FAITH FILES

FOR most – apart from the congregation and locals – All Saints’ Church in Mackworth village was until recently probably no more than a picturesque addition to the landscape as they passed by on the A52.

But when the catastrophic fire hit recently, even those who had never visited joined the lament of hundreds of years’ history up in flames. Sometimes we don’t realise what we have until it’s gone.

When Covid struck in the spring, we all realised just how much we value human contact. If we lose a loved one prematurely, there can be regret at things unsaid or time we should have spent better with them.

There are so many things we take for granted in our comfortable modern society. Yet this year has shown how easily they can be taken away.

Whether it be our job, house, family – or even the data we forgot to back up – when it’s suddenly gone it is a horrible feeling.

No-one expects the rug to be taken out from under us, but the truth is we never know if or when it might happen. Indeed, we don’t even know when our own time will be up.

I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, but if your life were to end unexpectedly now, would you have any regrets?

You may have thought it would have been nice to have seen that church building before it was lost, but what about the God who was worshipped there?

Have you been putting off looking for Him as you live your life the way you want, with the idea of turning to Him later? Did you think God would spoil the excitement of your younger years, so put faith to one side to party at university?

The thing is, actually you’re missing out on all the “life in its fullness” that God offers you right now. Not only that, but the promise is also for beyond when our time on earth is over. And if 2020 has reminded us of one thing, it’s our mortality.

God wants the best for you, in this life and beyond. Don’t put off the best decision you could ever make.

Tim Gossling, communications

manager, Valley CiDS