Reflections for the moment #11 Obedience (5may09)

Dear….

'….Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.'

Luke 21:30

Greens shoots sprouting is increasingly what many reborn bulls who are starting to shed their bear skins, are spouting, as the catch word for early indications of the world coming out of the financial debacle it found itself mired in the past couple of years. Self belief is always an important driver and if enough lemmings decide that it is ok to jump over the cliff, senseless as it might seem, the momentum will fulfill its own prophecy till enough snapped out of the delusion or simply there are no lemmings left.

'For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was anything kept secret, but that it should come abroad. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.'

Mark 4:22-23

Now that the pigs, at least the virus, have been found to be impotent for the moment, the world has gone into overdrive in terms of a relief rally in the stockmarkets, and who knows, self-belief can be a momentum by itself and stockmarkets might just defy logic for that much longer.

Can we draw a similar conclusion for the Christian faith? Can men cling on to their belief in an invisible God? Belief can and do lead many beyond what they thought that they were capable of. Belief even cause some to martyr themselves. But for most, falter we all will if God is just a function of our self belief.

God might be invisible to our senses but thankfully, He is very present in the Spirit, and many of strong faith will attest that our steadfastness comes because God is more than a figment of our own imagination. He is in fact, very much present to those who seek a relationship with Him.

And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall be there from heaven.'

Luke 21:11

Much as the swine flu seems no different from the regular seasonal flu, fact remains that the porkers are fast broadening their reach across the globe. Are we witnessing the equivalent of sleeper cells that the communists of a few decades were infamous for, when they inflitrated their enemy countries by placing their allies across society, to be activated at the opportune time?

'Thw sower soweth the word….And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

And these are they which are sown on good ground, such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred..'

Mark 4:14-20

Most of us who do read the Bible are familiar with the parable of the seeds. And those who seek the Lord like to believe that they are in the last category, ie, those who respond and God bless them bountifully. But reality is, are we more like the seeds which easily fall prey to the cares and concerns of the sinful world?

Now that the stockmarkets has since riccohet 15-20% in the few days since my one and only public declaration(see excerpt below from Reflections#6 Amnesia 14th April 09) of what I believe was truly from the Lord, some might be wandering that just maybe God did speak to me. I believe God did lead me into the markets much as it was against my rational logic, but interestingly, the Lord took me out of the markets last Thursday. If our relationship with the Lord was about making material gains, then I must have heard the the Lord incorrectly, for the big gains were this Monday, and my selling a market day early, did make a significant difference in the prices.

"On logic, I have in all probability done the most stupid thing in my life. Putting monies in a market that has already risen 20% or more, putting more than I will do in such circumstances and buying stocks that I felt led to rather than placing more of my usual rigorous thought to. And every day since, the news continue to affirm what I have understood, that is, the world is living out a lie, propagated by the powers to be and it is a matter of time before the markets go for a bigger whack.(excerpt from Reflections #6 Amnesia april 14th 2009)"

Being the imperfect man, it is hard not to question God about His timing, when one see the fruits of our obedience not being fulfilled. Did I hear God right or is there something else He is showing me?

Thankfully, I have learned that our relationship with God is not based on what we think or see, nor is it about material gains, but rather, where He is leading us and our response must always be one of obedience and thankfulness. I have no inkling as to why I miss the "big move" in the markets by one day, after going in much against my self will, and in a bigger way than normal, and this was before the outbreak of swine flu. But I do believe that God wanted me out, much against logic on hindsight, just as He brought me in much against logic at that point.

'Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee, He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee…'

Deuteronomy 31:6

As I pondered upon Mark 4:20, it struck me that obedience is what God expects from all who seek Him, and we should not worry too much about conclusions, for God is Sovereign and He knows our needs. In obeying, we learn to leave aside our own imperfect understanding, and our carnal senses behind, for not to do otherwise would bring us to the same sorry state as all the other seeds described in Mark 4:15-19

'But if we hope for what we don't have, we wait for it patiently.'
Romans 8;25

So what is ahead? Only thing that seems certain is that deceit has intensified in our present world, and if we do not cling on to the Lord our God, come what may, we will end up swayed in all the wrong directions, and very soon, like squealing pigs that once swished happily, but meaninglessly in the swill, just like Porky, we will end up as different versions of dead meat.

'Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsover I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.'

Matthew 28:19-20

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.'
Psalm 46:1

God Blesses

Eng Hieang
(5th May 09)

Note
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With my entry into the stockmarkets on April 14th, the markets started to ease, though my stocks were fine. But lo and behold, swinging in unexpectedly was the swine flu, and much as I wish the Lord will show me asap the "4 pillars" ie His work that I felt led to believe that He wants me to use His blessings for, so that I can unscramble my position and preserve the cash. The fourth pillar only truly came to my heart on Thursday, and trust me, I was more than happy to get out. And that is the nature of man, we did what we thought was right, and when things turn out differently, we wish we did not do it.

What portends ahead, I am not sure nor do I want to outguess our Lord, but as of now, I believe the Lord wanted me significantly out of the markets. And out one must till He leads us otherwise. But do we sit there and wait for the next investment tip. I think not, for we should learn to be still and know the will of God, and often, it is about honouring Him in all that we do, often in areas far distant from material gains.