Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher was a character that brought out strong emotions in people. She was, and is, usually loved or hated and there were few who did not belong to either side.  She was a first in that she was the UK’s first woman prime minister and was voted in as prime minister three times. She was noticeable right from the beginning of entering into the UK Parliament.  She had strong convictions and as prime minister was known for not reading the newspapers, being “not for turning” and became known as “the iron lady”. She certainly had a lot of responsibility for changing the economics of the UK by encouraging individual free enterprise, privatising a number of the nationalised industries, selling a large number of council houses to their owners and breaking the power of the unions. This also affected the world.

She was admired by many, was made a baroness, but with her strong convictions she made many enemies. The people who profited by her policies had a lot of good to say about her and those who lost their jobs, and perhaps their communities, would say the opposite.  While in Parliament she affected many people’s lives and, in a number of cases, quite dramatically so.  Despite her courageous attitude and decisions, including her part in winning a war, she finally faced a leadership challenge and was voted out of office. Even then she was not finished but went on world tours giving various speeches.  

Even when she died (on Monday 8^th April 2013), at 87 years old, and about twenty two years after finishing as prime minister, a lot of people, from the UK and around the world, spoke and wrote various opinions both for and against her. However the writer of this article never heard anyone say, “I wonder what God thought about her?” God “has appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness” (The Bible – Acts chapter (c)17verse(v)31). While she was Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher had authority and power but now, in the life after death, she is totally subject to God and His righteous opinion. In life not everything is as it seems but with God, “neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews c4v13). So God’s total knowledge of everyone, everywhere, and His righteous attitude means that He will make no mistakes in His judgment. Therefore the wrong things that we have thought, said and done, that God calls sin, will be judged by God … unless we obtain His forgiveness first.   

It is said that Baroness Thatcher was a “committed Christian”. As such a term is not written by God in the Bible, what do people mean by that expression? If it is meant that a person:

1. Acknowledges their guilty sinnership and that they have “fallen short of the glory {meaning character and standards} of God” (1).  
2.  That their good works cannot earn their way to heaven (2),
3. Repents about, i.e. is sorry for and changes their mind about continuing in, their sins (3).
4. Knows that Christ took the punishment or judgment for their sins when He died on the cross and then rose again (4, 5). This He did because He loves you.
5. Believes implicitly in, or totally relies on, the Lord Jesus Christ that He took the punishment in their place (6),

Then they:

1. Are totally forgiven by God (7)
2. Are saved from the punishment of their sins (8)
3. Receive everlasting life (9)
4. Are given a place in heaven (10)
5. Receive many other spiritual gifts or blessings (11)

 However if being a “committed Christian” means that a person reads the Bible, prays and attends church and lives a “good” life, at least by your standards and something like God’s laws, to gain entrance into heaven, then such ideas do not agree with what God says in the Bible. Such a person has not found God’s great forgiveness nor His amazing salvation. God says, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans c3v20) and “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us” (Titus c3v5).

 If Baroness Thatcher was a “committed Christian” according to the Bible then she is now enjoying heaven and that forever. If she was a “committed Christian” according to people’s standards then sadly she is suffering in hell, and that forever.  The Lord Jesus said, “I said therefore unto you, that you shall die in your sins: for if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins”  (John’s Gospel c8v32). Dear reader are you forgiven and saved by God and on your way to heaven, or are you unforgiven and lost and on your way to hell?

BIBLE REFERENCES

1. “For there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans c3v22b-23)
2. “For by grace {undeserved favour} are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians c2v8-9)
3. “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts c20v21)
4. “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” (1 Corinthians c15v3)
5. “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man (Jesus v33) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.” (Acts c13v38)
6. “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house.” (Acts c16v30-31)
7. “… forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.” (Ephesians c4v32)
8. “That whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John c3v15)
9. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten {unique} Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John c3v16)
10. “The Lord Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John c14v2-3)
11. This was written to those who had already trusted in Christ as their Saviour: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” (Ephesians c1v3)

 

 

 

Margaret Thatcher – Përshkrim i shkurtër

Margaret Thatcher – Stutt lýsing