The Morning After . . .

In the run up to Christmas, now less than 8 weeks away, Halloween seems to be the last big commercial opportunity before the Big One. 

Many children, of all ages, will have been dressed up as spooks and zombies, and many teeth will have been further rotted by the high sugar contents of most of the treats even more. In time, with very poor teeth, those children will even begin to look like the monsters they are imitating! How sad. But that was last night.

Today, the Morning after, is All Saints Day, a brilliant reminder of all those, across the centuries and from all cultures who have lived and died as faithful servants of God, as He is revealed in Jesus. God has a very BIG PLAN, which is working out according to plan.

John's Revelation shows what this looks like, from heaven's perspective. 'After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!” (Revelation 7.9-10)

It is so exciting, from where we are now standing, to see that this vision from nearly 2000 years ago, has become a reality. 

When John was writing, the Christians community was largely Jewish, with believing people from other nations from the fringes of the Mediterranean Sea also being part of the family of faith. 

But now, there really are people from tribes, cultures and languages from all around the world joining in worship of Jesus, the Lamb of God, whose death brings us forgiveness and life. 

As the writer to the Hebrews pointed out, 'Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.' (Hebrews 11.1)

At a personal level, I recall that it was 20 years ago today that I was instituted, inducted and installed as Vicar of Goldsworth Park. As Betty & I look back, we see that God has been very good to us, and we thank Him.

It is a great privilege to part of His world-wide family. Thank you, Lord.

Best wishes,

Richard