SLOUGH High Street had the glorious privilege of hearing proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ on November 28th. The preachers were Pastors John, Sherwood and Peter Simpson, and Mr Graham Parkhouse.
One passing young couple seemed very uninterested in the proceedings, and so Pastor Simpson asked them, Are you going to heaven? The reply came, Perhaps, I hope so. The preacher further asked, On what basis do you hope to get to heaven? The reply was, I am a good person. The minister then responded, But the Bible says that no one is good by nature. Sadly, the couple did not remain to discuss this important point, but may the Holy Spirit nevertheless apply it to their hearts, so that they might realise that, without Christ, far from being essentially good, they are right now under the wrath of Go because of their sin, and that they need to deal with this crisis urgently by repentance and faith in the only Saviour.
As Pastor Sherwood was preaching, he described the new birth as the unique passport into God’s heavenly presence, for without repentance from sin and faith in God’s Son, which are integral to the new birth and the Spirit’s work within, no one will ever see the Lord.
One young woman walked by making a point of putting her fingers in her ears, as Pastor Sherwood was preaching, to indicate that she did not wish to hear, and possibly also that she objected to such a public declaration of Christianity in the high street. What tragic folly it is to reject the gracious opportunity of hearing the means of obtaining salvation and everlasting life. What folly it is to deliberately block out the life-changing word of God.
A passing Roman Catholic lady became angry at the gospel witness saying, I believe in God, but not in any of the stuff going on here, and what you are doing in shouting in the street is not pleasing to God, and Jesus would have nothing to do with it. Pastor Simpson responded that, on the contrary, the Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples that the teaching which they had received from Him must be “proclaimed upon the housetops” (Luke 12:3), which means that the message is so vital that the heralds of gospel truth are under an obligation to lift up their voices to declare this truth to as many people as possible.
May there be those who heard the housetop declaration which took place in Slough upon this day respond in repentance and faith, before it is too late.
