Skip to main content

Thoughts on a Trip to Ontario Part 2: And then it is done (James 4:13-15, Luke 12:20)

James 4:13-15:

13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

 

Luke 12:20

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

 

We were in Ottawa for a memorial service. This reminds us that indeed we never know when our time will end here, when we will be called home or – as we used to live in Ontario and our job is what it is - even when we will move to a new appointment, a new community. We never know when will be the last time we will see someone we love. I have friends I used to see everyday in different towns we used to live whom I haven’t now seen for years and I may never see again. I thought of this as we had all three of our children together, the Ramsay five, on a trip. That doesn’t happen very much anymore. Our last big trips have only had two or three people, the ones before that four people. It has been a long time since we had all five of us on a trip together. Who knows when that will happen again?

 

This relates to our faith as well. If you love someone you probably do want to share your faith with them. Let them know about Jesus and how God loves you and looks out for you now and will do so forever – even after you die. You never know when the last time you will see someone is so please do share with them the reason that you do have hope in this life and the next – don’t keep them guessing.

 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Resurrection and Frankenstein's Creation (2 Corinthians 5:17 and Revelation 21 3b-4)

 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!  We went to see Frankenstein the Ballet last night. If anyone knows that story. The beginning is like the book. Dr. Frankenstein makes a creation out of the parts of corpses who had had terrible things happen in their lives - and then he brings life to the new creation and it becomes whole - with a whole new lease on life. A new chance to live. No matter all the awful stuff that had happened before. Now - the book actually ends poorly after that but the ballet does not. The ballet includes a story of Giselle. This bride, who herself suffered a horrible fate, learned forgiveness and is resurrected. She meets Frankenstein's creation; they fall in love - and start off again, this time living a transformed life. Revelation 21:3b-4: God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or ...

2 Timothy 1:12: Learn to Suffer

2 Timothy 1:12: That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. Today’s thought on 2 Timothy 1:12 is entitled ‘Learn to Suffer’. ‘Learn to Suffer’ is motto of a Scottish Clan. Anyone know which clan? Clan Duncan. The Clan motto is ‘Learn to Suffer.’ Did you know that 2 of the early kings of Scotland were Duncans: One was Duncan I and do you know who was the other? Duncan II. Duncan I obtained the throne through murder and Duncan II lost it the same way. The Duncans would learn to suffer. The Duncans historically weren’t so good at choosing the winning side in important battles. They supported the victorious Robert the Bruce in his wars and received benefits from that. But later they supported Charles I, who was defeated, murdered and his country conquered by Cromwell’s Puritans. In supporting the losing side in this war, the Duncans would learn to suff...

Savings Account (Mark 8:34-38 and Luke 9:23- 9:27, Matthew 16:21-28)

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me (and for the gospel) will save it Mark 8:35    I’ve got a test for us today: Famous Quotes. Let’s see who can name the speaker of each of the following quotes:[1]  1) “Hi Ho Silver, Away…”  2) “We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto”  3) “I am not a crook”  4) “While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight; while children go hungry, as they do now I'll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight, I'll fight to the very end!”  5) “Up, up, and away!”  6) “I’m strong to the finish ‘cause I eat my spinach; I’m _________ the sailor man.”  7) “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but for whoever loses his life for me (and for the gospel) will save it.”     T...