| Recent thoughts from Rev Graeme |
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I am 50 years of age. Yes, I know what you are thinking. I only look like I am 32. I wish!! Anyway, for most of us, when we get to around our age, our bodies begin to creak a bit. We cannot run as fast as we used to. We cannot burn the candle at both ends. And for me it is most uncomfortable walking out in the rain without a hat on. That is because I am follically challenged!
I hope you’re getting the idea. Our bodies are wearing out. We realise through our daily experience that the clock is ticking on how much time our bodies have left before they conk out. Yes, I want to say a few words about death. But first, I would like to kindly ask you to spend a moment or two thinking about some words that Jesus said to His disciples. They are recorded in the Bible in a book called “John” and are at the beginning of chapter 14. Here they are:- “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.” These words that Jesus said are often referred to at funeral services. Of course, it talks about what is going to happen to the disciples after their bodies stop working, either through old age or something more violent. I would like to ask you please to go slowly through the words and think about the reason that Jesus is preparing a place for them. This is vitally important. The big reason is so that the disciples will be with Jesus. That is the important thing to Jesus. It is so that Jesus and his disciples are not separated, even by death. The only alternative, seeing that Jesus is going to live forever, is that the disciples will live forever as well. Have you ever thought of heaven like that? I have heard from some that it is like we are floating in the clouds; from others that it will be a continual church service with praise songs; from others that we will have wings; from others that we will have bodies much like the ones we have now. I don’t really know how much of all that is true or not. I certainly hope that mine has more hair on its head! What I can say is that when this body of mine conks out I am going to be with Jesus and in no pain or frustration. It is going to be a great time and I am looking forward to it. The reason for this is that Jesus and I (along with millions of other Christians) have an ongoing friendship, an ongoing relationship in which I am seeking to give him the steering wheel of my life. I have had the privilege and pain of being with some people very close to the moment of their death. Some have said to me that they are looking forward to being with Jesus now. That is the big thing. They have got it completely and absolutely right. So, I have a challenge for you. Don’t think of Heaven as a place that you need a ticket for entry, and you do whatever you think you have to in order to get that ticket. It is not simply a way of cheating death. No, it is much more the way for you to continue being with Jesus. Imagine Heaven to be a great place to live, and when you turn up, if you turn up; Jesus says “welcome, come and live next to me, I have prepared a home for you so that we can continue our friendship, our relationship together‘’. Have you got a friendship with Jesus, a relationship with Jesus? Do you trust and believe in Him enough to let Him put His hands on the steering wheel of your life? It is vitally important that we all take some time on this. It is vitally important that we speak with whoever we need to in order to be clear on this. After all, it is about life and death. With love and affection, Rev Graeme. *********************************************************************************
Let's have a bit of fun! I would like you to imagine something with me please:- Imagine that you had everything you wanted; the big house, performance car that expands to carry eight children at the press of a button, the perfect toy, brain the size of a planet, terrific family relationships, the perfect husband, wife, and workmates; and then to top it all you win the lottery! You get the picture. Would you be content? Maybe yes, and may be no. It could be that we would devise a new list of things we did not have in order to strive for them or worry that we might lose what we have in the future. As I have described this I am guessing what is going through your mind; "But this is fantasy", and you are exactly right. This is a fantasy. Even though we are one of the most prosperous countries in the world, one that so many people risk so much in order to come and live here, we have a keen sense of what we don't have, what we can't buy, what frustrates us about our situation. That can lead us to become increasingly unthankful and more consumed with our own world. It can also lead many of us to somehow get caught up in the rat race. I remember a quote "The biggest problem with the rat race is that even if you win, you are still a rat "! Well, what does God think about all this, what has He done and what is He doing right now? I could hand the Bible to you (with a few helpful hints) as that is the most reliable guide we have - but let me share just two little things. First. God understands you, loves you and cares about you enormously. So much so that He actually suffered for your sake - just like many of us would for those we love, but even more so. That blows me away more than anything else. I believe God is all powerful, but what blows me away, what wins my heart is what He is prepared to go through out of love for me. It is that, that touches something deep inside and helps me trust Jesus enough to want to belong to Him. I do recommend seeing the film "The Passion of the Christ" by Mel Gibson. Jesus/God did that for me, and for you. Second. A bit from the Bible (Philippians chapter 4) 6 Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. 7 Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel. God knows that, as rich as we are, we still have worries. He really wants us to trust Him with our lives. He also really wants us to pray to Him about our worries whilst thanking Him as well. So, may I please encourage us all to entrust ourselves to Jesus, to pray to Him about our worries, and to actively remember the enormous amount we have to be thankful for as well. God then promises to give you something money can’t buy, something deep down inside you, something that I cannot fully explain. Peace in your heart that comes straight from God. That is so much more valuable than anything else we can get from all our struggling. I pray for you and me, especially that those words from the Bible (above) will become a living reality in our lives. Amen. In Christian love from Rev. Graeme.
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