*God’s providence is a major theme in Genesis, especially the story of Joseph, beginning with his prophetic dreams and ending with Gen 50:20.

Providence is a marvellous word used by Christians to describe the working out of God’s sovereignty in the Bible (and history, including our lives). It cannot always be seen (Esther) but is always operating. It comes from the Latin word, providentia. This was the superintending activity the Roman emperors had over their empire to steer it in the direction of their will. Biblically-theologically, providence is God’s superintending activity over His creation in which He governs it in accordance with His will (or decrees). Nothing comes to pass without Him ordaining it. You can read more about this ‘high mystery’ in the old Baptist confession, ch. 5.

Of His providence, the Heidelberg Catechism 27 says:
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God's providence is
his almighty and ever-present power, 
whereby, as with his hand, he still upholds
heaven and earth and all creatures, 
and so governs them that
leaf and blade,
rain and drought,
fruitful and barren years,
food and drink,
health and sickness,
riches and poverty, 
indeed, all things,
come to us not by chance 
but by his fatherly hand.
 
John Calvin said, “Ignorance of providence is the ultimate of all miseries; the highest blessedness lies in the knowledge of it.”
 
Providence means we can trust an all wise and good Father; we can have peace in the day and also contentment. In providence we develop faith and humility, the chief of the graces. This isn’t a fatalism, we are responsible beings, yet God is sovereign over all.
 
We really see the difference when providence is compared with a world of chance (evolution; the Arminian god). Here, people lack faith, peace, contentment and ultimately true humility. Far better to trust the truths of the Bible about God’s providence. 

Three talks given at the TBS Retreat, Beacon Bible Camp, September 2024. The theme was 'lessons for ministry from biblical vocations."

*Talk two around the campfire at New Life Camp, July 2024. Read talk one here. 

Who here likes confectionary? A confectioner was someone who weighed out goods, particularly sweet goods… Sweets, the children’s delight. As sweets came to be made of sugar cane we got candy. Who here likes candy? Who can tell me their favourite candy? (take answers).
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My favourite candy is Jelly Babies from the UK. They are harder to find here (and expensive) but you can find some knock off brands (not as good). Jelly Babies were invented in the Victorian era (1800s). At this time they were called ‘Unclaimed Babies’ because of all of the orphans. After WWI they were renamed ‘Victory Babies,’ each colour representing a different allied nation. The in 1939 something terrible happened! WWII began and many of the allies brought in food rationing to support the war effort. In England, sugar was so scares that it was rationed until 1953. Can you image no/little candy for children!? Then in 1953 the company who relaunched Jelly Babies hired a Christian man who embedded a secret set of symbols on the babies to share the Gospel.

First, what is the Gospel? It is Christianese, a Christian word, for Good News. It is the good news of about a King who has been victorious and who offers the rewards of His battle to all who turn and trust in Him, to become His subject. Jesus is that King. In His death and resurrection He defeated sin and death and hell so that all who turn and trust in Him might find forgiveness and life eternal.
Jelly Babies help us to learn about the Gospel. Let’s learn a song before I explain it (tune: Doe a deer):

Black for sin a dreadful thing
Green for sorrow over sin
Red the blood that Jesus shed
Pink when we are born again
Yellow the riches of Christ
Orange our future in heaven.
Jelly Babies, a story of good news,
about Jesus, Jesus Christ!
 
Before we  unpack that a leader is going to distribute some real Jelly Babies. Please only take one but do not eat it! Hold on to it. As I explain each one, I’ll invite everyone who has one to say (after I’ve explained it), ‘Yum, thank the Lord for Jelly Babies, yum, yum, yum…’

Black (blackcurrant)- a sad face= the darkness of sin
Green (lime)- crying= sorrow for sin, the pain it causes us and how it grieves God
Red (strawberry)- ‘B’= the blood of Christ
Pink (raspberry)- diaper= new life in Christ
Yellow (lemon)- a necklace= the riches of Christ
Orange (orange)- a bum bag= our journey to heaven

Last campfire I ended by sharing how I had a hole in my heart. Tonight I want to share how I came to believe the Gospel and you can too. After my paperclip experience my pastor (who as a WWII veteran had his own interesting testimony) announced he was running a baptismal class in his home. Here anyone would learn more about the Gospel and about baptism. If you believed you could/would be baptized. It was during this class, in the fall of 1994, that I learned the Gospel more clearly and believed—as a paperclip sinner you didn’t need to convince me I needed Jesus! I was baptized, which is what believer’s do outwardly to become a Christian, on Dec 11, 1994 p.m.

Following Jesus has been the great adventure of my life, but it began when I believed in the Gospel.

Let’s sing again!