"Put On Your Socks" by Faust

 What a zany song this is. Faust were a German rock band who dabbled in various styles during the 1970s. Eschewing the tried-and-true rock traditions, this quartet fused different musical elements into their own unique sound. Check out the tune here.

It's obvious to us that putting shoes on first is silly. But we make the same sort of mistake when we present the gospel to people. Before we can give the good news of salvation, we must tell folks the bad news of why we need to be saved in the first place.

A group of people once discussed the matter of worshippers in the temple whom Pilate had executed. Christ's answer showed the peril all people face unless they're saved.

Luke 13:2 to 5 (Bible in Basic English) quotes him as saying, "And he, in answer, said to them, 'Are you of the opinion that these Galilaeans were worse than all other Galilaeans, because these things were done to them? I say to you, It is not so: but if your hearts are not changed, you will all come to the same end. Or those eighteen men who were crushed by the fall of the tower of Siloam, were they worse than all the other men living in Jerusalem? I say to you, It is not so: but if your hearts are not changed, you will all come to an end in the same way.'"

This "end" is both physical and spiritual, meaning an eternity in hell. As Romans 6:23 (BBE) reminds us, "For the reward of sin is death; but what God freely gives is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord."

Giving only half the gospel is as bad or worse than presenting no gospel at all. In Matthew 7:21, (BBE) Christ warned, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will go into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the pleasure of my Father in heaven." The pleasure of the Father is that sinners repent and follow Christ. 

This is missing from most gospel presentations these days. So present the bad news of human depravity before giving the good news of Christ's substitutionary atonement.

Saturday Song: Amon Düül II, "You're Not Alone

The German rock scene was filled with amazing music during the early nineteen-seventies. Teens in that land didn't want to ape American and British bands so they created their own sound.

One band which produced amazing space-rock music was Amon Düül II. On their 1974 album Hijack, they included this encouraging tune about a man calling his girlfriend. Listen to it here:

One truth we followers of Christ can cling to in troubled times is that we aren't alone. Being his disciples, we can take comfort in what Christ said in John 16:7 and 8 (BBE). "But what I am saying is true: my going is for your good: for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And he, when he comes, will make the world conscious of sin, and of righteousness, and of being judged:"

We can also take heart in that Christ comforts us through the Holy Spirit which he sent. John 14:16 (BBE) reminds us who love our Lord, "And I will make prayer to the Father and he will give you another Helper to be with you for ever,"

Ponder as well how blessed we are to have one in whom we can depend on to hear our requests and help us pray. Ecclesiastes 4:1 (BBE) shows us how unfortunate unsaved folks are in this world. "And again I saw all the cruel things which are done under the sun; there was the weeping of those who have evil done to them, and they had no comforter: and from the hands of the evil-doers there went out power, but they had no comforter."

But the Holy Spirit is a comforter in ways we don't even realize. Romans 8:26 (BBE) reminds us, "And in the same way the Spirit is a help to our feeble hearts: for we are not able to make prayer to God in the right way; but the Spirit puts our desires into words which are not in our power to say;"

What an advantage we have over the unbelieving world. Let's let them know how they too may receive ultimate comfort now and in Eternity.

On Monday, provided that Christ hasn't returned, I plan on publishing about COVID-19 and why God let it happen.

Saturday Song: Frumpy, "Life Without Pain"

One thing is for sure, living can be painful. Many people suffer from chronic pain. Others have emotional pain plaguing them. And it's safe to say that all of us would love to live in a world without pain.

Listen to this German rock band's song here:

 A day will come when we truly will live in a world without pain and loss. Isaiah 25:8 (BBE) prophesies, "He has put an end to death for ever; and the Lord God will take away all weeping; and he will put an end to the shame of his people in all the earth: for the Lord has said it."

Likewise, John echoes this prophecy in Revelation 21:4 (BBE). "And he will put an end to all their weeping; and there will be no more death, or sorrow, or crying, or pain; for the first things have come to an end."

Furthermore, what we suffer now, be it from Adam's fall or our stand for Christ, will seem inconsequential in that new universe. Romans 8:18 (BBE) encourages, "I am of the opinion that there is no comparison between the pain of this present time and the glory which we will see in the future."

Better still, we'll see our Lord as he is, reigning in glory, when that wonderful day comes to pass. We read in 1 John 3:2 (BBE) how we will bask in his glory and be fit to be in his presence. "My loved ones, now we are children of God, and at present it is not clear what we are to be. We are certain that at his revelation we will be like him; for we will see him as he is."

All people need to do is to surrender the running of their lives to Christ in order to be in his new world. May whoever reads this be in that number of believers called and chosen by the Lord to be at his side.

On Monday, I hope to post about The hope of Christmas. With all the distraction of the secular world, we need to keep the newborn King in mind.