When the decorations come down!

I’m writing at the beginning of December and over the next few days many of us will be putting up our Christmas decorations - cards on the mantlepiece, Christmas tree in the hall, holly wreath on the front door, and fake snow on the windows (its been very mild so far!) But by the time you read this it will all be over - the Christmas tree in the green bin, the turkey carcass in the black bin, the wrapping paper in the bag and the bottles in the box!

It didn’t last very long, did it?! For a couple of weeks the tinsel was shining, the Christmas lights were twinkling and everywhere looked so attractive, but now its all over. Now suddenly everywhere looks rather bare and empty.

Isn’t that a parable of modern life? There is so much in this life that is so attractive. Many of us fill our lives with lots of exciting, glittering things - nice homes, challenging careers, weekends away and exotic adventures, but how much of it will last? Don’t get me wrong - there are many wonderful things in this life which it is right to enjoy - its great to have a job that is worthwhile, a family where love is unconditional and a larder that is full! But there’s so much of this life which doesn’t last - the latest model is soon out of date, the memories fade, when retirement comes we’re soon forgotten, even our families grow up and leave home. Most basic of all, there is that question which haunts the whole of human endeavour - after the grave, what then?

What is there in our lives which will last, which will last beyond death? It’s the world’s most avoided topic of conversation, yet its the world’s one unavoidable fact. I don’t want to depress you, but I do want to encourage you to consider where we can find lasting worth, and eternal value.

Some of course, will say that we simply rot. But if we end up as just a pile of dust, then our lives have no real value or purpose. If our bodies are no more than machines which work for 70 years and then break down, and rot away, what’s the point of life? Most of us don’t actually live like that. We human beings must invariably have something to look forward to, even if it’s only the next holiday! It’s the suicide note which says ’I had nothing to live for’! Yet, if we are simply organisms that die and rot, it’s hard to avoid the conclusion that life is pretty well pointless!

How tragic to go through life filling it with so much that seems shiny and attractive, only to discover one day that nothing has lasted! That its all been about as permanent as those Christmas decorations, that suddenly life is bare and empty! Let me encourage you to join our latest ’Beyond Belief’ course, where we take time to think about the meaning of life, and where others have found a life that lasts beyond the grave. It is, I believe, the ultimate answer to those post-Christmas ’blues’!

For others perhaps our Alive and Kicking course (see page ) might be more appropriate, and for regular members of church joining a homegroup (see middle pages) will help to make sure that we’re living for the timescale of eternity.

May you know God’s blessing in the coming year, through that life which will last beyond all the years!

Simon

(PS Many thanks for all the love and kindness shown to us over the past year, and at Christmas time. It means so much to us)