On the edge of eternity - or 30 seconds to live

This is a hard post to write. Im not sure where my thoughts are at today. On many things. I hope writing this out will help me a bit.

As well as my main job, I do a little photography. Mainly sports photography, although I prefer landscape. Anyway, I was photographing a big rally motorsport event yesterday. I have being doing it for around 4 years. Its also a chance to catch up with some good friends, who I usually only see a few times a year at these events.

I have long wondered how I may better use my talent for photography.

What would we do if we knew we had only about 30 seconds left of our life on this earth? Jimmy drove around the corner towards us, the camera was raised, photo was composed and I took the shot, all without thinking. I have done it so often, it becomes automatic. He passed me, and this whole scene was over in less than 3 seconds. A few corners later, Jimmy has had a massive crash, and has died at the scene.

I have witnessed a death before at a rally event, which was mind-numbing. It was a long drive home yesterday in which to think. My thoughts are today, I dont know where... I feel cold, lifeless, lethargic. I have not gone to church, found it difficult to pray.


We are all perched on the edge of eternity. This 30 seconds could be our last. Are we ready for eternity?

On Dreaming

When slumber seals our weary eyes,
The busy fancy wakeful keeps;
The scenes which then before us rise,
Prove something in us never sleeps.

As in another world we seem,
A new creation of our own,
All appears real, though a dream,
And all familiar, though unknown.

Sometimes the mind beholds again
The past day's business in review,
Resumes the pleasure or the pain;
And sometimes all we meet is new.

What schemes we form, what pains we take!
We fight, we run, we fly, we fall;
But all is ended when we wake,
We scarcely then a trace recall.

But though our dreams are often wild,
Like clouds before the driving storm;
Yet some important may be styl'd,
Sent to admonish or inform.

What mighty agents have access,
What friends from heav'n, or foes from hell,
Our minds to comfort or distress,
When we are sleeping, who can tell?

One thing, at least, and 'tis enough,
We learn from this surprising fact;
Our dreams afford sufficient proof,
The soul, without the flesh, can act.

This life, which mortals so esteem,
That many choose it for their all,
They will confess, was but a dream,
When 'waken'd by death's awful call.

John Newton

Sermon recommendations

I would like to recommend Dr. David P Murray to you. His sermons were recommended to me some time ago now, and I have been much blessed by them, particularly;
The half was not told me
Hurry Lord
Rahab the Harlot

How good is it!

I have received some most encouraging words.

Wednesday 15th September.
I finished work as usual and came home. Sat myself down with a mug of tea, and instead of rushing through my reading of the Proverbs… although I don’t really rush… I spent some time instead just in sitting, meditating and thinking. It was really nice just to stop and think during the week, instead of leaving it until the Sabbath day. I then felt strongly inclined to finish my reading of Proverbs – chapter 15 – at verse 23 today, and one thing that struck me here was the exclamation mark at the end of verse 23. I had never noticed one before in the Bible.

After spending quite a bit longer than usual at the Word this day, I turned on my pc to catch up on my emails, the news and various other worldly distractions, and was immediately overcome with an email I received. Just a short message, but full of the most encouraging words I have heard in such a long, long time. Joy washed over me as I thought on how to respond. I had so many thoughts about abounding in the work of the Lord, how the hearts of men are in His hands, about encouraging words, and of the providence of God.

I have been trying for some time now to update this blog with a suitable entry combining these thoughts, and was led to several verses including; Proverbs 5v21, Proverbs 21v2 – (which incidentally was the headline in my Daily Light this morning) - and Proverbs 21v1, which spoke to me most about the message I received – but somehow it still didn’t feel quite right.

Getting a little frustrated at this point, I remembered somehow the exclamation mark at the end of the 23rd verse earlier, and so did an online search for exclamation marks in the bible. After searching now, I am aware that there are in fact quite a few exclamation marks throughout the Bible. A quick re-read of verse 23 and my eyes were opened. These were the very words I needed, the very words that I had read earlier, but thought nothing of bar the exclamation mark!

“A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!” (Proverbs 15. v23)

A word spoken in due season, how good is it!
How good indeed. I pray that many will give and receive their own encouraging words this day.

Manna

taken from the Christian Living Today website

... there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
Numbers 21:1-9

This is another name given to the manna by men. At best the word translated ‘light’ means insubstantial, and at worst ‘despicable’ or ‘disgusting’, coming from a root sometimes translated despised or cursed. Linked with this is another strong word. “Our soul ‘loatheth’ this light bread”. This word, according to Gesenius’ lexicon, is onomatopoeic and suggests the sound of vomiting. At best, Strong says it signifies ‘to be weary of’. Perhaps the range of aversion to the manna suggested by the words used existed among the people. This description of the manna suggests not now Christ incarnate or unrecognised but Christ rejected. “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isa 53:3).

The manna is said to have resembled coriander seed. Coriander seed is almost spherical, and this helps us to interpret the word translated ‘round’ (Exod 16:14), for it can have other meanings. Does it not speak of the eternal coming into time? It is also small and white, telling us of His amazing humility and absolute purity. On closer examination, this little seed reveals what lies behind the meaning of its name and thus yields another very precious picture of the Saviour. Coriander means ‘furrowed’: the seed is not smooth but has longitudinal furrows covering its entire surface. Thinking of these furrows our minds go to Psalm 129:3 “The ploughers ploughed upon my back: they made long their furrows”. We hear the rejected Christ say “I gave my back to the smiters” (Isa 50:6). It has been said that the manna “bore the marks of rough usage”.

Before the manna could become food for God’s people it had to be subjected to pressure and to heat (Exod 16:23; Num 11:8). Both of these things speak of trial, of suffering. Dwelling on the sufferings of the rejected Christ we too are strengthened for our journey through a hostile world. Paul, when “pressed out of measure, above strength” (2 Cor 1:8) rejoiced, “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ” (2 Cor 1:5). He was comforted by the one who had passed the way before. Peter, speaking of “the fiery trial” (1 Pet 4:12) exhorted the suffering saints to “rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings” (4:13). Both were feeding on the manna of a rejected Christ.

One Day At a Time

One day at a time, with its failures and fears,
With its hurts and mistakes, with its weakness and tears,
With its portion of pain and its burden of care;
One day at a time we must meet and must bear.

One day at a time to be patient and strong;
To be calm under trial and sweet under wrong;
Then its toiling shall pass and its sorrow shall cease;
It shall darken and die, and the night shall bring peace.

One day at a time--but the day is so long,
And the heart is not brave, and the soul is not strong,
O Thou pitying Christ, be Thou near all the way;
Give courage and patience and strength for the day.

Swift cometh His answer, so clear and so sweet;
"Yea, I will be with thee, thy troubles to meet;
I will not forget thee, nor fail thee, nor grieve;
I will not forsake thee; I never will leave."

Not yesterday's load we are called on to bear,
Nor the morrow's uncertain and shadowy care,
Why should we look forward or back with dismay?
Our needs, as our mercies, are but for the day.

One day at a time, and the day is His day;
He hath numbered its hours, though they haste or delay.
His grace is sufficient; we walk not alone;
As the day, so the strength that He giveth His own.

Annie Johnson Flint

Diary

As well as this blog, I keep a personal diary which is updated slightly more frequently than here. My more recent posts have, I have felt, been a bit too personal to post here right now.
It has been a strange few months, but all working together for good I must believe. There has been more prayer, more time at the word of God, more trials, a deeper awareness of my own weakness and sins, but also answers to prayers and much joy.

For the meantime, I will keep my personal posts to my private diary and aim to use this blog mainly to publish more edifying work which I come across either online or through various books I come across.