When You are gone. [ Hebrews 9 v 27]

When someone dies,we often say, they are gone,but the bigger question is this, gone where?in that old classic,the scarlet Pimpernel,we read the following,is he Heaven ?,is he in Hell?,that elusive scarlet Pimpernel.Most people do not give serious consideration as to the after life,nor do they give serious consideration about death,even though everyone of us must die.Maybe they are like smokers who never really think of the possible consequences of smoking,,they take comfort from the story about that their old granny who lived to 100years of age,smoked all her life,40 a day,she never got cancer,if only they could go into a hospice and meet those who are in the last stages of lung cancer,maybe that would make them think,maybe it wouldn't, .I wonder would they  think not only of death,but where they are going to after death. Consider what Solomon wrote, /It is better to go to the house of mourning,than to go to the house of  feasting,for that is the end of all men,and the living will lay it to his heart[Ecclesiastes 7 v2] A feast or a party is not conducive to serious thinking,you go  to such occasion's to eat, drink and be merry, but you think more serious thoughts at  the house of mourning,or one should.  They are gone,and that will be said of all of us,but will it be to Heaven or will it be to Hell?, will it be with Christ or without Him?.Remember when you are gone you are gone, there is no coming back,and there is no second chance,behold now is the accepted time,behold now is the day of  salvation [2 Corinthians 6 v2]
A  prayer...../ Dear God help people to make sure that when they are gone it will be  to heaven,through  Jesus Your Son Amen/

Dwelling on thr dark side. [ Deuteronomy 29v 29]

R.C. Sproul wrote,/We have to learn to think theologically/,in other words think biblical,not to be ruled by sentiment,or our own understanding.I hear people express ideas and questions and they have not considered what the Bible is teaching. Many people in the Bible experienced awful things happening to them,Job,Joseph and Paul,and our dear Saviour.The early Christians were thown to the lions and up to this present day,many dear Christians are experiencing awful suffering.The question many ask why can God not stop it?,well right away we see an error,God can stop it,so why does He not?.It appears that evil must continue in Gods purposes,He is working inspite of evil, redeeming a people to Himself.We only see part of the story,we should not judge things by the half time score.In Deuteronomy 29v 29,we read,/The secret things belong unto the Lord/,in a very real sense we must accept this,that there will always be questions we cant answer,Job never received an answer,God is not duty bound to give us an answer.In all our questioning we must fall back on scripture,and observe the character of God,He is holy,just,merciful,gracious,loving,and most important sovereign.None of us like seeing others suffer,God doesn't,but in His sovereignty,evil must run its course,let us not in ignorance judge God,His way is perfect.
A   prayer ......../ Dear God help us not to dwell on the dark side of our nature,especially within our mind,help us dwell on the light of your word,in Jesus name Amen/

The word of God [ Psalm 119v 105-112]

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,and a light unto my path[ Psalm 119v105].What a blessing the child of God has when they have the word of God.Those who do not have it walk in darkness,they trust in uncertain riches,they trust in their own understanding,they trust that they are secure,blinded by Satan and sin. W. Plummer writes,/ How sad is the state, and how guilty the conduct of those, who reject the light of Gods word. It alone can solve a thousand doubts. It alone gives  comfort in the day of distress.It alone preserves our feet from forbidden paths./ Do not neglect the word,dont let dust gather on your Bible,dont be to busy as to not read it, treasure it,love it,fill your mind with it,in prayer we talk to God,when we read His word He talks to us.
A   prayer..../ Dear God again we thank You for Your word give us a hunger for it,that our souls may be fed,and that our lives may be guided in all things in Jesus name Amen  /

Begone unbelief. [Hebrews 11 v6]

In Psalm119v49 we read /Remember the word unto Thy servant,upon which Thou hast caused me to hope/.What the writer is asking for , is that God would fulfil His word,to him,we can apply this to the  promises that God has given Him.The word hope here means ,waited,trusted. It is a fact that when God gives a promise,it is not always fulfilled right away,and in that waiting we are called upon to trust God,as Abraham did,who against hope believed God would fulfil His word[Romans4 v18]The waiting has a beneficial effect upon us,as W. Plummer writes,/True hope produces patience/,and that is a quality we all need,patience. When God gives us a word,He wants to take it seriously,
that we honour Him by trusting Him to fulfil His word. The word that He gives will be fulfilled nothing can hinder it,except unbelief [Hebrews 3v19],it is faith that God rewards.John Newton wrote,/Begone unbelief,my  Saviour is near,and for my relief,will surely appear./
A  prayer..../Dear God help us to completely trust in Your word in all things and at all times,in Jesus Name Amen.

Walking in the light. [ 1 John 1 v 6-7 ]

In Psalm 119v11, we read,/Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee/
how important it is to store Gods word in our heart,to memorize it,to meditate upon it,if we do then we will be guided in the way of holiness.In my study Bible I read, /Gods word restricts us
from doing that which might cripple us and keep us from being our best.Gods  guidelines help us follow His path, and avoid paths that lead us to destruction/.In v15-16 the Psalmist writes  ,/I will meditate in Thy precepts,and have respect unto Thy ways.I will delight myself in Thy statues,I will not forget thy word./Here is a man who is determined to follow God according to His word,how determined are we?the Christian life is one of walking in the light of Gods word,not according to the changing fancies of society. No drunkenness,no having casual sex,no going along with the crowd,no judging, doing good works,being generous,being faithful,
forgiving, and loving.Like the Psalmist let us not forget Gods word,for if we do that, then we will forget to follow God and His ways,we will be march to the worlds drumbeat,and not to Heavens.
A  prayer....../ Dear God  help us all to walk and live according to Your word in Jesus name Amen /

Praying for others.[ James 5 v16]

After I had preached, a person spoke to me,his mother was very ill,I listened but I did not know what to say possible because I might say the wrong thing, I felt a sense of hopelessness,later I thought why did I not pray with him?.Well I did not pray with him but I have been praying for him,the Bible tells us to pray for one another,[James 5v 16].Consider the challenging words spoken by Samuel the prophet speaking to Israel,/God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you/[ 1 Samuel 12 v23]  When we pray for someone we are bringing that person and their problems to God,with a confidence that He knows whats best for that person,and how best to help them.There are many who are suffering in this world,I can help somewhat,but I am very limited in resources,but God is not. Today you may meet someone,or hear of someone who is in difficulty,pray for them,don't judge them, leave that to God,our responsibility is to pray for them.God is no respecter of persons,your prayers do not take second place to your pastor, missionary,TV evangelist,or whoever.Go with boldness unto the throne of grace,God in mercy will hear and answer according to His perfect will [Hebrews 4v16]
A  prayer.../Dear God help us to pray,and help us to see the importance of praying for others in Jesus name Amen/

I cant get no satisfaction [Psalm 17 v15]

In Proverbs 27 v6,we read, /Hell and destruction are never full,so the eyes of man are never satisfied/,the man who wrote this, knew this truth in his own life, that is Solomon.He tells us something we all know,as regards death it is never satisfied,and wont be until Christ returns [, 1 Corinthians 15 v 54-57] and then  death will die,as the poet has said.From  death he goes on to mention, so the eyes of man are never satisfied, it is sad but true, Charles Bridges, writing on this,declares,/Man is always seeking for what he can never find,satisfaction in earthly things/. Earthly things cannot satisfy the deepest longings of the soul,the Rolling  Stones sung a song ,called,I cant get no satisfaction. Jesus often reminded people that  only He could satisfy humanities needs,only in Him is there true satisfaction. In John 4 He spoke to a women who came to draw water from a well,and this is what He said ,/But whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst ,but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life/  Consider, are all the nice goodies that you have,really satisfying the deepest need of your heart?,of course not, only Jesus can do that.
A  prayer....../ Dear Lord open our eyes to where true satisfaction is to be found,not in earthly things but in You. Amen /