#86a Mark of the Beast(2may06)

‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God?’
Job 4:17

Labour Day, is a big event in many places of the world, especially in the so-called workers’ paradise of the communists ruled nations.

The Bolshevik Revolution in than Tsarist Russia was ostensibly a rebellion against the excesses of the privileged bourgeoise class. A new social order will arise from this workers’ revolution, where all will be equal. Of course, in reality, just like in George Orwell’s satirical book ‘Animal Farm’ some were more equal than others.

‘…on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness’
Matthew 23:28

How I miss the days of yonder, when the incessant rousing cacophony of the resident cockerel in my kampong signaled the dawn of a new day.
I still do get up fairly early at the crack of dawn, thankfully, to have a word with the Lord before the day starts.
Like some, I start the day with a strong desire to be right with Him, but somewhere along the day, my sinful desires often take over..

‘…and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator’
Colossians 3:10

In believing, the Holy Spirit resides in us. In following, we are being transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ, to be made ready for His return and the new Heaven.

‘For the thing that I greatly feared has come upon me and what I dreaded has happened to me’
Job 3:25

Like Job, many of us want to be right with God. Yet, like Job, many of us fear the giving up of what we hold dear.

666 is the number of the devil. The dragon, long revered by the Chinese Emperors is not an exact favorite of many believers, for its close symbolic association to the serpent and Satan.
My motor-vehicle registration number is 228 and to many eggheads(ie the highbrows of our society), the more 8s the better.

‘Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against Me’
2 Kings 18:20
Numerology is more than an obsession for many, for upon it, lies one’s fortune and fate.
In my lesser days, I once to please a friend and for my own avarice, consulted a statistical clairvoyant(if such a term exists) who was really good with numbers.

Just with the date and time of my birth, he could accurately review my past history.

‘Little children, keep yourselves from idols’
1 John 5:21

To turn from God, is to turn to the devil. There is no middle ground.

‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith….’
1 John 5:19

Is this a fair statement??

Everyday, if we are not careful, we often carry with us, anger, fear, lusts, pride, selfishness, unkindness and all the varied markings of Lucifer.

‘…and the whole world lieth in wickedness’
1 John 5:19

The love that we show in response to the love of God brings forth

‘…the fruit of the Spirit is love; joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance, against such there is no law’
Galatians 5:22-23

Let us not be scarred by the mark of the beasts but rather, be

‘ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.’
Ephesians 1:13-14

God Blesses

Eng Hieang