All Things Seen & Unseen

Recently we were reading Matt 6.19-21 in our devotions. I was especially challenged by our Lord's words in verse 21: 'For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also'. The cosmic perspective into which this passage fits is the heaven-and-earth milieu (that dominates all of holy Scripture). Jesus' teaching challenges his hearers to assess their attitudes and heart-commitments in the light of heaven.

D. A. Carson gives this short, balanced recital of the gospel of salvation including the important themes of 'the goodness and severity of God' (Rom 11.22). There is one God who has made us. He is the Sovereign of all and is our final judge. He finds our rebellion against Him entirely unacceptable. He stands over against us in judgement. We ought to fear Him. But mercifully He is also a God of love who is prepared to reconcile us to Himself by sending His only Son to bear our sins in His body on the cross.

John Bunyan (1628-1688) was a puritan Christian writer and preacher who wrote about 60 books (see here ) and pamphlets which are still read today. He lived in the turbulent 17th century of English history which saw the execution of Charles I (1600-1649) for treason after he had been defeated in a civil war with the 'Model Army' (Parliamentary army) organised by Oliver Cromwell. Bunyan, though born of poor parents , was sent to school and learned to read and write which would figure so prominently in his future. He served as a soldier on the Parliamentary side against the Royalist forces. According to his own words, he cursed, swore, lied, and blasphemed the Lord's name. Yet, he was at the same time troubled by visions of hell-fire.