that atheists are fools but this kind of activity really takes the biscuit.

I have no doubt that when they meet for this festival, these poor creatures will be patting themselves on the back and congratulating one another on their outstanding achievement viz. that they have finally "thrown off the delusion that there is a God" to whom they must give account.

However, the reality is different - atheists are the deluded ones. They have been blinded by the devil. Moreover, they have been taken captive by the devil at his will, to do his will. They are as helpless as insects trapped in a spider's web. Moreover, they don't even realise the lostness of their state because the devil has convinced them that he doesn't exist.

Indeed, they are to be pitied above all people because they are not only deluding themselves during their earthly existence but are heading for eternal torments when they die.

Is there any hope for them? Can they yet be delivered from their pitiful existence? Yes - but only if God, in His sovereign mercy is pleased to open their eyes, enlighten their understanding, quicken their spirits and grant them repentance unto life.

I know of atheists who have been delivered from their bondage by the power of God and have gone on to live happy and contented lives; and, of course, to have the assurance of Heaven when they die.

What should be the response of Christians to events like "Questival"?

First of all we should not be defeatist. It would be so easy to bemoan the fact that opponents of the Gospel are taking great delight in ridiculing God, and allow this to depress us. However, that would be simply playing into their hands. Instead of being depressed about such matters we should thank God that He is on the throne and He is in control.

Secondly, we should pray for them that God will yet be pleased to show them His mercy and convert them.

Thirdly, we should continue to preach the Gospel and not be intimidated - after all, we are on the victory side. As the Psalmist said: "Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered" Psalm 68 v 1.

A simple question - a straight answer

Over the years as I've been spreading the Gospel on the streets of East Kent there have been many opportunities to speak to people about their need of Jesus as Lord and Saviour. It would not be an exaggeration to state that literally hundreds of conversations have taken place, and I believe the best policy when engaged in such conversations is to be honest with people and tell them the truths of God's infallible word - the Bible.

To put it another way, if someone asks me a simple question I give them a straight answer. This way, even if they are offended by my honesty at least they will have no excuse when they stand before the Lord to give an account of their lives.

One such conversation recently went like this: a bloke came past me as I was giving out "life after death" tracts. He stated that he didn't know where he was going when he died but insisted that it would not be Hell as "there is no such place". I told him that the Bible teaches that there is such a place; moreover, when he admitted that he didn't believe in Jesus as his personal Saviour I warned him that he was heading for Hell. I also told him that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. He didn't like that at all and went away.

A few minutes later he came back and asked this simple question: "Are muslims going to Hell?" My reply was immediate and without equivocation - "Yes". After hearing this he denounced me as "potty" and went away. (Of course one acknowledges that there may be muslims who are secret believers, particularly in Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia, but as a general principle Islam is a false religion and muslims are not saved).

No doubt some reading this may consider that my approach is too direct, but my answer to such people is simply this - if you saw a blind man walking towards a hole in the pavement would you warn him? People who don't know Jesus as their personal Saviour are heading for Hell and need to be saved. Engaging in waffle when speaking to such people may give them false hopes.

As Christians we have a responsibility to be honest with people when dealing with spiritual and eternal matters. Ezekiel chapter 33 is crystal clear when it teaches that we are like watchmen who need to sound the alarm and give a clear warning.

The truth will set you free

In a number of articles I have mentioned the fact that the reason why people do not believe in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour is because the devil has blinded them. This is stated clearly in 2nd Cor. 4 v 4.

This truth leads me to the question - why do the unsaved behave as they do? For example, why do drunkards feel the need to drink until they are legless? Why do people commit acts of fornication and adultery? Why do homosexuals engage in this gross perversion which is contrary to nature? Why do violent people feel the need to be so aggressive? Why do people take drugs? Why do militant atheists ridicule the fact that there is a God who sees everything? The list is endless, and when you ask people why they behave the way they do they will often say "I can't help it, it's the way I am".

In a sense that is right, they can't help it because of one very simple reason - the devil has enslaved them. In 2nd Timothy 2 v 26 we read that such people have been taken captive by the devil at his will and to do his will. In other words they are trapped like insects in a spiders web. They are helpless and without any hope.......outside of the saving power of the Gospel.

In John 8 v 32 Jesus said "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free".

Self-reformation is useless; many times people may try and turn over a new leaf but their best efforts invariably end in failure. Their only hope lies in the work of the Holy Spirit as He applies the truths of the Gospel to their hearts.

In Romans 1 v 16 we read "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes". It is for this reason that evangelists dedicate themselves to spreading the word. We have seen first hand the way that Christ works in people's lives, we have seen how He can turn them upside down and change them so radically that are literally "re-born" (born-again, that is, born from above).

All this is in fulfillment of the promise in 2nd Cor. 5 v 17 "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away. Behold all things have become new."

In the world but not of it.

In a news article the other day Trevor Phillips, of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, launched an astonishing attack upon Christians. He stated that we were unwilling to integrate in society and even made the bizarre suggestion that Muslims are making more effort in this regard. Of course, we should not be surprised at this; after all the EHRC funded (at tax payers' expense) the persecution of a Christian couple in Cornwall who did not wish to have perversion taking place in their own home. Consequently we should expect the likes of Phillips and his ilk to be anti-Christian.

However, it would be a good idea to examine his claim, that we fail to "integrate" into society, in the light of what the Bible teaches. In John 18 v 36 Jesus taught that His kingdom "was not of this world". Moreover, in John 17 v 15-16 Jesus made it clear that his followers were to be in the world but not of it.

As we read through the New Testament we come across another challenging verse on this matter viz. in Romans 12 v 2 we are told not to be "conformed to this world". Moving on from there we find, in 1st John 2 v 15-17, a clear command not to "love the world nor the things that are in the world"; why is it that we are not to be so attached to this world? The answer is simple, because John goes on to say: "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. The world passes away and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abides forever".

Verses such as the above make it crystal clear that, although we should be law-abiding and good citizens, we are not to seek to fit in with the world or, as Phillips puts it, to "integrate". We are to be a separate people living for God in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation (Philippians 2 v 15).

No doubt the likes of Trevor Phillips and the EHRC will continue their attacks on Biblical Christianity but we must not be deterred by such base individuals and groups. True believers will continue to stand firm for Jesus and present the Christian Gospel as the only hope for this evil country in which we live.