Selah2020: Pause and Reflect

[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 17/April/2022]

Have you ever had this reaction to a piece of news? It can happen when something happens which seems either too bad or good to be true. It was the first thing I said when I was told that my father had just been killed by a lorry. It can also be the reaction to good news, like being told I had passed my driving test or that I had been approved to adopt David. Often, I don’t dare to believe in good news until I have some form of proof, like written confirmation.

As Martin was sharing a couple of weeks ago, sometimes we can refuse to believe things that don’t fit our preconceived ideas. The disciples of Jesus were in this position. Jesus told them on at least 3 occasions that he was going to be crucified and then rise again on the 3rd day, but despite all the warnings, the disciples struggled to believe it. I used to find this hard to understand, but now I realise how difficult it is to accept something that is so awful that you just don’t want to believe it will happen. During the first few months of 2020 I didn’t believe that covid was going to affect my life, despite all the news coverage of the situation, first in China and then in Italy and all the dire predictions by the experts. Similarly, I didn’t believe that Russia would invade Ukraine, despite the clear warning signs.

When the good news came on Easter Sunday that Jesus had risen, the disciples found it hard to believe, dismissing the women’s accounts as hysterical nonsense. Later, when Thomas returned to the disciples and was told that they had seen Jesus I am sure he desperately wanted to believe it was true, but he needed proof, which Jesus graciously gave him a week later. He then said to Thomas:

“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20 v 29.

Let us enjoy that blessing as we celebrate Easter together.

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[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 10/April/2022]

Have you ever had a bizarre conversation with someone? I remember at a church party an American came up to me and asked a question that I don’t think any of my English friends would ask.
“Are you an amillennialist, a premillennialist or a postmillennialist?”
“I’m a premillennialist,” I replied.
“Are you a pretribulationist, a midtribulationist, or a posttribulationist?”
“I’m a pretribulationist,” I said.
“That’s good,” he said, “so am I,” and with that he walked off!
I hope that you understood that conversation, but if not I’ll try and explain it.

I do not believe that you can be completely dogmatic about the order of everything that the Bible prophecies about the end of the age in which we are living. But what I was basically saying was this. I believe that when Jesus comes again, He will then establish His perfect kingdom on earth for a thousand years (premillennialism) (Rev 20 1-6). But prior to that, we who are trusting in Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, will not go through the time of tribulation in the world that will happen before His kingdom comes (pretribulationism) (Matt 24:30, 31).

What reminded me of that odd conversation? It is the problems we are going through now. We just seemed to be getting a more normal life with the pandemic, when a war broke out in Europe after more than 70 years of peace, as Russia invaded Ukraine. Then there are all the resulting problems forecast with high energy costs, high inflation and shortages of food in some parts of the world.

This sort of thing has happened throughout history, but Jesus said that before His return there would be signs of His coming. Wars and rumours of wars, famines, diseases (pandemics), inflation and earthquakes in place after place (Matt. 24), and this was also shown to John in Revelation 6.

But Jesus said we should not be troubled or frightened (Mat 24:6) and that when these things begin to happen we should look up and lift our head for our redemption and deliverance is near (Luke 21:28). Because at some time, perhaps soon, we shall be resurrected with glorious new bodies like the Easter resurrection body of Jesus, even if we haven’t actually died when He returns (1 Cor 15:50-57 & 1 Thess 5:13-18).

Along with other promises in the Bible, I believe that means that Jesus will suddenly return in the clouds to gather us to Him (Matt.24:30, 31) and we shall be with Jesus before that terrible tribulation happens. After the tribulation Jesus returns with us to earth to become king over the surviving people in the whole world, and we shall be with Him in His kingdom.

During His thousand year reign there will be no more invasions by one country against another, no pandemics, no pollution, no global warming and no poverty, because of His power, wisdom, justice and peace. That’s even before He creates the new heaven and the new earth (Rev 21)!

Oops – I’m becoming dogmatic, but I believe that we have good reason to be because of what the Bible tells us. In view of this let’s trust Jesus for the future, rejoice together and not worry in spite of our present problems.

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Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
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[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during April 2022]

Recently I read an observation that is worth repeating. Translated, it reads: “liberty has a price”.

Some liberties are worth paying for. Our freedom to drive around is paid for with taxes and fuel costs, and there are many such examples. However, very often those who benefit most from liberty are not those that paid the price for it. Previous generations have borne the cost of freedoms that we not only enjoy but have come to expect as normal.

But is it ‘normal’? Beyond our peaceful complacency there are people who are fighting for the right to be heard, for the right to be educated, for the right to be able to go about their lawful business without let or hindrance. Many have paid a great price for what we consider to be normal.

Liberty has a price.
Now that our continent is at war again, economically and militarily, that statement comes with greater emphasis. Every day our screens are filled with images showing the cost of liberty. We see the costs in terms of lives and livelihoods, in material destruction and in the costs of munitions. We hear in detail the stories of people who have lost their businesses, their homes, their friends, their families, their futures.

Liberty has a price.
In a twist on the usual scenario, the Egyptians bore the cost of the Hebrews’ liberty. Not for the last time in history, one man’s intransigence brought misery on his people as the plagues progressed from inconvenience to a national disaster. Every Egyptian household lost a son; how many households are today sharing that experience?

Liberty has a price.
It is entirely appropriate as we approach Easter that we remember the ultimate liberty, and the ultimate price that was paid. Those of us who have put our faith in Jesus Christ are free from the consequences of sin and have a sense of security that is impossible to define in secular scientific terms.

It cost the death of the Son of God. Not a peaceful passing away but a cruel, vindictive and painful death exasperated by a mental ordeal that we cannot even start to imagine. Despite that cost, this liberty is freely available to those who are willing to believe.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8 v36 [NIVUK]

Perhaps we have become too familiar with the story. Like the images of war on our screens, we become insensitive to the details. Lord, help us to see afresh what our liberty cost you.

When I stand before the throne, dressed in beauty not my own,
when I see thee as thou art, love thee with unsinning heart,
then, Lord, shall I fully know, not till then, how much I owe.
Robert Murray McCheyne, 1837

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Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
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[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during May 2022]

Lord, a new day has begun.

Whatever it was that brought us to consciousness this morning – the singing of the birds or the cacophony of an alarm – we thank you for bringing us safely through the night. The new day offers opportunities to walk and talk with you, and we know that you will provide all that we need.

We thank you for the blessings of the night. It may have been a time of quiet rest or an opportunity to recollect our thoughts. It may have included nightmares that we want to forget or dreams that ended too soon, but we know that you are with us, relieving our fears and refreshing our souls.

We thank you for those who have been preparing for a new day, ensuring that our needs will be met. We recognise that they are channels whereby our lives overflow with blessings and that we enjoy that abundance even in the midst of what can be a hostile world.

We commit into your hands our ambitions and expectations for the day, recognising that our plans are not necessarily your plans. Our path today may be in green pastures or through the darkest valley and we ask you to help us to accept that you know best.

Lord, perhaps today will be The day – Your day, the day that you spoke of so long ago. Help us to remain mindful of your promise to return, and help us to be ready.

Some of us have had the pleasure of watching the sun set, the golden orb sinking below the western horizon, slowly painting the evening sky with all the colours of the spectrum. For others the sun disappeared more abruptly, hidden behind clouds, mountains or structures.

We pray for those who did not see the sun today, perhaps hiding in basements or lying in hospitals, or perhaps they do not have the gift of sight. They are none the less precious to you, and we ask your blessing upon them too in whatever their circumstances; be their support and comfort.

The sun has done its day’s work for us; there are others who are waiting for the light, warmth and energy that the sun will bring. We pray for them too, that those who work in your name will be strengthened and refreshed, and that many others will come to recognise that you can be their shepherd too.

During the dark hours there can be evil afoot and so we thank you for those who work through the night, guarding our security. We need fear no evil for all things are in your hands and under your control.

So, as our day draws to a close, we thank you for your goodness and mercy during this day. You have promised that we will dwell with you for ever and it is with confidence that we commit ourselves into your hands for this night.

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[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during April 2022]

“It is finished, and doesn’t it look good!” No doubt these were the words that God spoke at the end of the sixth period of creation. He look at all he had made and described the finished work as ‘very good’.

Yet only 9 generations later God voices a different opinion: “It is finished, this relationship with mankind is over; they’re just evil. I regret that I made them”.
Then he saw one man that he could do business with and asked him to build a boat.

After the ark was completed Noah reported to God, “It is finished, the boat is ready and all except the unicorns are onboard” and God responded with “Well done, Noah, you deserve a rest. Take the family for a cruise”.

Moses spent forty days and forty nights without food or water whilst he chiselled out the second set of tablets containing the Ten Commandments. Finally he said to God, “It is finished”. God said, “Solid work! Don’t drop them this time”.

“It is finished, now I can die in peace.” The well-known words of Simeon as he held the baby Jesus in his arms in the temple. He had been waiting for the arrival of a Messiah for Israel, and now he knew that everything was going to work out in the end.

“It is finished!” These final words of Jesus as he died on the cross are probably the most famous and certainly the most significant use of this expression. Without his death Christmas would lose most of its real meaning. Without his death Easter would be pointless. Without his death there would be no resurrection. Without his death there would be nothing of lasting value in our lives. Without his death we would have no hope of salvation.

“It is finished, it’s all over.” So said Peter to the remaining disciples. Peter, who had sworn allegiance to Jesus and then disowned him was now dismissing him. His three years of walking with Jesus had come to an inglorious end. Then a stranger on the shore invited him to breakfast and Peter realised that his adventure was not finished, it was just beginning.

“It is finished, don’t meddle with it”. The words paraphrased by John in Revelation 22 as he finished recording the vision of the end times. Three times in that chapter Jesus states “I am coming quickly”. We may not understand what ‘quickly’ means but we are now 2,000 years closer to that promise being fulfilled.

Do you have unfinished business with God? Time is running out; you need to put that relationship in order before Jesus gets back.

[1]: .

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[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during April 2022]

Dear John^[1],
I regret that I cannot talk with you directly; you are a busy man and seldom have the time to pause and listen, but I want you to know that you are still valued as a member of your family; you have not been rejected in any way.

Your wife is very worried about you; she has not eaten, she spent the day watching the telephone, waiting for you to call. Your young daughter showed me photos of you and then said “Daddy has gone”. They still love you and appreciate the things that you can do for them.

It is difficult when our dreams do not work out as planned. You work hard at a job you enjoy but the rewards are not adequate to meet your needs. The costs of running your business are overwhelming you; tax demands and utility bills eat up your income before you can enjoy it. I understand that – there were times when I could not afford the fare to go to work.

Society places its own demands upon you. You have two children to support: food, clothing, schooling, pocket money, even other children’s birthday parties all add to your burden. You have some loyal friends and it is natural that you should want to socialise a bit with them.

Your wife could help you with those costs, if you would let her. You come from a tradition where a man is supposed to be able to provide for his family, but such traditions have to change. It is no shame in these days for both parents to share the burden of maintaining the household. This is one area where you both need to stop talking at each other and take the time to actually listen to each other.

It is easy to slip into depression; you ask yourself whether you can do better somewhere else, or even if it is worth continuing at all. What is life for if nothing good comes from it? Do not allow these thoughts to stay in your mind. If you cannot shake them off then ask for help.

You believe that there is a God but you do not recognise that he has any relevance to your daily life. This is a good starting place. There is a story in the Bible about a king called Hezekiah. During his reign he was faced with a number of demands that he could not meet^[2]. After struggling desperately he eventually held the letter up to God and said, with sincerity, “Lord, help us!” That was a turning point in his life.

The next time that you get a bill that you cannot meet don’t ignore it or swear at it, just hold it up and say the same simple words: “Lord, help us”. Do not keep the problem to yourself; other people are willing to help you, if you let them.

Finally, do not try to run away from your troubles, they will only get worse and you are needed at home.

I hope this letter will be of some help to you.

[1]: The identity of the addressee has been changed. The circumstances of this letter are real but they are not uncommon. Perhaps these thoughts will be of some help to other readers.
[2]: 2 Kings 19 v14.

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Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.