THE 2015 Election is now history. The campaign that was declared the closest in living memory was nothing of the kind; that may have brought delight or despair, but either way it made one thing clear ... there are some things in life you cannot be sure about.

At the height of the Cold War, a young Czech was in a railway waiting room reading a motoring magazine. He turned the page to see on one side a Rolls Royce and on the other a Soviet-made Moskvitch.

"Which of those do you prefer?" asked a voice at his side. Turning, he saw Russian military officer. Taking a deep breath, he responded: "Oh, I prefer the Moskvitch."

"You obviously know nothing about cars," sneered the officer.

"Oh, I know about cars ... I know nothing about you," responded the Czech.

There are some things you cannot be sure about. The train arrived and the two men found themselves in the same carriage along with an elderly lady and beautiful young woman? The train went through a tunnel and, in the darkness, there was the sound of a kiss and face being slapped. "So pleased some young people have morals," thought the old lady. "That girl was right to slap that officer."

The girl thought: "How weird, here am I and that stupid Russian prefers to kiss an old woman. He deserves that slap.

The officer thought: "Cheeky young Czech; he kisses a girl, I get my face slapped." Of some things you cannot be sure, because the Czech mused, "I did well. Kiss the back of my hand, slap a Russian officer and get away with it."

Sometimes you cannot be sure.

But of one thing you can be sure. Paul put it well in Romans 1:16 (Good News Bible). "I have complete confidence in the Gospel; it is God's power to save all who believe."

Now there is a vote-winner.

Major Alan Hickman,

Salvation Army, Skipton