Pastor Peter Simpson was uplifting the message of salvation through Christ alone in the centre of Aylesbury on August 5th, with Mrs Lesley Pilkington form Chorleywood in vital support.
As Pastor Simpson was preaching, he caught the attention of a passing girl and asked her if she was a good person. She claimed to have never done anything wrong. She was told in response that she was disagreeing with the Bible, which tells us, “There is none righteous, no, not one … there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Romans 3:10,12).
Pastor Simpson also entered into conversation with a middle-aged man who insisted that the Bible is just the opinions of man and therefore is untrustworthy. He was asked, ‘How then do you define truth and decide what is right and wrong?’He responded that science represents the truth, and right and wrong are decided on the basis of whether or not anyone is hurt?
Such answers are of course highly inadequate. The findings of science change over time, and in any case science cannot make moral choices. Furthermore, the man’s response failed to recognise that what people who have a sinful and deceived heart may think to be right or wrong may most definitely not be so, precisely because of their defective understanding and fallen nature.
For example, many intelligent people argue that abortion is morally right, on the grounds that it protects a woman’s autonomy, but her ‘right to choose’ should have been exercised when considering sexual activity in the first place, rather than after having engaged in it, and on the matter of whether or not people are hurt, what greater hurt could be done to a child who is aborted than the unjust taking away of his life? However, for many in society today, this issue of whether or not anyone is hurt seems never to apply to heart-beating human beings living in in their mothers’ wombs. May the Lord be pleased to open this man’s eyes to the exclusive truth of Jesus Christ and His word.
A passing woman at one stage asked Mrs Pilkington for prayer about her medical issues, and she seemed genuinely grateful, when she was prayed for there and then.
A man who stopped to talk to Mrs Pilkington was initially rather angry. He assumed that the witnessing sister would be ‘woke’. However, as they talked, they began to agree with one another about what was happening in the nation, and he was pleased to find something of a kindred spirit. Mrs Pilkington then obviously tried to introduce the gospel into the conversation, speaking about the man’s need for a personal Saviour from sin. This is the only ultimate solution for everyone that the national malaise might be properly dealt with.
Initially the man was hostile to this spiritual emphasis, but he gradually became more open. In the end he was willing to take a John’s Gospel which he said he would definitely read. Mrs Pilkington was pleased at this development, because the man had initially said that he had no interest in spiritual matters at all.
A not dissimilar situation arose with two other men, one of whom again expressed anger at the state of our nation. When these two realised that the Christian lady agreed with most of what they said, and did not toe ‘the establishment line’, they were amazed. (It is sadly often the case today that it is those who are not Christians, who, by the gift of God’s common grace, are perceiving the real crisis which the nation is in, doing so in a more understanding way than many churches are, if indeed those churches are addressing the current national crisis at all).
So realising that Mrs Pilkington was on the same page as them in many respects, the two men became more open to the gospel, listening intently when the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ was explained to them. They were also willing to receive a Bible and some Christian literature.
A youngish man had been listening to the preaching for quote a while whilst sitting on a nearby bench. As the preacher and his helper were packing up to finish, it was noticed that he was still there. So Mrs Pilkington approached him and began explaining the gospel. A useful conversation ensued with Pastor Simpson joining in. He had a number of well thought out questions to ask. The key issue as always is the individual’s own sin and the need to be reconciled to God through faith in the crucified Saviour. May the Lord continue to speak powerfully to his heart.
Indeed, may the Holy Spirit work upon the hearts of many who were challenged with the truths of God’s word upon this day. May they see their need to flee to Christ, whilst there is still time.