John Funnell, Abersychan

Which verses would you take with you to the desert island?

Stuck on a desert island with no place to gossip the Gospel and with nobody to impart the love of Christ to, my soul would be in great torment. But trusting in God’s sovereignty I would have to accept my fate and seize the opportunity to ponder the below verses until a big fish comes to swallow me up and spit me back out in the Welsh Valleys.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24

Any relationship will fail if either party forgoes their responsibility to love and serve the other. Every Christian is bought by the atoning work of Christ, but our relationship with Him will not grow and bear fruit if we remain passive. God used this verse early on to stir my soul to live out my side of the bargain. I could see the Christian life is one of repentance and seeking God's grace to help me deny myself certain thoughts and behaviours that would offend Him who loved me first. Stranded on a desert island, I would be denied so much, I could do no other than pick up my cross and follow Jesus.

"What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord, I want to see," he replied. Luke 18:41

This verse leaves me in utter awe of our Saviour, it tells us so much of who He is.
The blind man was calling out for his Messiah, but all those gathered, silenced and suppressed him. Jesus, however, stopped and gave the blind man centre stage. Jesus asked a question he already knew the answer to, allowing the weakest person a leading voice among the scoffers.

Our Lord’s question is one of immeasurable compassion, it is an open question that can only be asked with full understanding that you will have to bear the cost for any answer that could be given. Even in such a short discourse we can see the abundance of God’s grace, how can we do anything else but praise and worship Him?

He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

Stuck on a desert island, the most productive thing you could possibly do is be still and know God. This verse would get me through the lonely periods, as I remember that, wherever I go, I will always have God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit with me.

I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Ministering in the Valleys is tough. Our church has a mixture of durable old saints, young single mums, men who have given up crime and vice under the gospel, refugees, those fighting social services for custody of their children, travellers, many battling with mental health issues, depression, anxiety and sickness. Through these wonderful brothers and sisters, the Lord has opened many doors for our church; and this verse is often spoken under my breath as I witness in the darkest communities.

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matthew 16:18

This verse will give me the peace, in my isolation, the church will grow regardless of my feeble efforts. There is not an atom in the cosmos working against God’s sovereign will and on that spectacular final day, Christ will come for His bride.

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

The one who loved us first took on Himself our sin, why should I then so easily add to His burden? This verse will keep me from temptation during my confinement.

So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” At that instant, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized. Acts 9:17-18

Saul met with Jesus on the Damascus road and was completely broken before His perfection. The challenge Christ presents uncovered Saul’s sin and failures, but it was not until Ananias came to him and showed God’s love in fellowship that the scales fell from Saul’s eyes. Jesus is revealed through those who seek to be obedient to His word and action it out in relationship with others. This is why church is so important.

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

Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Founder of the confessing church, Pastor, Teacher, anti-Nazi dissident, theologian, author and spy. A man of vast intelligence who gave up everything for Christ. He was murdered in Flossenberg concentration camp, aged 39, for high treason weeks before the war’s end. Bonheoffer knew what it was to suffer for Christ, yet he remained strong, spoke out and stuck to the word. Bonheoffer had to ‘do church’ amidst the most extreme hate and I feel his experience could teach us all something as we minister in an ever increasing hostile world.

Which song would you take to the island?

Facing a task unfinished that drives us to our knees,
a need that, undiminished, rebukes our slothful ease,
we who rejoice to know you renew before your throne
the solemn pledge we owe you to go and make you known.

Where other lords beside you hold their unhindered sway,
where forces that defied you defy you still today,
with none to heed their crying for life and love and light,
unnumbered souls are dying and pass into the night.

We bear the torch that flaming fell from the hands of those
who gave their lives proclaiming that Jesus died and rose;
ours is the same commission, the same glad message ours;
fired by the same ambition, to you we yield our pow'rs.

O Father, who sustained them, O Spirit, who inspired,
Saviour, whose love constrained them to toil with zeal untired,
from cowardice defend us, from lethargy awake!
Forth on your errands send us to labour for your sake.

By Frank Houghton

Eddie Webster, Nottingham

Which verses would you take to the desert island?

The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

This verse struck me several years ago because, up until that point, I thought the Christian life was meant to be easy. As a new Christian, I thought that obedience and holiness would come naturally. However, I soon found that there was even more reason to be disappointed in myself than I first realised. Each time I gave into sin I would be conflicted within; ‘I’m a Christian! Christ lives in me! But… I keep on sinning. I am making no progress in holiness. Why am I still the same?’. These thoughts would get me down, but upon reading this I realised that I was meant to be broken over my sin, and that through the experience of sorrow God was close by saving me from my sin and transforming me into his likeness! Praise God that he saves those who are crushed in spirit!

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord! Psalm 25:7

This has also been of help in times of brokenness. It requests God would not remember our sins but, as I pray this, I also gather assurance that he has forgotten them. His steadfast love on the cross is evidence that he has remembered me, and that he has removed my sin from me. Praise God that our sins (especially remembering those sins we commit in our youth!) have been slain on the cross and are remembered no more!

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

My sin has been dealt with on the cross! I have been crucified with Christ! The old reign of sin has gone; the new reign of Christ is here! He lives in me! This is such a great verse and there is much to expound from it. However, the part which has most helped me has been the second half where it speaks of living by faith in the Son of God. When I have realised my weakness and have been broken over my sin I then return to have faith in Christ. I no longer live according to the flesh, but now I live trusting in his unfailing love and strength to help me live for him. Praise God that he has come to live in us!

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith. Philippians 1:25

At times, however, I have wished that I was already with the Lord in heaven. The constant battle between the flesh and the Spirit is tiring; surely it would be better to be with the Lord in heaven! Paul also wrestled with this issue (Philippians 1:18-26). “To live is Christ”, he thought. Indeed, we live in Christ but “to die is gain”. He knew that it was far better to be with the Lord. Alas, it is not up to us to determine the time of our death. Rather, we have been called to deny ourselves, to take up our cross and to follow him. How to do this? We live for the joy and progress of others. This verse helps me remember my calling on earth when I would long to be with Christ right now. As we live in Christ, our lives are to be given in service of one another, encouraging and rejoicing with one another. Praise God that he has given us this great purpose of building one another up for the praise of his glory!

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

That is the great reason we exist, to glorify the Son, to boast in him! Our lives are to overflow with praise for God and Christ, for who they are and what they have done! I have been crucified to my sins and to the world! We now live, trusting and boasting in Jesus! Our weakness serves only to magnify his strength and power at work in us through the cross! May we all boast only in Christ and his cross as the power to save and transform lives!

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

Thanks to modern reprints (such as Banner of Truth’s Puritan Paperbacks) I have benefitted much from the writings of John Owen. His teaching is both thoroughly biblical and experiential; there is such nuance to his writing that I often find myself thinking ‘that’s exactly what it is like! That’s exactly the remedy I need!’. For instance, I recently read the abridged form of his work ‘On Temptation’, finding his application to be so precise and relevant to my life. I’m sure he would have been able to figure out how best to glorify God on a desert island!

It is also evident from his writing that he loved the Saviour and the Church very dearly, for he served faithfully till the end. The day before his death he wrote:

‘I am going to Him whom my soul has loved, or rather who has loved me with an everlasting love – which is the whole ground of my consolation… I am leaving the ship of the church in a storm; but whilst the great Pilot is in it, the loss of a poor under-rower will be inconsiderable. Live, and pray, and hope, and wait patiently, and do not despond; the promise stands invincible, that He will never leave us, nor forsake us.’

The great Pilot of the Church loves us, just as he loved the ‘poor under-rower’ John Owen. May we live and pray and hope and wait patiently, trusting that great invincible promise that he will never leave nor forsake us!

Which song would you take to the island?

There are perhaps too many favourite hymns to choose from, but I am always humbled when I sing this one. It strikes the perfect balance between our weakness and Christ’s power, grace and salvation. It is all of him! Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling!

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood,

From Thy riven side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure,

Save me from its guilt and power.

Not the labour of my hands

Can fulfil Thy law’s demands;

Could my zeal no respite know,

Could my tears forever flow,

All could never sin erase,

Thou must save, and save by grace.

Nothing in my hands I bring,

Simply to Thy cross I cling;

Naked, come to Thee for dress,

Helpless, look to Thee for grace:

Foul, I to the fountain fly,

Wash me, Saviour, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,

When mine eyes shall close in death,

When I soar to worlds unknown,

See Thee on Thy judgment throne,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee.