Dai Hankey, Cardiff

Which verses would you take to the desert island?

So here I am on a desert island! Not sure how it happened to be honest - one minute I was sat in a coffee shop in Cardiff, then the next minute I’m all alone on an island with nothing to my name but palm trees, a handful of coconuts and a basketball called Wilson. Still it could be worse - I could be stranded on Barry Island!

Joking aside, I’m actually still here in the coffee shop in Cardiff and there are no waves or coconuts in sight. But this is still an intriguing exercise - if I was cast away and cut off from the rest of the world on a deserted island, with only a handful of Bible verses, which ones would I want to help me to navigate the various moments and moods that might ensue? For what it’s worth, here are the ones I’d want to be pulling from the pockets of my faded Bermuda shorts…

I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. Isaiah 43:25

I would want this verse that has perhaps impacted my life more than any other. Through this verse, I not only hear the voice of God declaring the totality of forgiveness I have received for ALL my sins - past, present and future. But I am also reminded why God has forgiven me - for His sake, not mine! Since he forgives me for His own sake, not mine, then by neither receiving nor revelling in His forgiveness, I am depriving Him the glory and joy of forgiving me. Understanding this one truth has brought me more freedom than my feeble words could ever convey.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

Another scripture I may well be clinging to would be the one that God gave me and my mam when she was first diagnosed with cancer. It is perhaps the ultimate win-win verse for a Christian contemplating life and death. My mam lived for Christ more fully and beautifully than any other human I’ve ever known; and now, having finished her course and left the pain and struggle of this world behind, she is enjoying the glorious gain of eternal paradise in the presence of her Saviour. If I’m gonna die on this island I reckon I’ll want the same verse to give me the same peace.

The heavens declare the glory of God. Psalm 19:1

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him. Psalm 103:11

One of the things I’d most appreciate about my new desert island setting would be the lack of invasive synthetic lighting. I’d like to think that, with an absence of street lights and shimmering city illumination, I’d be able to see the stars in all their glorious beauty. And as I star-bathe beneath the Milky Way I’d mediate on verses like these which would remind me that, whatever circumstances I’m currently faced with down here, I have a God above who is both glorious and loving and worthy of my worship.

I will never leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

As an extrovert, I’m pretty sure that loneliness would be one of the biggest challenges that I would face on the island, so I would need to be reminded that I am never truly alone because my God is with me. Therefore I would almost certainly need this promise I’ve clung to and quoted throughout my Christian life.

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:19

Perhaps a verse that I would find myself quoting as I scrabbled around the island and generally tried to stay alive would be these gracious words of Jesus to the Apostle Paul to encourage Him in the midst of his agonising struggles.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39

I am sure that there will be moments when I’ll be sinking in depression and great despair on the island and I’ll need some seriously chunky Scriptures to keep me afloat. During such times there are not many better options than these verses.

So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Galatians 4:7

This would be another little nugget I’d definitely want in my pocket. It has been my favourite verse for many, many years now. It’s a verse that perfectly and succinctly captures my testimony and crystallises the security that I now have in my new identity as a blood-bought child of God and co-heir with Christ. It has also been a great encouragement to me in moments of great temptation and deep shame as it reminds me that I no longer have to live as a slave to sin.

You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19

This verse I’d like to have as the water laps around my little island on every side. It would both graphically illustrate and help me to celebrate the forgiveness I have in Christ.

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephanaiah 3:17

This verse means a lot to me as it blew my mind when I first discovered it and has continued to do so ever since. This verse has shown me that, while God is holy and pure and just and righteously wrathful, He is also a Saviour who graciously draws near, appeases our turbulent hearts with His great love and even sings loudly for joy over us as His precious, redeemed people. On those days when I might not feel like singing to Him, I would be reminded that He is singing over me, and I’d like to think that hearing His song with ears of faith might cause my song to rise again.

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

If I could take one person to the island with me it would have to be the Welsh preaching warrior, Seth Joshua. Seth is from my hometown, Pontypool, and was a bare-knuckled boxer before Jesus grabbed hold of his life and commissioned him to take the gospel to some of the darkest and most dangerous places in Wales. I’d want to hear some of his stories, be inspired by his courageous faith, glean from his wisdom and most of all learn from him how to pray more fervently. I’d also probably ask for some boxing tips too! (Check out Geraint Fielder’s epic book ‘Grace, Grit and Gumption’ to learn more about Seth).

 Which song would you take to the island?

If I only had one song to sing on my island it would have to be my favourite ever hymn, ‘It is well with my soul’ by the wonderfully named Horatio Gates Spafford. I’ve sung this song more than any other and still can’t sing the third verse without tears welling up.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:

If Jordan above me shall roll,

No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life

Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,

The sky, not the grave, is our goal;

Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!

Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

Bernard Lewis, Newport

Which verses would you take to the desert island?

Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Mark 16:15

Saved in my early teens, I had the privilege of seeking God’s help as I worked out what to do in life. One evening having discussed with my parents my future and their expectations I sought God in my devotions. I was shocked that this verse was the focus that evening. I was convinced of God’s will for me to enter full-time Christian service, but was advised by wise older Christians to get the best education I could, so studied for a B.Ed and began teaching along with my wife who I had met while training.

Thus says the Lord. Exodus 4:22

The next phrase, rather than verse, to change our lives was in the question posed in a sermon, “Where are the men who will preach ‘Thus says the Lord?’” The following day I began the process that led me to study for ministry at London Seminary. I am so grateful for those years, because they took the jumble of Bible verses of my faith and gave me an ordered doctrinal conviction that has undergirded my ministry since.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

I have often found it difficult to ‘return’ to situations which happened between my first and second year at LTS. The Lord particularly helped me at the Beginning of Year Service. The late Wynford Davies preached a powerful message from this verse. My focus was set and I am grateful to say that God has used that verse many times since to encourage me at different times.

For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. 1 Corinthians 16:9

Towards the end of my years at LTS I received an invitation to serve as pastor of Hitherfield Road Baptist Church in London. We were uncertain that this was the right place, because another invitation had come the same week. We prayerfully sought the Lord asking that He would be gracious enough to give us an answer before the end of year service. In our devotions the night before we felt that the Lord wanted us to accept the first invitation as I read 1 Corinthians 16:9.

For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; Habakkuk 2:3

As with all ministries there were challenges and at one point feeling my efforts were totally in vain, I began reading Sinclair Ferguson’s ‘Discovering God’s Will’. As part of his argument he cited this verse. I knew I could continue my ministry confident that God would work His purposes out at His time. Two years later the goals that I had at that time were raised by others and accepted as the way forward for the church.

See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:10

The assumption that South London was to be my place of ministry until retirement was totally overthrown when my wife and I became conscious of a call to overseas ministry. To do this God used Jeremiah 1:10. God showed me that He still had a concern for the nations and that ministry is wider than the local church. (I did not appreciate the application of the latter lines until a few years later).

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

We fought that call tooth and nail, until the Lord broke me in my devotions reading John 10. Although calling others to discipleship, the Lord showed me that I was not actually prepared to follow Him. That was a painful experience!

What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2

Although we accepted the call we still struggled with its practical demands. I felt totally inadequate to train church leaders, but again with an open Bible the Lord gave the ministry statement as I read, it seemed for the first time, 2 Timothy 2:2. That verse has shaped the whole of my ministry since. The journey has not ended there are countless other verses that scream for attention.

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

Assuming my wife has not died before me, I would like the company of the late Roy Hicks, a mechanic, from Pembrokeshire, and secretary of Cosheston Mission. He and his fellow church members taught me the primacy of prayer and gave a wonderful model to follow. He and his wife practised hospitality (supper on Sunday night) and taught us how to fellowship around the Word after the service ended.

Which song would you take to the island?

‘Tis finished! The Messiah dies,
Cut off for sins, but not His own:
Accomplished is the sacrifice,
The great redeeming work is done.
’Tis finished! all the debt is paid;
Justice divine is satisfied;
The grand and full atonement made;
God for a guilty world hath died.

The veil is rent in Christ alone;
The living way to Heaven is seen;
The middle wall is broken down,
And all mankind may enter in.
The types and figures are fulfilled;
Exacted is the legal pain;
The precious promises are sealed;
The spotless Lamb of God is slain.

The reign of sin and death is o’er,
And all may live from sin set free;
Satan hath lost his mortal power;
’Tis swallowed up in victory.
Saved from the legal curse I am,
My Savior hangs on yonder tree:
See there the meek, expiring Lamb!
’Tis finished! He expires for me.

Accepted in the Well-beloved,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
I see the bar to heaven removed;
And all Thy merits, Lord, are mine.
Death, hell, and sin are now subdued;
All grace is now to sinners given;
And lo, I plead the atoning blood,
And in Thy right I claim Thy Heaven!