#163 Reminisce(19oct07)

'….I am their inheritance; and ye shall give them no possession in Israel. I am their possession'
Ezekiel 44:28

In some ways, just as some (be it complimentary or not in intent) like to classify the Chinese race as the Jews of the East, some do like to place our little red dot of an island on the same parallel with our brothers(for all men are brothers) in the Zion state.

Israel is a study in paradox. Bereft of the 'devil's brew' which seems to overflow with abundance in the lands of their cousins, the Arabs and while there is some common area of deprivation, in terms of water, yet, from the land of God's chosen people flow forth abundance in agriculture and technology.

'….This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden…'
Ezekiel 36:35

God indeed provides and for those looking for a contemporary example of the stories of David vs Goliath, a quick tour of the internet on the various wars involving the then nascent modern state of Israel with its erstwhile neigbours, makes interesting reading and also testifies to God's grace, much as man might think otherwise.

'And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not'
John 1:5

Many of us as believers might find it quite daunting to share our faith. This applies even to those who have been long in the faith. 'Consumer resistance' is something most in the sales business of the secular world, find as a challenge, though reality is, the problem could be with ourselves, our own self confidence and technical knowledge.

As a newly revitalized Christian(sounds better than reborn) or more like, as one who moved from believing to following, I remember I was a little quite enthusiastic, while not exactly full of spit and fire, in wanting to share my enthusiasm for God.
"I found it" was the catchphrase that was plastered all over Singapore in the 1970s, during a major mission push. But as all newly minted believers, you might have found it, but don't flaunt it, seems to be the message from the poor souls at the end of our enthusiastic but improperly grounded tirade.

'The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not the Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light'
John 1:7-8

A few years back, I had a good friend who had a fatal heart attack. By the time I saw him again, it was at the mortuary and my only real contribution was to pen the obituary.
I told myself that I wish that I had shared the gospel of peace and salvation with him. It might have made a difference in the critical period before he entered the land far beyond. But then, I was not ready, for I read very little of the Bible, I hardly prayed and I don't really enjoy worship as I don't sing very well.

About a year later, I was presented with a great opportunity to share the Word with another friend. I was more ready then, having been quite a diligent and enthusiastic reader of the Word of God and also having realized that praying and singing is not a function of who we are, but who God is.

My late friend was a very decent man but with a traditional atheist outlook to life. God gave me 3 hours with him on a nice quiet Friday afternoon. This was the one and only prolonged period of time that I had with him since knowing him for the past 6 years. We talked about everything, the family, cars, markets, but I just could not bring myself to talk about his salvation, even when I felt the prompting to do it. My excuse was he might not be ready to hear the Word. That same weekend, my dear friend had a fatal heart attack. Could things have been different if I had shared the Word?
The obituary penned by me for him was one filled with deep personal regrets.

'….for the priesthood of the land is their inheritance'
Joshua 18:7

For us who have been blessed to have the veil in our hearts lifted, we are commanded to share the gospel of love, peace, joy and eternal salvation. But how many of us are truly 'operationally ready?'
God places people in our paths by His timing, not ours. In his way, not ours. Will we be ready in terms of knowledge of the Word? Can we speak with empathy and God given confidence with our placees because we have gone through the same angst and yet joy, as we experienced the grace of God? Have we been truly transformed and renewed so that our lives are a living testimony of Christlikeness that will draw people in need to want to know more about the Sovereign God?

These past couple of days, I had a strange feeling. Not troubled yet not at peace.This morning, the Lord finally brought me to a new light as regards the word "one breath away"
Truly, so many of us divert all our heart, soul and mind to dealing with the temporal. Yet, we are but just one breath away from eternity, and when our breath is gone, nothing on earth matters.
Eternity is what we must prepare for and once we realize that reality, our entire perspective of life on earth, the way we deal with issues of life, and our very relationship with the Sovereign God will change.

We will learn to live for the day, thankful and certain of God's provisions for our needs, for the grace of God is suffice for the day.
But our whole focus must be on eternity and abiding to God's commands which is to make us ready for His return, ie to love Him with all our heart, soul and mind and to acknowlege Him in all our ways. And to love others as ourselves

'For God speaketh once, yea twice,yet man perceiveth it not'
Job 33:14

God Blesses

Eng Hieang