The prophet identifies in a single verse the two great missteps in life, giving two contrasting illustrations of human experience. One is a free-flowing fountain of meaning and happiness with God, and the other is a broken cistern representing toil and failure without Him.

It is not difficult to believe in God but to have a general kind of belief does not lead to true reconciliation with Him. 'Saving faith' is the vital key. Why should this be essential? What is it and how is it expressed?

We hear of 'your truth'. Can 'truth' be known by viewing material facts only, and ignoring the spiritual? Christ's words, 'I am the Truth' show how He presents Himself as the reason for everything, the Creator of all and the revealer of spiritual life.

The Jews of Paul's day were intensely religious, and so were the Gentiles in their paganism. Yet neither understood nor sought to know God and His purposes. Here are the losses due to vagueness in matters of the soul, and here are the gains of finding Him.

The cross of Christ is without parallel in world history. Comprehensively prophesied, nothing has accomplished so much for countless millions of people. To be unaware of the reason of the cross of Christ is to miss the entire purpose and destiny of life.

'And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.'

In the parable of the great supper the Lord speaks of three representative refusals to attend, each one picturing our refusal to the call of the Gospel. Why do we not respond to Christ? Here is what we miss, boxed in by the material realm.

The healing of a speechless sick youth by Christ was not only an act of compassion, but an illustration of the spiritual disorder that racks all of us before conversion. Here is the problem and the healing of the soul.

Before conversion, we see the cross of Christ as the unfortunate end of a reformer-preacher. It has nothing to say to us. We trust human wisdom for life and happiness; we have no light on the soul. Here is the true meaning of that cross.

According to the Bible, alienation from God is entirely due to the problem of sin. But what is sin, why should it be so offensive to God, and what is the biblical method of bringing about forgiveness and reconciliation with God?