Pete Conway, Fflint

Which verses would you take to the desert island?

But now, this is what the Lord says — he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:1-2

This verse isn’t mine really but rather reminds me of the reality of Christian life. My mother was a genuine and lovely lady; gentle and unassuming. She struggled with assurance and never had anything to boast about. In the eyes of the world, she was lovely and kind but a timid, quiet, even weak, little old lady. My Dad died of a sudden stroke and my mum’s heart was broken; she later developed cancer and had to go to hospital, the inevitable drew near. I wasn’t there at the time but her pastor was visiting the day before she died and he began to read this passage in Isaiah. When he stopped reading, she carried on to finish the passage. Where did that come from? These were the last moments of her life, when she was at her weakest and most vulnerable; yet she was at her strongest. Yes, she was passing through the waters but she absolutely did not fear, she knew she was His. She knew she had been redeemed and her confidence was in her Lord. The reality of her faith was so evident and it was amazing. So, when doubts rise, it’s such a helpful reminder that faith in Christ is not just pie in the sky when you die. It’s true, it’s real, there is nothing more real than people dying and there she was, as bold as anything.

He also made the stars. Genesis 1:16

He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Psalm 147:4

We may be in the ‘day of small things’ but we don’t have a small God. Sadly, my view of God is much smaller than it should be. Even if I read big things about Him, it rarely moves me; so I would like to keep these verses close to hand as I often refer to them. I am able to relate better to things I can see, like when I look up on a clear night and see the stars, twinkling in the night’s sky. It’s estimated there are 300 billion stars in our galaxy, and 100 million galaxies. How much space is given in the bible to such a mind blowing feat of creation? A massive 5 words: He also made the stars!!!! Sounds like an add-on….Small God?…right!!!!

If you love me, keep my commands John 14:15

I wouldn’t normally choose this verse but it’s a verse that stays with me. Many years ago, it was bedtime for my girls and so off to bed they went. One of them just would not do as she was told, wouldn’t get into bed. Eventually, as my frustration levels were rising, she quietly turned to me and said, “Dad…I love you,” and as quick as a flash I said back to her sternly, “If you love me, why don’t you do as you are told!?” Immediately John 14:15 sprang to mind. And now, often when I find myself in positions when I am not behaving as I should, this verse comes back to me.

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Hebrews 1:3

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Acts 7:55

A few years after I became a Christian, I was on an EMW camp at Bala. It was an unforgettable week of ministry, very special. And I remember the chaplain giving this illustration which has stayed with me. He said, ‘You are at Cardiff Arms Park, (you see how old this is) watching Wales play. Phil Bennett has the ball and he’s running to the touch line. The crowd watching don’t just sit saying, “oh there he goes with the ball”. No, the crowd are on their feet, shouting and cheering, “Go on! Go on!” They are doing all they can to encourage him to get over the line.’

Here, in Hebrews, we have the Lord Jesus Christ, after giving Himself as a sacrifice for my sin. He sat down, indicating that He had completed His mission. My sin … past, present and future, all dealt with, paid for there on the cross and He sits, never having to repeat. It’s done, complete, as He said, “It is finished”. And so He is sat down at the right hand  of the Father. And yet what does Stephen see, as he is about to be killed? He sees Jesus, standing as if He has got to His feet to encourage, “Go on…Go on… keep going… you can do it!”

Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” Exodus 33:18

I had been a Christian for nearly 20 years, when this verse, and others similar to it, came to life, as if I had never read it before. In my home church I had noticed that some Christians (usually older, and only a few of them) were different from other Christians and myself in the same congregation. It was difficult to put my finger on it, but they seemed to have a greater reality of God in their lives. Later, I came across this verse; Moses had seen God work in extraordinary ways, more than the average Christian. He had been on Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights with God, and yet what do we read in the very next chapter? Moses wants more! He doesn’t want to see any more miracles or displays of power, He wants God Himself. I could link this up with these older folk in church, more than wanting to see God do, they wanted to see God Himself. And this is possible, which takes me onto my next verse…

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Ephesians 1:17

Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus, so to every Christian this prayer is a reality, we may KNOW HIM better, not know about Him but to KNOW HIM. How often do we pray for things, even legitimate things which we should and need to pray for? How often do we pray that we would just know God better? How often do we pray for this Spirit of revelation? I was a Christian for years and this just never crossed my mind, until then it was mainly about doing church and not about knowing God.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:11-12

There is so much in these verses, you could spend hours just contemplating the truth in here but, for me, it’s a great reminder of why God saved me. However great it is that I am saved, it’s not about me, it’s about Him. My default position often is: ‘it’s all about me’, how I need this reminder! I was chosen to be for the praise of His glory, not mine, it’s not me, it’s Him. John Piper said, ‘you don’t go to the Grand Canyon or Niagara falls and say, ‘wow how significant am I’’. And so we see God and how great He is and we can praise him for who He is! The great thing is, we get satisfaction in that. It’s not about me, it’s about Him!!!

Which song would you take to the island?

The first lines are a statement of John Newton’s but I always view it as a challenging question to myself. If I didn’t love sin and myself as much as I do, and I knew Jesus for who he is, more than I do, then how sweet the very name of Jesus would be; what impact would that have on my life!

Weak is the effort of my heart and cold my warmest thought. Yes! I really get that, but when I see Thee as Thou art, I’ll praise thee as I ought. That certainly will be true when we get to heaven but it also takes me back to Ephesians where we can pray for the Spirit of revelation, so we can know him better.

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer's ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole
And calms the troubled breast;
'Tis manna to the hungry soul
And to the weary, rest.

Dear name! The Rock on which I build,
My Shield and Hiding-place;
My never-failing Treasury filled
With boundless stores of grace.

Jesus, my Shepherd, Guardian, Friend,
My Prophet, Priest, and King,
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the effort of my heart
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I'll praise Thee as I ought.

Till then I would Thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath;
And may the music of Thy name
Refresh my soul in death.