True repentance

Shortly before his death, Albert Einstein wrote a letter to a friend saying that he believed that the greatest need for the world was to listen to God. As we look at the state of the world today, this statement could not be truer. And what is it that God is saying to the human race? What remedy does He give for the state we are in? It is one simple but profound word “Repent”.

The key teaching of John the Baptist, the forerunner to Our Lord was “Repent”. After the Baptism and Temptation of Our Lord we are told that His key message was “Repent”, stating in Matthew Ch4v17, “From that time on Jesus began to preach to the people and say ‘Repent’”. When He sent the Disciples out to preach in the towns and villages their main theme was to be “Repent”. (Mark Ch6v12). And on the Day of Pentecost and from then on, the main message of the Apostles and the Early Church was once again “Repent”.

The word “Repent” is used more than 50 times in the New Testament, meaning that God’s main message to the human race is that people should repent of their sins. Indeed, it is so profoundly important, that being a Christian and being right with God is actually dependent upon a person having repented of their sins.

So what does repentance mean? Some time ago a Sunday School teacher asked her class this very question. One lad answered “It means being sorry for your sins.” However, after a few minutes of discussion a girl thoughtfully added, “It means being sorry enough to stop doing them.”  And this indeed is precisely what true repentance really means. A converted soldier put it like this. “The Lord said to me ‘Halt! Attention! Right-about-face! March!’” True repentance is being so sorry for one’s sins that one stops committing them and involves a complete change of attitude, conduct and behaviour. It means letting the Lord into one’s life, rather than keeping Him away at arm’s length.

Repentance isn’t merely a kind of general “sadness” or “regret” at the things one has done wrong, it is much deeper. A surgeon dressing a wound will probe it in all directions so as to cleanse it thoroughly. So likewise it is with true repentance. It involves a thorough exploration of the heart with a searching minute examination to discover what needs to be changed. Along with this will develop a new sense of the Holiness of God and an increasing awareness of the sinfulness of sin.

True repentance is the only key which will unlock the door to forgiveness and getting to know the Lord personally. While an individual remains unrepentant a barrier exists between them as a sinner and an infinitely Holy God. When however, genuine repentance occurs, this barrier is removed, forgiveness is obtained and the door is opened to experiencing a real and personal relationship with the Lord as our very Best Friend. Until an individual is willing to repent and obey the Lord, there will always be a barrier between them and the Almighty.

And the signs of this barrier in a person’s life are easily recognisable. A person will complain, “Oh I pray to God, but I don’t feel He is listening.” “Oh I don’t feel my prayers are getting through.” “Oh I don’t feel God is close to me”. “Oh, He doesn’t seem real to me.” “Oh I have been seeking the Lord but I can’t find Him.” “Oh I have many questions but I never seem to find satisfying answers.” “Oh I want a deeper experience of God but I just feel dry and empty inside.” All these different symptoms are but a manifestation of this self-imposed barrier and the solution to them is always the same; truly repent. Approach God on His terms of true repentance and the barrier will be instantly removed. As the Lord said in Isaiah Ch 59vs1-2 “Behold the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities separate you from God and your sin hides His face from you so that He will not hear.”

In 2nd Peter Ch3v9 it reminds us that “The Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Indeed His love and desire for individuals to repent and get to know Him personally is so strong that He sent His Son to die on the Cross for our sins. (John Ch3v16). However, unless an individual is willing to truly repent and submit to the Lord’s will, the barrier between them and God will remain. The following two stories illustrate this truth very clearly.

Sometime ago a man came to his Vicar with a long list of questions about the Bible and about how to live the Christian life. He talked to the man for a while to find out about his character and background. As the conversation unfolded the Minister sensed that the reason for the list of questions wasn’t due to the man being a heartfelt searcher wanting answers, but something very different. In 2nd Timothy Ch3v7 it describes individuals who are “forever learning but never able to come to an acceptance of the truth.” He felt that this was a fitting description of this man. Finally the Vicar said, “I’ll gladly go through all your questions and answer them one by one. I often do this with enquirers, but in your particular case before I do, I want you to do one thing first. I want you to repent of your sins and turn to following Christ, questions and all.” The man went off looking very thoughtful.

Several days later he returned looking quite radiant. “Where are your questions?” asked the Minister. “I don’t really have any major questions now” said the man. “After much soul searching I took your advice and decided that I should indeed first start to follow the Saviour and while following Him deal with my questions along the way. The strange thing is that the moment I committed myself to Him, I found answers to most of them and the others now appear so insignificant that no answer is really necessary.” The Minister had correctly perceived that in this case, the root cause of the man’s lack of faith and list of questions was due to his unwillingness to truly repent and obey the Lord. No amount of answering these questions would have solved this issue because the real problem lay, not in finding answers, but in finding repentance and obedience of heart.

This incident shows how a person may seek after God and may learn this or that about Him, but unless it is done with a genuine heart, approaching God on His terms, a barrier will remain. It is not primarily by having questions answered that will open the door to God; it is not primarily by praying or by reading the Bible; it is not primarily by attending church or by going on retreat. As important as all these things are, unless they are done in a spirit of repentance with a sincere willingness to submit to the will of God, they will be to no avail in removing the barrier.

If an individual wants to make “real contact” with God; if they want to have a close and personal relationship with Him and have Him as their Best Friend, then the first step beginning this relationship is true repentance. And as we shall see from this second story, it is also the vital ingredient which maintains and preserves this relationship.

Many years ago a backslidden member of Dr Philips Brooks’ church called at his house in order to get his name removed from the church membership roll. The man explained that he didn’t feel God close to him anymore and that he felt dry and empty inside. He felt disappointed that neither God nor the church satisfied him in the way that they once did. Dr Brooks pleaded with the man to reconsider but he was insistent. What happened next was remarkable and can only have been the result of God’s timing.

Just as Dr Brooks finished pleading with the man, a poorly dressed boy came to the door with a note. It was an urgent request for the Minister to visit a sick and needy woman in a poor part of town. Dr Brooks was just leaving to conduct a funeral and so he couldn’t respond to the request. Suddenly however, he had an idea. He knew that the man wanting his name removed from the membership roll had drifted from God by allowing sin back into his life and he also knew that the sick woman was a devout Christian. He wondered if her influence might make this man acknowledge the real truth as to why God was distant from him.

Dr Brooks explained to the man that he was leaving for a funeral and wondered if he would be so kind as to go on his behalf, to supply whatever the poor woman needed. The man readily agreed, assuming that he would have to provide her with some food or medicine. He followed the lad down narrow streets and then down a dark alley. Finally he came to a shack whose half-open door was held by one hinge. He was led into a darkened room. As he entered, the sick and partially sighted woman greeted him with great thanks, “Oh Dr Brooks, I knew you would come. You are God’s man. You always come to the call of trouble. I am sick and hungry, but first I want you to pray for me. Please pray!” Her plight was so desperate and her pleading so sincere, the man didn’t have it in his heart to say he wasn’t Dr Brooks. As he hesitated she pleaded with him again to pray.

He got down on his knees beside her bed. The whole situation seemed so surreal. In an instant, her devotion and love for God deeply struck his conscience. Confronted and challenged by her faithfulness he was forced to see that the real reason for God’s distance from him was his own fault by allowing sin back into his life. As he started to pray, he began by asking the Lord’s forgiveness and then went on to pray for the woman and her condition.

After he finished praying he explained that he had come on behalf of Dr Brooks and that he had been deeply challenged and convicted by her love for the Lord. They talked for some time and later he got her some much needed food, fuel and medicine. As they parted he thanked her for how her faithfulness to God had influenced and helped him. The man later contacted Dr Brooks and asked for his name to be kept on the church roll. He said to the Minister “I am all right now sir. I am all right.”

A repentant spirit begins our relationship with the Lord, but it also sustains and maintains it. Every time an individual feels that they are no longer in close fellowship with the Lord, the reason is always the same. They have allowed sin back into their hearts. Numerous times I have encountered people who were once close to the Lord but who then began to feel empty and dry inside. The inner joy that once was theirs had gone. “What has happened?” they ask and “What is the solution?” The reason is always the same; they have drifted away from the Lord by allowing sin back into their hearts and lives. Instead of growing in spiritual maturity by actively working at their faith, they have gone backwards. (Some will also have begun to neglect the three mainstays of the Christian life namely prayer, Bible reading and church attendance. It is impossible to have a growing and developing spiritual life if these three are no longer given a priority). The only solution is heartfelt, sincere and genuine repentance, fully submitting once again to the Lord’s will for their lives.

In Acts Ch17v31 it states God “has appointed a Day when He will judge this world in righteousness and He has given assurance of this by raising Christ from the dead.” A Day will come when individuals will be judged for their every thought, word and action. At great Personal Cost, due to God’s deep love, the penalty for our sins has been paid in full on the Cross, but this forgiveness is conditional upon true repentance. Today we live in a world which has lost its fear of God. We live in a world which has lost its awareness of God’s infinite Holiness. Many people see no reason or need to repent and live a God fearing life. How profoundly wrong they are! As it warns in Hebrews Ch2v3 “How shall we escape if we neglect so wonderful a salvation?”

At the moment wickedness abounds on the face of the earth exactly as Scripture predicted (Matthew Ch24v12, 2nd Peter Ch3vs 3-4), however, this situation will not last indefinitely. Just as Scripture warned about these troubled times so likewise it predicts that they will end in Judgment; “Behold I Am coming as a thief in the night. Blessed is he who watches and keeps his garments lest he should be naked. My reward is with Me to give to everyone according to his work. Blessed are those who obey My commandments…” (Revelation Ch 16v15 and Ch22vs12-14). As the hymn says “Repent and obey for there is no other way.”

Bear the cross of obedience

A fascinating story has survived from ancient times concerning an incident which involved Alexander the Great. The story goes that one day a soldier in the army of the conqueror was brought before Alexander to be punished because of his bad behaviour. Tradition relates that after the emperor had listened to the details of his conduct he turned to the man and asked him his name. “Alexander” the soldier replied. The emperor repeated the question and a second time the man replied “Alexander”. With a cry of rage the emperor roared “I asked what your name is?” When the man answered for a third time “Alexander” the emperor said “You say your name is Alexander. You must either change your conduct or change your name because no man may bear the name of Alexander, my name and do the things you do.”

There is a very powerful spiritual lesson in this story. Many individuals are quick to look upon themselves as being “Christian” and give themselves that title. Unfortunately, just like the badly behaved soldier they are not worthy of such a name or title because their conduct and attitude is anything but Christian.

And this is by no means a new phenomenon. In the days of the Early Church many people also thought themselves to be “Christian” but sadly as St Paul explained, they were no such thing and were but deceiving themselves. In Titus Ch1v16 he lamented “They claim to know God but in works they deny Him, being abominable and disobedient.” And in Philippians Ch3v17-19 he further wrote “Follow my example of behaviour…because many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the Cross of Christ …who have set their hearts on earthly things.”

Jesus has given a very simple test to reveal who is worthy to bear the description of being a Christian. He said “He who has My commandments and obeys them; he is the one who loves Me.” (John Ch14v21). This test is expanded upon in 1st John Ch2vs3-5 where it states, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says ‘I know Him’ but does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.”

The story is told that on one occasion, Stanley saw the silhouette of the great missionary David Livingstone on his knees with his head slumped over his bed. Stanley rushed into the tent to see if the old man had collapsed. David simply looked up at him and said “I am reading through my Bible one last time to check that there is nothing I need to change before I go to meet the Lord.”

Like Livingstone, all those who claim to follow Christ need to regularly, earnestly, anxiously, carefully and humbly, study God’s Word so as to make certain they are really obeying His will and following Him properly. Is there anything they need to change? Is there something they are omitting to do? It is our duty to constantly check that we are worthy to bear the title of Christian.

There is a very old story told of a devout monk who prayed time and again to be given the marks of Jesus upon his hands and feet known as “stigmata”. The monk earnestly wanted to be worthy of being a Christian and felt that having these marks would show that he really loved the Lord. The story relates that he prayed for these marks for many months but to no avail. Suddenly one day, he sensed the Lord saying to him that there was a far more important mark on the Lord’s Body which the world had forgotten. It was the mark on His shoulder from carrying the Cross. In Matthew Ch16v24 Jesus stated “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” It instantly dawned on the monk that to be a real follower of Jesus one had to bear the cross of obedience and loyalty, no matter what the cost. This is what it means to be a Christian. Many people think they are Christians but they do not bear the cross of obedience and so make themselves unworthy of the title.

So what does all this mean in practice? In Philippians Ch2v12 it exhorts “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” If we really want to belong to Christ and take up the cross of obedience then we need to do a regular “spiritual workout”. Many people do physical workouts at the gym but a spiritual workout is quite different, being far more profound and infinitely more beneficial.  The following spiritual workout was written by Brownlow North, the grandson of a former Bishop of Winchester. Written over one hundred years ago it was originally entitled “Six Rules for Young Christians” but today it could equally be called “Six Rules for Faithful Christians.”

1.    “Never neglect daily private prayer; and when you pray remember that God is present and that He hears your prayers. (Hebrews Ch11v6).”

2.    “Never neglect daily private Bible reading; and when you read, remember that God is speaking to you, and that you are to believe and act upon what He says. (John Ch5v39). I believe all backsliding begins with the neglect of these two rules.”

3.    “Never let a day pass without trying to do something for Jesus. Every night reflect on what Jesus has done for you and then ask yourself ‘What can I do for Him?’”

4.    “If ever you are in doubt as to a thing being right or wrong, go to your room, and kneel down and ask God’s blessing upon it. (Colossians Ch3v17). If you cannot do this, it is wrong. (Romans Ch6v23).”

5.    “Never take your Christianity from other Christians or assume that just because they behave in a certain way, therefore you may. (2nd Corinthians Ch10v12).”

6.    “Never believe what you feel if it contradicts the plain Word of God. Ask yourself ‘Can what I feel be true, if God’s Word is true?’ If both cannot be true, then believe God.”
                  
Many years ago a young lad was standing beside his father’s horse. A man came up to admire the animal and asked the lad, “Does your father’s horse run fast?” The lad replied “no he can’t, but he does stand fast.” To be worthy of the title “Christian” we must truly stand fast in the Lord and in His will, no matter what the cost. Regularly and obediently going through this spiritual workout will help us to stand fast in Him and ensure that we really are worthy to be called a Christian.

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 stop praying

Sometime ago I came across an account written by Bishop Coxe, who was describing his stay at an old feudal castle in England. The castle itself was so old that one of its towers dated back to the days of King John. The Bishop wrote that on the first morning of his stay when he went down for breakfast, he found the owner of the castle, his family and all the servants, assembled for Morning Prayer which was being conducted by the head of the family.  As the Bishop lifted his eyes, he noticed high overhead a massive beam that spanned the grand old hall and in old English it bore the following inscription. That house shall be preserved and never shall decay, Where the Almighty is worshipped day by day AD 1558

For hundreds of years the people of that old castle had turned their faces towards God each day in prayer and what they were doing is something which God expects and commands us all to be doing day by day. Daniel the prophet set aside three times a day for prayer and when you examine the example set by Jesus, we discover that prayer was at the very centre of His life. He regularly prayed by Himself when He was alone, He regularly prayed with His friends, He prayed every week in the synagogue, He prayed for those in trouble, He prayed for Himself, and He prayed before making major decisions.

Jesus set an example that no matter how busy we are, we are expected to take time out with God in prayer. No day should pass without it, no hurry for business, no arrival of friends, no trouble or sorrow and no joy or excitement should prevent us from taking regular time to touch base  with the Giver of Life. Those who are addicted to smoking make sure that they have regular smoke breaks throughout their day no matter how rushed they maybe. Christians in the same way should see to it that they have regular prayer breaks.

This is what should happen and yet so often prayer is not seen as a priority in our lives. In a survey conducted by the Diocese of Oxford, it was revealed that the main reason why people do not worship and pray regularly is not because they don't believe in God, but purely because they think that they are too busy to fit it in.

This notion of being too busy is somewhat amusing when you compare it to the life of Jesus and how busy He was! From dawn until dusk and than after dusk, Jesus was working and ministering to crowds of needy people. He was constantly giving of Himself, constantly under pressure and consciously aware of the dreadful death that lay ahead of Him, which was closer with each passing day.  He would have been exhausted by the end of each day.  Although He had all this work to do; a busy and stressful life beyond our imagination, He always actively set aside time to pray. He set the perfect example of how even in the midst of busyness, prayer was made a top priority! Those who say they haven't time to pray, are in a sense saying they are busier than Jesus was during His earthly ministry which is clearly impossible.

It has been suggested that for some people the word busy might as well stand for Being Under Satans Yoke. Once they neglect their prayer life, they will begin to spiritually drift and sadly this drifting is never in the direction of God but always in the direction of Satan's sphere of influence and bondage.

An individual Christian may be compared to someone swimming in the sea whilst the tide is going out. If they stop swimming in the direction of the shore and merely tread water, they do not stay where they are. Chillingly, they will be pulled by the tide into the ocean and to their death. So likewise unless a Christian ACTIVELY maintains their spiritual life through prayer etc, they wont stay were they are but will gradually drift ever further away from God.

Scripture teaches that we are all Fallen creatures with numerous character faults and failings. Unless we actively resist the pull of our fallen nature with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will be drawn into it more and more- to our death.  As it warns in Hebrews Ch 2 vs1-3 Therefore we must give all the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we should drift away..for how shall we escape hell if we neglect so great a salvation?

Some years ago a minister said to his congregation I have a question to ask which no one here will be able to answer. If angels from heaven were here they could not answer it. If the devil himself were here, he couldn't answer it either. Every eye stared at the minister, curious as to what this question might be. He gave them a few moments to think and then broke the intense silence by saying The question is this; how shall we escape hell if we neglect so great a salvation?

An active prayer life with the Lord prevents spiritual drifting just as surely as an anchor holds a boat against tide and storm. That old inscription noticed by Bishop Coxe was quite correct when it spoke of preservation and a lack of decay. It could just as easily have stated that PERSON shall be preserved and never shall decay who worships Almighty God day by day.

The benefits of praying should make prayer the very foundation of our lives, not some sort of after thought slotted in now and then. The truth is we need all the help prayer provides; for our very survival.  We neglect it at our peril. We need it for guidance, we need it for strength, we need it for comfort, we need it to prevent drifting, we need it to grow and we need it for security.

In his moving hymn about prayer, Joseph Scriven summarised it like this, What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer. Have we trials and temptations, is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer.  Can we find a Friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer. Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Saviour still our refuge: take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer. In His arms Hell take and shield thee; Thou wilt find a solace there.

How much easier life would be, if only individuals took everything to God in prayer!  Just think how many personal problems, relationship troubles and financial issues would be resolved, and how many fears would be laid to rest.

Are you finding it hard to stand up to the problems and pressures of life? Then get down on your knees! Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you. Psalm 55v22.

Spiritual self-examination

Some time ago I read about a Sunday School teacher who gave his class a lesson on how individuals must personally confess their sins to God, in order to receive His forgiveness. When he closed the session he happened to causally ask “How many of you have sins you would like to confess to the Lord?” Everyone sat as quiet as a mouse. Finally one child raised her hand and said “Please sir, I don’t have any sins to confess for myself, but I know plenty of other people who do!”

This humorous story has quite a lesson for adults because often we think much the same way even though we should know better! We are all too quick to criticise others for their behaviour but how often do we really take a good look at ourselves and see ourselves as God sees us? Early in my ministry I heard about a woman of mature years who confidently told her Vicar that she hadn’t committed a sin for over ten years. The minister listened carefully to what she said and then with great spiritual insight replied, “That’s some achievement, you must be very proud of it.” The woman famously responded, “Yes I am very PROUD of it indeed.” This response of course enabled the minister to explain to her that a heart full of pride was a sinful heart and that in reality she was very far from perfect after all!

Scripture teaches that individuals who think they are without sin are dangerously deceiving themselves (1st John Ch1v8) and that everyone has things they need to repent of personally, so as to be forgiven by God. As it teaches in Romans Ch 3v23, “we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Jesus gave the parable of the Pharisee and the Sinner in Luke Ch 18vs9-14 as a direct warning to all those who think they are righteous and have nothing of which to repent. We are told in verse 11 that the so called “good man” who also happened to be a religious leader prayed to God saying “I thank you that I am not like other men: thieves or adulterers.” The Sinner on the other hand, acknowledged his faults and pleaded to the Lord for forgiveness and mercy. Having approached God in a spirit of humility and repentance, it was the Sinner who received forgiveness rather than the man of pride who boasted that he had never stolen or committed adultery.

This lesson in humility is one which many need to take to heart. All too often I encounter people who are quick to complain about the moral state of society, but who never actually look at their own personal moral standards. They are quick to point out the faults of others but they never acknowledge or lament how much they too have personally failed the Lord. They think they have committed but few actions needing repentance, so in their own eyes they are “good enough” for God. Just like the Pharisee they say to themselves “Since I haven’t murdered anyone, and I don’t rob banks I am therefore a good person!” But since when did murder and robbing banks become the only commandments one can break?! If only these people looked at their personal lives in the light of the rest of God’s commandments they would be truly humbled and begin to see themselves as God sees them.

Over the years Christian writers have produced numerous “devotional aids” and “check lists” to help people do this very thing. The aim of these writings is to enable individuals to better assess their spiritual condition so that pride would be replaced by humility and the end result would be true repentance, forgiveness and peace with God. These devotional aids encourage a real depth of spirituality because all too often a clear conscience is simply a sign of a bad memory rather than the result of living a genuinely Godly life.

Here are two devotional gems worth repeating from long ago. As we read them one can easily see why previous generations were so spiritually minded. Clear and concise, these devotional aids written to assist generations long gone still have the same power today to make us really think and see ourselves as God sees us. They strip away pride and give us the conviction that we are all in need of God’s most profound mercy not just murderers and bank robbers!

The following is an extract from the 1922 “Children’s Service Book” published for use at children’s services throughout the (Anglican) Church of Ireland. Immediately after the Creed the congregation repeated these words;

My duty towards God is;

to believe in Him, to fear Him,
And to love Him with all my heart, with all my mind, with all my soul
and with all my strength;
to worship Him, to give Him thanks,
to put my whole trust in Him, to call upon Him,

to honour His Holy Name and His Word,
and to serve Him truly all the days of my life.

My duty towards my neighbour is;

to love him as myself, and to do to all men as I would that they should do unto me;
to love, honour and support my father and mother;
to honour and obey the King, and all that are put in authority under him;
to submit myself to all my teachers and spiritual pastors;
to hurt no body by word or deed;
to be true and just in all my dealing;
to bear no malice or hatred in my heart;
to keep my hands from stealing, and my tongue from evil speaking, lying and slandering;
to keep my body in temperance, soberness and chastity;
and not to covet other men’s goods, but learn and labour truly to get mine own living.

The service then continued with prayer and hymns. If all this is thought provoking for children and teenagers, it is as nothing when compared with what has been written to help adults in their thinking."

What follows is a shortened extract from a book widely distributed to adults in the (Anglican) Church of England on the subject of “Self examination” before taking Holy Communion. It was printed in 1897.

Before you come to Holy Communion, very carefully examine your heart and your life. If you are strict with yourself you may be shocked at the number of sins these questions will bring back to your mind. But it is better to have the pain of them now and know God’s forgiveness and peace than to have them laid to your charge before the Judgment Seat.

Since my last Communion has my love for my Saviour increased? Do I wish I loved Him more? Have I been thankful when God has sent me special mercies? Do I trust Him wholly. Am I bearing fruit in my character?

Have I said my prayers each day? Have I said them meaningfully and sincerely? Have I been a coward; afraid of what people might say to me and so left my Godly duties undone rather than be laughed at or ill-used.

Have I used an oath or bad words of any kind? Have I used the Name of God in common idle talk? Have I read my Bible regularly, and asked the Lord to help me understand it? Have I broken any promises?

Have I said my prayers each day? Have I said them meaningfully and sincerely? Have I been a coward; afraid of what people might say to me and so left my Godly duties undone rather than be laughed at or ill-used.

Have I used an oath or bad words of any kind? Have I used the Name of God in common idle talk? Have I read my Bible regularly, and asked the Lord to help me understand it? Have I broken any promises?

Have I gone to Church, or have I been satisfied with any excuse to stay away? Have I tried to keep watch over my thoughts when at a service?

Have I behaved as I ought to my Father and Mother and prayed for them? Have I been kind to my brothers and sisters? If a husband and father; have I loved and been thoughtful for my wife and my children, bringing home my wages instead of spending them on myself? If a wife and mother; have I loved and been thoughtful for my husband and children and tried to make a loving home for them?

When provoked do I answer back? Have I tried to bring up my children in the ways of God and encouraged them in what is good and set them a good example? Have I been a kind neighbour?

Have I from my heart forgiven all who have done me wrong or have I repaid evil for evil? Do I acknowledge that two wrongs don’t make a right? Am I too proud to ask forgiveness of any one whom I have injured? Have I fought against my bad temper and tried hard to overcome it?

Have I bravely resisted bad thoughts and prayed for help against them or have I encouraged them? Have I mixed with bad companions more than necessary? Have I kept as much as possible out of the way of temptation? Have I led others into sin? Have I been vain regarding my personal appearance or my cleverness and ability?

Have I stolen money or anything belonging to another? Have I cheated in anyway, by tricks of the trade, neglecting work which I have been paid to do or paying those I employ too little for their work? Have I wilfully run into debt? Am I trying to repay all I owe?

Have I been a busybody and gossip in other people’s matters? Have I spoken ill of others either truly or falsely? Have I told any lies? Have I been jealous when any kindness has been shown to a neighbour and grumbled because it was not done to me instead?”

The devotional check list then concludes with the following moving prayer; “Oh Lord, deal not with me according to my sins neither punish me as my iniquities deserve. O Lord God, Who has graciously promised to forgive all sinners who turn to Thee in true sorrow for their sins, receive me I pray Thee, unworthy as I am. Pardon all my sins of thought and word and deed. Have mercy upon me most merciful Father, for Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, forgive me all that is past and grant that I may ever hereafter serve and please Thee in the newness of life to the Honour and Glory of Thy Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

There is a famous story told about Martin Luther, one of the leaders of the Church during the time of the Reformation. He had been taking stock of his life and had listed all the many sins he had committed. He was appalled at the length of this list and felt Satan say to him “how will you go to Heaven having done all these bad things?” Martin began to feel really worthless and downcast until he sensed the Holy Spirit give him the answer. At the bottom of his list of sins he wrote 1st John Ch1v7 “The Blood of Jesus Christ His Son, cleanses us from All sin”. In John Ch 19v30 we are told that immediately before Jesus died on the Cross He cried out “It is finished”. In the Greek, these words mean “paid in full”. The debt of Martin’s sins had been “paid in full” and so have ours, if we are truly repentant. Jesus bore the penalty of our sins on the Cross. Now there is complete forgiveness available for all those who are humble and penitent.

Rather than bringing despair, these devotional aids should assist us in our spiritual growth by making us all the more grateful for the Cross and showing that “we have much work still to do” in our personal lives. Life is a school and we all stumble in many ways. The correct response when we sin should be repentance and a commitment to try harder in the future because the only real failures in God’s eyes are those who stop trying and give up.

An urgent call to a serious faith

There is a Native American legend that has been passed down through the centuries which carries a valuable lesson for today's world. The story goes that the chief of a certain tribe lay dying and so he called his three sons in order to appoint a worthy successor. He set them an unusual test. He said "One of you must replace me as chief. I want you to climb to the very top of our holy mountain and bring me back something beautiful. The one whose gift is most outstanding will become my successor.

After several days the three sons returned. The first brought a flower which was extremely rare and beautiful. He had found it half way up the mountain and being content with his find he felt it would be too much trouble to climb further. The second brought a stone which was colourful and smooth having been polished by the wind and rain. He too had found it half way up but didn't believe that there was any point going higher. The third son however said "Father, I haven't brought anything back. I fully obeyed you by going to the very top of the mountain and when I got there I could see the other side. I saw that over on the other side there is a beautiful land with green pastures and I thought ‘That's where the tribe should go for a better life'. I was so overcome with delight that I forgot to bring anything back." The old chief replied, "Ah, but you have brought something back- something which is priceless. By fully obeying me, you have been able to bring back a vision of a better life which you have seen with your own eyes. Your two brothers only went half way up and were content to bring back things of no real value. Due to their disobedience they failed to experience what you did. You will be my successor."

Before Jesus completed His earthly ministry He made a very precious promise to those who would truly follow Him. In John Ch 14v21, He promised, "If anyone follows Me, I will then manifest and reveal Myself to them." What Jesus meant was that when a person truly follows and obeys Him, then in return, He will actually reveal Himself to that individual at a personal level. The individual will then move from the position of saying "I believe that there is a God" to the position of being able to say "I KNOW that there is a God because I have personally experienced Him for myself."

These faithful ones are like the third son who was fully obedient to his father by going all the way to the top. The successful son wasn't content in going just half way, and so he was  rewarded with a personal vision of a better land. So likewise, those who fully obey the Lord in their personal life are granted  special personal experiences of Him as a reward for their faithfulness. On the other hand, just as his two brothers failed to experience this better land through disobedience so likewise those who are half hearted in following the Lord will fail to experience Him personally. The promise of these personal experiences, are only for those who are fully and truly obedient. It is a very special and precious reward reserved only for the faithful.

Notice that the two sons who failed to experience the vision, disobeyed for different reasons. The first one disobeyed through laziness. He had found a beautiful flower and thought it too much trouble to climb further. He represents those who know what they should do but don't bother doing it. They know they should regularly pray and read the Bible, they know God is important and spiritual things matter, but its all too much trouble. It's just too bothersome to be obedient to the Lord.

The other son disobeyed his father's will, not through laziness, but through a lack of faith. He found a beautiful stone and so didn't believe there was any reason to go further. He doubted that there could possibly be anything better at the top. This son represents those who don't believe God's promise that those who follow Him will experience and enjoy "real life in its fullest abundance". (John Ch 10v10).  These are people who doubt the prophecies of Scripture and who think that God's promises are false. If they had been faithful like the third son, then they would have experienced the reality of God for themselves and found His promises absolutely true. They would have discovered that God doesn't lie and is absolutely Faithful.

Those who are fully obedient in following the Lord get to know Him at a personal level. They have a personal and living relationship with Him and He comes to be their Best Friend and Closest Companion. This private relationship is referred to as being "The secret of the Lord" in Psalm 25v14. It is an intimate relationship reserved only for the faithful. Through this relationship they know there really is a life beyond, they know their sins are forgiven, and they have no fear of death or the Judgement which we all must face. They know that there really is hope and that there is a Being Who deeply loves them and shares all their troubles. They know they do not walk through this life alone and aren't fearful about the future of the world as others are, being confident that ultimately "all will be well" for those who love God and put Him first.

The spiritually lazy and faithless experience none of these assurances  because they aren't obedient and are failing "to go to the top of mountain." It is quite obvious that today, the term "Christian" is used by all sorts of people in all sorts of ways. Many seem to imagine that the Cross amounts to a way of escape from serious living and from a serious faith. They seem to think that there is no need for personal discipline or any effort in ones personal life in order to be a Christian. These individuals are deluding themselves and in so doing will never experience the Lord at this intimate personal level. They are like the two sons who failed to climb to the top. Provide such individuals with some material possessions as represented by the flower and the stone and they are soon put off doing anything more or climbing any higher. Only if they climb the mountain of faith  can the Lord reward them with a personal experience of Himself.

Let us be fully obedient like the faithful son and get to experience the view from the top. It is a Divine encounter that will transform us from within and change our lives forever.

The results of disobedience

The more one watches the news about the state of our nation, and indeed about the troubles of this world in general, the more apparent it is that most of these problems are caused by human greed and selfishness. The Bible describes such attitudes with one simple word; "disobedience". All our national problems of civil strife, social breakdown, disharmony and on a wider scale, the problems of nations refusing to live at peace with other nations are all caused by this very simple but profound word "disobedience".

No matter who we are or where we live God has given every individual a "moral compass" called a conscience so they can tell right from wrong. We can all tell if we are being selfish or greedy and we can all sense when we are being disobedient to the standards of conduct God has set which would bring peace, prosperity and social order. The Ten Commandments are acknowledged as being "the guide par excellence" to attitudes, conduct and behaviour and written on every human heart is a general understanding of what is morally right and what is morally wrong. Due to this God given implanted conscience, St Paul actually wrote in Romans Ch 1 that the human race is "without excuse" for its disobedience. Humanity knows what is morally wrong, but continues to go down the path of immoral behaviour causing untold suffering and trouble to an untold number of people along the way.

One religious commentator recently lamented about the state of UK saying "Just how bad must things get for this country before our people learn that disobedience to the laws of God brings nothing but trouble? Did a World War teach us? It didn't. Did a second World War? It didn't. What about the disintegration of family life and society or indeed the break up of the British Empire? It didn't. What about the destruction of the mightiest naval force on earth. It didn't. What about the end to the wealth of our mines and the destruction of all the industries upon which the wealth of our nation was based such as shipbuilding, steel making and the wholesale destruction of our economy. It didn't."

And on a more global scale, what about 9/11 and the chain of events which it has now unleashed on the world? Has it made the human race "sit up and think" that this is one almighty "wake up call"? It clearly hasn't. People are still as greedy, still just as selfish, churches continue to close through sheer apathy and lack of interest and the commonsense morality outlined in Scripture continues to be ignored, ridiculed or redefined. No wonder those whose hearts are right before God ask "What does it take to make people see that things always go wrong when God and His laws are defied"?

When someone sees an instruction on their electric fire saying "do not touch" they obey in the knowledge that the sign is there for their own safety. It's the same with God's moral laws of conduct and behaviour. They are there for our benefit, safety and social order. Just as the universe has the physical laws of chemistry and biology so equally there is a spiritual principle upon which the whole of creation is governed; namely that if God's laws are broken, then trouble ultimately follows. It cannot and never will be any other way.

Many years ago Chinese farmers theorised that they could eat their big potatoes and keep the small ones for seed. Consequently they ate the big potatoes and planted the small ones. As a result of this unwise practise, after many years the Chinese farmers made the startling discovery that nature had reduced all their potatoes to the size of marbles! Through bitter experience they learned that they could not always take the best things of life for themselves and use the leftovers for seed. The law of nature decreed that the harvest would reflect the planting. This physical law cannot be overcome and the spiritual law governing the universe is just the same and just as certain - we reap what we sow.

Many people today take the big things of life for themselves and plant the leftovers. In other words instead of putting God first in their hearts and lives, they make Him last. They put their house, job, family, friends, hobby or whatever first and if by chance they have a spare slot of time, (provided all these other things remain unaffected), God then gets a look in. God is put last, yet He is the very One Who gave them all these things, (including life itself) in the first place! On top of all this, they expect by some crazy twist of spiritual law that their selfishness will be rewarded with further prosperity and when things go wrong they can't understand why! They wonder why the nation is in a mess, they wonder why they don't feel happy and they wonder why life seems to slip passed without their questions being answered about why we are here. They wonder why everything seems so pointless. Here today gone tomorrow.

A doctor demands total obedience from his patient regarding all the things that are necessary for his treatment. This will cover medicine, dosage, diet, rest and exercise. The doctor gives orders concerning these things not because he is being awkward but because it is absolutely necessary for health of his patient.

In the same way, Scripture describes Jesus Christ as being the Great Physician and He has indeed provided a prescription for the ills of our society (and indeed the ills of the world in general). The prescription He orders people to take is for their benefit and welfare and its called "Godly obedience". Can you imagine how our society and nation would be transformed, if say overnight everyone wholeheartedly started to live by the Ten Commandments?! Imagine the healing that would take place in broken homes across the land, imagine the feeling of safety people would experience as they walk the streets, imagine an end to corruption, greed and selfishness and the economic blessings that would follow.

"Godly obedience" is the cure for all our social and national ills. The Great Physician has provided the prescription; its now up to individuals to take it! Did you follow your Doctor's orders today by obeying Him in your thoughts and words and actions? Did you follow His instructions to read the Bible and pray? Did you sit quietly listening to your conscience in case the Doctor has some specific instructions concerning the day's events? None of these things are hard to do and the health of ones soul depends on it. As the Great Doctor says in Deuteronomy Ch 30 vs 11,15,18 "These commandments which I have given you are not too hard for you to understand. See I have set before you the choice between life and good, death and evil. Keep My commandments and I will bless you but if you turn away from them I warn you that you will surely perish."

Let us choose life! Always obey Doctor's orders!