Gospel News — Mar-May 2012

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Comment from Sister Esther Worrell.- I could attest to the advice given, as once whilst undergoing tremendous trials, the song my parents sang when I was quite young, came to me over the many years from the past, and I found myself singing it, and it brought me great relief. It was only then that I was able understand what they were going through at that time, and the relief it brought them. The words were - "I must tell Jesus all of my troubles: I cannot bear these burdens alone: When in distresses, he surely will help me: He'll ever love and care for his own". The chorus - "I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus, I cannot bear these burdens alone etc." just seemed to resonate throughout my feelings, bringing out an earnest prayer for his attention to what I>d been going through, and his help, bringing me ever so close to him and his Father, that I found great solace in singing it, and thus the relief I was seeking. Yes, I often long for the time when in his Kingdom, we>ll be singing praises to our Heavenly Father and Our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, accompanied by those musical instruments.

Death

Bro Harmony Ntchalachala (Kasungu, Malawi)

To die is to have no life. Death is natural and is part of our being. It is the time when our breath is removed from us. "Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years, and he was gathered to his people" (Gen 25:8 NIV). The deceased are free from pain and suffering, happiness and sadness. They are thought-less.

Death comes in different ways. Some people die after a very long time of suffering from very serious disease, while others may die after a short time, of illness. "One man dies in full vigour, completely secure and at ease, his body

well nourished and his bones rich with marrow. Another man dies in bitterness of soul, never having enjoyed anything good. Side by side they lie in the dust" (Job 21:23-26).

We mourn for the deceased because we know for sure that we will miss their physical being for a while. Their works, love and voices will be missed. Mourning is normal and is a Bible custom. Mourning for our dead does not mean that the deceased knows that we are weeping for them. Whether our deceased was a believer or not they know nothing after they have died. People are dying from all age groups, starting from infants, going up through teenagers up to adulthood. They all face death.

We must regard death as an enemy because it has taken our loved ones, our children, our parents, our friends or relatives who shared their lives with us, and now are gone. This death needs to be defeated. We should not be happy with the ceremonies surrounding death. Let us start fighting against this enemy today by keeping close to God and understanding His wonderful plan of salvation.

God is True to His Word

Bro Joseph Kwesi (Ghana)

A soothing trust in God will operate in following the principles of biblical faith: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13); "Call unto me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not" (Jer 4:13); "To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heavens" (Ecc 3:1); "O Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come" (Ps 65:2); "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" (Prov 3:5); "And it shall come to pass, if thou shall hearken diligently unto the