AT THE BEACH

When finding the story “Preparation key to sea survival for yachtie,” in our local paper, The Northland Age, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, I was immediately interested to read it.

It is encouraging to hear about people who are prepared, especially about people who are prepared to meet God, people who know that they are going to heaven. (Amos 4:12)

There are many hymn writers who have expressed in words that they know that they are prepared to meet God, that they know that they are going to heaven.

Here are some:

We sing the hymn by Avis M. Christiansen: “I know I’ll see Jesus some Day!”

James W. Acuff, who lived from 1864-1937 wrote the words to the hymn: “I’ve a home prepared.”

William A. Fisher wrote the words to the hymn: “Going home.” He lived from 1861-1948.

“For ever with the Lord,” is the hymn written by James Montgomery and Lindsay G. Smith. James Montgomery lived from 1771-1854.

I love the hymn “Come along with me, to my Father’s house.” Verses 1-3 are Anonymous , verse 4 is by Lindsay G. Smith. The hymn tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ is the WAY (John 14:6), the LIGHT (John 8:12), the TRUTH (John 14:6), the LIFE (John 14:6) and the DOOR (John 10:7).

I also belong to those people who are prepared to meet the Lord Jesus Christ some day and who know that they are on their way to heaven.

Not long before reading the column called “Prison system needs correction” in our local paper, The Northland Age, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, I received a letter from the Bible League New Zealand asking for help to plant 8,500 Bibles in prisons and correction facilities. Every $15 given provides another inmate with a Prison Bible.

In the column mentioned I am told about Rehabilitation Programmes in Prisons and Reintegration Programmes.

REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES

According to the Corrections 2014/15 Annual Report the results of the programmes are  statistically insignificant.

REINTEGRATION PROGRAMMES

They are almost non-existent.

The prison population is exploding and will be more than 10,000 by the end of the year 2017.

What is the answer?

The GOSPEL as we find it in the Bible is the answer.

In Romans 1:16,17 the Apostle Paul is writing to the Romans: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: … For in the gospel a righteousness  from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, …”

If I remember correctly the one page advertisement in the newspaper, the Northern Advocate, Friday, March 11, 2016, was pointed out to me because of the venues of the event.

The ad starts with “WANTED” written four times at the beginning. Gold, Coins, Watches, Paintings and Antiques are bought for cash in Whangarei. On the spot cash purchases can be made and there is no commission or waiting. The page is full of pictures, images of scrap gold, gold jewellery, coin collections and more.

At the bottom of the page are the dates for the buying in Whangarei, the times and the venues. On two days the venue is the Whangarei Baptist Church on Bank Street and on one day the venue is the Kamo Baptist Church.

When reading the venues, the following verses from the Bible come to my mind: John 2:14-17 ( Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11: 15-18 and Luke 19:46)

“In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.” – James 3:5 (New Living Translation)

The tongue makes good and bad grand speeches.

GOOD GRAND SPEECHES

a. Exodus 15:21 (15:1-18)

In Exodus chapter 15 we find the song of Moses and Miriam. Israel went through the Red Sea. They are saved. In Exodus 15:21 we are told, “Miriam sang to them: ‘Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted.'”

The Lord is using the tongue of Miriam to inspire the whole of Israel to praise the Lord.

b. Joshua 24:15

Let us pray that our tongue is like the tongue of Joshua. He as the commander of the people confessed openly, “‘But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.'”

BAD GRAND SPEECHES

a. Numbers 13:32

The task of the men was to explore the land the Lord had promised them. But when they returned “they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored.” That had the result that the whole congregation was disgruntled.

b. Second Samuel 15:1-2

Absalom stood at the city gate and conspired against David. He used his tongue in conspiracy.

Let us also remember that David is a type and forefather of the Lord Jesus Christ. That means in the New Testament rebelling against the King, the Lord Jesus Christ.

“The tongue has the power of life and death, …”, says Proverbs 18:21