Thought for the Month - August 2016

"Into the flames" by Barry Adair
(Child killer Robert Black)

This particular Thought has been in my head for a quite a few months now after reading a local newspaper article. "Into the flames" was the headline on the front page of the Belfast Telegraph at the start of this year. The story told was that of the funeral arrangements and cremation of serial child killer Robert Black.

Robert Black had committed the truly horrible murder of 9 year old local girl Jennifer Cardy. He was serving 35 years in jail and passed this scene of time on 12th Jan 2016. Jennifer's killing was the first murder that Black was known to have carried out, but it was the last one of which he was convicted. Perhaps understandably, there were none present at his cremation except for funeral home and crematorium staff, a prison chaplain and one journalist. Everything had been conducted in secret and subsequent to the cremation a simple statement from the Northern Ireland Prison Service said his ashes had been scattered at sea "without ceremony, beyond these shores". No one had come forward to claim his mortal remains.

A number of things passed through my head and I wanted to dwell on a couple of these this month. My initial thought was of the newspaper headline, "Into the flames". I and I'm sure most of the readers of the article thought about hell. Based solely on the Bible, let me say that I believe in the existence of hell. (If we were all honest I think our humanity and natural revulsion at Black's depraved life might take some comfort in that fact.) From reading the account of the rich man in hell (from the story of Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31), it appears that personal memories and identities are taken too. These verses give us a brief glimpse of the likely thoughts and feelings of those in that dreadful place…

"And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.'

"And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, that you send him (Lazarus) to my father's house - for I have five brothers - in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'

Unrepentant murderers who committed heinous acts will know, like they never knew before, the hurt they caused and they will live eternally with that mental agony.

Remember that God IS love but God is also the Judge of all the earth. Someday we all will stand before Him, whether to receive mercy or to receive judgement.

My mind also jumped to the parents of Jennifer Cardy and the parents of Black's other young victims. As well as Jennifer Cardy, Black was convicted of the murder of three other young girls and was suspected to have murdered perhaps up to a dozen more.

I then thought about the secrecy surrounding Black's funeral service. All in stark contrast to God's revealing "spotlight" which will expose every dirty secret…

"For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light." (Luke 8:17)

"…the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light." (Ephesians 5:6-13)

Finally I thought about the cost of Black's actions. The cost to the parents and families of those little girls cannot even be fathomed or imagined. Even in death Black leaves an incalculable cost in suffering and on-going mental torture in those left behind. As no family or friends came forward before his funeral, the State even had to pick up the cost for the funeral service and disposal of his ashes. And what about the cost to Black's immortal soul? The pain that Black inflicted on those young girls and their families will have eternal consequences. An unrepentant soul in that state will literally have hell to pay!

"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works… And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:12-15)

Young Jennifer Cardy is at peace and her parents know this too thankfully. They also know that they will see Jennifer again in a glorious land. But perhaps you would say a prayer for them after you close this website page, asking that God would continue to stay very close to them and calm their aching hearts.

Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?
On Jesus' bosom naught but calm is found.
Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away?
In Jesus' keeping we are safe, and they.

Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours?
Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.
It is enough: earth's struggles soon shall cease,
And Jesus call us to heaven's perfect peace.

(Edward Henry Bickersteth)

Until next month (DV)…

Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!