22- From the Pastor's Desk 1980-1989

We live in an age of rapid change. Modern man boasts in all what has been changed in this century. And this is true. Our farmers don't work their fields with horses and wooden ploughs. None of us travel with horse and buggy. How many of us have not traveled by plane to see a relative or go on a holiday? TV, radio and satelite dishes are commonplace. And since modern man is so different from his fore bearers, they say that historic Christianity is no longer relevant.

So many have thrown overboard the faith of their fathers. And what do they turn to? Astrology, witchcraft, the new age movement, sects and cults, - the bizarre. This shows that all the changes man boasts about are only external. They are not changes in man himself, but merely in environment, in his activities. Man's needs have not changed. I was reminded of that the other day when I read Bernard of Clairvaux's essay on loving God. He wrote," ...no matter how many things or goods one man possess, he will always be lusting after what is perceived to be still missing. " And he commented that God alone can give ultimate satisfaction. And what Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) said so long ago, is still applicable today. "Rest is in God alone. Man experiences no real peace in this world, but he has no restlessness to disturb him in the eternal state with God. Thus the soul can say with confidence, 'It is good for me to draw near to God... whom have I in heaven but Thee... God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" (Ps. 73.28,25,26). Car models, fashions and technology may rapidly change, but men's hearts don't. The Gospel is still the "Power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" (Romans 1:15).


		Reformed Reflections
	From the Pastor's Desk 1980-1989 Salvation Lies Not in Possessions We live in an age of rapid change. Modern man boasts in all what has been changed in this century. And this is true. Our farmers don't work their fields with horses and wooden ploughs. None of us travel with horse and buggy. How many of us have not traveled by plane to see a relative or go on a holiday? TV, radio and satelite dishes are commonplace. And since modern man is so different from his fore bearers, they say that historic Christianity is no longer relevant. So many have thrown overboard the faith of their fathers. And what do they turn to? Astrology, witchcraft, the new age movement, sects and cults, - the bizarre. This shows that all the changes man boasts about are only external. They are not changes in man himself, but merely in environment, in his activities. Man's needs have not changed. I was reminded of that the other day when I read Bernard of Clairvaux's essay on loving God. He wrote," ...no matter how many things or goods one man possess, he will always be lusting after what is perceived to be still missing. " And he commented that God alone can give ultimate satisfaction. And what Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) said so long ago, is still applicable today. "Rest is in God alone. Man experiences no real peace in this world, but he has no restlessness to disturb him in the eternal state with God. Thus the soul can say with confidence, 'It is good for me to draw near to God... whom have I in heaven but Thee... God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" (Ps. 73.28,25,26). Car models, fashions and technology may rapidly change, but men's hearts don't. The Gospel is still the "Power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" (Romans 1:15).

Reformed Reflections