THE most expensive film ever. More than likely to sweep up many of the Oscars later in the year. Some of the most amazing special effects ever. And a romantic storyline. The film Titanic will no doubt have been seen by many.

Of course we know the outcome of the movie. We know the liner is going to hit an iceberg.

We know that two hours or so later she will sink into the freezing waters of the North Atlantic taking the lives of hundreds of people.

The outcome of the Bible's storyline can also be known. (Of course, unlike Titanic, the Biblical story does not end in disaster.)

It's rather like knowing the score of a football match beforehand and then watching the highlights later. Even if the losing team goes ahead and scores a spectacular goal, we know that in the course of the game the opposing team will come through and win.

But, you may say, how do we know what the outcome will be in the Biblical story? To know this we have only to look at the events surrounding Jesus' death and resurrection.

The hope of humanity is surely peace and goodwill, the hope of life beyond death where love reigns supreme.

Our independence from and rejection of God (what is called 'sin') cuts us off from such hope.

Jesus' death on the cross was for all humanity. There he took on himself the consequences of our sin (chiefly death) so that we could be forgiven and find hope.

Jesus' resurrection from the dead was God's way of declaring that Jesus is the One who is truly Lord of all. But Jesus' resurrection was also the sign that in the end evil will be defeated and God's love reign supreme.

We can look at the film Titanic, knowing the outcome. In Jesus Christ, God offers us the only way to look at life and be sure of the outcome. Do we want to receive this offer or not? -- Reverend Callum Jones, minister of North Bushey Baptist Church

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.