Thought for the Month - December 2007

Contrasting Results - By Pastor Ian Wilson

David Healy’s status as a N. Ireland legend was already assured due to his famous goal again England but he has shown that he is not a “flash in the pan”. He has moved from strength to strength and his talent is now recognized worldwide.

David was involved in a record that N. Ireland would rather forget. For two long years and five days (or exactly 1,298 minutes!) the team went without a goal. David Healy ended the drought on Wednesday 18th February 2004. He scored in N. Ireland’s 4-1 defeat to Norway. It’s not a record N. Ireland fans will want to say much about.

On Saturday 17th November 2007 Healy broke another record. This time it was the record for the most goals scored in the European Qualifying Championship. Healy's 13 goals have broken Davor Suker's record.

I was thinking about the contrast between the record for no goals and the record for the most goals. David Healy has been involved with both. I wonder is that a record!

In the Bible we find some contrasts. Samson was very strong he could rip a lion in pieces and yet he couldn’t handle Delilah. Elijah withstood the 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and yet he ran away from Jezebel. A contrast between strength and weakness in the case of Samson and a contrast between courage and cowardice in the case of Elijah.

There is another contrast we find regarding Moses. He was brought up in an Egyptian palace where he would have wanted for absolutely nothing and yet we find him living in the backside of the desert.

Exodus 3:1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert,

Why did Moses end up in the desert?

Hebrews 11:24-25 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; [25] Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Moses realised that the pleasures derived from sin are only temporal and he put God first in his life.  Moses did what the Lord asks you and I to do.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

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