A Reflection for after Easter from SWBF Chairman, Tony Mason
“Easter’s late this year”, they were saying. Actually, it wasn’t; and I’m not referring to any astronomical calculations for the date of Passover and so on. No, Easter came at just the right time, for it gave us a break from the confusion, uncertainty and frustration of Brexit. Everyone for whom Easter was about the death and resurrection of Jesus had their hearts and minds lifted high above the human tangle that had engulfed us for so many months.
Some 2,800 years ago God spoke through his prophet, Isaiah, about One who was to come. He would be despised and rejected, a man of sorrows. He would bear our griefs and be pierced for our transgressions. Upon him the Lord would lay the iniquities of us all. Furthermore, he would see his offspring and prolong his days. This Redeemer would die and rise again and continue to make intercession for transgressors. And it came to pass – but not for a further 800 years or so! Even so, that first Easter did not come late for “when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son…” (Gal 4:4).
Will the UK ever leave the EU, and if so, how long will it take, and on what, if any, terms? Crucial though they seem, those are not the most important questions to be asking, are they? Rather, we might well be asking: How far has the UK drifted away from God? Have we ‘drifted’ or have we deliberately ‘turned – every one – to his own way’? Has God forsaken us or is he patiently giving us one ‘extension’ after another so that we might return to him in repentance?
Oh, and by the way, it is not only Brexit that worries us, there’s also climate change and whether it spells the approaching end of the human race. We have certain responsibilities in both areas but our hope does not lie in what we can do but what the Lord has already determined to do. “The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient towards you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed” (II Peter 3:9,10).
How urgent the need is to proclaim God’s Word to our generation. Thank you for all your support and encouragement of Saffron Walden Bible Focus. The Lord bless you for that. And, even though Easter was a little late this year, Bible Focus won’t be – Saturday 21st September! Printed details will be with you shortly.
Grace and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,
Your brother in Christ,
Tony