Our local paper, The Northland Age, has a column called “Matt Talks.” One of the recent columns started like this, “All eyes turn to South Africa this weekend.” It continued, “The biggest sporting event on Earth kicks off this Saturday. The World Cup soccer in South Africa begins and…”

The World Cup soccer may be the biggest sporting event on Earth. But there is going to be another event on this Earth in the near future. That event is the biggest event of all events. We are reading about that event in the Bible, the Word of the Living God. That event is the Second Coming of Christ.

As a German it is of no surprise, that I am a football fan. But I am getting on in years and I am not as enthusiastic as I was in my younger years.

I am reminded of the chorus of a hymn where it says,  “,….and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light and His glory and grace.”

Here is all of the chorus of the  hymn “Turn your eyes upon Jesus.”

“TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS,

LOOK FULL IN HIS WONDERFUL FACE,

AND THE THINGS OF THIS EARTH WILL GROW STRANGELY DIM

IN THE LIGHT OF HIS GLORY AND GRACE.”

The hymn has three verses and the author and composer of the hymn is Helen Howarth Lemmel . (1918)

The Bible, the Word of the Living God, is very clear about the Second Coming of Christ. Revelation 1:7 says,

“Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.”

At the Second Coming of Christ “….every eye will see him, even those who pierced him;…” That’s why the writer to the Hebrews admonishes all of us, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,…..” Hebrews 12:2

LET US PRAY THAT ALL EYES TURN TO JESUS!

In Psalm 123 the Psalmist is crying for mercy. He says, “I lift up my eyes to you,……, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy.” (Psalm 123:1-4)

GOD’S MERCY is the fulfillment of God’s promised kindness  ( Luke 1:54,72) through the saving work of Christ. (Titus 3:5-6; First Peter 1:3)

In Psalm 25:15  David says,

“My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.”

Are your feet still in a snare? Look to Jesus!

And in Psalm 141:8 he says,

“But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge — do not give me over to death.”

ARE OUR EYES  FIXED ON THE LORD OR ARE THEY FIXED ON WORLDLY THINGS?

“Morning and Evening” by C. H. Spurgeon,  Morning, June 10:

“If  God had willed it, each of us might have entered heaven at the moment of conversion.”

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1. “Why then are we here?”

2. “Would God keep his children out of paradise a single moment longer than was necessary?”

3. “Why is the army of the living God still on the battlefield when one charge might give them the victory?”

4. “Why are His children still wandering here and there through a maze, when a solitary word from his lips would bring them into the center of their hopes in heaven?”

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“The answer is – they are here that they may “live to the Lord,” and may bring others to know His love.”

“Choose Your Trail”

“Holistic Palace ” was written on the front of the camper van I saw recently in Kaitaia. That was written at the top of the right side. At the top of the left side I remember reading, “choose your trail.”

Some time ago I chose to walk Mangonui’s Heritage Trail not far from Kaitaia together with some students who were working on a school project. The teacher allowed me to join them. It was the most beautiful day to take magnificent pictures of the beautiful world the Lord Jesus Christ has created for us. “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.”  Colossians 1:16  One of the images appeared in the local paper.

I am not at all interested in art. That’s why I have never done the Art Trail. Maybe one of these days I will.

But I am on another trail. That trail is mentioned in the Bible, the Word of the Living God. I am following the steps of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us, to do so. It says so in First Peter 2:21, “….that you should follow in his steps.”  In Romans 4:12 the people are mentioned, “….who also walk in the footsteps of faith.” I also belong to those who are walking in the footsteps of  faith, and there are many many more all over the world.

Please make sure that you also belong to those who are walking in the footsteps of  faith.

Today I received an E-mail with a picture of  one of the many who are walking in the footsteps of  faith.

It is the image of  Billy Graham at the age of 90!

And “Billy Graham’s Prayer For Our Nation.”

If you want to be blessed, read books written by people who are following the steps of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and those who are walking in the footsteps of faith!

I will not write down the names of those people. There are too many. I have mentioned already Billy Graham. But I will also mention C. H. Spurgeon.

“We are constantly assured that the churches are empty because preachers insist too much upon doctrine – ‘dull dogma,’ as people call it. The fact is the precise opposite.  ……  The Christian faith is the most exciting drama that ever staggered the imagination of man – and the dogma is the drama.” – Dorothy Sayers

“Jim was never ashamed of the Gospel and never short of words. He took every opportunity to share his faith. Words that sum up Jim’s life are in the song ‘Would you be free from your burden of sin? There is power in the blood….’ and in Second Timothy 4:7, ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.'” –

Last paragraph of tribute: Jim Cochrane Kennedy (25 August 1939-17 April 2010)

WarCry Issue 6493

“The hero is one who kindles a great light in the world, who sets up blazing torches in the dark streets of life for men to see by.” – Felix Adler

“For every person with a spark of genius, there are a hundred with ignition trouble.” – Coffee News Vol 111:1