An old Ford car. ( Revelation 21 v 1 - 8)

 Many years ago we used to sing a little song which has about 28 verses in it, the first verse goes,'Oh, you can't get to heaven in an old Ford car,Cause an old Ford car won't get that far'.Don't be worried I'm , not going to repeat any more,it is just a silly little song,sung by young people,like the scouts,around the camp fire.But the question you may be asking, how does one get to heaven?,  one will not find the answer on your sat nav. Go to the schools of the philosophers ,and they will not be able to tell you,when one thinks about it ,it is the most important question one can ask,because the alternative is very ,very serious.That other place starts with an H, that place some so called Christian ministers refuse to mention,  this reminds me of the wicked Voldemort from Harry Potter,'He -Who- Must- Not -be- Named,he was considered to dangerous to even mention his name.Likewise the doctrine of Hell that so many will not mention ,but it must be mentioned,it is the solemn duty of every Christian minister to speak forth,the truth,the whole truth.  In Hebrews 13 v 17 ,we are told, that they will have to give an account to God,just a reminder that being a minister carries with it ,a grave responsibility..Likewise we are all to take serious,that there is a hell,awaiting those,who reject the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.We will look further at this tomorrow,and find out clearly, how we can get to heaven.. 

But you love me daddy. ( 1 John 3 v 1 )

Jim Reeves used to sing a song,along with a little boy,( Words by Kathryn Twitty ) all the verses had the same theme,the father would tell the boy off,and the boy would reply ,'But you love me daddy'.I am a Christian a long time,I should be perfect,if only,I still blow it,but this is a wonderful thing, he still loves me.Yet  we must never think that  because  he loves us, we can do what is wrong,and say,ah well, God loves me,that's alright,its not. God our loving heavenly will soon let you know that it is not alright, we cant just say,'but you love me daddy',of course he does,but whom the loves he chastises ( Hebrews 12  v 5 - 6 ) It is truly  wonderful to  know that God loves us,the little chorus comes to mind,'Wide,wide as the ocean,high as the heavens above,Deep deep as the deepest sea is my Savior's love,I though unworthy,still am a child of His care,For His word teaches me, that His love reaches me everywhere.'

God's unexpected ways. ( Jeremiah 32 v 17 )

 In 2 Kings 4 we read of a woman who was in dire straits,her husband had died,that was bad enough,but she had nothing to live on, she was also in debt. The debt had to be paid,one way or the other,so the creditors were coming to take her two sons,who would become their slaves.Her situation was desperate,  she was in danger of losing everything,what could she do?.We are inclined to judge people who get into debt, people now days, get into debt to buy a car,furniture,but this lady more than likely borrowed money to survive.A dark,dark cloud hung over her. So this dear lady went to the prophet Elisha,God's representative, and asked him for help,let us remember that like Elisha,we are God's representatives.Let us remember we are not saved by works,but we are called to help those in need,not just to stand in judgement on them.So what did the prophet do ?,he questioned her as to what she had in her home?,all she had was a  small jar of oil.He told her to borrow as many containers as possible,remember God can use the little we have. The containers were taken into her home,she was to shut the door,and pour the oil into them, in the  first miracle Jesus performed,Mary told those at the wedding ,to do whatever he tells them,the result ,water was turned into wine.Now a little oil would multiply and fill many containers.The oil was then sold and the dear ladies need was met,The word of God assures us that he will meet our needs (Phil 4 v 19 ),even in an unexpected way.

Equality ( Galatians 3 v 26 - 28 )

 She said it was the culture,these were the words the young  Hindu girl spoke,when I spoke about the cast system in India,that's like putting the cart before  the horse.The cast system is part of the Hindu religion ,within that system there are 5 levels ,the 5th level is were we have the untouchables,these people live with discrimination of the most serious type,that includes  little children,to say the least it is absolutely awful. Any system or religion that gives credence to discrimination, and treating people as if they are inferior ,must be seen as wrong.In some Islamic women are despised,and if one is a Christian woman ,you are doubly despised.And so we could on highlighting humanities sinful tendencies towards others ,they think are inferior.The Christian Church have not not always manifested what Gods word teaches,it is clear that in the word of God,  when God created humanity,he did not create one inferior to another..But what it does tell us that we are all sinners,but when we trust Christ as our Saviour,we all become Children of God, and that God has no favourites,and no one is considered inferior ,and all are equally loved.

Tempting God. ( Matthew 4 v 5 - 7 )

 The question one may be asking ,how does one act during this pandemic,so I looked on the internet and read what Martin Luther had to say.He wrote about people who acted rashly,and recklessly,at a time of a plague.How they tempted God, refused to take any precautions ,they did not avoid places and people infected by the plague.They would have said they were trusting God,but Luther said,'that they were not trusting God ,but tempting Him.' Luther himself did not flee the plague,feeling he should stay and minister to the sick and needy,he took precaution not to put himself in danger,praying God's protection,he was aware that he might die.He said if my neighbour needed me, I shall not avoid place or person ,but will go freely to help them. He commented,''See, this is  neither brash or foolhardy, and does not tempt God'' Many years ago a group of Christians refused to have their children  immunize ,trusting  God to keep them safe,the result was ,children died,these people were sincere ,but they were sincerely wrong,and in real sense they were tempting God,by not availing themselves to the means that God had provided to keep their children safe.

613 Laws ( Galatians 3 v 7 - 14 )

On the Jewish Sabbath or holy day, certain food is eaten,bread that is in the shape of a circle ,symbolising  the circle of life,and the end of the year.There might also be a pomegranate on the table, because there is a tradition that they contain 613 seeds. These represent one for each of the commandments a Jewish person is supposed to keep.There are many laws relating to the Sabbath,also the food laws,and other laws,the Jewish religion is a religion of laws,indeed most religions are governed by laws,the cults are the same.In  Deuteronomy 27 v 26 / 28 v 15.  we read that a curse would fall upon those who disobeyed,these commandments. The apostle James reminds us ,that', whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of  breaking all of it (James 2 v 10) When we read in Romans 3 v 23,that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,,it is stressing ,that no one can keep the law, and in fact all have broken it.So that leaves us all under a curse,that means that we are all  standing under judgement, before a holy God, so how can we be saved?.God's answer,and only God's answer can suffice,what is God's answer? Christ Jesus,that was his sole purpose in coming into this world,on the  cross .he would die ,the just one,for the unjust . In Galatians 3 v 13 we read,'Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by   becoming a curse for us'.So when we trust Christ to be our Saviour,the curse is removed from us,we are no longer under God's judgement and wrath,and we can sing, 'O happy day ,that fixed my choice,on Thee, my Saviour and my God' (Words by Philip Doddridge)

Leaving a Legacy. ( Revelation 14 v 13 )

 When Angola received its independence, a civil war broke out,which lasted on and off for 27 years,the suffering was immense over 500,000 people died,one of the legacies of that conflict is that of  land-mines,about 1,000,000,about a 100,000 have been dealt with. What a terrible legacy,war leaves,as an Ulster man I know only to well the legacy left by the battle of the Boyne in 1690.There will come when you and I will die,what sort of legacy will we leave?.You may not have heard of Stuart King,he died recently aged 98,he was the founder of the,'  Missionary Aviation Fellowship'. a wonderful organization.They work around the world with many humanitarian organisations,helping so many needy people, it also promotes the gospel.  What a wonderful legacy,started by that one man,which many hungry ,sick poor people ,will thank God for.Now let us return to ourselves ,what sort of legacy will we leave,how many poor people have we helped?how many people have we pointed to Christ?.Remember we are not Stuart King,but we can leave   a legacy,that will   touch others even after we die,a legacy of love,of faithfulness,of holiness,of kindness.