It is almost
impossible to highlight specific verses because the entire Bible has been my
inspiration and strength over the years. Similarly, there are so many people I
would love to meet on the island. And
the hymn books contain such a rich tapestry of truth that I am disappointed not
to be able to take them. But as I am under orders I will have a go!
Which verses would
you take to the desert island?
Come to Me, all you who
labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
I had been labouring to find happiness
and to know God for myself but had become heavy laden with failure. It was all
about me. Then a sermon of my father’s on the hypocrisy of Ananias and Sapphira
shook me to the core and shattered my pretence. The simplicity and directness
of the Saviour’s invitation came home to me with great sweetness. I realised
that the promise of rest was not found in faith as such but in His Person. It
is all about Him! He is the rest! At great cost to Him the gift to me was free!
So, believing His word, I came to Him one Saturday evening in my bedroom and
asked Him to receive me. The following day at the end of the evening service in
the “second meeting” I publicly acknowledged Him by raising my hand. An elderly
saint and elder shouted “Hallelujah”, and my father, the pastor, said, “I can
shout it louder than you, Harry!”
This is a faithful saying and
worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners, of whom I am chief. 1 Timothy 1:15
Archibald
Alexander, of Princeton, a minister for 60 years and a Professor of Divinity
for 40 years, died on October 22, 1851. As he lay dying, a friend heard him quote
this verse and whisper: “All my theology is reduced now to this narrow compass”.
To which I can say a resounding, “Amen”.
 |
| Archibald Alexander |
I have quoted this
verse at every wedding I have conducted in 53 years of Christian ministry and
it has never ceased to move me. How wonderfully gracious God is to unworthy
sinners! What is greater than to know His ever-smiling face and to serve the
cause of such a Friend?
I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the Lord. Psalm 118:17
On February 25th,
1981, I was in the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, London, awaiting major spinal
surgery the following day. Pam, my wife, had left, and I was on my own, feeling
very nervous. I read the four passages of Scripture scheduled for that day (a
practice I have followed over the years). One of them was this verse, it stood
out like a beacon and the room filled with a sense of the presence and peace of
God. It was a very special moment in my life.
There are several lessons I have learned
from that evening. The first is the importance of the daily discipline of
reading God’s Word. This is how God speaks to us and if we close our Bibles we
cut ourselves off from the source of our strength. Secondly, it is the truth
that must govern our emotions. My feelings might have got the better of me had
I allowed them. But the Word of God straightens out and controls our thinking.
Thirdly, the Lord surprises us with joy. I had not anticipated the fact that
each chapter I read that evening would exactly suit my circumstances,
especially Psalm 118. Nor had I expected the room to fill up with His presence.
But it did. Fourthly, my calling in life was to declare the wonderful
works of God, of which His triumph over sin, death and hell in the Cross and
Resurrection is the greatest work of all.
How shall we escape if we
neglect so great a salvation? Hebrews 2:3
On Sunday morning,
March 1st, 1981, just three days after surgery, I listened to a
sermon on tape, preached on this verse by Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones. He spoke
movingly of the great Author of our salvation, the great cost, and the great
glory to come. A few hours later Pam came in to visit me and said, “the Doctor
died this morning”. I had just heard him
speak of the glory; now he was there! “Glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s
land”.
Who would you like
to find on the island?
I would like to ask
Paul lots of questions, including whether he wrote the Epistle to the Hebrews!
I am sure Martin Luther would be great company. John Calvin and Jonathan
Edwards would certainly stretch and deepen my understanding. My brother Wynford
and I would resume our many fishing trips. But as I am allowed to meet only one
person it would have to be my father. His direct, powerful, evangelistic
preaching; his personal encouragement and love; the roundedness and godliness
of his life have been the major influences, under God, for my life. As a boy I
would sometimes go into his study (not an office!) and find him on his knees,
weeping before God for lost souls, mine included. He never turned me away; he
was never too busy to see me, just like my heavenly Father. I should like to
see him again. Thank God, one day, I will. And it won’t be on a desert island!
Which song would
you take?
Thankfully, many
hymns and songs remain in my memory. But when mind and memory begin to fail I
would read over and over again John Newton’s matchless hymn. Hopefully, I might
still be able to sing it. In tune!
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, Brother, 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!
John Newton,
1725-1807
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