The message of Jesus Christ crucified for sinners was being set forth in the centre of High Wycombe on March 23rd, as Pastor Peter Simpson preached, being helped by various people from the church who handed out tracts and endeavoured to speak to passers-by where possible.
At one stage a van drove through the square where the witness was taking place and a man leant through the window and shouted at Pastor Simpson as he was preaching. It was not clear exactly what he was saying but it was obviously spoken angrily and in opposition to what was taking place. The minister shouted out in response that of the man had objections to the Christian faith, then why not stop the van and come over and debate with me. Sadly, he did not respond to this suggestion.
Pastor Simpson commenced his preaching by quoting John 5:40, where the Lord Jesus Christ says to His own countrymen who rejected Him, “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life (John 5:40). The people had the eternal Son of God, the Creator of the universe ministering in their midst, teaching about the kingdom of God and performing many mighty miracles. Yet so many refused to come to Him as the only One who can forgive sins and grant the gift of everlasting life.
This demonstrates just how how hardened and blinded the human heart is. Nevertheless, as the Holy Spirit applies the preacher’s words, the stubborn heart of sinners can be wonderfully changed. Nevertheless, they must first humble themselves. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:10). God is looking fro a broken and a contrite heart.
Pastor Simpson also stressed in his preaching the seriousness of sin. In recent times many people have been racked by anxiety over a virus, but sin is a far more serious disease. Unlike the virus in question, sin has without fail a 100% mortality rate. The Lord Jesus Christ therefore warned out of love, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). So repentance is absolutely crucial. May many who heard in High Wycombe this warning of a failure to repent take it to heart and come without delay to the only Saviour of sinners, the Lord Jesus Christ.