Making a decision. ( Isaiah 55 v 6 - 7 )

If my memory serves me right ,when Billy Graham preached he would end by him  inviting people to get up of their seats and make their way down to the front.It was decision time.That decision would transform their lives,they would never be the same again,they would be changed.That decision would change their destiny ,no longer on the road to nowhere, no longer on the road  to hell,but a road that would take them to HEAVEN. And it all begins when they make a decision to trust Jesus as their Saviour.

Consider. ( John 3 v 16 )

While I was witnessing to a person I tried to  point out , the significance of the awful suffering of the cross and how it shows the seriousness of sin.Most people do not consider the seriousness of sin,God does ,and it is only when the  Spirit of God,convicts a person of their sin do they in some degree see sins seriousness. ( John 16 v 8 ). When I was very young I attended a Children's meeting,the speaker stressed sin and its consequences so  I trusted Christ. Sins terribleness needed the cross,which could be classed as an altar,and the only answer for salvation.It meant Christ suffering in the most evil way, at the hands of evil people,and suffering at the hands of God.Christ the sinless one would do something that no one else could do,He would bear the punishment for sin , not His, for He was sinless,no the  punishment for the sins of others.This punishment was so awful so severe there are not words to describe it ,but the result is ,all those who trust Him need never suffer the consequences for there sin, that means they need never go to hell,but it also means they will go to heaven. .

Different ( Matthew 6 v 8 )

In an attempt to be appear normal ,many churches and individual Christians  do all they can to look like the non believers,in other words not to appear different.John Stott, writes,''The followers of Jesus are to be different- different from both the nominal church and the secular world,different from  both the religious and the irreligious.'' He highlights the following,''ethical standards,religious devotion , attitude to money,ambition, life style and network of relationships- all of which are totally at variance with those of the non-Christian world.''

Confusion ( Acts 4 v 19 )

There is so much confusion in the world, men marrying men,women marrying women,of course this  is societies way of looking at these things. A well known Christian said that he was a citizen of another kingdom ,a kingdom that was ruled by king Jesus.That means while he is a citizen of a certain country he will seek to obey the laws of that country,he is also called to obey the rule of God his king.What that means is, that when he asked by that society we live in, to accept things that are contrary to Gods kingdom, he is called to say no..

The gamblers. ( Isaiah 55 v 6 )

I witnessed recently to a man who did not believe in God,and so he said when you are dead that's it,I mentioned Heaven and hell. I went on to say to him,'just say there is a heaven and a hell ,what then?. There is concern about gambling in our country,because of the harm it does  to so many people,the people who run the gambling are complaining, because of changes the government are bringing in  ,.It is often said , and rightly so, that gambling is a mugs game, yes it is,when you consider how much people loose.But there is another type of gambling,and it involves people foolishly having no regards for their souls.Jesus said ,''What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul.  ''( Matthew 16 v 26 ), I ask you ,will it be worth it?''

First car ( Acts 16 v 31 )

I suppose most people remember their first car,mine was an old Morris Minor, a car that was very popular ,over one million of them were bought. They were a very basic little car,and of course most cars were basic at that time.Modern cars are complicated beasts,I could have carried out some repairs on my Morris Minor,but not with my present car.Modern cars are better more reliable,comfortable,but having said that, I was very  grateful for that little MM, I travelled many miles in it,yes it was basic . Basic is not a bad thing,when it comes to biblical truth, the basics are vital,yet today I rarely hear the basics preached in my church, sad but true. People are not challenged to get saved,they are not clearly told that they are sinners,as we all are,oh no somehow that they will become a Christian. I trusted Jesus as a Child ,I remember it so well. The Children's speaker stressed the destructiveness of sin,so I accepted Christ,I thank God for the preacher who told forth the basics.

Nothing ( Ephesians 3 v 20 )

There are so many things we can do nothing to change,people who  can give us great concern,people who are not saved,when I say we can do nothing,in spite of this,we can pray, Let me stress that again we can pray, not as a last resort,but as our first port of call.Nothing or no one is  beyond Gods ability to help, to change,to convert,,so let us not despair. Here is what Jeremiah prayed, 'Ah, Sovereign Lord,you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is to hard for you'  ( Jeremiah 32 v 17 )