Dear…
'O Lord, I know that the way of man does not belong to man; it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. Lord correct me, but with judgment; not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing…'
Jeremiah 10:23
Last week ended for me on a thankful note. Thankful because if things had really gone over the brink, which was my brief, but sinful hope at the beginning of that week, to correct the incorrigibles, would have ensured that many would not have had the chance to turn to God, as I realized in mid-week, and by end of last week, even I the supposedly sheltered would not have been spared some grief, as banks go on a mad illogical frenzy to slash and burn, and anyone who was unfortunate to borrow monies from them and were not in a position to make good, was literally dead.
God has once again showed me that His way is the only way, and we the finite man, must not play judge and the need for us to always remain unto the presence of the Lord our God, for we can never trust ourselves.
'I will bless the Lord, Who hath given me counsel; my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.'
Psalms 16:7
It has been a year since the world started to wake up to the stirrings of the sub-prime problem. Eight years of unfettered greed with its beginnings after the collapse of the internet boom in early 2000, as Americans decided to extend their dreamy days of freespending by leveraging off the enhanced value of their properties, to spend on the goods that the rest of the the world willingly purveyed to them on credit. The sins of self-denial have now come to roost and while financial institutions seem to be falling like ten-pins, one wished that it will just end here, so that maybe just maybe all of us can take that long needed respite. The general populace might just be beginning to feel the reverberations of the sub-prime crisis, but for many of us who are in the financial line, the toll and toil at ground-zero is very real, in terms of both physical and emotional, not considering the material and yet the only thing certain about tomorrow is that it is fraught with even greater uncertainty.
'Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer.'
Psalms 19:14
You might realize from my meanderings that I am still quite coherent. If not for God's grace in allowing me to anchor upon Him my Rock, I would have long been washed ashore as flotsam,like so many whose hard built business and wealth have been shipwrecked by the many floating icebergs in these dangerous waters.
It has reached the point that none of us have any idea as to where the next bomb would explode in the business world and whether the world leaders are truly capable of defusing this continuous series of implosions, whose ramifications are broadening in strength even as ours are ebbing.
Thankfully, God is Sovereign and He is with those whose faith rest with Him.
'The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water, He turneth it whithersoever He will.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts. To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice…'
Proverbs 21:1-3
By now, many might be literally be with their backs to the wall and but not on their knees, making supplications to their 'gods' to restore their fortunes. Wealth before health and for some, money is more than a matter of life or death. There are also many men of faith whose prayers are to the Lord, to trust in His faithfulness, even as they go through this storm. The Lord our God is indeed a refuge for those who trust in Him. God knows our needs, even before we come to Him. That is our reassurance.
But what is our response to a loving and graceful God? What is God telling us?
'He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?'
Micah 6:8
It is natural in these very difficult environment to think of our own interests and survival. Yet, if we truly know God, we will know that He will and has provided. We must honour Him now in believing in His promise and we must translate that belief into faithful obedience on our part, by doing the things which He has commanded us. Which is, to live out the fruits of the Spirit, to be a platform upon which His light will shine forth in a world where darkness and fear envelopes many.
'While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.'
John 13:35-36
We must move from our sinful natural self to the God led Spiritual man of truth, that He wants to transform us into.
'Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity; I have trusted also in the Lord, therefore I shall not slide. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me, try my reins and my heart.'
Psalm 26:1-3
Being the imperfect man, I am like the vessel that still have many layers of dirt yet to be removed. But God is good. Even in my imperfections, He has allowed me to be a witness to His grace, in my life and that of others. But the times are with us, where the scrubbing has to be more intense and correction has to start with the faithful.
Numb or rather shell-shocked many might be, and just a little nudge more might be suffice to push many over the brink of no return.
'I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye……..Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.'
Psalm 32:8-11
As one shares, clearly the landscape of the world is being reshaped and here, we are not talking about light touch-ups, but rather whole scale reconfiguration. Where will things be, and for many, in their present sorry to destitute state, would they be in position to survive the brave new world we have entered?
I believe that the author of the futurist book "The Brave New World" was this chap called Alduos Huxley. In my younger days, in the 1970s, the other famous chappie or rather futurologists was Alvin Toffler. I cannot remember the exact contents of what both gentlemen wrote, but it matters not, for what matters is not what we think but rather, that the grace of God is suffice for the day, and while the world going forward might be even more unpredictable than its already present fickleness, God is Sovereign and He is omnipresent and that is suffice.
'Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.'
Romans 10:1
At this stage, many of us need saving, in terms of what the world values. Wealth is temporal and by the time things settle down, many will come to realize that their financial losses will be permanent. Yet, what will we not give up if we know with certainty that it is our eternity that is at stake here.
This is the time where not just the active seekers of wealth will suffer collateral damage, but even the innocent bystanders and this is the time where the only thing certain is one's knowledge and experience that God provides and He has provided.
'The wicked is driven away in his wickedness, but the righteous has hope in his death.'
Proverbs 14:32
We as men are very concerned with the temporal, whose very preservation is now at risk. But God is concerned with the eternal and the beginning of our healing will start when He allows us to be so shaken that the grip of the world no longer has its hold upon us, and in letting go of our reservations about trusting God, and in letting God, we will let His Spirit sanctify and lift us up, that we will realize that what matters is not what matters to us, but what matters to God.
'He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.'
John 1:23
In the till recently red-hot agrarian sector, the farmers both sow, plow and reaps. In the kingdom of God, He uses all who are willing, to take on different roles. I have been blessed these past few years to sow with the Words that He has given me. While many who have been kind to still stay on my mail list, might not have read most if any of these regular meanderings, the time has come for the plowing and God will bring you forth now, if you are willing.
Where do we begin(just like the opening lyrics of the song "Love Story) and love is indeed where you must begin, for God is love.
1. Admit you are a sinner
'For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God….'
Romans 3:23
2. Believe on Christ
'And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.'
Acts 16:31
3. Confess your faith
'That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with thy heart man believeth unot righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.'
Romans 10:9-11
Let me conclude by saying that just because you have changed, by moving from the sinful world unto God, that the world will also change for the better. It will not happen, as yet. The world will continue to shake even more, as there are many more to be saved, to be loosen from the deathly grip of the devil. But as you begin to allow God to transform you, you will realize that come what may, the peace, joy and deep reassurance that only God can give you, will continue to uphold and anchor you, in this temporal world, as you await the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Is this not better than what many are continuing to undergo in torment and fear as fear feeds upon itself and we are nearing the day when the Anti-Christ, with his saccharin tongue and false promises, would come forth to be willingly worshipped by the tormented, if not demented, who will sell their soul to recover their temporal desires.
'Fear, and the pit, and the snare, shall be upon thee, O inhabitant of Moab, siath the Lord. He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit, and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation, saith the Lord.'
Jeremiah 48:43-44
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(20th Oct 2008)
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