The above quotation by Richard Dawkins (a well known spokesperson for Atheistic NeoDarwinism) if it was true, would be very bad news indeed. I think most of us, however, would say that the universe and in particular, our solar system, has been designed for a purpose, that there is good and evil and that generally our experience of life is not pitiless indifference. The Bible is a very honest book. In it we find very bad news and very good news.

In the first book of the Bible we are told that God created the heavens and the earth, every living creature and humankind in His own image. The purpose for which humankind were created was that they should care for the world that God had given, to farm the land and rule over the animals, while living in obedience to God and enjoying loving friendship with Him. The Bible makes it clear that instead of living in loving obedience to God, that invariably, people have rebelled against Him and forever lost that close fellowship they were created to enjoy. It is fairly evident that there is something about human life that is far from perfect, that conflict and strife is part of our existence and that there is a restlessness and disharmony within the human heart that often expresses itself in unkind words or harmful deeds.

We can easily identify a lack of peace in the world around us but often fail to understand that a deep lack of peace also exists within our own hearts. We are told in the Bible that we were created by God to enjoy an intimate spiritual relationship with Him but that our relationship has been broken and spoiled by the sin that exists within our hearts. We are also told that there are evil spiritual forces that operate on the human heart and entice us to sinful thoughts and actions.

All of that is bad news but churches such as Sandyford Henderson Memorial Church exist to proclaim the good news…

1. To teach the Bible message of sins forgiven through the sacrifice on the cross of Jesus Christ.
2. To answer the question of how one man dying 2000 years ago on a Roman cross can have a powerful spiritual impact on our individual lives today and bring us back into a loving relationship with His and our Father God.

The spiritual transformation in the hearts of Christians is remarkable. The Apostle Paul in the book of Ephesians describes it like this “You he made alive when you were dead in trespasses and sins.” Jesus said in John’s gospel, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” and “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” and goes on to say “For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him.” Paul in the book of Romans says “Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

God Himself has made provision for us to get back to that loving relationship with Him that we were created to enjoy.

The Christian gospel is very good news, please feel free to come along to Sandyford and find out about that new life for yourself.