The Citizen, 1986-03-26, Page 27With faith, death loses its feaiE
BY DONALD R. VAIR
PASTOR, WESTFIELD CHURCH
On Tuesday, January 28, mill-
ions watched firsthand as the space
shuttle Challenger blasted off from
Cape Canaveral, Florida into
picture postcard blue skies.
It has all happened before, with
such amazing success that we all
but took this spectacular mission
for granted. After all, in only a few
days they would all be home again
and life would continue as before.
Cruelly the excitement and
elation were forced to give away to
horror, disbelief and tears as we
tried to grasp the reality that
something awesome and tragic
had befallen Challenger. In only
seconds it was all over, except that
is, for all the seemingly endless
questions.
Of all the questions that have
been asked, both philosophical and
technical, there is one question
that I have never heard even once.
All other questions pale into
insignificance beside the question
"Am I prepared to die?"
Although we could not, nor
would we make judgements upon
the eternal destinies of Challeng-
er's crew (for that is God's place
alone); their sudden untimely
deaths in the midst of a thrilling
adventure in living, would cause us
to realize that death will come to
you and me, and could come when
least expected.
The fact of death strikes fear and
denial into the human heart. NASA
was still counting the seconds into
the flight even though it was
obvious an explosion of deadly
proportions had occurred. Com-
mentators kept repeating that
there was no confirmation as to the
fate of Challenger's crew, even
though it was obvious no one could
have survived.
To answer the questions sur-
rounding Challenger we must go to
its experts and specialists. To
answer the question "Am I
prepreared to die?" we must say
with Simon Peter "....Lord, to
whom shall we go? Thou hast the
words of eternal life." (John 6:68).
Jesus Christ said "I came not to
call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance." (Luke 5:32) A further
look at scripture reveals that we all
are sinners "As it is written, there
is none righteous, no not one."
(Romans 3:10) "For all have
sinned and come short of the glory
of God." (Romans 3:23) I can do
nothing of myself to meet God's'
requirements for entrance into
Heaven.
There are those who deny a
literal Hell and preach that all will
ultimately spend eternity in Heav-
en. A consideration of Jesus'
words in John 5:29 reveals that
there is a "resurrection of damna-
tion" for those who reject Him as
their Saviour.
St. John's gospel 3:36 says "He
that believeth on the Son hath
everlasting life, and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see
life, but the wrath of God abideth
on him." St. John 1:12 "But as
many as receive Him to them gave
He power to become the children of
God, even to them that believe on
His name." Note that the power to
become the children of God i.e.
born again or saved, is given only to
them that receive Him.
CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1986. PAGE 27.
To believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ means that I confess to God I
am a sinner. In a genuine act of
repentance I accept .Jesus' blood
sacrifice on Calvary's cross as
payment in full for my sin, and
believe thatHe rose again from the
dead. Having then invited Him into
my life as Lord and Saviour, I trust
Him while life shall last.
To be prepared to die is to be
prepared to live. Life in Christ is a
life of boundless peace and joy; life
where the fear of death is
swallowed up in the glorious
anticipation of one day being with
Christ for all eternity.
My dear friend - of all the words
you will ever hear, there are none
as crucial to you personally as the
words of eternal life in Christ
Jesus. Are you prepared to die?
BRUSSELS AND DISTRICT MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION
Invites everyone to worship
Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour in
A Community Holly
Week
service
On Wednesday. March 26. 1986
AT8P.M.
AT BRUSSELS, MORRIS& GREY COMMUNITY CENTRE
[Choir members are asked to form a massed choir at 7 p.m. to
prepare to lead others in hymn -singing.]
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
91 Main St. South, Seaforth
Office 527-0400
B&G
ELECTRIC
Plumbing and Heating
Brussels, Ont.
NOG 1H0
BILLAITCHISON
887-6747
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Plus OddJobs
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Ron Carter
357-2706 Belgrave
Rammeloo
Rest Home
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E. F. "Bill" Durst 527-1455
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Electric Ltd.
Home, Farm.
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Auburn. Ont.
DON PAUL
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526-7505 357-1537
GENERAL
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15191 523-9725
R. John Elliott
519-523-4323
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INSURANCE IN ALL BRANCHES
Established 1910
BLYTH. ONTARIO NOM 1H0 519-523-4481
LIVESTOCK MORTALITY INSURANCE
Thom pson's
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Brussels
Fresh Meat
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Custom Butchering
by appointment
CaII Brussels 887-6294
Groceries, Tobacco, Health Care,
Stationery & Cards,
Lottario-Lotto 649
Agents for: Drycleaners, film processing
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Open 7 Days A Week
887-6224
Bill Bromley
Electric
LONDESBORO
PHONE 523-4506
1-800-265-9255
I.D.#3648
- Walker exhaust, Munroe shocks
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service
-Alignment: cars and trucks
to 1 ton
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on premises
llff1Ex rid
William E. Hallahan
& Sons Construction Ltd.
R.R. 3, Blyth 523-9339
-Fence bottoms -Road building
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30 Years Experience
Brad Bromley Brian Bromley
523-9308 523-9483
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SINCE 1894
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OLD MILL
in downtown Blyth
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Famous for woo
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OPEN EVERY DAY
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and area
887-6408
H. Ten Pas
1111111111
mnmm11INUIII[OUIII1l1 [I IDll
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Dependable service
to all makes and models
of major
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RR 4, 887-9062
Wingham