To be stuck on a desert island with just a handful of Bible
verses to dwell on sounds idyllic! Perhaps I'm speaking only for myself but I
find life so full of distractions. But when I spend time meditating on God's
Word, and I mean really meditating, not just ticking the "I've done my
quiet time box," I really do find that I'm an activity addict like
Martha and need to hear those words of Jesus, "Only one thing is
necessary."
Which verses would you take to the
island?
For he hath made him to be sin for
us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2
Corinthians 5:21
So let's
begin with a verse which a verse which blew my mind when I first became a
Christian. Every night, before I went to bed as an early believer, I would read
365 Days with Charles Spurgeon. I
remember the text for the evening on the 16th April 2011 was 2 Corinthians
5:21. Spurgeon writes, "When the judge of all the earth said,
"Where is sin?" Christ presented himself."
This verse
moved me greatly and I dwelled on it for many months that Christ not only was
the sacrifice for our sin but he became those wretched sins for us on the cross
and that's why "it pleased the Lord to bruise him." (Isaiah 53:10)
…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son
cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
There are
another couple of verses which, as a street preacher, I often find myself quoting
as I'm preaching off the kerbs of Lancashire. Probably the number one most
quoted verse from me is 1 John 1:7 - I love that picture of King David in Psalm
51, after he's committed adultery with Bathsheba, crying out "Wash me and
I shall be white than snow." I have no doubt that, on the streets, some of
the worst kinds of people by the world's standards have walked past me as I've
been street preaching. But the atoning blood of Jesus can scrub the filthiest
sinner and make them totally clean in God's eyes.
…it is appointed for men to die once,
but after this the judgment. Hebrews 9:27
…without shedding of blood there is
no remission. Hebrews 9:22
The fool has said in his heart, “There
is no God.” Psalm 14:1
Some other
verses I often quote are Hebrews 9:27, Hebrews 9:22 and Psalm 14:1. So if this
desert island has some kind of indigenous people that need to hear the Gospel I
would likely take those verses to them and preach from a palm tree perhaps.
Therefore do not worry about
tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day
is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34
And He said to me, “My grace is
sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”… 2
Corinthians 12:9
A verse
which has helped me personally over the years as a young man who struggles with
anxiety have been the warm words of the Saviour in Matthew 6:34. If there are
any over thinkers like me reading this, you will be able to empathise that we
worriers spend a lot of time living in the future with the two words,
"WHAT IF?" etched on our minds. But Jesus reminds us that we aren't
even promised tomorrow, that there's enough pain in one day, so live each day
at a time. When you couple this verse with 2 Corinthians 12:9 we are reminded
God provides a measured amount of trouble in 24 hours but also covers it with
the exact amount of grace to get you through the day and this promise has
always been true in my wife and my own life.
Therefore humble yourselves under the
mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. 1 Peter 5:6
Lastly, to
take a verse with me to keep me from sin (there have been many). One which is
particular dynamite to me at the moment is 1 Peter 5:6. The older I get, the
more I realise I'm not a nice person at all! I can be self-centred,
quick-tempered, judgemental, arrogant and unguarded. Something I used say to
myself was "Get off the throne, Joe" and I think it's helpful for us
all to remember we are but dust and ashes. God is the sovereign ruler of the
universe who has permitted our heart to beat for this past hour, so let our
next breath be a breath of gratefulness, that we might be humble vessels for
God realising it is by grace alone we are even alive today.
Who would you like to find on the
island for company?
One great saint from the past I would take on this desert island with me
would be George Whitfield; I'd probably pretend to be a unbeliever for an hour
or so just to observe how he approaches sharing the Gospel with me, then after ‘becoming
a Christian’ I'd pretend I was Biblically illiterate so that he I could listen
to him preach the full counsel of God. After I'd blown my cover, I'd ask him
how he managed to preach 28 times in a week and if he could offer any other
advice to a budding open air preacher!
Which song would you like to take to
the island?
If I could
only take one hymn and only had permission to sing that alone, I would sing
"I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice." In the
church where I grew up, there was an elderly man who used to sing in a choir
with other men his own age. I got a copy of his CD and I played this hymn on
repeat over and over as I was driving in my little red Citroen. I love this
hymn because of it's a joyful tune, I love it because it reminds me of
evangelism and above all I love it because it reminds me that, daily, I need to
preach the Gospel to myself.
I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy
voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of
faith,
And be closer drawn to Thee.
Draw me
nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To the
cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me
nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To Thy
precious, bleeding side.
Consecrate me now to Thy service,
Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast
hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.
O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with
Thee, my God,
I commune as friend with friend!
There are depths of love that I yet
may know
Ere Thee face to face I see;
There are heights of joy that I yet
may reach
Ere I rest in peace with Thee.
