We are encouraged to plan ahead.

“PLAN AHEAD: ….” I read today in the paper called VIVA. VIVA comes with THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD. In this issue of VIVA I read a lot about Los Angeles and readers are encouraged to do the following planning for next year: THE PALM SPRING INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL from January 10-21.

“Plan ahead: It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark.” I received that encouragement to plan ahead some time ago.

Can I also encourage you to plan ahead?

Please plan ahead: The BIBLE says, “And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered…” (Hebrews 9:27, Authorized Version). Of course we don’t know the time of that appointment and we cannot write that appointment in our calendar.

But that appointment is coming for all of us. We must keep that appointment with death. We are born with that appointment.

What is the remedy? In the Lord Jesus Christ the one true remedy is found. By believing on the Lord Jesus Christ spiritual death is cured.

What does it say in John 5:24? “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”

In Psalm 119:18 the writer of the Psalm says that he knows that there are wonderful things in the law of God.

And he also prays that his eyes will be opened to see them.

What are the wonderful things in the law of our God? Let us go to Psalm 19 and find out.

1. “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.

2. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

3. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.

4. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

5. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.

a. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;

b. they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

c. By them your servant is warned;

d. in keeping them there is great reward.”

I was looking for the weather forecast in our local paper, THE NORTHLAND AGE, (Thursday, August 2, 2012).

But before I got to the Northland forecast my eyes fell on the big print “EYES ON THE BALL.” It was all about the Mangonui semi-final between Kaitaia and Ngaru Roa.

Straight away I was reminded of the verse in the BIBLE where it says in Hebrews 12:2:

“Let us fix our eyes on JESUS, the author and perfecter of our faith….”

“TELL THE WORLD TO GO CRUELTY-FREE,” says the ACTION STATION.”

And we are encouraged to “Sign the Cruelty Free International pledge today.”

But are we throwing our stones far enough? I hope you know what I mean by that.

Listen to what the BIBLE says:

TELL THE WORLD THE GOOD NEWS, is the message of the BIBLE.

What is the GOOD NEWS? The Good News is the gospel. The good news concerning Christ. The Good News concerning the kingdom of God. The Good News concerning salvation.

To tell the world the Good News is the last commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ to his disciples.  We find this last command in the gospel of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Read also Acts 1:8.

We are challenged to spread the Good News. Let us stop for a moment and look at the Missioary Challenge. I like the subject because from the time I believed in the Lord Jesus Christ I have been involved  to tell the world the Good News, in Germany, Thailand and New Zealand.

What motivates me to tell the world the Good news? Loyalty to Jesus  I serve. Gratitude to the Lord Jesus Christ, my Saviour, who has redeemed me. Love. I am constrained by His love to serve HIM.

What  is the aim of missions? The Lord Jesus Christ is the Saviour from sin. The aim is to make Him known to all men.

What  about the missionary responsibility? Upon whom does the responsibility rest? Let me ask you this question: Are you a member of the body of Christ? Then the responsibility of missions rests upon YOU!

What are you going to do about that?

THE BEST WAY TO MAKE THE WORLD CRUELTY – FREE IS TO TELL THE WORLD THE GOOD NEWS!

Let us throw our stones far enough.