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Viewpoint from Dave Weeks 17/02/2023

Dave Weeks
Pastor, Hope Church (retired)
 

Parable of the Coke Bottles 

Jesus often spoke in parables, the Parable of the Sower being one. (You can read it in Matthew chapter 13). Basically it is about a man who went out to sow seed. This seed lands on four different types of soil, the fourth soil, which Jesus called the good soil, was the only one in which the seed ended up producing a crop. I would like to share with you one of my parables; the Parable of the Coke Bottles
 
Years ago there was an advert on the TV made by Coca Cola. Its tag line was ‘It’s the Real Thing’. Now if we went shopping we would find different types of cola on the shelves. Apart from the obvious Pepsi Cola, you could buy Sainsbury’s cola, Morrison’s cola, Tesco’s cola, and various other types of cola as well. But they are not the real thing. Only Coca Cola is Coca Cola
 
At the end of last year there was a survey published which said for the first time ever, less than half the population of the UK said they were Christians. Now the reality is that many of those people would have said they were Christian because they may have been christened, live what they would consider a good life, or because they live in a Christian country, (although I no longer believe that to be true). Some would have said they were Christians because they didn’t follow some other religion. Some would have said they were Christian’s because they go to church, or say their prayers, or even read their Bible from time to time. But my question to everyone is this, “Have you got the real thing?” 
 
Billy Graham, a world famous preacher, once said in one of his sermons that “People get just enough of trying to be good, just enough of going to church, just enough of saying their prayers, just enough of reading their Bibles, to miss the real thing”. So what is the real thing? A real Christian  believes that Jesus took their sins and the punishment for their sins when He died on the cross in their place. They believe He died for them but rose again from the dead. They turn to God, give their lives to Jesus and follow Him making Him their Lord and Saviour. The result? They know they are forgiven, accepted by God, and have a place in heaven. I did this 45 years ago. Jesus came into my life and everything changed. I believe I have the real thing, do you?
 

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