A Click on the front cover to view as PDF	In this month's issue: Taking Hard Decisions Can We Save the Planet? Is God a Delusion? The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus Abraham, Isaac and the Place The Powerful Creator What God Has Promised Rules for Daily Life Are We Good or Bad?		A monthly magazine published by the Christadelphians (brothers and sisters in Christ) and available throughout the world. Its objectives are – to encourage study of the Bible as God's inspired message;  to call attention to the Divine offer of forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ; and to warn men and women that soon Christ will return to Earth as judge and ruler of God’s world-wide Kingdom.

Taking Hard Decisions 192 countries attended the U.N. Copenhagen Summit in December to discuss climate change and to devise a plan of action that could save the planet from the effects of global warming. For two weeks delegates debated what should be done and how an agreement could be framed, enforced and monitored. The result was deadlock. Earlier it had appeared that an agreement looked likely, so key world leaders decided to attend for the signing ceremony, including Barack Obama and Wen Jiabao, the Chinese premier. But there was no agreement when they arrived and they found themselves heavily involved in trying to salvage something from the failed conference. The outcome has been described as “a meaningful agreement”, which is not legally binding, nor will it be followed up with on the ground monitoring. No country was said to be entirely satisfied with it, but it was regarded as “an important first step”. Frustration Whilst there was an agreement to cut carbon emissions to some extent, everybody agreed that this was a weak deal, but that it was the best which could be negotiated given all the circumstances. Environmental pressure groups like Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace were quick to accuse world leaders of a lack of moral fibre and of a failure to appreciate the dangers facing the planet.  Some of them had dressed up as polar bears and carried placards warning of impending danger. But you have to wonder what the outcome would have been if the polar bears had been properly represented at the Summit. For their plight is widely recognised. As the icecap melts and their habitat disappears, they too could disappear. One day soon polar bears may only exist in captivity. Great Expectations Despite the expectations people had, we should not underestimate the difficulties.  In the democratic world, politicians always have to consider the electoral consequences of any decision. And anything they agree to do must be ratified by their government and its various institutions. President Obama, for example, will have to obtain the approval of the Senate before any agreement can become part of official U.S. policy. And that agreement might not be forthcoming, for the U.S. has a history of being slow to act on carbon emissions, partly for economic reasons. In the developing world, a huge cut in carbon emissions would threaten their standard of living and damage their present economic growth. Many of the consumer goods demanded by the developed world are now being manufactured in the Far East; so it is unrealistic to expect them to cut back on emissions and still be able to supply those goods at the low prices that consumers have come to expect. Nations which would be most affected by rising sea levels – the low-lying countries – are understandably most concerned about the problem. They wanted massive cuts, simply to save their countries from flooding, or even disappearing. They come nearest of all to delegates who could have effectively argued the case for the polar bears! Reasons, reasons… You may find yourself losing patience with all these explanations and might think that when urgent action is needed people should put such limitations aside. But wait a minute. Aren’t there times in your life when you have a difficult decision to make, but you can’t bring yourself to make it? Do you find yourself putting off something until tomorrow that would be best done today? Do you leave the hard issues for later consideration, and deal with the easy ones first?  Jesus was once asked by his disciples about the number of people who would respond to the invitation to follow him. “Lord”, said his disciples, “are there few who are saved?” and Jesus answered: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able” (Luke 13:24). Notice that the answer is really a challenge. It is as though Jesus was saying, ‘The gate is narrow and to enter it you have to strive, and not everyone will be able to enter’. Elsewhere Jesus confirms that only few will be saved (Matthew 7:14); but the emphasis in Luke’s record is upon the need to want what God has to offer, and to want it really badly. Help Now! If it could only articulate its needs, the polar bear on the ice floe would doubtless say ‘I need a stable environment, seals to eat, and somewhere safe for me and my family’. For it must be obvious to it that something serious is going wrong with life and its living conditions: something that threatens its very existence. And really it’s just the same with us, if only we would recognise it. It’s not just climate change, or the financial collapse. Our world is going downhill fast and society is in danger as never before. A time of trouble is upon us, just as Jesus said it would be: “… and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:25-27). That’s right! Jesus prophesied that the world would be in a dreadful state on the eve of his return and that he would then return to rescue the inhabitants of the world. When there is no other way out, Jesus will come to save all those who have taken the hard decision now to become his followers and to live according to his law. So don’t lament the failure of the nations to take hard decisions. Face up to the one you have to make. The sooner you make it, the better.