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One story that gripped the world in 2010 was the amazing rescue of the 33 Chilean miners who had been trapped 2,000 feet underground for 69 days. Winched up slowly through a bored rescue shaft, all were to eventually enjoy liberty and light. This story has many parallels with the Gospel story. We like them, are in darkness and powerless to affect our own deliverance from sin, but on a shaft of divine love, the Son of God came down from His throne of glory to set us free by His death upon the cross and His glorious resurrection from among the dead. His aim is to bring us to His marvellous light and for this to happen we need to trust Him personally.

In Rocky Mountain territory, lived two young men now in their early 30s. They had grown up together, gone through school together and had remained firm friends. Don was an atheist and Dave was a committed Christian. Don admired the gentle Christian character of his friend Dave. One day, while out in the forest Don was being pursued by a grizzly bear. Feeling the beast’s hot breath on his neck and knowing his time was short, Don the atheist prayed as he ran! In desperation he cried out, “O Lord, please make this grizzly a Christian.” Almost immediately he noticed the bear had stopped chasing. When he looked behind him, he saw the grizzly kneeling, lips moving in obvious prayer. Greatly relieved at this turn of events, Don cautiously approached the grizzly. When he was near enough, he could just make out what the bear praying - “For what I’m about to receive, may the Lord make me truly thankful”

“Let your light so shine before men” - Matthew 5:16

The third of the four Gospels was a private letter written by Luke the doctor to one he called, ‘most excellent Theophilus.’ Luke’s intention was to give his own well-researched account of the Lord’s life and compliment the declaration of those things already written; things ‘which are MOST SURELY BELIEVED among us.’ From this statement, we can deduce that he personally believed everything that was found in the Gospel that now bears his name. He believed in a man named Adam [3:38]. Adam, as far as Luke was concerned, was not an allegorical figure. He was a real man in real time! He also believed in the virgin birth of Christ - ‘But Mary said to the angel, How shall this be, since I know not a man?’ 1:34. Luke also believed in the physical, bodily resurrection of Christ – ‘Handle me and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones as ye see me having’ – 24:39

‘the CERTAINTY of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed’ - Luke 1:4

The strong ego in us all would have us occupying the ‘top spot’ in the woodpile. In contrast to this, the Bible paints a very different picture. The Lord observed that the scribes of His day sought out "the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts.” However, it could often lead to embarrassment, when they were asked to give way to a more highly esteemed guest. The Saviour advised, “When you are invited ... sit down in the lowest place”, because the Divine principle is, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." John the Baptist, when speaking of Christ, said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” - It takes more grace than I can tell, to play the second fiddle well.

“Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” - 1 Peter 5:6

On July 1st, 2011, the BBC covered the topic of ‘palliative care’ [relieving and preventing the suffering of patients and helping them to move ‘between life and death’]. It highlighted the desire of many to die at home in familiar surroundings in the company of loved ones, so that they could say “Sorry, thank you and goodbye”. The word ‘sorry’ indicates regrets. We may have regrets over harsh words spoken, or insensitive actions taken. We may have regrets over the ‘skeletons in the closet’ that have plagued our consciences for decades. The list is endless. The Son of God, in contrast to the rest of humanity, had no regrets. He could look back upon a sinless life, and on the eve of His death, in prayer to His Father, could say, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do” – John 17:4

‘Then said Jesus unto them ... I do always those things that please [the Father]” - John 8:28-29

Following the death of King Solomon, the kingdom of Israel was divided into two parts. They were the two tribes of Benjamin and Judah, known collectively as Judah, and the 10 northern tribes, known as Israel or Ephraim. The latter was accused of ‘playing the harlot’, and consequently they were ripe for judgment. The prophet uses two creatures to illustrate the coming judgment: the lion and the moth. We can well understand the imagery of the lion, which in its fierceness could tear to pieces in an instant. However, the moth seems a most unlikely picture of judgment. But think about it. The slow methodical way it devours clothing is truly an apt picture of the way Ephraim would slowly degenerated under the chastising hand of God. God is not mocked!

“Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth ... I will be unto Ephraim as a lion”  - Hosea 5:12-14

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” - Luke 19:10