Adrian Brake, Carmarthen

The apostle Paul says that 'the Holy Scriptures...are able to make [us] wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus', are 'given by inspiration of God', and are 'profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work' (2 Timothy 3:15-17). I have tasted and seen that this is so and am therefore pleased to have been granted the opportunity to speak of the Holy Scriptures in this blog.

Which verses would you take to the desert island?

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

When we first come to know Christ we presume in our naivety that we will soon mortify the flesh completely but as time progresses we find that the Christian life is a continual battle with remaining sin, a battle in which we will suffer many setbacks but a battle from which we will rest in heaven. These verses are wonderfully comforting to the believer. Verse 8 reminds us that our continued sinfulness is not incompatible with the new birth and a sincere saving faith in Jesus. We should not therefore let our sins shake our assurance. And verse 9 assures us that we serve a pardoning God who has promised forgiveness to His people and provided forgiveness for His people. Because He is a faithful God, He will not break His promise and because He is a just God He will not punish us for those sins which He has already punished in Jesus. I would certainly need to be reminded of these facts whilst on the Desert Island! As John Newton said, "I am a great sinner, but Jesus is a great Saviour."

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

I keep turning to this verse to remind me of the astonishing love which God the Father has lavished upon me and all His children through the Lord Jesus Christ. In order to rescue me from hell, which is what I deserved, the Father credited my guilt to His dearly beloved Son and poured out His wrath upon Him accordingly. Amazing! And there's more! He then gave me as a free gift the perfect righteousness of the Son so that I, by grace, am no less righteous before God's holy law than the Righteous One Himself, “Amazing pity! Grace unknown! Love beyond degree!” This verse would certainly stir my heart to worship God whilst I was on the Desert Island.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. John 10:27-28

Even on a beautiful, tranquil, Desert Island, I would be subject to the attacks of the evil one. He would still do everything within his power to destroy the work of grace which God has begun in my soul and a verse like this would remind me that Christ is not only my Redeemer but is also my Protector and will never allow me to be lost. On the Desert Island I would be almost completely alone but this verse would remind me that Christ is there holding me with His right hand and preserving me for the salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. Matthew 25:20-21

It would be easy for me, once I set up home on the Desert Island, to rest on my laurels and live a pampered life. This verse, taken from the Parable of the Talents, would remind me that I have a Master to serve no matter where I may be; a gracious Master who has done great things for me, and a Master who rewards those who serve Him faithfully with joy that not even a Desert Island can provide!

Who would you like to find on the island for company?

This one is, for me, a no-brainer! It would have to be William Williams, Pantycelyn. He was a man consumed with love for the Lord Jesus Christ, he was filled with a Christ-like compassion for his fellow men, and he proved himself to be very adept at probing and interpreting his and others' spiritual experiences. It would be a privilege beyond words to spend time with him. He could also compose some hymns so that I wouldn't have just one to sing!

Which song would you take to the island?

In case I did not bump into Williams Pantycelyn on the Desert Island or he had lost his ability to compose hymns, I would make sure that I took the hymn printed below! It conveys in thrilling fashion the glory and splendour of the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ. What more could you want from a hymn?

Lamb of God, You now are seated

high upon Your Father's throne,

all Your gracious work completed,

all Your mighty victory won;

every knee in heaven is bending

to the Lamb for sinners slain;

every voice and harp is swelling -

worthy is the Lamb to reign!

Lord, in all Your power and glory,

still Your thoughts an eyes are here;

watching o'er Your ransomed people,

to Your gracious heart so dear;

You for them are interceding -

everlasting is Your live -

and a blessèd rest preparing

in our Father's house above.

Lamb of God, You soon in glory

will to this sad earth return;

all Your foes shall quake before You,

all that now despise You, mourn:

then Your saints shall rise to meet You,

with You in Your kingdom reign;

Yours the praise and Yours the glory,

Lamb of God for sinners slain.

Andy Millership, Narberth

It’s so hard to choose a few verses; we are talking about God’s word and, with that in mind, who am I to pick and choose? But the fact that there are some passages that do have a particularly special meaning for us or stand out for all sorts of reasons is testament to just how wonderful the love of God is to me as an individual. He knows me more than I know myself and He is aware of when I have specific needs and loves me enough to give me blessing and encouragement to answer each and every one of my deficiencies tenderly and lovingly as my Father.

Which verses would you take to the desert island?

I suppose that for the majority of people the text that was instrumental in their salvation would come pretty high on a list of priorities but for me this text quickly led on to another passage which developed the enormity of what God had done for me and floored me in an instant (and consistently continues to do so).

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason that the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:1-2

I am God’s son! It is not open to question by me or anyone else – that is what I am. And when I am struggling and when I am being given a hard time, it is because I am God’s son! I don’t know what tomorrow has to offer, be that being lonely on a desert island or in deepest, darkest Pembrokeshire, but He does and His love for me doesn’t waiver one iota. But, ultimately, when He appears, my useless, pitiful attempts at glorifying Him or purifying myself from the devastating taint within will be done with. This feeble excuse for a Christian and a human being will be like Him, pure and spotless and righteous and holy!

That is a help in times of trouble. That helps me to pray and praise Him. That is a help when I am lonely and that is something that will give me hope and strength and peace until he appears.

Who would you like to find on the island for company?

I don’t know what he was like as a preacher but having read through collections of his letters and seen from them what a wonderful pastor he was, how great would it be to have John Newton on the island? The fact that he had so much real and somewhat extreme life experience I am sure added depth and reality to his faith. I think someone with the patience that saw him minister to a man as troubled as William Cowper would be a good thing as far as I, with all my own idiosyncrasies and hang-ups, would be concerned.

John Newton 1725-1807

Which song would you take to the island?

I really love “In Eden sad indeed that day” (funeral hymn #1) but that’s only 2 verses long so I think I will choose something for my own encouragement in looking past today’s hardship and on to tomorrow’s glory. How about some Robert Rowland Roberts?

Far off I see the goal;
O Saviour, guide me;
I feel my strength is small;
Be Thou beside me:
With vision ever clear,
With love that conquers fear,
And grace to persevere,
O Lord, provide me.

Whene’er Thy way seems strange,
Go Thou before me;
And, lest my heart should change,
O Lord, watch o’er me;
But should my faith prove frail,
And I through blindness fail,
O let Thy grace prevail,
And still restore me.

Should earthly pleasures wane,
And joy forsake me,
If lonely hours of pain
At length o’ertake me,
My hand in Thine hold fast
Till sorrow be o’erpast,
And gentle death at last
For heaven awake me.

There with the ransomed throng

Who praise for ever
The love that made them strong
To serve for ever,
I too would see Thy face,
Thy finished work retrace,
And magnify Thy grace,
Redeemed for ever.

Peter Ernest, Cardiff

Which verses would you take to the desert island?

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 1 Timothy 1:15

Were I washed up on a desert island, I would have to bring this verse with me. I trust it would be, by the Grace of God, my continuing comfort and sure hope. No matter how far I find myself from civilization, I can never get away from myself, my sin being ever before me. So what comfort there is in the knowledge that the blessed Saviour came not for the righteous, but for sinners, such as me.

My experience has been like the apostle’s, ‘the things I would, I do not, and the things I would not, those things I do, O wretched man that I am’. But Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners! Comfort and sure hope, since I have gone to Him for refuge and a hiding place from sin and from wrath to come; trusting in His own faithful promise, "Whoever comes to Me, I will in no wise cast out."

Even on a desert island, one would always know the heart, there would be no getting away from the sinful heart. But there is neither getting away from Him, who has loved us and given Himself for us, blessed be His Name.

Who would you like to find on the island for company?

If I could have company with someone, it would be with Robert Murray McCheyne. He was a man used greatly by the Lord in the mid-1800s and one of the Lord's instruments in the great revival in Scotland through those years. His sermons were, indeed, messages sent down from Heaven. It was said of him that, wherever he went, he brought Heaven with Him, such was his way. Gentle and godly, Christ having been formed in him greatly.

I would desire such a person as a companion, on a desert island. Not only because of these reasons but also because we would have another common interest. Robert was a man who greatly desired the Salvation of the Jews. And could say with Paul, "My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved." (Romans 10:1) He could see many reasons in the Scripture which gave him reason to love them, and evangelise amongst them, seeking to bring them to their Messiah.

Which song would you take to the island?

It would have to be Arabella Katherine Hankey’s 1866 hymn, ‘Tell me the old, old story’.

I never tire of this hymn because it speaks of unseen things above; it speaks of Jesus, Whom, having not seen, we love. It speaks of Jesus and His glory, that humanity and deity, so necessary for the salvation of sinners. And it speaks of Jesus’ love for us and how He gave Himself for us. It speaks of the glorious gospel, “remember I'm the sinner Christ Jesus came to save”, says the hymn writer. “Amen!” Is my heart and soul’s reply.

Tell me the old, old story

Of unseen things above,

Of Jesus and His glory,

Of Jesus and His love;

Tell me the story simply,

As to a little child,

For I am weak and weary,

And helpless and defiled.

Tell me the old, old story

Tell me the old, old story

Tell me the old, old story

Of Jesus and His love.

Tell me the story slowly,

That I may take it in—

That wonderful redemption,

God’s remedy for sin.

Tell me the story often,

For I forget so soon;

The early dew of morning

Has passed away at noon.

Tell me the story softly,

With earnest tones and grave:

Remember, I’m the sinner

Whom Jesus came to save.

Tell me that story always,

If you would really be,

In any time of trouble,

A comforter to me.

Tell me the same old story

When you have cause to fear

That this world’s empty glory

Is costing me too dear.

Yes, and when that world’s glory

Is dawning on my soul,

Tell me the old, old story—

Christ Jesus makes thee whole.