'There is the
throne of David;
and there from care
released,
the song of them that
triumph,
the shout of them
that feast;
and they who with
their Leader
have conquered in
the fight,
forever and forever
are clad in robes
of white.'
.
(Bernard of Cluny)
"Hywel Griffiths preached lengthily, filled his
sermons with word pictures, clearly felt in his soul the truths he was
proclaiming, and poured out his love for everyone present. Accompanying all
that was an indefinable influence. As Hywel spoke, heaven came to earth.
Another Voice was heard. The invisible world was more real than the visible
one. There was a touch of glory. Christ was more precious than anything or anyone
in the universe. The Word came over with a self-authenticating force that was
irresistible. Not to believe was not an option, because it was indescribably
foolish. The only wise thing to do was to trust the Lord completely, and to
love Him with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength."
(Stuart Olyott on the preaching of Hywel Griffiths from 'Something must be Known and Felt, 9)
(originally posted to Airdrie Ebenezer
Evangelical Church 12 April 2020)
When I was younger, myself and my wee brother had an Atari ST (a
1980s version of an Xbox!) It was our pride and joy. Over the years we
collected a lot of games, and found that many of them had a familiar pattern;
you would defeat the bad guys successfully as you progressed before meeting the
‘end of level baddie’. This baddie was bigger, stronger and scarier than those
that had come before. The end of game baddie was the biggest and the baddest
and the scariest of all. Usually we couldn’t beat this baddie, but sometimes we
could cheat it (cheat codes could usually be obtained at school) How happy we
were when we managed to win!
As we walk through the gospel accounts of the life and work of
Jesus we see him display his authority over things which seem to us to be
enormously powerful and fearsome. The wind and the waves are stilled with a
word from his lips. Illness bows the knee before him as the sick are made well.
Demons and the spiritual forces of darkness are no match for his might- fleeing
at his command. But the thing which frightens us most, is death.
In 1 Corinthians 15 the apostle Paul argues for the truth and
the importance of the resurrection of Christ. He reminds them of that which he
proclaimed:
3 “that Christ died for our sins
according to the Scriptures, 4
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the
Scriptures, 5 and that he
appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.”
Even death bows the knee before King Jesus! He who was dead is
alive forevermore! And this victory is not just for Jesus, it is for all who
trust in him. Our sins were nailed to his cross. When Goliath fell the victory
wasn’t just for David- it was for all of God’s people- those who had stood
terrified in the presence of such a foe.
Jesus’ victory is your victory if he is your Lord and Saviour.
Death has been defeated. It has become the doorway to life in the presence of
your Lord.
Paul goes on to remind the Corinthians that when Christ comes
again death will be ‘destroyed’ (or ‘entirely removed’)
25 “For he
must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed
is death.”
Easter is a time for looking back to the resurrection of our
Lord with gratitude and joy. It is also a time for looking forward to the day
he returns to make all things new, then “There will be no more death or
mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will have has passed
away.”
We cannot beat our final enemy in our own strength or goodness,
we cannot cheat death and yet we have no need to live in fear, our greatest
enemy has been toppled and his presence will soon be utterly removed by King
Jesus. Are you trusting in Him?
If so, rejoice this Easter, and always!
Yours in His service
Ross
(originally posted to Airdrie Ebenezer Evangelical Church 5th April 2020)
Spring has sprung! The clocks have moved forward. The sun is shining (a wee bit) but we’re all still stuck indoors, watching our screens and hearing the news of more people succumbing to disease and death. What do we have to say to a hurting world in days like these?
Jesus, as he prepared his followers for his own death, said:
John 14:1-4, 6b "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going."
6 …"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Firstly, we can say that there IS a way. There is a way for us to know God as our Father; to live in right relationship with him, and therefore to live free from fear. Jesus still says “Do not let your hearts be troubled” to his people. He is with us in the troubles of this life and our place is secure in that new world without sickness, separation or sorrow (Rev 21).
Secondly, we can say that this way is Jesus. We must be clear. Jesus does not say merely that he knows the way, but that he is the way. Jesus is not just a good teacher who offers good advice as to how we might try to please God. He is God the Son, sent to seek and to save that which was lost. Neither does Jesus say that he is a way, one among many. As is the case in all of the I AM statements, Jesus makes an exclusive claim- he is the only way; the only way to life in all of its fullness, the only way to life eternal.
Thirdly, we can say there is one we can trust absolutely, his Name is Jesus. I have read recently that there are people trying to take advantage of the vulnerable in the Corona-Crisis. Some of us have been let down or even betrayed by those we have trusted in the past- Jesus assures us that he is the very truth of God. It is impossible for him to lie, all of the glorious promises of God find their yes and amen in him.
That means we can trust him, allowing our hearts to be free from fear- and encourage others to do the same.
