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Bible Studies Online Blog
Gospel Illustrations
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Mathew Bartlett: Posted on Friday, November 11, 2011 10:02 PM
 Here's a quiz-Q. How many seconds in a minute?
(A. 60) Q. How many minutes in an hour?
(A. 60) Q. How many minutes until you die?
(A. DON'T KNOW)
It's a sobering thought. No one has full control over our their life span, or the passing seconds. Time waits for no man as we all head for the inevitable end - death - and then what? Fortunately, Jesus himself gave us the answer. For those who put their faith in Him as Savior, Jesus Christ promises eternal life in heaven. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 NKJV) But for those who reject him and do not accept his words, the Lord Jesus warns of eternal suffering and misery in hell.
He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.' (Matthew 25:41 NKJV) That is why the Bible says "behold now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation." None of us can afford to put it off until tomorrow - we must put our trust Jesus Christ today, as the only Saviour who will take us from time into the blessed eternity of heaven. Jesus Christ died and rose again so that all who believe in Him might receive the gift of eternal life. That gift will be yours when you trust Him to save you. Don't put it off. Call on Him today. "For whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." A Sinner's Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, forgive me a sinner. Come into my heart and save my soul. I believe that you are the Son of God, that you died on a cross to redeem me, and that you rose from the dead.
I confess there is nothing I can do to save myself, but I now repent of my sins and receive you now as my Saviour and Lord. I pray this prayer in Jesus name. Amen.
The Present Only is Our Own
The clock of life is wound but once
And no man has the power
To tell just where the hands will stop
At late or early hour
To lose one's wealth is sad indeed
To lose one's health is more
To lose one's soul is such a loss
As no man can restore
The PRESENT only is our own
To seek to do God's will
Tomorrow holds no promises for
The clock may then be still.
(c) Robert H. Smith 1932 - 1982. |
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William F.P. Burton: Posted on Saturday, October 01, 2011 9:48 PM
 What is the Value of your life? It all depends who does the valuing. Go to that mother with her chubby baby in her arms. Offer her a thousand pounds for it, or a million. She would laugh at the very thought. That sweet wee mortal is part of her very self. It is precious to her beyond all computing. That drunken, sordid jail bird, looked down on by respectable folk, may be dubbed by the crowd "A good for nothing waster, better dead than alive." And yet it is possible that he has a mother who longs for him, prays for him, trusts that he may yet make good. To that mother he is still her precious boy. She would give all she has to save him. In case of accident and compensation a judge might value your life and a thousand pounds or twenty thousand, but there is one who regards you as of infinitely more worth than that. Indeed God commends His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). "You were not redeemed with corruptible things such as silver and gold...but with the precious blood of Christ" (1 Pet. 1:18). That crimson stream that flowed from the gaping wounds of Jesus, as he hung on the Roman gibbet, shows what infinite value God sets upon you and me. How he loves us! The mighty Titanic was setting out on her maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. She was declared unsinkable. Fitted with sliding doors to water-tight bulk heads, and every modern contrivance known to modern ship building skill, she was man's last word in safety, luxury and speed. Mr. X. paced the deck, congratulating himself on the success of his enterprise. He was rich and held a number of shares in the company. So safe indeed, was she considered that they had not provided sufficient life-boats for the number of passengers and crew. Suddenly on a calm evening, with the sea like a mill pond, there was a grinding crash and the mighty vessel came to a standstill. All the safety gear was put into operation but still she continued to fill and settle. She had struck an unseen iceberg and was foundering fast. "Out with the boats. Women and children first." The boats were speedily filled and pulled away from the stricken giant, that they might not be sucked down by her. When Mr. X. realised that he was left behind, he called to the coxswain of the last lifeboat. "Ten thousand pounds for a place in your boat! A hundred thousand! All my fortune if you will but pull back and take me in." But the coxswain shouted back "We dare not, sir. The boat is filled to its limit. Another passenger would endanger the lives of all on board." And so that financier went down when the Titanic took her final plunge, three miles deep, to the bottom of the Atlantic. All his wealth could not save him. It is the same story when it comes to the salvation of the soul. The Bible says: "What is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matt. 16:26).
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William F.P. Burton: Posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 7:05 PM
The Kazaz Christians were having a hard time. The Budye secret society had its lodge, (kinyengele) near the village and a prominent leader was old Umpaki, the medicine man.
Umpaki was famous. He made charms to protect people from snakes, wild animals, spirits, witches and every other calamity. He claimed to be able to give them healing in sickness, success in hunting or trading, fruitful gardening, freedom from pain in child birth, skill in crafts and a lot more.
People came from far and near to purchase Umpaki's charms. He grew covetous as he grew rich. The only people who did not come to buy his charms were the Christians. They did not believe in his pretensions, so he hated them and incited the Budye secret society to persecute them, so that very few dared to come to the little meeting house and the leading Christians were ostracised and insulted. They retaliated by praying for him.
One afternoon Umpaki and a companion had a fruitless hunt in the forest and now the sun was dipping toward the western horizon.
The companion said "I must be getting back to the village while there is light to see the way."
Umpaki, who had sold so many charms to give success in hunting, was ashamed to return home empty-handed, so he said "I'm not afraid of wild animals, for my charms will protect me. Leave me here and he prepared to pass the night at the foot of a great tree.
Before long, however, he was aroused from his slumbers by the roar of a lion in one direction, answered by his mate from the opposite direction. There was no doubt. They had got his scent and were closing in on him.
Panic seized Umpaki. What could he do? By the dim light he could see a great tangle of creepers by which to scramble up into the safety of the branches above. Yay! The creepers were plentifully armed with cruel thorns. He had no choice, however, for as he mounted scratched and bleeding, he could already hear the lions below tearing at the skin quiver which held his arrows.
What a night he spent up in that tree, while the lions kept vigil below! And with what agony of mind he contemplated descending in the morning by the same thorny path that he had mounted.
With dawn the lions left and quivering with agony poor Umpaki climbed down from his lofty perch.
Later he presented himself at the little church, his whole body scratched and bleeding, his clothes in ribbons, a most dejected man. Calling the Christians together he said "Help me to become a Christian. I’m tired of this witch-doctor business. IT DOES NOT WORK. It is a pack of lies."
Today, Umpaki and the greater part of the Budye secret society have renounced their old heathen superstitions and have trusted in the Lord Jesus.
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Mathew Bartlett: Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 5:37 PM
 The preacher had tried for some time to win poor old Ann to Christ. "You know, Ann, that God's Word says 'Whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved?'" (Rom. 10:13) Why don't you ask God to save you?'"
"I do sir, many times each day."
"Then why do you not believe that you have received salvation?"
"Oh I would not be so preumptuous as to say that I was saved."
He lifted his heart to God for the right word to give her. He saw a hat shop near, and noticed that Ann's hat was green with age. "Come inside, Ann."
Before she could recover from her surprise, she was fitted out in a new bonnet, paid for by the preacher.
A few days later, he met her again. "Well, Ann, why don't you ask me for your bonnet?" he questioned.
She replied warmly, "Why should I ask for something when you have already given it to me? I've got it: I don't need to ask. Surely you are fooling an old body, Sir!"
"No, Ann! I am not fooling. Christ says 'He that hears my word and believes on Him who sent me HAS everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death to life' (John 5:24). What does 'HAS' mean, Ann?
"HAS means got it, like you got this bonnet." "Well why do you go on asking for salvation when God says HAS?"
"Why, I see it now. God gives me salvation as sure as my bonnet is on my 'ead. I'll never ask Him for it any more."
"What will you do then, Ann?"
"I'll just go on thanking Him," and old Ann went on her way chuckling to herself "HAS means GOT IT!"
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