As we look back over this past year I have see many articles written recently about the large number of deaths of well known of actors. Doubtless this has caused people to mourn the loss of talented actors/actresses. However, bemoaning these deaths seemingly above all others makes me ponder, what does our society deem to be important?
Coming from a Christian perspective, one thing that really matters to me is the spiritual state of the church in the UK and the world. How sad it has been this past year to see men such as Pastor Vernon Higham go to be with the Lord or more locally to Westminster, Don Frampton, someone who was an ardent open air preacher in London and preached at Westminster Baptist numerous times. I knew him a little and he always struck me, even before I was saved, as a man who took the Word of God seriously, saw the magnitude of God's love through Christ manifested to him as an undeserving sinner and who was concerned about his Christian walk with the Lord.
Losing such people - Our families and dearest friends, our mentors, our brothers and sisters...is hard. We, of course, should draw comfort from Psalm 116:5: 'Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.'
We also mourn their loss and look forward to God's continuing work through in this world. We pray that the Lord would raise up people who will stand on the shoulders of those gone before. To proclaim, in what we are told is a 'post-Christian' culture, the never-changing, ever-amazing, Gospel of salvation through faith alone, in Christ alone and by God's grace alone. We pray for men and women who will share the Gospel, speak truth, love His people through a host of ministry services, and seek the glory of God in all they do.
We also pray for those who are currently serving in their local church and communities, for the glory of God, that they would be strengthened by the grace of God to continue.
Finally, we pray for those Christians who feel they have little to offer their church families or neighbours... that they would know the great value of all ministries and services from preaching the sermon to serving the tea, since we are all part of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:20-22).
Knowing that in the history of the church the Lord has taken nobodies and used them to establish and strengthen His church. Such as fishermen called to follow Christ: James, John, Simon Peter and Andrew (Mark 1:14-20). Knowing we have been called to the kingdom for such a time as this (Esther 4:14). Knowing nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus. We have a sound hope that our prayers will be answered and God will continue His work through His church until His return.
Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all he that hope in the Lord. Ps. 31:24
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