Hi everyone, its been a while but, as you may have guessed, I have been fairly busy getting used to the new living conditions, having the lil bro up to see the place and uni stuff. But, I am back now in full force ready for more bloggin goodness. I hope that you have all had a safe holiday if you are school students, and if you are uni students, continue to enjoy your holidays 😉 (Unless you are doing summer school like me!! ;( )

This morning I read about Gods salvation pattern and structure and its evidence in the old testament of the Bible. The more you look at it, the more you see the old testament pointing towards the ulimate move of God to save us. Jesus Christ!

You may have heard alot of Bible stories before, things like “David and Goliath”, “the flood and Noah”, “the plagues in Egypt”, etc. The bible is packed with them. It is a shame that the Bible is often seen as isolated chunks of nice stories (that just makes them seem all the more fake). The Bible itself is not an isolated set of stories to entertain children while the adults sit through a boring speech at church. It is a consistent, ongoing symphony of the salvation of God for his people in a fallen world. There is a theme that runs right through the old testament stories, straight to Jesus, the ultimate salvation!

Ever since sin entered the world, God plans to save his people are clearly evident. It can be seen time and time again in the way his people get themselves into a bad situation (such as a giant man threathening to put an entire nation into slavery (Goliath)) and God provides his people with someone to get them out, in the Goliath example, it was David, the humble young man at that stage.

Even though our sin should bring us nothing but death, God is merciful to his people. Evidence of this is that God did not destroy the human race with a flood. But he had a way of salvation for those who were his people. Noah building the boat that would keep the human race alive.

The plagues in Egypt is yet another example of God saving his people from bondage.

All of these Old testament examples are pointers and signs towards Jesus, they tell us that God hasn’t given up on us, but that there is an ultimate plan of salvation. He sets us free from the bondage of sin (which is more deadly than the slavery in Egypt). He is our ark (that will carry us through Gods wrath on our indwelling sin). He is our David (defeating a more threatning foe than Goliath – Satan).

Jesus, Gods plan for salvation is here, love him, learn from him, take this salvation as yours today. He is Gods ultimate plan.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!!!

The world has come alive since the day after christmas, with the tsunami hitting the shores of a number of countries near the indian ocean. One wonders what to make of all this… Particularly in reference to God.

What does Christ have to do with all this. Well this morning in my reading of Luke I came across Luke 13:1-5 where Jesus is talking about a disaster that must have been well known and recent at that particular time. Where the tower of Siloam fell over and killed 18 people. Jesus’ response to the incident is this….

“Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish”

There is a warning to get when we see these disasters clearly. A warning of repentance. The point of the all pain and heartache is that we should be heartbroken that God means so little to us.

John Piper puts it this way.
“This is the point of all pleasure and all pain. Pleasure says: “God is like this, only better; don’t make an idol out of me. I only point.” Pain says: “What sin deserves is like this, only worse; don’t take offense at me. I am a merciful warning.””

In saying that also though. The bible says to weep with those who are weeping, and help those in need, which are definately appropriate to the situation in the countries hit by the tsunami.

The tsunami falls in Gods design, and all of Gods design is Just and Wise and Good. I will say with John Piper that I will not put God on trial because I know his wisdom far exceeds mine. And instead I will heed the warning and repent and encourage others too, that way when the wave that gets me carries me away I will fall safely at his side. Repentance is sweet in the face of disaster.