A special Christmas

It is Christmas time again! We hope you can enjoy some days of rest and joy, reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas!

This year, Christmas is very special for us. It is our first Christmas as a married couple and probably our last Christmas in Germany before we leave for Mexico next year.

But what is most special about Christmas is not our circumstances but our Saviour Jesus Christ! He came as a light into our world and saved us from sin and death! Jesus said about Himself,

“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

If we follow Jesus, we do not need to fear anything! He is our light and He leads us out of the darkness into His marvellous light. Therefore, we can go with confidence into a new year, even though we do not know what it will bring.

David expressed it this way in one of his psalms:

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

Just married!

A few days ago... Lisa and I married this past weekend in Friedrichshafen by Lake Constance in Germany! It was a really wonderful day for us and we were blessed with great weather and lovely fellowship with guests from near and far!

Here is a first wedding photo...

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)

The Black Forest in white

At the beginning of this month, I moved to a small village in the Black Forest close to Freiburg. The Black Forest is a very beautiful part of Germany and with all the snow we have had here recently, the Black Forest has turned white! And this makes it all the more beautiful!

Below are some photos taken today just outside my new apartment.

The Black Forest has turned snow-white and all the more beautiful. This has reminded me of a spiritual truth from the Bible. In His word, God tells us how He can transform our sinful hearts to make them clean and white as snow:

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18)

 

The Bible tells us that we all are sinners and because of this, we are separated from God and His glory (Romans 3:23). As sinners, we are condemned to death (Romans 6:23). But God loves us and sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross in our place for our sins (Romans 5:8). Those who turn away from their sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are saved and made new (Romans 10:9).

 

After David sinned greatly, he prayed to God:

"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." (Psalm 51:7)

 

You, too, can believe in Jesus Christ today and receive forgiveness for your sins. Only Jesus Christ can change your sinful heart into one that is clean and as white as snow.

 

No continuing city

Happy New Year from Weiterstadt, Germany!

As we start out 2013, my thoughts are directed to the Bible verse for this year:

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. (Hebrews 13:14)

The name of my hometown Weiterstadt actually means "continue city" or "further town". Simply the name of my town can remind us that there is more to life on this earth and to life in my town.

 

This is why I called my blog Here today and gone tomorrow. It is the story of my life. One day here, another day somewhere else. Having grown up in Germany, I then went to study in the USA, then studied in England, then worked in Ireland, then worked in Germany, then studied in England again and now am back in Germany, preparing for service abroad. This month, I am in my hometown Weiterstadt and next month, I plan to move to Freiburg to live closer to my fiancée and be involved in the ministry of our sending church before we get married in June. We will then find a new place to live but only until we are ready to move to our next home in Mexico.

 

And yet, all our living and being in towns and places on this earth is only for a short time and serves as preparation for where we will spend eternity. Those who have trusted in Jesus Christ and lived for Him can look forward to leaving this earth and living with Christ in the city that is to come, the heavenly Jerusalem.

 

This is how the apostle John describes the future city God has prepared for His people:

 

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (Revelation 21:2-7)

 

This is the wonderful future and everlasting city for God's children. A place where all things are made new. No more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain. A place where God dwells with His people and wipes away their tears and gives His children water from the fountain of life. A place where life never ends - a continuing city. This is what God has prepared for His people. Now is the time for us to prepare and get ready for the continuing city that is to come.

 

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. (Hebrews 13:14)