Welcome to 2018. This time of year, many try to start over, making New Years Resolutions. In his book “Come Before Winter and Share My Hope”, Dr. Charles Swindoll wrote “To start over, you have to know where you are. To get somewhere else, it’s necessary to know where you are standing.” Well said. Have you been assessing your life, and are not happy with what you see. Maybe you are ready to change your mind about your lifestyle, the next life and your relationship with God. If so, it is necessary, as Dr. Swindoll suggests, to know where you are now. We are all out of fellowship with God, apart from a relationship with His Son, Jesus. He offers us forgiveness for the past, and hope for the future. He said, “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in.” That means inviting Christ in to our lives.
 

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Soon it will be 2018. What will it hold? Amazingly, billions of dollars are paid annually to those claiming to know the future. It would be wiser to check out the Bible, the most authentic book of all times, to learn about the future. Jesus promised, “I will come again.” He is coming back to this earth to set up His kingdom, at an unknown date. And God never makes promises He does not keep. For example, centuries ago, God inspired Old Testament writers to prophesy that the Jewish people, scattered all over the world, would one day return to Palestine and have their own country. Many scoffed. But in May 1948, the nation of Israel was re-born, exactly as promised, right on schedule. So, are we prepared if 2018 is the year in which Christ keeps His promise to “come again”? Only with Christ is our Saviour, can we confidently say, “Come on 2018. I’m ready for you.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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What was your favorite Christmas present? Growing up on a farm in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, money was scarce, so Christmas gifts had to be inexpensive. I played hockey, so one year my parents gave me a new hockey stick. It was my very first new hockey stick. It cost my Dad one dollar and ten cents, a lot of money in those days. I thought it was the greatest gift I had ever received. But when I was seventeen, I received another much more valuable gift. I had been taught that we must earn our way to heaven by doing good works. Then someone showed me from the Bible that eternal life cannot be earned, and that “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Later I learned that it is “by grace we are saved through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God not by works…” I am so glad I received that wonderful gift.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Christmas 2017. Many have Christmas trees in their homes. Under the trees are gifts for those who will be home. Other gifts have been sent to loved ones who will not be not home for Christmas. It is unlikely that any of the gifts have been, or will be, unclaimed. On the first Christmas, over two thousand years ago, there was a gift made available to every person in the world, given by Him whose birthday we celebrate at this season. The gift has not been withheld from anyone. But sadly, some have left the gift unclaimed. Some have accepted the gift, but only carry it around, never removing the wrappings or looking inside to discover the hidden splendor. The packages are all alike- in each is a scroll on which is written, “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” I have accepted the greatest gift one could ever possibly receive. Have you? Merry Christmas!

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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An article in Time Magazine entitled “The Forgotten Prince” explores the nature of Prince Charles’ personality. Described as a mass of complexities, “he appears to be engaged, yet aloof, indulged yet deprived, surrounded by people yet profoundly alone.” He is quoted as saying “my greatest problem in life is that I do not really know what my role in life is.” This Christmas season, we will remember another “forgotten Prince.”, Jesus, the Prince of peace. Unlike Prince Charles, He knew His role in life. He once said, “I have come that they might have life.”(referring to the masses of mankind) He came to live a sinless life and die for the sins of the world on a cross. Luke’s gospel records Jesus’ words, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Christ is largely forgotten by people now, but there is a day coming when “every knee shall bow” to Him”.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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I heard recently the story of a young boy who read a bedtime story with his father which described what the world would be like if Jesus had not come. On Christmas morning, to his surprise, the boy found no Christmas decorations. Going for a walk, he found all the stores open, even though it was Christmas day. Saddened, he ran home and picking up his Bible, saw that the New Testament was missing. Then he awoke and joyfully realized that it had been a dream. He prayed, “Oh dear Lord Jesus, I am so glad that you did come. “A world without Christ is indeed a sobering thought. How good to know that the angel spoke truth to the shepherds that first Christmas, when they said, “…behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour Who is Christ the Lord.” Merry Christmas.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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Peter McLaine of Charlottetown recently heard these words from a life long Islander friend who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. “If I had died when I broke my neck, I would have been in Hell for these past few years and through eternity. But through God’s grace, even though I am in palliative care knowing I am dying, I have never been happier and full of peace in my 60-years of life. God is great”. A few years ago, the man, who had been driving motorcycles most of his life, had a head on collision with a cow in which he nearly died with a broken neck… the cow was killed. But the motorcyclist had recently received Jesus as his Saviour, and is thankful to have had the chance to give his heart to Christ knowing he will soon be with the Lord. God kept His promise, “…if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.” The question for all is,” If I die today, where will I spend eternity?”

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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York, Maine Police say a man used cameras hidden inside air fresheners to spy on friends and family with whom he was sharing a vacation home. Frequently people, governments, or businesses are caught invading the privacy of others with hidden cameras or microphones. How we spend our money, what we look at online or share via email, are compiled and catalogued by private companies. What is passed on is often not for our good. But we are also constantly under the searchlight of the Lord, who wants only the very best for us. Job of old said, “His eyes are on the ways of man and He sees all our steps.” Solomon wrote, “the eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” So, if we are in a right relationship with God, through faith in Christ, we have nothing to fear. If not, Jesus is able to change our situation if we desire to change.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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“I’m one of the lucky people who was diagnosed early.” Those are the words of Dr. Michael Clarfield, a pancreatic cancer survivor. He now chairs the Pancreatic Cancer Canada Foundation and has launched a campaign called, “Assumptions can be deadly.” True indeed, because many assume they are well and serious illness could never happen to them. This is not only true regarding our physical health but also our spiritual health. To assume that going to church, living a good life, supporting charitable organizations, makes me a Christian and prepares me for the next life is very dangerous. We do not become Christians because of what we do, but because of what Christ has done. We are told in the New Testament, “By grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works…” Please do not make dangerous assumptions concerning your body or your soul.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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A painting of Christ by Renaissance Master Leonardo da Vinci sold last month for a record four hundred and fifty million dollars at a Christies auction in New York. The painting called Salvator Mundi (The Saviour of the World) is believed to be the last of Da Vinci’s paintings in private hands. The subject of that costly painting is Jesus Christ Himself Who is, indeed, the Saviour of the world because of His death on the cross. By that sacrificial death, Christ, as the Bible says, died “the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to bring us to God.” All who humbly admit that they are sinners by nature and by choice and accept Christ as Saviour are “saved.” Paul told the Philippian jailer, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” This gift, is worth far more than Da Vinci’s painting. It is priceless, cannot be purchased, is available to all.

Pastor Alex Rockwell
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