There’s nothing as heartwarming as the rescue of a young child. The news this week reported a long-awaited phone call between Mary Crabb of England and Harry Curtis of Ottawa. Harry’s father, Ernie, was a soldier in England in 1941. Out on patrol one day, he and two others heard the cry of a baby in the bushes beside a rural roadway near London. Apparently, the child had been abandoned right after birth. The soldiers quickly wrapped the baby girl in a shirt and sent her off to a hospital. The following year, she was adopted by a British family. Mary, now 77, grew up in a good home, eventually got married and had her own children and grandchildren. Back in Canada, Ernie always wondered about the baby he’d rescued and passed away without any answers; Mary always wondered what happened to her rescuers. With the help of an old photo, the pieces of the story were recently put together and the phone call soon put Mary together with Ernie’s son, Curtis. It was quite a conversation. Thanks to the quick thinking of a kind soldier in 1941, a child was given a normal life.

There’s a remarkably similar story in Ezekiel 16 about an abandoned child God rescued, brought back to good health, and raised to adulthood. It’s a figurative story of the kindness of God as he cared for the Israelites in captivity and brought them out into maturity as a nation. It’s worth reading, for it has repercussions for our own lives.

God takes hurt and struggling people who have been uncared for or abandoned and gives them new lives in Jesus Christ. What one of us hasn’t felt lost, mixed-up and hopeless? How many of us have felt the results of our own bad decisions, big mistakes and poor attitudes? It’s at that point that we can reach out to the Lord, for he’s waiting for us with a welcoming hand. He wants to forgive us and help us find our way. Eventually, like Mary Crabb, we can experience great lives.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heaven-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

– Tim Johnson

Now most Christians understand they need to be committed to the truth, but I’m talking about commitment to the truth about people. In our world today, it seems that someone’s reputation doesn’t matter anymore. False accusations and slander are easily thrown around and someone’s dignity is soiled.                

When Israel returned from Babylon and legally began to rebuild Jerusalem, her enemies didn’t like it. Ezra 4 tells us they offered to help with the construction, but the Jews saw through their false intentions and refused. Incensed, a letter was fired off to the Persian king Artaxerxes full of slander about the Jews. They claimed that the Jews were rebellious troublemakers and that when Jerusalem was completed, no taxes or tolls would be paid again. This caused a lot of hardship for the Jews and it took quite a while to legally exonerate themselves and get on with their work. A little slander, a little lack of respect for people’s reputations goes a long way to causing great troubles. Often, it’s because somebody didn’t get what they w

Joseph was thrown into jail because his boss’s wife accused him of rape (Gen.39:7-20). Stephen lost his life because certain jealous people couldn’t deal with his powerful preaching and they cooked up false accusations against him (Acts 6:9-12). And need I remind us that Jesus was crucified because of similar false accusations? (Luke 23:1-2).

We need to be committed to the truth about people. Give people an honest chance. Refuse to spread unfounded information of which you are unsure. Ephesians 4:25 says, “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbour, for we are members one of another.” We’re also told in Colossians 3:8, “But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.”

We all want a good reputation. Let’s make sure we don’t inadvertently harm someone else’s.

– Tim Johnson

With a week of 2019 already behind us, there are lots of interesting things planned for the rest of the year in Canada and the world. Here’s a few: A federal election is planned for October; we might have a new Prime Minister. A new rocket-launching spaceport will begin its construction phase – in Cape Breton. The Toronto Raptors and Maple Leafs are currently doing so well, we might see them reach the playoffs. And in the tech world, 3-D printing will become so developed, dentists may be able to print out a set of false teeth for those who need it. With so many discouraging things happening in the world right now, there are always interesting things to look forward to. Let’s hope some of them will be beneficial to man.

However, these things only affect us in the physical world around us.  Peter reminded us that the entire universe is destined to come to an end at the day of the Lord (2 Pet.3:10-11). Therefore, there are more important things that will affect people eternally, and these should occupy our minds. Things like sharing the gospel that saves man from judgment (Mk.16:15-16), helping people improve their lives as Christians so they will be effective and happy, relieving the sufferings of brothers and sisters (1 Jn.3:17-18), showing mercy and kindness to people around us, and strengthening the church, which is “the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Tim.3:15).

We can enjoy the achievements of man, but it is a greater joy to be involved in triumphs of the faith. Let’s especially pay attention to these.    

– Tim Johnson

One day Solomon thought about the labours of man, and wrote, “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labour. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.” (Eccles.4:9-10). In his day, most people worked on farms and in the fields where it is hard for one person to handle large animals and heavy harvests. Injuries were common, but easier to survive with friends helping out.

Jesus taught his disciples to do things together. He sent them out in pairs (Luke 10:1), and told them to love and care for each other (John 15:12).  Jesus Himself was part of the tri-une Godhead, always working hand-in-hand with the Father and the Spirit. We are called into a fellowship with them, and with other people. While there are many things we must do alone, it is better to seek out others to help you accomplish things, work on projects, and go see people.

There are times in life when some people must work in solitude. It was that way for Jesus on earth. Many missionaries and preachers must labour alone. If it continues too long, the results can be tragic. It is always best to have the help of at least one other person.

Solomon’s concern seems to be for the results when one “falls.” This means illness, injury or discouragement. These are hard to handle without friends.

Remember the wisdom of two.

– Tim Johnson