I would miss Him. ( Hebrews 12 v 1-2 )

 If you ask me what would be my greatest fear in life, it would be that I could go away from my lovely Saviour, I am not like Peter and the other disciples ,who said that they would never  leave and disown their Lord( Mark 14 v 27 - 31 ).No I pray I won't, for I know it could happen for I know that I am weak. I remember reading about a very blessed preacher whom God used,and sadly he went away from the Lord,many years later speaking about Jesus,he said,'I miss Him'. Very ,very sad and telling words. There are many reasons why, people turn away from the Lord,I am not going to judge them or condemn them.I remember many years ago working with a man called Alec, he was a bright Christian,yet he went away from the Lord. I remember meeting him one day,and I spoke to him,and as I did I started crying,it was all so sad.So here is vulnerable Bill writing,and I asked the question, what preventive measures can I take to keep me from leaving Jesus, there is hymn by dear Fanny Crosby the blind hymn writer, which is in essence a prayer, hear are the words, I pray and hope they will help you.

                                          'Jesus keep me near the cross; there a precious fountain,

                                           Free to all a healing stream,flows from Calvary's mountain.

                                           Near the cross,a trembling soul,love and mercy found me;

                                           There the Bright  and Morning star, she it's beams around me

                                            Near the cross ! O Lamb of God, bring it's scenes before me;

                                            Help me walk from day to day, with it's shadow o'er me.

                                            Near the cross I'll watch and wait,hoping trusting ever,

                                            Till I reach the golden strand,just beyond the river.

                                            In the cross,in the cross, be my glory ever;

                                            Till my raptured soul shall find,rest beyond the river.

                                           

'The Lord Almighty is with us. ( Psalm 46 )

 I remember a writer in the Times newspaper writing about Africa,and this is what he said,as regards its future,'It was between the ,'machete,the witch doctor,and Christianity'. He favoured Christianity ,and with good reason, there are many Christian hospitals ,orphanages, schools,and so many other organisations involved in helping people,ministering to their needs.In so many African countries the machete is still in use, causing a reign of terror to so many dear people.as for witch doctors the less said about them the better.Wars and rumors of wars continue unabated in this world, there is so much pain and suffering,in spite of all the wonderful advances humanity has made in so many things.Things will not change,because human nature will not change,oh yes we can mention the good things,but hanging over us all there are so many uncertainties. I love the Psalms ,so I want to leave these wonderful words from Psalm 46 ,I would commend the whole psalm to you, here are the words of v 10, and v1.

                                                 'Be still and know that I am God'

                                                  and remember ,that He is an ever

                                                  present help in trouble'

It's impossible. ( Mark 8 v 34 -- 38)

 I wonder do you have a favourite song and singer,I have many favourite songs,and favourite singers,one of them is Perry Como, he sings a love song called,'It's impossible',on the whole it has nice words,and a nice tune.But unfortunately the writer gets carried away.Here  are the foolish words sung to his sweetheart,'And tomorrow,should you  ask me for the world,some how I'd get it.I would sell my very soul and not regret it'. In case you didn't realise we all have a soul ,that invisible and immaterial element of our being , one writer William Hendriksen comments ,'in  several instances the two terms soul and spirit are used interchangeably',It exists after death,our Saviour said in Matthew 10  v 28,Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul  ,rather ,be afraid  of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell'.Again it't WH who points out that the word,'' destroy '' is used here in the sense not of annihilation.but  of the infliction of everlasting punishment upon a person'.Our soul is the most valuable thing we have ,and we must not forget that. Alas  so many people do forget and pay the awful price for doing that. If you realise the importance of your soul you would not sell it, Let me remind you ,without Christ as your Saviour you are and will be a lost soul.

Side affects ( Proverbs 4 v 10 - 27)

 It is said that most if not all medication have side effects, I personally have had side effects,and my Gp has changed the medication I have been  on.Sin is like medication,it has on a temporal side effects,take someone who commits adultery,it can bring with it guilt and fear,it can also bring with it the break up of a marriage,and the loss of so many things.So when we are tempted to sin,think of the side effects,and ask yourself is it worth it?. If we are Christians,then our relationship with God is effected,and that can be heartbreaking.We all need to consider the side effects of our actions,as to how it will affect others and how it will effect us,and how it will effect our relationship with God .When we receive our medication their is usually a leaflet with it that highlights  the side affects,it is a guide.The Christian is not left to themselves as regards wrong and sinful things that we may become involved with ,and their effects,we have the holy Spirit and the word of God.We are not free agents to do whatever we want,if we neglect these,we will be anything but free.

Do you need a change? ( Luke 4 v 14 -- 19 )

 I believe that Christ does not only save your soul ,He saves your life also,consider the before and after,before your life can be such a terrible mess,I have read about so many people whose lives have been transformed when they have come to know Christ as their Saviour ,people like John Newton who wrote Amazing grace, he is one of many  .Someone said go for sinners and go for the worst,remember we can't write anyone off.Where sin abounds ,grace much  more abounds,,everyone who comes  to know Christ will always have a degree of change in their lives.No they will still be full of flaws, and characteristic faults,but their life will be changed and that for the better.A friend of mine came to know Christ as his as Saviour ,he told his family, and his mother said I hope there will be no longer  any of those bad words,and there wasn't .One is never to bad to be saved,for Christ came  to save sinners,nor is one's life to far gone that it cannot be changed.One of the greatest illustrations  of that is to be found in Luke 8 v 26 ff ,it tells of a man whose life was a total mess,possessed by demons,lived among the tombs,he was naked he self harmed ,no one could change  him,they did try but to no avail, there he was crying out in distress ,then something happened,Jesus came,and all was changed.

If only. ( Proverbs 27 v1 )

 I'm sure we have all said ,'if only',if only I had checked the oil in my car, if only I'd taken the car for a test drive before I bought it.Looking back there are so many times we could say ,'if only',but it cannot be changed, although I speak from experience,I have been rescued from those situations,God is merciful,and can help us.How many  times King David must have said ,if only I had not gone out for a walk on the roof of my palace,and if only I had not looked looked and lusted after Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11),all the trouble it brought me.Take heed don't fall into the same trap as David,or  like Samson who fell for the wrong gal,he lost his sight,his freedom ,and lost his life, bringing the house down upon his head.( Judges 16 ). Consider how many people who are in a lost eternity ,they are thinking if only I had trusted Jesus,if you are not a Christian ,don't make your eternity an ,'if only eternity,' trust Jesus to be  your Saviour, now.

Saturn . (John 14 v 6 )

 A famous actress is involved in the worship of Saturn, Saturn was a Roman God,I was surprised to read on the internet ,it said Christianity was Saturn religion,and Judaism was a Moon religion.I can assure that is wrong, both believe in the only real God , who created  the planets stars,and all things.Don't believe all things you read on the internet . It only goes to bear out humanities fallenness, that person is an educated person,as many people are but that doesn't stop  them from being involved in a pathetic belief that a planet has any power to influence anything,it is just a planet ,as is a stone or wooden idol.Alas people make god's out of anything, scientology is a religion invented by L.R.Hubbard ,likewise there are  cults that are religions invented by unscrupulous human beings ,Islam was put together by a false prophet.all religions except one ,are human inventions.Christianity is based on historical  realities as recorded in the Bible.The coming of a Messiah is clearly taught in the Old Testament scriptures,Jesus was that Messiah,in those scriptures there are about 300 prophecies as regards His coming, who He was,what He did. No one can compare to this person,He manifested miraculous powers more than any person has ever done,His death was the fulfilling of Psalm 22/ Isaiah 52/53,and many other scripture,and as regards his resurrection  it was foretold in Psalm 16 v 8- 11.Cp Acts 2 v25 - 35. When we trust Jesus as our Saviour, our sins will be forgiven ,and we will receive eternal life, based on that which is built on truth and not sinful concoctions of false religions.