#181 Panacea (17apr08)

'…for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved'
Genesis 32:30

Few will 'see' God and live. But Jacob did. But his old self did die and his new self, a truly repentant man, a changed person with a changed name, God named him Israel from his old name Jacob('the deceiver'). Like Jacob, when the Spirit of God sanctifies us, when the His Spirit fills us up, we can only respond the way all who experienced His grace and love could, which is, our old self dies and we are reborned.

Sadly, many live and may never 'see' God. It is not because God will not let them, but rather they were not willing to be still and know His will. God is in the midst of all of us. It is less about our ignorance and more about our ignoring Him.
What is 'stillness?' Is it like the beautiful crystal clear azure blue placid waters of the inner inlets leading to the glaciers of Alaska. As the ship I was in gradually stilled its vibrant engines to a near low heartbeat, as it glides towards the awesome and whiter than white majestic glaciers, none will remain unawed by the beauty of God's creations.
We will know God, when our heartbeat is aligned with His will. But will we be willing to stay truly focus on Him. Will we be willing to put aside our needs, our concerns and desires, our finite understanding and truly be determined to come into His presence?

How do we bring ourselves to that state of desire for time with God?

'And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God…
…..because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought Him, and He hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered'
2 Chronicles 14:2-7

King Asa was one of the few rare exceptions in the long string of Kings who came after King David. King Asa as described in 2 Chronicles 14:2-7 seek the Lord our God and strive to follow His will. As he drew near to God, God responded to Him with His grace and love.
Is not that wonderful? A life of peace and joy and provisions that seems like the El Dorado's dream that many are pursuing with their all but never attaining. Difference is with God, He honours and He is faithful. It is no illusion. It is within our grasp, if only we are prepared to grasp His loving hands.

'Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ'
Philippians 4:6-7

The imperfect and judgmental men in all of us wants a conclusion to all issues. Worse, we want it to be concluded the way we think, believe or hope is right.
The current fuss about Tibet has reasonable grounds. The right of every individual to self-determination and ownership of their lands. But then, a quick review of history would have shown that the aborigines should deserve more than the recent apology from the descendants of the encroaching British. A large swathe of U.S.A should be returned to the Red Indians, instead of patches of Land Reserves that the surviving conquered 'sons of the soil' were dispatched to by the foreigners from Mother England. On old Mother England, their cartographers were not too concerned that demarcating in an arbitrary manner their conquered colonies with a ruler and pencil resulted in once homogenous tribes of Africa/Middle East being displaced into several pieces on the ground, the result of which is still being felt with the genocides in Rwanda, civil wars in Uganda/Zambia and for that matter Iraq.
The French weren't too particular about their patchy records in Vietnam nor Algeria. And good olde America as a young nation found it quite difficult to let go of the comforts and rewards of having slaves. For that matter, there were never any perfect humans, only preferred behaviour especially if you are the victor.

'Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird'
Provberbs 1:17

To depend upon the goodwill, intellect, understanding or all other human considerations as the arbiter of equitability for the issues of life is no better than a Mammoth balancing on thin ice. Idealism is at best short-lived.

'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge……..'
Proverbs 1:7

The Sunday newspapers had an article that just gave credence to my efforts to achieve an as yet unreachable goal ie 'superior' intellect. It says that drinking tea helps the brain. My wife that same day dutifully boiled an extra big pot of green tea for now she knows that the days of faithfully feeding me tea is not fruitless and we might see some result in me soon.
In the same newspaper, there was another story about how many normally intelligent Singaporeans might potentially lose their monies in an investment scheme that looks like a pyramid tottering on the brink of the precipice.

What is it that make it so easy for many of us to subscribe to hopes, often unsubstantiated, flawed or even downright fraud? And on the contrary, why is a clearly visible God in the lives of the believers so difficult and circumspect for many unbelievers to want to place their faith in? And why is it also difficult for many professed believers to want to follow the will of the Lord our God?

'The fear of the Lord leads to life. Then one rests content untouched by trouble'
Proverbs 19:23

Fear hits most when we feel a loss of control. Fear encapsulates us when a greater force imposes its will upon us. Fear lingers as our minds work on overdrive, painting the varied future scenarios of a present angst, none of which seems palatable.

What about guilt? A partner in crime to fear. Guilt takes hold of us the imperfect man. Guilt pricks the conscience that God has placed in all of us. Of course, some have managed to place that sense of humanity a lot deeper in the inner recesses of their heart, never to be called upon.

What about reward? The sinful and selfish men will look at issues from a cause and effect. They will do what benefits them be it in kind or at least matches their own value system.
With God, He requires our faithful obedience with no expectations other than the love of God. We must give before we will receive, which runs contrary to the normal human view of knowing what is attributable to them before they contribute, if at all.

'In his time of trouble, King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the Lord. He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, who had defeated him for he thought since the gods of the kings of Syria have helped them. I will sacrifice to them as they will help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel'
2 Chronicles 28:23

Today, just like the times of King Ahaz, many of us continue to seek the 'gods' that seem most effective in fulfilling our desires or solving our troubles, not knowing that satisfaction is temporal, payback is eternal.
The Bible says in Job 5:7 "Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upwards' Indeed trouble is an all weather occurrence, though it tends to take up tempo in times like now, after the relatively 'good times' of the past few years.
My desire to seek the Lord faithfully have not ensured that there are no 'troubles' in my life. On the contrary, it tends to brew a little more often for me, but yet, I have learned that it is times like this that brings my faith that much deeper, that much closer to experiencing God's grace and love.

'Hezekieh……He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Daniel had done'
2 Chronicles 29:1

One writes with better empathy when one also goes through the grind of issues. As of yesterday, I had a little new trouble brewing in my life, from a source that one least expect. Being fearful of God, for He corrects those who trust in Him, I have always strived to be right with Him. Of course, the imperfections are still there, but being mindful have ensured that we tend to make less mistakes or rather, sin less in our lives and if we do,we are convicted of our follies that much earlier, to allow us to repent that much quicker and not let the sores of sins fester too long.

'Give thanks unot the Lord, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people………………..
……….Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually. Remember His marvellous works that He hath done….'
1 Chronicles 16:8-12

As I dwell upon the latest refinement process in my life, I am reminded that truly God has always seen me through. It is better to spend time with Him rather than with our fears. It is better to let Him show us any little spots that might have discolored our life, be willing to let Him cleanse it and always remaining thankful to Him in all situations and continue to respond the way He wills, to honour Him, even if we have to deal with the dishonorable and the miscreants.

'….Now, who is willing to consecrate himself today to the Lord'
1 Chronicles 29:5

'Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord…'
1 Chronicles 29:9

The word "panacea" is an noun meaning a remedy for all diseases, evils,or difficulties; a cure-all.

'Who is God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, …..He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us, He will subdue our iniquities…'
Micah 7:18-19

God is Sovereign. If this is true, and it is, then it is only right we start with Him, the source of all comfort and grace, that we stay in His presence, and that we let go and let Him.
Letting go does not mean that we do not use the wisdom that God gives to us. It does not mean that we disregard the very clear commands of behaviour that He has shown us in our daily walk with Him.
Letting go means that we bring our supplications and needs to Him first and foremost, we do what is right in His eyes, even if it does not seem right in ours, and we do not look for our conclusion, but we conclude the day knowing that His grace was indeed suffice for the day and we remain thankful for all situations.

'….for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, to give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, by which the very sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide their feet into the path of peace….'
Luke 1:76-80

'…The Lord is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you.'
2 Chronicles 15:2

'And they entered inot a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart, and with all their soul…'
2 Chronicles 15:12

'…and He was found of them: and the Lord gve them rest round about'
2 Chronicles 15:15



God Blesses

Eng Hieang
13April2008