t is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord…….'
Lamentations 3:26
For most of us who still cares to read the local newspaper, it is not too great an experience to continue to be plastered by the fixation that our local press have on the on-going saga amongst our fairer folk. If you are amongst the rare blissful folks who are not aware of AWARE, then it might be better to go for lighter reading somewhere else.
'Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness'
Matthew 6:33
A friend sent me a comparative pictorial representation of our Earth relative to the Sun, our Solar System relative to some much bigger ones, and simplistic as it might be, it does bring one into perspective.
From the first bite of the forbidden fruit by Adam and Eve, all of us, irregardless of race, religion, value system, intellect ability, pet causes etc etc would always form an opinion on matters that will be clouded either consciously or subconsciously by our own frame of reference, rather than from the Sovereign God. And till today, wars and strife have always been the solution, for might is right and peace is temporal.
And much as many seek for perfection or dominance through various routes, reality is when we revert back to dust, it matters not much whether one is housed in an expensive masoleum, or placed in more humble dwellings like an urn, or simply sprinkled over the ocean.
The Athenians during Apostle Paul's time did spent untold hours philosophising and in debate, but that did them not much good, for might is right as far as the conquering Persians were concerned.
'And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice…."
Acts 10:15
In politics, we have the left wingers, the right wingers, the centrist, the liberal conservatives, the new labour and the whole gamut of definitions. Not even sure if the basis of segmentation is universal, but men are nomadic as far as alliances are concerned, so called shifting sands.
Much as some might want to tag Christians as liberal or rightwing(with the word extreme thrown in for good measure), reality is that there is only one Sovereign God, one Jesus Christ and all who not just profess to believe in but truly seek to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, to be like our Lord Jesus Christ, are termed Christian. But have you strived to live up to what God wills, and not what man thinks?
'Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not….Great is Your faithfulness.'
Lamentations 3:22-23
For does believing from the mouth qualifies you as a Christian? The devil believe in God and in the existence of Jesus Christ. But he is not a Christian.
How does then one know who is a "real" Christian and who is just a "quack"? For one must not take lightly our claim to be a Christian, for all are accountable to God.
The world lately, is more aware of the presence of Christians in their midst. The collective branding of all who claim to be a Christian has also meant that the world with their finite and imperfect understanding has attributed high benchmarks, the fruits of the Spirit, that they expect all Christians to live by and rightly believe that most Christians have fallen short of these same standards that Christians are perceived as trying to impose upon them.
But it is God that men should look to, not fellow sinful men, Christians or not, for all have fallen short of the law.
Men are in different shade of darkness. Light comes from the glory of God upon those He has shone His grace upon.
'To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not. Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
Lamentations 3:36
Some have called me a staunch Christian. . But "staunch" is not about defending the faith by my own understanding nor about imposing my views upon others nor by the pharisee-like symbolism of my life as seen by others. For reality is, I am just an imperfect man trying to stay in the light of our Lord Jesus Christ, in this encapsulating darkness of the world, and not too successful too, for I am one who continue to sin, much as I try not to, but the key difference since I came to the faith and seek to follow Christ, is that I will always be acutely aware, by the prompting of the Holy Spirit, of any failings on my part, quite quickly, and I have learned to be desirous of coming unto the presence of the Lord to let Him correct me. Staunch, here is to staunchly stamped out any simmering potential for furthur sin upon my own part.
I am far from qualified to make a judgement upon others, and God knows that, for we are asked never to judge others and I am too fearful of our Sovereign God to want to make light of His command.
'For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating or drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.'
Romans 14:17
To each their own, including one's sexual orientation. It is not for me to impose my "right nor might" on someone's preferences. But not to judge does not mean not to share my faith by the way I live, to whoever God brings into my life, for light does emanate out into the darkness, even if the lamp is stationary within its confines.
To respect others right to be different does not mean that one will not stand firm when darkness seek to encroach upon light under the cover of what else, but illuminated darkness. Christians must be inclusive in respecting the choice that others have, for Christ ate with the taxpayers and other so called "sinners" of his time( as defined by the self righteous Pharisees) but inclusive does not mean that Christ compromised upon the will of God and neither should we.
The world is moving to a roundabout contention that if we don't condone their lifestyle, it is taken to mean that we are against them. Is overbearing the second skin of the non Christians just like self righteousness has been the ailment plaguing many professed Christians.
Each of us are accountable to God directly and while we are asked to correct with love, it is not my right nor responsibility to impose change on another fellow being. Only God can bring about the increase.
" I am a little pencil in the hand of God Who is writing a love letter to the world" that is what Mother Teresa said about herself. And as uncompromising in following the will of God, as a true follower of our Lord Jesus Christ must be, it does not mean that we do not continue to love all who disagree with us. We must correct, but with love for God is love, and as the Lord has shown us, we have to move on should an unbeliever choose not to heed our words, for we can only water, but it is God Who can bring about the increase.
And what about those who continue to challenge our very right to live our faith? The battle is the Lord's and let the Lord lead us, and not us lead Him by our own understanding.
'From henceforth let no man trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus..'
Galatians 6:17
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(27april09)
In perspective
-------------------
Everyone who is still carnal loves a good fight. Guess passion is good for the adrenaline and stokes our carnal self. A Christian on the contrary must lived by the Spirit. A Christian on fire is on who is fervent in seeking the Lord our God and is compassionate to all that God placed in their paths. But will many be willing to move out of darkness into the light?
Who knows, with the swine flu possibly being a pandemic, we might soon stretch that word to pandemonium, not that kind of excitement we look for, but it will bring all to a clearer perspective beyond the present self. One will do well to reflect upon the following
'And I will set My face against them, they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them, and ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I set My face against them..'
Ezekiel 15:7
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment