Joshua Luke Reynolds, Tredegar

John Wesley (1703–91) famously said that he was a man of one book only – the Bible. That’s not to say he hadn’t read other books and found them edifying, but that the final point of authority for Wesley was the Word of God. It’s difficult to say which verses I’d take to a desert island. I’d much prefer to take the whole Bible with me! The verses I’ve chosen are those that have helped me the most in my Christian life.

Which verses would you take to the desert island?

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost. 1 Timothy 1:15

One of the most profound verses that has shaped my understanding of the Bible message is Paul’s faithful saying to Timothy. It’s the Gospel, the Good News about Jesus Christ, in a nutshell. Jesus Christ stands at the very heart of the Bible’s message to lost humanity as the Saviour of sinners – even the worst of sinners. He came into this world, assumed my nature, and went to the Cross to rescue the lost and restore me to a right relationship with the living God. The saying is ‘trustworthy’ and ‘deserving of full acceptance’. In other words, the faithful saying that ‘Jesus saves’ is my only comfort in life and in death. The promise of the Gospel is certain, whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

A bruised reed He will not break, the smoking flax He will not put out. Isaiah 42:3

The verse that has helped me the most in times of trouble and spiritual despondency is found in the words of the prophet Isaiah concerning the Lord Jesus. As a Christian I sometimes find myself facing dark nights of the soul where the presence of God feels distant and sin feels overwhelming and I expect I’ll find them on the desert island too. However this verse will remind me of the love and gracious compassion of the Lord Jesus who never breaks bruised Christians and never snuff out the embers of faith! He picks me up, and He lifts me from the slough of despond, and He sets my feet upon the rock of salvation. I mustn’t think harsh thoughts of Christ, He is a gracious and compassionate Saviour.

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

This is one of the most moving verses in Scripture. This verse reminds me not to think harsh thoughts about the God who ‘delights’ in His redeemed people and ‘rejoices’ over His beloved children with singing. I will still need the word of God to draw me to worship and praise on the island; this verse is an incredible picture of our God and it will move me to pray and to worship the God who freely loves sinners saved by grace such as me.

Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

As a lay preacher, I usually find myself drawing upon Gospel exhortations urging the lost to embrace Christ as Saviour. Perhaps the most important of these for preaching has been this gracious invitation of the Lord Christ. Sin is like a great weight upon the shoulders of this world, but Jesus Christ offers us rest, everlasting rest and peace, from the burden of sin for all who come to Him in true belief and true repentance. I can think of no greater invitation in the whole Bible than the sweet invitation of our Lord to come and find rest in Him. There won’t be anyone to invite on this desert island but I must remember that I am invited myself! When I’m weary and heavy laden, I will still go to Christ and He will still give me rest.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

The whole of Psalm 46 is an incredible reminder of God’s power to save and protect His people. He is my refuge in each deep distress. He is my strength. He is ever ready to help me in times of trouble as I fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil – the likes of whom will surely still harass me on the island. If I try to live the Christian life in my own strength, then I am doomed to fail, all of my strength is found in His grace. In myself I am weak, but in Him I am strong. His grace is sufficient for me and His strength is made perfect in my weakness. I can always depend on Him and run to Him when the whole world seems to fall apart around me. He is there with arms open ready to save. This verse will give me strength on my desert island!

For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:13

The struggle against sin won’t be over on this desert island. John Owen famously said, ‘Be killing sin, or it will be killing you’. The struggle with sin and temptation is an ever present reality in the Christian life. We must fight against it, but not in the flesh. We must fight in the strength of the Holy Spirit. We need His transforming and sanctifying power to work in our lives to conform us to the image of Christ. The mortification of sin by self-effort to the end of a self-righteousness is the soul and substance of all false religion in the world. We must have the Spirit and only by His power must we crucify sin. This verse will always remind me of the seriousness of sin, and that nothing but the power of the Holy Spirit can enable us to ‘be killing sin’.

The Lord is good to all, and has compassion on all that He had made. Psalm 145:9

This verse helped me to understand the common grace and kindness of God for all creation – men, women, boys and girls, and all his creatures, great and small. It reminds me to think upon His goodness and His patience with sinners. It reminds me to think of the overtures of grace in the Gospel. It reminds me to think of the love He’s shown to lost mankind in sending His one and only Son to die as an atonement for sin. It reminds me that He will make all things well and redeem the whole creation for His glory – and I’ll certainly need to remember that on the island! If He has such compassion upon the world as it is now in sin and degradation, how much more shall His love abound in the world to come!

Which non-biblical Christian from the past would you like to find on the island for company?

I have to say William Williams, Pantycelyn as the theology of his published writings is the focus of my PhD. I believe that the experiential heartfelt religion of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists is very much needed in our Christianity today. Williams’ hymns and writings bring together a robust Calvinistic orthodoxy with the experiential knowledge of God in Christ. For this reason, I would choose to take William Williams to the desert island and sing his many delightful hymns of praise to Jesus Christ.

Which song would  you take to the island?

My personal favourite is William Williams'  ‘Jesus, Jesus, all sufficient’. There’s no better subject to engage the mind than Jesus Christ. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my time on a desert island.

Jesus, Jesus, all sufficient,

Beyond telling is Thy worth;

In Thy Name lie greater treasures

Than the richest found on earth.

Such abundance,

Is my portion with my God.

In Thy gracious face there’s beauty

Far surpassing every thing

Found in all the earth’s great wonders

Mortal eye hath ever seen.

Rose of Sharon

Thou Thyself art heaven’s delight.