"Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in." the following words were humorously spoken by the famous Mark Twain suggesting that it’s not a good idea to take your dog to the pearly gates. And although he spoke in jest, there is nevertheless some truth in what he said. Getting into heaven does not come by merit. We are told that it is “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saves us.” In other words entrance into heaven when this life is over is a favour- not something we earn. Aul wrote, “by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God not of works…” And why is that true? Because you and I are sinners and do not have the ability to make ourselves good enough to enter heaven. As Mark Twain, “ Heaven goes by favor.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

“Most people tend to avoid looking ahead to the end of their days.” That’s probably one of the understatements of the year. It was part of a newspaper commentary giving suggestions for making out one’s will. It is a very common habit to put off making important decisions regarding the future. It’s as though we think we will always be young and healthy, and sickness only happens to others. So many say, “why think of tomorrow, just live for today.” But the reality is that there is a tomorrow to prepare for. Am I ready for the next life? Are you? Have we made preparation? If not, I saw good advice on a grave stone in the Annnapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. On that stone the following words were engraved, “prepare to meet thy God.” To do that you and I need to become properly related to God through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

A national magazine tells the story of a couple who adopted two baby wolves. They took them to their home and for a while the wolves acted like friendly puppies. But when they grew older, they turned on their masters, who barely escaped with their lives. No matter how kind their treatment, or ideal their environment, the wolf nature with which they were born eventually became evident. Similarly, our sinful, Adamic nature with which we are all born, evidences itself in the tendency to do wrong. No amount of education or ideal environment can erase it. We need a new nature, and God promises that in His Word. Paul explained it in a letter to the Corinthians with the words, “If anyone is in Christ, he (or she) is a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.” Though we do not become sinless, we now have a new nature, and the power of God within to defeat our natural tendency to do wrong.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

When the African snake called the spitting cobra spots its prey, it spits and never misses the victim’s eyes. Thus blinded, they become his dinner. This nasty reptile reminds me of a truth found in the Bible. Paul, wrote to the Corinthians, “the god of this age” (Satan) “has blinded the minds”“ of unbelievers “lest the light of the gospel of Christ… should shine on them.” Perhaps as you listen today you are thinking, “how quaint that someone in this day and age still believes in the truthfulness the Bible. Well, that is exactly how the Devil you don’t believe in wants you to think. Paul wrote, “the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.”I courteously suggest that you turn to Jesus, the great physician, He will open your blind eyes. He has said, “I have come into the world that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, These are some of the names given to hurricanes which have occurred or will occur. They can cause damage and death. Continually we are warned to be prepared. We are advised to cover window glass with a protective film to prevent shattering, remove all outdoor furniture, pack a safety kit with items you and your family would need to get through 72 hours. Preparedness is always a good idea. And it’s not just in the case of natural disaster, but for life in general and for the spiritual realm in particular. The New Testament reminds us “boast not yourself of tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” And the most important preparedness of all is that for the life to come. We are all going to live somewhere forever and we need to be ready. Amos wisely warned, “Prepare to meet your God.” How? By inviting Christ into our lives as our Savior and Protector.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

”One Hundred years from today the Bible will be a forgotten book.” That was the prediction of Voltaire, the famous French philosopher, an atheist. who died in 1778. But the Bible is still the most read, most published, and most translated book in the world. It still changes the lives of those who believe it and apply its teaching.. Voltaire also claimed he had found what he called 45 known facts of science of his day which proved the Bible to be untrue. But a few years ago, a college president, decided to examine Voltaire’s so-called scientific “facts.” He learned that not a scientist of our day would agree with any of the noted atheists’ 45 points. Hebrews chapter 4, verse 12 says, “the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, …and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” It is the world’s most amazing Book Read it and obey it. You’ll love what it does in your life.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired, I refused no pleasure. I amassed silver and gold.” Those words could have been spoken by many prominent people today, but they are the words of King Solomon. He was the ancient king of Israel and he tased of the good life, and had every opportunity to do so. His tastes were extravagant, his appetites unrestrained. But at the end of the day, he found everything was meaningless. But when he looked to God, he concluded that to fear God and live a God honouring life was the only thing that satisfied and brought fulfillment and happiness. Perhaps you too are looking to pleasure, money or material achievement to find the good life. As with Solomon, only through a proper relationship with God through faith in Christ can this be found. Our only hope for peace, security and eternal life is in Him. Jesus said that He came to this world that we might “have life, and that and…have it more abundantly.”

Pastor Alex Rockwell

According to Guiness World Records, the world’s longest kiss lasted 58 hours, 35 minutes and 58 seconds and was achieved by Ekkachai Tiranarat and Laksana Tiranarat (both from Thailand) in Pattaya, Thailand, on 12-14 February 2013. But as astonishing a feat as that, it is not history’s greatest kiss. The Bible tells us in the Psalms , “righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” That “kiss” took place when Christ, the Prince of Peace died on Calvary’s Cross and paid the price to make sinners righteous in God’s eyes. It brought together the truth of God about our sinful condition and the mercy of God. Righteousness and peace, figuratively speaking, kissed each other. The world’s longest kiss no doubt had a major affect on those who kissed. But when the kiss of God took place on the Cross, the whole world felt its affects. If we respond and receive Christ into our lives, it will have an eternal affect on us.

Pastor Alex Rockwell

I looked at the signature of a prominent Islander recently, It was impossible to tell whose it was. And It is estimated that businesses in North America are losing more than 100 million dollars a year because of errors that can be traced to illegible hand writing. These include billing mistakes, poorly written orders, and undecipherable bookkeeping entries. But how good it is to know that God does not give His messages in such a confusing manner. His message, concerning life here and hereafter, is very clearly given. For example- “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Or this, “Christ died for our sins” And really, you can’t get much plainer than the invitation God extends when He says, “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” It was Will Rogers, actor comedian, philosopher who, speaking honestly said, “My trouble with the Bible is not the parts I don’t understand, but the parts I do understand.” Get the message?

Pastor Alex Rockwell

C.S. Lewis, scholar, novelist and broadcaster is well known for writing Chronicles of Narnia and the Screwtape Letters. He once wrote, “We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade the presence of God.” And he is correct. Nobody can hide from the Creator. Adam and Eve, after disobeying God in the Garden of Eden tried, but God found them and asked the question, “Where are you”? He asked not because He didn’t know, to confront them with their attempt to hide. And many still try to hide from the Lord. Oh we may not physically hide as our first parents did, but we hide creatively by evading the reality of a personal God through abuse of alcohol, drugs, pleasure seeking and ignoring what we really know to be true. The Bible encourages us to “be still and know the I am God” and warns, “the fools has said in his heart, there is no God.” Yes, we can ignore God, but we can’t evade Him. He knows where we live.

Pastor Alex Rockwell