Trick or Treat?

Paul McCartney once sang, ‘Someone’s knocking at the door, someone’s ringing the bell. Open the door and let ’em in.’ ^*

Not so when I knocked on the door of an elderly neighbour this week. He was not only concerned about opening the door because it was dark at 5.30pm due to the clocks going back, he was worried it might be kids playing ‘trick or treat,’ or even worse someone trying to trick their way into his home in order to con him out of some money. It’s sad that we live in a world where elderly people are in fear of opening their front door in case they are tricked, robbed or beaten up.

God is the antithesis of these fears. The Christian Scriptures tell us that in God there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5), that if we ask him for a fish he is not going to trick us and give us a snake (Luke 11:11–13), and that his intentions for humanity are for good not harm (Romans 8:28).

The future with this God is one where the fears of my neighbour and the great fears of humanity will have disappeared: there will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain (Revelation 21:4) and to reassure us we are told these words are trustworthy and true (Revelation 21:5).

This is no trick, but the greatest of all treats. May God speed that day!

Have a good week trusting in this God.

Pastor Barry

_{Wings ,”Let ‘Em In” on the album Wings at the Speed of Sound 1976.}