Dear…
'The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them'
Romans 1:18-19
'And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, ……'
Jeremiah 29:18
Telling it as it is, might not cut it with many in the world who prefers to engage in the myriad of lies and deceit of their own making. But it is time to cut to the chase, and while upheavals are part and parcel of the cycle of life, just like intrigue and jostling for power is the singular most consistent pattern of human life, no better exemplified by the book that I read some years back on the history of 2000 years of Chinese Emperors, the difference this time round is that the amplitude and intensity of the cycles have broadened and intensified.
'Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else'
Isaiah 45:22
If this is another one of my seemingly pessimistic and doomsday sharing, at least to some it seems to be of late, then the choice of title "Saving Private Ryan" seems a little out of sync. Are we not talking about destruction rather than salvation?
'And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain………….'
2 Chronciles 13:12
Some might recall that the movie(produced in 1998) was set in the last world war. Pte Ryan was one of 4 brothers from small town America. Uncle Sam did have a heart in those days, and an order was sent out to recall him from behind enemy lines, as his other three brothers had unfortunately died and the intention was to ensure that the family line was preserved. Of course, the group of men sent out to bring him back underwent many trials and tribulations, and most died just to save one life. Is there merit in that logic?
'To whom will ye liken Me, and make Me equal, and compare Me, that we may be like?
They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god; they fall down, yea, they worship'
Isaiah 46:5-6
The basic tenet of our Christian faith is that man have sinned, and that our Heavenly Father sent His one and only beloved Son to die on the cross, to cleanse us of our sins and by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the grip of death on men is broken. However, God will not impose His will upon us. Like Adam, many of us have chosen to 'play god' and are literally still munching away at the apple that the devil offered all of us, ie the right to choose and decide between what we consider is right or wrong. Many are still willing to give up their 'birth right'(just like famished Esau who sold his birthright to the cunning Jacob) ie the right to start anew with our Father and instead, they rather remain enamoured with the delusions of the evil world.
'Blessed be God, …...Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God'
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Unlike "Private Ryan" where many died to save one, as believers, we know that for the world, only one man was sacrificed to save the rest of us. But Jesus Christ was no ordinary man. He was God incarnate. He was like man, yet without our imperfections.
In simplistic terms, the 'saving' is already done. But unlike the secular world, where not responding mean a 'yes.' For matters of our faith, the Lord our God gives us a choice. To accept the salvation offered to all, is not based on our personal efforts or that of others, but by simply recognizing the truth of the gospel and repenting of our sins, to believe that Christ has died for our sins and to be an obedient and faithful follower of our Lord, to be made ready for His return. Circumcision is of the heart by the Spirit, and we response by yielding to the will of God in faith.
'…Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand'
Matthew 4:17
As believers, indeed there is still work to be done. But it is not about dragging the unwilling over into the safe harbour of God's presence, but rather, to be the lamp that God's light shines forth, that will penetrate the encapsulating darkness and delusion that has so insulated the innate desire in all of us, to show love and to worship God, but now fully wrapped up by our sins. And like a butterfly that breaks out of its ugly cocoon, the Lord will use us to lead by example, to lay forth the journey of faith, to ensure that the flickering light of desire to seek God do not get snuffed out at its rudimentary stage or even near the finish line or any time at all.
'Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.'
Genesis 12:1-2
Unlike the other Private, ie Pte Benjamin(aka Goldie Hawn in a movie in 1980) who joined the US Army on a whim and fancy and muddled her way through to glory, we in our previous incarnate, the secular man might have muddled along as an unbeliever, but when the Lord our God brought us forth out of the darkness, it was no accident, but rather, His will for us, to know Him, to follow Him and to obey Him in the way we live and in being a testimony to many more whose hearts are still blinded.
'…by faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out into a place which he should after he received for an inheriitance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went…'
Hebrews 11:8
As a believer, I know God is real, for He is ever present in my life. As a follower, I know for certain my destination, for just as we await the return of Jesus Christ, our God is preparing us who are willing to come into His kingdom. So, how does one not just pass the message(just like the ill fated men of Pte Ryan) of the good news of the gospel, which itself is a challenge with the need to wade and battle through the enemy lines( and here we are not just talking about the natural,but the spiritual wars), but would the recipient be all eyes and ears and be a responsive one to boot?
'…The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight'
Matthew 3:3
In a dream last night, the Lord reminded me that we do not journey alone. He is with us. He is there always. Are we willing to look unto Him. On a wing and prayers, He will carry us through and indeed, prayers brings us into a close communion with our Lord. Prayers asked in His will will be answered.
'Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart….'
Jeremiah 29:12-13
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(24July2008)
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