JP Earnest, Bangor

In his allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan depicts the Christian’s life. The main character, Christian, finds an old book and begins to read. As he reads, he becomes aware of his sin and a great burden appears on his back. As Christian continues reading, he realises he must flee from the City of Destruction and head for the Heavenly City – but how? How can his burden be removed? Which way should he go?

It was Mr. Evangelist who pointed Christian in the right direction, towards the cross, the only place where his burden of sin could be removed. I am so grateful to the Lord for sending Evangelists along my pathway to point me to Christ and it’s been my privilege to point other lost sinners to the Saviour since.

As Christian makes his progress along the pathway he meets many people along the way – some to help and guide, others who would try and hinder his progress. Oh how I can relate to that! I am so grateful to the Lord for godly men and women who have encouraged me along the Christian pathway and have prayed for me in my walk with Jesus.

Ultimately it is the book which Christian found that is his guide along the way. When the going gets tough it’s the book he reads for help and encouragement. How grateful I am for the Word of God, our guide through life as we progress, by God’s grace, towards Heaven. Well does Scripture say of itself, ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path’ (Psalm 119:105).

Which verses would you take to the desert island?

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. Isaiah 59:2

Even on the cloudiest days, the sun is still shining! It always is, surrounded by blue skies – the problem is we can’t see the sun, let alone appreciate the benefit of it. Clouds often prevent us from seeing the sun and feeling its warmth. In the same way, according to Isaiah, our iniquities have separated us from God. This barrier of sin prevents us from knowing God, seeing God, appreciating His benefits. This barrier of sin is so serious, that if it remains undealt with, it will eternally bar us from God’s presence. Try as we may on a cloudy day to ‘huff and puff’ with great effort, in an attempt to blow the clouds away, we are utterly powerless. So too, in our sinful condition before God, we have no ability to remove our problem of sin. Praise God then, that what I could never do for myself, He has graciously done in the Person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through faith in Him, and Him alone, those clouds of sin are removed and the blessings and benefits of God shine upon me by His grace.

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself a ransom for all. 1 Timothy 2:5-6

This is, in my opinion, one of the greatest statements in the whole of the Bible. In a World full of so-called gods, the Apostle Paul declares that there is just one God – the one true living God. He has been exhorting Timothy and encouraged him in the fact that God desires all men to be saved. However, our barrier of sin prevents us from knowing God, enjoying God and spending eternity with Him. Therefore, we need a mediator, and Paul declares there is just one Mediator. Only one who could stand in the gap between God and men, only one who could bring us back together with our maker. A mediator must be able to fairly represent both sides of the argument. Only Christ meets that criteria – as 100% God, He can represent the Holy and Just God. Yet, as 100% Man, He is able to represent a fallen humanity by His sinless life. It is this Jesus, the God-Man, who went to a cross to pay for my sins. This great statement declares to us that there is one God, and only one way to be reconciled with God – through Jesus Christ and His atoning death on the cross, for all who will repent and believe.

I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Revelation 1:18

This verse adorns the pulpit of the small Evangelical Church where I grew up (it was actually suggested by my mother following renovations of the chapel). This verse must have been a tremendous source of encouragement to the Apostle John as he was abandoned on the Isle of Patmos. Here was an ageing Apostle, isolated and vulnerable yet hearing these wonderful words from the lips of Christ Himself! This verse has also helped me throughout my years as a believer. Not only do they show us that the Eternal Son of God became a man to live and die upon this earth, but also following His resurrection He now lives nevermore to die! These words of Christ are also true of the real Christian. Through trusting in the crucified Saviour, we live life with meaning and purpose, life in all its fullness. But we were dead – spiritually lifeless towards God, dead in our trespasses and sins. Yet, through relying upon Christ by faith we now possess everlasting life. Once we dreaded the grave, and faced that eternal separation from God, now we have hope through the risen Jesus! Because of His death on the cross, that gives me the confidence to trust Him for the forgiveness of my sins and because of His glorious resurrection that gives me the confidence to entrust my life to Him for all of eternity.

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

I have enjoyed reading of many prominent Christians who have benefited the church through their godly influence and endeavours. George Whitfield is among my ‘heroes of the faith’ – and to listen to his many stories and anecdotes, some of which are not in his journal, would be quite astounding! He, along with others, saw the need to take the gospel to the people where they are. Preaching to all sorts of people, in all sorts of places, he faithfully presented the good news of the Lord Jesus to them, imploring them to repent and believe. Many did, and because of God’s gracious work through him and others, a great awakening was unleashed with scores coming to faith. If there was a need in the eighteenth century to take the message of the church to the people, how much greater is the need today? In an age where around 98% would never darken the doorsteps of our churches, we need to heed the words of Paul, ‘How shall they hear without a preacher?’ (Romans 10:14b). Mr. Whitfield was instrumental in encouraging John Wesley onto the streets with the Christian message. Mr. Wesley once considered preaching outside to be ‘mad’ and even a ‘sin’ – yet came to see the value of reaching out in this manner. May the Lord raise up others, in our generation, who will winsomely share the gospel to those who would never come into a church!

Which song would you take to the island?

I was introduced to this James Mountain (1844-1933) hymn at an early age which reminds us of the glorious identity of the Lord Jesus, His humble submission, even to the point of death. It charts His resurrection, ascension and future return, but does not neglect our responsibility to worship and submit to this King of kings and Lord of lords.

At the name of Jesus,
every knee shall bow,
Every tongue confess Him
King of glory now;
’Tis the Father’s pleasure
we should call Him Lord,
Who from the beginning
was the mighty Word.

Mighty and mysterious

in the highest height,
God from everlasting,

very light of light:
In the Father’s bosom

with the spirit blest,
Love, in love eternal,

rest, in perfect rest.

Humbled for a season,

to receive a name
From the lips of sinners

unto whom He came,
Faithfully He bore it,

spotless to the last,
Brought it back victorious

when from death He passed.

Bore it up triumphant

with its human light,
Through all ranks of creatures,

to the central height,
To the throne of Godhead,

to the Father’s breast;
Filled it with the glory

of that perfect rest.

Name Him, brothers, name Him,

with love strong as death
But with awe and wonder,

and with bated breath!
He is God the Savior,

He is Christ the Lord,
Ever to be worshipped,

trusted and adored.

In your hearts enthrone Him;

there let Him subdue
All that is not holy,

all that is not true;
Crown Him as your captain

in temptation’s hour;
Let His will enfold you

in its light and power.

Brothers, this Lord Jesus

shall return again,
With His Father’s glory,

with His angel train;
For all wreaths of empire

meet upon His brow,
And our hearts confess

Him King of glory now.

Paul Levy, Ealing

I have been taught Scripture since they day I was born, my parents had come to faith out of a completely non-Christian background and made sure, as children, we learnt the Bible. Each week there was a memory verse for church and we were encouraged to read our Bibles. I wish I delighted in the Bible more, I love it and yet I don't read it as I should.  I spend my life and the best part of each day studying God's Word and yet I find myself not as excited by it as I should be.  There are glimpses when we taste just how delicious Scripture is but I wished I knew that more. Anyway, here are some verses of the living Word that have had a big impact on me.

Which verses would you take to the desert island?

But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. Psalm 3:3

This verse was sent to me the day that my daughter Phoebe was born. Phoebe has Down Syndrome and it was a great shock to us, she was quite poorly when she was born and this verse was a great source of strength to me. I’d read Psalm 3 many times but somehow had missed it, Spurgeon wrote of certain scriptures being written in invisible ink and when they are held to the fire of adversity they become visible. This was one of those verses, the prayer to lift my head.

But I said, “I have laboured in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God.” Isaiah 49:4

The Servant of the Lord is speaking here and it is remarkable that in his humanity he knows how those of us often feel in Christian Ministry. The frustration and seeming futility can sometimes be overwhelming and yet even Christ entrusted himself to the Lord. It’s a wonderful encouragement and example.

Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Psalm 2:11

It’s a great summary of what the Christian life looks like, there’s fear in recognising who the Lord is and yet there is rejoicing. The paradox of the Christian life

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

This is a verse I find myself quoting to myself when I’m doubting or tempted. My great problem is forgetfulness or, I think John Owen said, unacquainted-ness with my privileges. The battle is to recognise I am united to Christ by faith. It’s gloriously personal.

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:21- 26

The children in our church learnt these verses last year and it was a joy to hear them reciting it. I need these truths to keep me hoping and waiting and seeking. It's been great to be able to talk about this with our kids round the dinner table.

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

If I can’t take my wife or mates or my brothers it’s a difficult one.  There’s members of my congregation who are now part of the church triumphant and I would love to spend time with them but it probably would be Calvin; to spend hours quizzing him would be terrific. He could educate me but he’d obviously have to learn English. The other contenders would be Willie Still who exercised a 50 year ministry in Aberdeen, I never met him nor heard him but his writings have had a big influence on me and how I view the work of a minister. If neither he nor Calvin were available I’d probably go for Douglas Macmillan who was a Free Church Minister, when I was growing up he would preach in Wales and I only heard him 3 or 4 times but he left an indelible impression of what preaching can be.

Which song would you take to the island?

It would be, I greet Thee, Who my sure Redeemer art’ from the Strasbourg Psalter which is often attributed to Calvin.

I greet Thee, Who my sure Redeemer art,
My only trust and Saviour of my heart,
Who pain didst undergo for my poor sake;
I pray Thee from our hearts all cares to take.

Thou art the King of mercy and of grace,
Reigning omnipotent in every place:
So come, O King, and our whole being sway;
Shine on use with the light of Thy pure day.

Thou art the life, by which alone we live,
And all our substance and our strength receive;
Sustain us by Thy faith and by Thy power,
And give us strength in every trying hour.

Thou hast the true and perfect gentleness,
No harshness hast Thou and no bitterness:
O grant to us the grace we find in Thee,
That we may dwell in perfect unity.

Our hope is in no other save in Thee;
Our faith is built upon Thy promise free;
Lord, give us peace, and make us calm and sure,
That in Thy strength we evermore endure.