The Kursaal - the Start of a Journey
by Sue
The Kursaal, a Grade II listed building in Southend on Sea, a short journey from where we live, opened in 1901 as part of one of the world’s first purpose-built amusement parks and included a music venue situated in the main building although sadly, this has now closed.
Many big bands appeared there in the seventies including Queen and Deep Purple, and one time, when Malc and I were just married a few months, Malc took me to see the band Barclay James Harvest appear there. We neither were Christians back then, but looking back, some of BJH’s songs really resonated with me. One song in particularly simply called ‘Hymn’ spoke about valleys, mountains, and God.
The song says:
If you want to see God you've got to move on the other side
and goes on to say:
Jesus came down from Heaven to earth
The people said it was a virgin birth
Then further on:
He told great stories of the Lord
And said he was the Saviour of us all
For this we killed him, nailed him up high
He rose again as if to ask us why
Then he ascended into the sky
That song really resonated with me and my husband. It was most likely the beginning of a journey for both of us and in our thirties, we were both saved. So, the Kursaal holds a very personal memory for us and particularly that very moving song that BJH wrote and sang that night.
Some people today are giving very little thought to the issues of life and death but go about with their heads in the clouds, thinking that when they die that they will automatically go to heaven, but that is a lie of the devil. No amount of what we consider to be ‘good deeds’ or no absence of not doing bad things will be what decides who gets to heaven and who does not. If that were the case we would all measure ourselves against others and the bible makes it clear that:
there is none righteous, no, not one (Romans 3:10)
If any person does not repent of their sin, they will have no part in God’s kingdom because God is holy and cannot allow sin in His presence. Reserved for them, is only judgment, darkness, and sorrow.
We all have a choice to make. Don’t leave it until it is too late.
Times are changing very quickly, moving in exactly the direction that Jesus said it would happen in the last days. The book of Revelation is a clear picture of what is coming in the days ahead. Those who are born again have nothing to fear because Jesus’ blood has cleansed them from all sin, but all who have not yet come to Jesus, repented of sin, and sought His forgiveness, will have to face the terrible and dreadful things that are coming upon this earth. Jesus has not hidden these things - they are clearly shown in this last book of the bible.
We are closer than ever today, to the time when Jesus will call out of this world, His people, to be with Him in heaven. Do not be left behind, but turn to Him today, whilst there is still time.
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
(2 Peter 3:9)