Are you really on the Lord's side?

On Monday 5th June 1944, almost every soldier aboard the British Troop ship “Princess Ingrid”, gathered to take part in a Church service conducted by their padre. The next day was D-Day; hopefully the beginning of the liberation of Europe and every soldier was lost in their own thoughts. They knew that for some this would be their last day alive and of greater importance they knew that if the D-Day landings were unsuccessful, millions of innocent people would be left under the domination of Nazism for perhaps decades. The entire fate of Europe and the free world hung in the balance. They earnestly wanted the blessing and help of Almighty God. As a focal point the padre constructed a makeshift altar and placed a silver cross in the centre. Just as he was about to begin the service and plead for God’s help and blessing upon their task, something sinister happened which terrified them beyond words. In front of them all, at that moment, a gust of wind suddenly came up, struck the cloth on the altar and threw the cross to the deck with such force that the cross was broken in two. The padre and the troops were distraught at this omen and a naval telegrapher Ronald Seaborne, who witnessed it, stated that for the first time in his life he understood what the “fear of God” really meant.

Those who know their Bible will not be surprised by this strange and frightening event. Scripture warns that the human race is actually in the midst of a spiritual war which often manifests itself in a variety of physical ways. In Ephesians Ch 6 v 12 it explains that “We do not wrestle against mere flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age and against spiritual hosts of wickedness in high places.” And in 1st John Ch5v19 it further adds that “The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” Scripture clearly teaches that until the Second Coming of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ; this will neither be a peaceful nor a restful world because evil is trying to destroy that which is good.

Although this spiritual war often manifests itself in physical ways, the primary place of conflict is neither the battlefields of Europe past or present, nor in the Middle East. The sobering reality is that the primary place of conflict between good and evil actually takes place in our own hearts. Every time an individual has to decide between right and wrong they are involved in this conflict. Each time a person decides to be selfish or proud, jealous, envious, bitter or unforgiving; each time they neglect to obey the Ten Commandments, they side with the powers of darkness. On the other hand, each time an individual chooses to do that which is right, just and loving, they side with the Lord. In 1st John Ch 3 v7 it chillingly warns “Let no one deceive you. The person who practises righteousness is righteous…but he who sins is of the devil.” Is it any wonder the world is in such a mess? The greatest need for Mankind today is for the transformation of the human heart.

Scripture teaches that we should regularly take stock of our lives and ask ourselves where we personally stand in this spiritual conflict. Who are we really following? Who really has our heart? Are we part of the solution to the mess this world is in, or are we part of the problem? Have we been taken captive by the evils of selfishness and greed, indifference and spiritual neglect, or have we been set free from such vices by loyally following the Captain of our Salvation? If Christ were to return tomorrow would He say “well done good and faithful servant” or would He have to say “depart from Me for I never really knew you.”?

The Biblical test revealing which side a person is on is very simple. “Jesus said ‘You are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind…and you are to love your neighbour as yourself’.” (Matthew Ch22vs37, 38). In God’s sight, those who have repented of their sins and are actively striving to obey Christ’s words is what distinguishes a Christian from a non Christian and is the deciding factor revealing which side of the conflict a person is on.

Scripture declares that it is simply not enough for an individual to believe in God and regard themselves as being a “good person” just because they haven’t “robbed a bank or murdered someone,” (a phrase I often hear). In stead what is required is active commitment to the Lord’s way, right down to the very deepest level of our being. In 1st Corinthians Ch6v20 St Paul reminds us; “we have been bought at a Price, therefore glorify God in your body and your spirit”. This “Price” was Jesus enduring the Cross on our behalf, for our sins. What has been done for us was most profound; it was “no small thing” and is deserving of nothing less than full and complete commitment and devotion.

In Luke Ch 14 vs15-24 Jesus told a parable about those who made excuses as to why they wouldn’t follow Him. It is sobering teaching which has relevance for our materialistic age. It is a reminder that in this conflict “a careless attitude costs souls”. He said “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many…but they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said ‘I have bought a piece of land; I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ Another said ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen and I am going to try them. I ask that you have me excused.’ Still another said, ‘I have just got married so I cannot come.’ …When the servants reported these excuses to their Master, He became angry… and said ‘none of those people who were invited shall taste of My supper.’ ”

I am often staggered by the kind of excuses people give as to why they don’t fully and actively follow the Lord. “Oh I am too tied up with my job to have time for spiritual matters.” (But they find time to go to the gym). “Oh I haven’t time to read the Lord’s Book.” (But they find time to read their daily newspaper). “Oh I have lots of family commitments.” (But they find time to go out for morning coffee and socialise with their friends). The teaching of this parable comes to mind when I hear these things and I often wonder how they will react on that Day when they are confronted with the true reality of the Cross and all that was done for them. In 2nd Corinthians Ch9v15 it is called “an Indescribable Gift”. They are treating God’s Gift of Himself as though it were nothing, whereas in reality it is absolutely everything and beyond compare as the following touching story shows.

Many years ago a young Christian lady became terminally ill. As her illness progressed she drew great comfort from the promise in Isaiah Ch 53v5 which says “He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” One day a friend commented “You are suffering a lot of pain at the moment.” “Yes” she answered “but” pointing to her hand, “there is no nail there. He had the nails; I have the peace”. Laying her hand on her brow, “there are no thorns here. He had the thorns but I have the peace”, and touching her side she added, “there is no spear there. He had the spear; I have the peace”.

Scripture teaches that a titanic spiritual battle is raging between good and evil for the hearts and souls of men and women. Salvation and deliverance has been won at the Cross, which demands and challenges individuals to decide which side of this conflict they are on. The Price paid was so great that there is no middle ground. There are no excuses. In Matthew Ch12v30 Jesus stated “he who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” If people are not actively in the Lord’s camp, then in God’s sight they are placing themselves in the camp of the enemy.

In 1st Peter Ch5vs8, 9 it warns “Be sober and vigilant because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Resist him by being steadfast in the faith.” Some time ago a man who was giving a lecture about the Bible concluded his talk by affirming that he wasn’t afraid of the devil. A devout Christian in the audience responded by commenting, “That is hardly the point. The real question surely is this; ‘is the devil frightened of you and your faithfulness to the Saviour?’” What a challenging question! Are the powers of darkness frightened of our love and devotion to the Lord? Are they terrified by our gratitude to the Saviour, our prayer life and our faithfulness in reading the Word of God? Are they fearful of our loyal attendance at God’s House Sunday by Sunday whatever the weather? Can they see that we are firmly in the camp of the Redeemed? Or, on the other hand, do they see us as unmotivated, spiritually indifferent and full of excuses? Do they regard us as collaborators with evil and no threat at all to the darkness they are trying to bring upon the world?

In 2nd TimothyCh2vs3-4 it urges “You must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ…that you may please the One Who enlisted you as a soldier.” Let us regularly reaffirm our allegiance to the Saviour and firmly resolve to love and obey Him in all our ways. May we do this with heartfelt gratitude, so that whether He comes or calls, He will say “Well done good and faithful servant.”

Don't follow the crowd; follow Jesus

Jesus said “Enter by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and there are many who follow it… because difficult is the way that leads to life.” Matthew Ch7v13, 14

Once upon a time a spider built a beautiful web in an old house. The spider kept his web clean and shiny so that flies would be attracted to it. The moment he caught a fly he would dispose of the body quickly so that other flies wouldn’t get suspicious. The story goes that one day a well educated fly came buzzing by this clean spider web. Old man spider called out, “Come in and sit. We can chat and pass the time of day.” The well educated fly looked around and then replied “No sir, I don’t see other flies in your house, and I am not going in alone!” The day drew on until by and by the fly saw, on the floor below, a large crowd of flies which appeared to be merrily dancing on a piece of brown paper. He was delighted! He was not afraid if lots of flies were doing it. Clearly there could be nothing wrong. He even recognised some of them from “fly school”. They were just as well educated as him.

As he zoomed down towards the crowd, a bee happened to pass by. The bee warned “Don’t go there lad, that brown stuff is fly paper.” The well educated fly shouted back (as flies do) “Don’t be silly nobody believes in brown fly paper any more, “that was just a myth old flies used to believe in. These flies are dancing, there is a big crowd there, and everybody’s doing it. That many flies can’t be wrong!” Failing to heed the advice of the bee, the fly died soon afterwards, glued to death on fly paper.

As humorous as this story maybe, it conveys a spiritual lesson of great importance. Just because a majority of people behave in an immoral way or just because a majority of so called educated people think that that kind of behaviour won’t bring judgement, doesn’t make it so in reality. Centuries ago, a majority of people believed that the world was flat in spite of  the Hebrew wording in Isaiah Ch 40v22 which described the world as being sphere-shaped. The fact that a majority of people believed in this error didn’t make it true. Again, in ancient times the majority of people believed that the world was held up by giant tortoises or elephants in spite of the teaching in Job Ch26v7 which described the earth as being suspended or “hanging upon nothing” in space. The fact that a majority of people ignored this didn’t make their belief correct. Indeed as some one pointed out “It is doubtful if the majority have ever been right”.

Today, more than ever, this generation says, “God is just a myth old people used to believe in” or “we are far too clever to believe in the warnings of Bible prophecy.” It disregards the teaching that there are severe consequences for disobeying the Commandments of God and a Day of Judgement to come. “Behave as you wish and live as you want” says the crowd. No wonder God warns in Proverbs Ch14v12 “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Just because many people reject belief in God and reject the Bible doesn’t make their lack of faith correct. The majority of people on the Titanic believed the ship was unsinkable. The majority was wrong.

Genuinely searching for truth and refusing to be influenced by an unbelieving crowd is something which God calls upon us all to do. In Hebrews Ch11v6 it promises “God is the Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Countless individuals over the centuries have found God faithful to this promise. They refused to be put off by the numerous sceptics around them, and instead sought to find the real truth about God with all their heart. To their delight they found the One “Who is the Way the Truth and the Life”. (JohnCh14v6). The following incident is a fascinating example of just what can happen when a genuine seeker of the truth ignores the crowd.

Some years ago a Madras Indian had a remarkable experience which changed his whole life. At the age of twenty he joined the Madras worshippers of the goddess Kali and was made a devotee of Madreveran. One day a year was dedicated to this demon god and it meant that on that day this young Indian would have the honour of leading the service of worship. The young man was thrilled at this honour, as were his family. If he did well in the service it would win special favours for them all from this spirit.

The great day finally arrived and the idol was moved out to stand under a big tree near the temple. The young devotee presented offerings to the idol in the right order and he chanted the right words. He could see his parents, priests and numerous people anxiously watching to see if the spirit would accept them. Looking back he wrote “I wanted to be accepted by the idol even more than my parents wanted it. I presented each gift exactly as I had been taught. I repeated the prayers with exactly the precise incantation. I bowed low, as low as I could, repeatedly before the idol. I strained every ounce of energy in intense concentration, yearning for the ecstasy the idol spirit would give, if it entered my body to possess me. Suddenly my eyes blurred, a strange wave of excitement came over my body and I felt the spirit come in.”

The devotee sacrificed an animal, drank its blood and then began an ecstatic dance around the idol. He whirled and bowed repeatedly before the statue and the more he did so, the more ecstatic he became. He whirled for hours, forgetting everybody and everything, except for the strange wild abandoned feeling he had in his body. Finally, the demon spirit left him and he dropped to the ground exhausted. The people cheered heartily; good fortune was sure to come for the young man and his family.

The Indian continued in his idol worship and every year he faithfully celebrated his idol’s day with the special ceremonies. When ecstasy was high he was especially happy. He felt that he was very religious and everyone admired him for it.

As the years went on, however, this Indian began to seriously question things in his heart. “I was a notorious drunkard, a gambler, a thief, liar, deceiver and fighter. I began to wonder if such characteristics should exist in a religious person. I thought about it a lot but I’d never seen anyone else in our faith who behaved differently.”

Becoming increasingly unhappy about the way his religion permitted such behaviour, he read as many of his idol’s religious writings as he could, so as to find out why. One Sunday morning he was in the middle of reading when he suddenly heard a Voice in his head. It was loud and clear and said “You must not worship in this way, or read these books. You should give up your evil ways and live an honourable life.” It was not the voice of anyone he knew and it was so strong and authoritative that he put his book down immediately. He thought “If I shouldn’t read these books then what should I read?” Then he remembered a little book which someone had given him long ago. It was called The New Testament. He had put it to one side because he hated Christianity but had strangely felt unable to destroy it.

The Indian eventually found it and in his confusion opened to read it at the back instead of the front. His eyes first came upon the following words from Revelation Ch21; “He Who sat on the Throne said, ‘Look! I make all things new… write, for these words are true and faithful….but the cowardly, unbelieving, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idol worshippers and all liars will have their end in the lake of fire…” Then on the very last page he further read “I Jesus have sent My angel to you to testify of these things…come, let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires let him take of the water of life freely!” The Indian’s heart was so touched by these words of forgiveness that immediately he committed his whole heart to Christ. He wrote, “I was saved and changed, right then and there. I saw a new heaven and a new earth.”

The Indian had sought for the truth and found it. He had sincerely begun to question the immoral behaviour his religion allowed even though everyone else thought it perfectly acceptable. God honoured his quest.

Sometime ago I was sent a postcard depicting a shoal of fish swimming one way with a solitary fish swimming in the opposite direction. The words beneath read “Only dead fish go with the flow.” Quite so. Just because a majority of people known to you are behaving in an immoral way doesn’t make it right or just because a majority of your friends think that there is no God, doesn’t make it so. Don’t go with the flow, seek for the truth and you will find it because God has promised; “you will seek and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah Ch29v13). Don’t follow the crowd; follow Jesus!

Be strong and courageous!

“You must endure hardship as a faithful soldier of Jesus Christ.” (2nd Timothy Ch2v3)

The following are genuine responses from comment cards handed into staff at a Forest Park in America;
The trails need to be wider so that people can walk holding hands.
The trails need to be reconstructed.
Avoid building paths that go uphill.
Please spray the vegetation near the paths as there are too many insects.
Please put in chair lifts so we can get to the wonderful views without having to hike to them.  
Please get rid of the coyotes. They made too much noise last night and kept me awake.
A deer came into our camp last night and stole some food. Can I be reimbursed?    
Reflectors need to be placed on trees every fifty feet so people can walk at night by torch light. 
Escalators would help on steep uphill sections.
The places where paths do not exist are not well marked.

It is difficult to escape the conclusion that today many people have become real “softies”. Whether we are thinking of “the compensation culture” which is now so common or how often counselling is offered for the least hardship, it is difficult to believe that only 70 years ago a previous generation endured the horrors of the Second World War and went on to liberate Occupied Europe.

It seems that (with a few notable exceptions) many of today’s generation are unwilling to endure hardship or make any real sacrifice for the good of others. The result is that the whole of society has become increasingly selfish. There is very much “a me first attitude” with even the British Army complaining that it often has difficulty getting recruits who are willing to endure the rigors of basic training.

Sadly this lack of willingness to endure can also be seen amongst some Christians, especially in the West. They treat their faith and their obedience in a half hearted manner, failing to exert any real effort to keep the first Commandment; “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind.” (Luke Ch10v27). They are unwilling to devote an hour a week to worshipping God in Church and are unwilling to set aside even a few minutes a day to read their Bible and pray. They are reluctant to endure any hardship or sacrifice if called upon to do so by their conscience and often take the path of least resistance. Then they wonder why their spiritual life seems so dull and dead! They want to experience God, but on their terms, not His.

I often hear individual Christians saying that they want “a deeper experience of God” and that they want closer encounters with the Divine. They want God to reveal Himself more fully and question why He doesn’t do so. The answer to their question however, is given in Scripture; we are clearly told in Hebrews Ch11v6 that “God rewards those who diligently seek for Him” and in Jeremiah Ch29v13 it says “You will find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” It is clear that to experience Christ an individual must wholeheartedly search for Him and be prepared, if necessary, to endure real hardship in order to remain obedient to His Commandments. Having the Lord in our lives and keeping Him first in our hearts must be our number one priority because it is clear that God will only be close to those who really and sincerely want Him.

This explains why faithful Christians, who are willing to endure persecution from dictatorships, experience the Lord in dramatic ways. They experience Him because they are not half hearted about following Him but regard their faith as so precious and their Lord so wonderful that they are prepared to endure hardship in order to remain obedient.

In Matthew Ch13v45, Jesus is described as being “The Pearl of Great Price” for which the merchant sold everything he had in order to obtain. Nothing half-hearted about that! And in Matthew Ch10 vs37-39 Jesus explained that “Anyone who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me…..” The reason for this statement, is that the Suffering and Agony of the Cross was so great and the love expressed so profound and undeserved, He is worthy of nothing less than our whole hearts. Out of love He paid the penalty of our sins so that we could be forgiven and this gives us cause to “rejoice with joy inexpressible” (1st Peter Ch1v8). However, since He did all this for us, Scripture states that we must be prepared to follow Him no matter what the cost and no matter what must be endured to remain faithful. Some day every one of us will stand before the Saviour and hear Him ask “I did all this for you out of love, what were you willing to sacrifice and endure for Me?”

Christians must never forget that the forgiveness and spiritual joy they now experience is all as a direct result of what happened on that first Good Friday. They must remember that they are “living in the context of the Cross” and that the Cross was no small thing. It was no minor thing for God the Father to send His Son and it was no small thing for Jesus to be willing to endure crucifixion on our behalf. It was and is the central and defining event of all creation and the pivotal point around which all the Universe revolves. As St Paul was moved to write in 2nd Corinthians Ch9v15 “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.”

Some years ago a pastor came up with a clever way of reminding his youth group that all the blessings they were enjoying had come about as a direct the result of the Cross. They were going on a church trip to Florida and as they prepared to board the coach he got them to fashion a huge cross from two pieces of timber. He explained that in order to teach them that they were now living off the blessings and benefits won at Calvary, this cross would go with them wherever they went.

Members of the youth group looked at one another a little unsure of his plan but they agreed to go along with it. They dragged the huge cross on to the coach and there it banged back and forth in the aisle all the way to Florida. It went with them into restaurants, it stayed overnight where they stayed and it stood on the beach as they enjoyed the sand and surf.

At first lugging the cross around embarrassed them, but gradually it came to be a point of identification. That cross became a silent reminder of who they were and what had been done for them. Eventually they regarded carrying the cross as an honour and privilege.

The night before they returned home their pastor handed out two nails to each of them. He told them that if they wanted to commit themselves to what the cross stood for, they could hammer one nail into it and keep the other with them. One by one the group drove their nails into the cross.

About fifteen years later, one member of the youth group, who was now a successful stockbroker contacted this pastor and told him that he still kept his nail with him in his desk drawer. He stated that whenever he was in danger of forgetting what was really important in life he would look at the nail to remind him of what should be at the core of his life; his commitment to Jesus Christ, no matter what the cost.

Someone once dreamt that they had died and gone to heaven. He found himself in the midst of a great multitude. “Who are you?” he asked someone standing near to him. The man replied “I am a Roman Christian. I was put to death during Nero’s reign.” “How awful” said the dreamer. “No I was willing to give my life for Jesus because He gave His life for me,” was the reply. “And who are you?” the dreamer asked someone else. “I am from a South Sea Island. The missionary John Williams came there and told me about the love of Jesus. I became a follower and I was killed for my faith.” Just then the dreamer awoke. “How little I have been willing to endure for Jesus” he sobbed. “Forgive me Lord. I will now take up my cross and follow You no matter what hardship I must endure to remain faithful.”

To truly experience the Lord and walk with Him day by day we must remain faithful and obedient no matter what hardships we may have to endure. “I went to the Cross for you; what are you willing to do for Me?”

Perseverance

There is a funny tale told about a farmer whose mule fell into a well. After many unsuccessful attempts to haul the mule out of the hole, the farmer decided that the situation was hopeless. With great sadness he instructed his boys to fill truck loads of soil and bury the old mule right in the well. The boys began to shovel the soil into the well and bury the old mule, but the mule didn't take kindly to this action! The first shovelful hit him square on the head, got him in the eyes and made him sneeze. Every shovelful after that hit him somewhere, making the mule more and more angry. The mule thought to himself "I am not going to give in to this situation." So in stead of giving in, the mule began to stomp around in the bottom of the well, pressing the soil down with his hooves. Several truck loads of soil later, the mule could still be seen stomping around packing the dirt firmly underneath his feet. That old mule persevered for hours in his stomping and little by little lifted himself out of the well. In the afternoon the mule eventually stepped out of the well to freedom and snorted angrily at the whole business!

Perseverance! There are numerous funny stories like this aimed at encouraging people to persevere through the difficulties of life rather than give up and give in. The common thread behind all these fables is to remind us that there are two ways of dealing with life's problems, one is keep on going like the mule and rise above them, and the other of course is to lie down beneath them.

Likewise, Scripture has much to say on this subject, teaching that to remain faithful, Christian‘s must learn to persevere and to stand firm no matter what problems or temptations come their way. Numerous verses exhort those who follow the Lord to be dedicated, determined and persistent and never give in. In Hebrews Ch10v23 it states "Holdfast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He Who promised you is Faithful," 2nd Timothy Ch2v3, "You must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ," Galatians Ch6v9 "Do not grow weary in doing good for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart," Matthew Ch24v12 "Because wickedness will increase on the earth the love of many will grow cold, but he who endures to the end shall be saved," and Romans Ch12v21 "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

It is the duty of every Christian to persevere in their faith and to overcome the difficulties of this life rather than be overcome by them. We should be like the mule; refusing to give in when life gets tough! Every time a follower of Christ is confronted with a new difficulty such as bereavement, ill health, temptation or whatever, how they respond will make them "either a better or a bitter Christian." If they persevere in their walk with the Lord, then He will bring good from that evil (see Romans Ch8v28) and they will become a better and stronger Christian. If however, they abandon their faith through lack of perseverance then they are like seed sown on the stony soil in the Parable of the Sower. (See Matthew Ch13vs20-21). Jesus warned that this kind of person has no deep roots to their faith so "endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the Word they stumble" failing to persevere with the Lord.

Luke Ch18v1 states that Jesus told people "they should keep on praying rather than lose heart." He then followed up this teaching with the Parable of the Persistent Widow. Scripture reassures us that "God is Faithful Who will not allow (us) to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear." (1st Corinthians Ch10v13). Provided we keep on praying and persevering in the midst of trouble, rather than losing heart, God for His part will help and strengthen us, so that no temptation or trouble can break us. Christian's do not face problems alone; they have a Supernatural Helper! There are numerous reassuring verses such as; Psalm 55v22 "Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you because He will never permit the righteous to be moved." Philippians Ch4v13"I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me." And Hebrews Ch13v5-6 "For He Himself has said ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you' so we may boldly say ‘The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" These are beautiful promises and are the Source of the Christian's power to persevere. Their strength to persist comes from God Himself so they remain unbroken in spirit no matter what.

In Matthew Ch6v34 Jesus urged people to persevere by taking one day at a time. He said, "Do not worry about tomorrow because sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Taking one problem at a time, a day at a time, or in extreme cases an hour at a time is how God wants Christians to deal with troubles. Handling troubles in this manner makes all the difference as the following nursery story illustrates.

Once upon a time the clockmaker made a little clock. As the clock started ticking it looked up and noticed a grandfather clock. "How old are you?" asked the little clock. The grandfather clock explained that he was one hundred years old! At first the little clock was really impressed but as he thought about it he became anxious. He said to the grandfather clock, "There are two ticks in every second, 60 seconds in one minute, 60 minutes in an hour and you have been ticking away for one hundred years! I just can't bear the thought of all that work. It's too great a burden for me to handle." The grandfather clock then asked the little clock "Tell me, little clock, how many ticks are you asked to take at a time?" The little clock thought for a moment and then replied "Now that you point it out, I am only ever asked to take one tick at a time." "Precisely so" said the grandfather clock. "Just take one tick at a time and you will never find it too much." The spiritual lesson is clear; in order to help us persevere we should take one day at a time or one trouble at a time.

When a person faithfully perseveres in the struggle against evil it can have truly amazing consequences- sometimes even years later. During the Second World War there was an American fighter pilot called Butch O'Hare. This young man was assigned to an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific. One day while on a mission, he looked at his fuel gauge and realised that someone had forgotten to top up his fuel tank. Unable to complete his mission, he turned round and headed back for the aircraft carrier. As he headed back he saw a squadron of Japanese planes heading straight for the American Fleet. All the rest of the American fighters were out on patrol leaving the Fleet virtually defenceless.

O'Hare was utterly alone. In a desperate attempt to divert them away from the Fleet, he drove straight into

the formation of Japanese planes. After a frightening air battle, incredibly the Japanese planes did indeed break off their assault and O'Hare's battered fighter limped back to the carrier. To mark this amazing act of bravery and the numerous lives he saved, O'Hare International Airport in Chicago was named after him. The courage this young man displayed on that day didn't simply come out of "nowhere".  His brave and selfless character had been inspired by the example of his father's personal struggle against evil. It is a remarkable story.

His father used to be known as Easy Eddie and was Al Capone's corrupt lawyer. In those day's Al Capone's mob virtually owned the city of Chicago. It was a dark and turbulent time in the history of the city and Easy Eddie's task was to keep the mobster out of jail. In return for this Easy Eddie earned big money and lived like a king. He was provided with an estate so large if filled an entire city block. Eddie saw that his son had the best of everything, clothes, a good education and so on, but as his son grew Eddie became more and more uneasy in his conscience about his links with the mob. Through his conscience, God repeatedly challenged him to reflect on the bad influence his corrupt lifestyle was going to have on Butch. Did he want Butch to grow up like that?

As time passed his conscience bothered him more and more until eventually after a great inner struggle Eddie decided he must break away from Al Capone and change his life. This was no light decision. Eddie knew it would be a long struggle to become free and he knew that he might pay with his life. He felt however, he must have the courage of his convictions. In order to put right the wrongs he had done, Eddie went to the authorities and told them about the mob's activities. Sometime later he then testified in court against Al Capone. Eddie's courage and perseverance in resisting evil ended Capone's reign of terror over the city. Within a year Eddie was shot dead in a lonely Chicago street but the example he set so inspired his son that years later he was willing to take on a squadron of Japanese planes single-handedly in order to save thousands of lives.

In Ephesians Ch6v10-18, St Paul urged "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might…because we do not wrestle against mere flesh and blood…Put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand in the evil day and having done all to remain standing…" We must faithfully persevere in our walk with the Lord no matter what troubles or temptations attempt to hinder us. With God's help and strength we can be victorious over evil and our perseverance will be most richly rewarded in eternity. (See Matthew Ch5vs11-12, Luke Ch21 vs18-19 and Ecclesiastes Ch 8v12). 

Have courage to seek the truth

"How much more important it is to get knowledge than gold and to choose wisdom rather than silver!" Proverbs Ch 16v16

It is often said that the South of England is particularly wealthy and affluent. While this may be true in one sense, the Bible regards real wealth in terms of one's "knowledge and acceptance of God." Scripture describes a certain kind of individual who thinks "I am rich and have become wealthy and have need of nothing" while refusing to see that in reality they are actually "poor, miserable, blind and naked." (Rev Ch 3v13)

The story is told about a poor preacher who was travelling on a ship with a large group of wealthy merchants. In the course of their conversation one of the merchants asked the preacher what his business was. He replied, "I suppose you could say that my business is giving people knowledge and information on how to live and find happiness. Such knowledge is invaluable." Several of the merchants ridiculed him; one cried "How do you sell knowledge?" Another joked "I suppose he trades information and guidance for bread and wine"!

Partway through the journey pirates overtook the ship and stripped the passengers of all their goods. Only the preacher who carried no valuables was unaffected.
Finally, when they landed, the preacher began to give talks to the town folk imparting his knowledge on how to live and where to find the happiness only God can bring. These talks created great interest and attracted large audiences from the whole area. He explained that Jesus was actually "The Way, the Truth and the Life" (John ch14v6) and that knowledge and acceptance of this fact would change their lives forever. (St Augustine taught the same thing, often telling people that God has made us for Himself and that our hearts will remain restless and weary until they rest in Him.) Soon the preacher made friends and settled into the community as a respected leader and useful guide. On the other hand the merchants now dressed in rags were unable to find employment. Finally in desperation they called upon the preacher for help and asked him to use his influence to get them jobs. This he graciously did, and after he had found work for them all, the merchants realised the truth – that having knowledge of God and the understanding this brought about how to live, was indeed of greater value than mere material possessions.

Today, many people have fallen into the trap of regarding wealth in terms of material possessions. They feel they are better off than previous generations and of course in one sense they are. The reality however, is that in the way that really counts, many people are poorer and are spiritually poverty stricken and starving. Society is richer in material things but it has also lost something and that "something" is quite profound. We see the symptoms of this loss every day in how unhappy and discontented people have become; how selfish and greedy and awkward! What has been lost is the knowledge of God and the understanding this brings about how to be happy, content and at peace in one's soul. Scripture describes such people as ones who spoil and destroy their lives through a lack of this knowledge. (Hosea Ch4v6). They may be well educated enough to know how to put a man on the moon, but they lack Godly knowledge on how to live with themselves and their fellow man on earth!

Our society is broken because many people no longer know the basic laws of God which were designed to bring happiness and order to their lives and that of their families. They haven't the least knowledge or understanding of the meaning of life and what we are here for. They haven't any idea of where to look for guidance, hope and strength when life gets tough and they lack the perception that they are accountable to a Holy God for all their thoughts, words and actions.

Gaining a knowledge of God and learning about (and obeying) the laws He has given us, answers all these profound questions and would bring instant relief. Unfortunately, however to attain this Godly knowledge and help there is one big obstacle individuals often have to overcome-- family and friends!

I have encountered numerous individuals who have indeed sensed that turning to Jesus Christ and gaining knowledge of Him would help them at the depths of their being. They have sensed that Christ is indeed "The Way, the Truth and the Life". But bizarrely the moment they start exploring these spiritual matters they face ridicule, often from those who claim to love them most, namely family and friends! "Oh you're not going to church again are you, you went last month"? "Oh you‘re not reading the Bible again, that's two days in a row. It's such a waste of your time." What about kind words such as "Well, if it makes you happy I am pleased for you"? It's as though those around them don't want that person to find answers. They are lost themselves and have the attitude "let's all sit in this empty confusion together." And so it can take courage for individuals to seek knowledge of God and not let others put them off finding the answers to life.

This is the moral behind one of the most peculiar stories I have ever come across. It is a story from Ethiopia used to teach people to have the courage of their convictions and not be put off by the lies of those around them.

Once upon a time a man was taking his prize lamb to market. Three thieves plotted to steal this lamb in a unique way, simply by telling lies about it! As the man was walking along with the lamb over his shoulders, the first thief approached him and asked "Why are you carrying that dog on your shoulders?" The man laughed and replied "This is not a dog, it's my prize lamb which I am taking to market." Some time later the second thief approached him and said "What a fine looking dog you have, where are you taking it?" Puzzled the man took the lamb off his shoulders, looked at it carefully and said "It's a lamb and I am taking it to market." Shortly before he reached the market the third thief met the man and said "Sir I don't think they will allow you to take your dog into the market." Completely confused, the man took the lamb off his shoulders, left it on the ground and walked away in disgust. "I was convinced this was a lamb but if three other people say it's a dog then it must be a dog."

So likewise, there are many who are rightly convinced that the answer to life's problems, lies with knowing Christ, but they will also require the courage of their convictions to complete this learning because there are those who would try to deter them. The key to happiness is knowing God. Knowing how to live in a right relationship with God and being at peace with Him is real wealth and treasure and what really matters. Others may say differently, but a lamb is always a lamb no matter what others may say and God continues to be God no matter how others may deny Him!

Bravery brings the reward of finding God

Sometime ago I read an article written by Canon Andrew White, (Vicar of St George’s, Baghdad).  He described how Alpha courses were being run in Baghdad because so many people wanted to learn about Jesus.  He went on to state that  some of the sessions had been held in Saddam’s palace and what used to be Saddam’s throne was now the priest’s chair!  Amazingly, Alpha courses were even being held around what used to be his cabinet table.  In the rest of the article he went on to describe how God was really meeting people in their troubles.

I was very moved when he further explained that guests were so keen and eager to attend these sessions  that  they were literally prepared to risk their lives to get there. It took some of them three hours to travel just one mile because of all the check points and he said that all of his Alpha leaders had been killed over the years – every one, all eleven.  But still people came – still people were crying out for the truth of the Gospel, even if it was at the risk of their own lives.

As I read this account I couldn’t help compare how desperately people wanted to hear about Christ in Baghdad, whereas in this country, “Christianity” and “Church” is often met with complete indifference or even ridicule.  The contrast couldn’t be greater.  Many people risk their lives to find out about Jesus in Iraq, but in the UK most can’t be bothered to attend a church service even for an hour a week.  Whilst I was reflecting on this contrast a verse of Scripture came to my mind ‘God said “this is a nation that does not obey the voice of the Lord nor does it listen to correction.  Truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth.” ‘(Jeremiah ch 7 v 28). I was especially struck by the phrase “nor does it listen to correction”. 

This is the reality of the situation in the UK today.  Most people are very well aware that our nation’s problems would be solved if this country returned to its Christian roots and adhered to the Ten Commandments.  Most people are well aware that a return to the traditional laws, values and moral standards upheld in Scripture would dramatically transform our society – but they aren’t prepared to do anything about it.  Moreover those in positions of responsibility who dare to point this out are simply ignored and shouted down.  People only hear what they want to hear.

Many years ago when Egyptian troops first conquered   Nubia, an entire regiment was destroyed by thirst while crossing the Nubian dessert.  The soldiers spotted what they believed to be a beautiful lake on the horizon.  They insisted on being taken to its banks by their Arab guide.  It was in vain that the guide assured them that the lake was unreal.  He refused to lose precious time by wandering from his course.  Words led to blows because they didn’t like his advice and he was then killed by the soldiers whose lives depended upon his guidance.  

This aptly illustrates the situation in Britain today.  Those who guide individuals to take the Bible seriously – with its teaching on moral standards, judgement and our personal accountability before God, are often ridiculed and ignored.  To suggest that praying, reading the Bible and church attendance is vital is regarded as a bridge too far.  Instead of listening to uncomfortable words which if acted upon would actually make a difference, many would rather listen to empty words and platitudes.  Let us this day make sure that we really do listen to God’s Voice and take Him seriously.  Let us hear what the Bible really has to say to us rather than push it to one side.  May it be to us “a life or death issue” to  come to know Jesus personally,  make our peace with Him, learn about His ways and apply His teachings to our daily lives.  If we do this sincerely, joy and hope will fill our hearts and we will begin to see why those in Baghdad are wiling to risk their all to find the living Christ.