Salem Baptist Church

Ministers Address, December/January Messenger

Dear Friends

I wonder if you have come across this?

I dreamt death came to me at night
and Heaven?s gate flew wide;
With kindly grace, St Peter came
and ushered me inside.
There to my astonishment
were folk I?d known on Earth;
Some I had labelled as unfit,
and some of little worth
Indignant words flew to my lips
- words I could not set free!
For every face showed stunned surprise;
- no-one expected me.
I'm amazed how often I hear people speak about Heaven. The most unbelieving people speak of their loved ones as being "up there" with other people they had known, as if they were painting the town [or the clouds] red, together again now.

People have this belief that, having ignored God for all of their human lives, there is a place in Heaven for them. An odd idea; If I were an atheist, or even if I didn't like God very much, I would find it hard to think that on dying I would be sent to a place where I would have to worship him for ever and ever. It might be like a dead vegetarian being sent to an eternal pig farm, or a teetotaller being sent to a 24x7 public house in the sky. [For some that might seem like heaven!]

Scripture teaches that JESUS set up the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth, and that Christians who choose to become part of that Kingdom naturally continue at death into the heavenly part of that Kingdom, their love for God and their worship continue, even better. It says [John 3:16 for example] that those who "put their trust in him" in this life, will be given the gift of everlasting life. It teaches that it is quite irrelevant how good or bad you might have been on Earth, but very relevant whether you have followed and trusted Jesus, and through him acclaimed God as your Father.

As we look forward to this Advent season may we be mindful of the gift we have been given in JESUS. Christmas is not about "turkey and tinsel" but a reminder, that God sent his Son into the world to "save it not condemn it". He sent his Son so that you and I might have everlasting life; to do so means placing our trust in Him each and every day, so on the day of judgment we might find ourselves worshiping with the Heavenly hosts.

I wish you all a Blessed Christmas and a Healthy and Peaceful New Year.

In Christ,

Mike

Minister and friend

Previous Address, October 2009