Dear….
'The show of their countenance doth witness against them, and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul? For they have done evil unto themselves.'
Isaiah 3:9
Does one's countenance truly reflects what is truly in our hearts? Can one put on different personas to suit one's changing purposes and varied audience? And will one be able to truly discern beyond the outward façade that many used to mask their true personality and intent?
Man is a deceitful being living in a delusionary world run by the devil. And as Shakepeare wrote in his book, "As you like it" - "All the world's a stage. And all the men and women merely players.They have their exits and their entrances."
Who can know nor understand the secrets of the heart, but the Lord our God.
'But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit, for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.'
1 Corinthians 2:10
Some do walk across into the kingdom of God, when the inner thoughts of their heart are revealed by the Lord, through a fellow man or even in a dream or by a juxtapositioning of circumstances. Much as I might have harboured in my younger days, illusions of being one of those superheroes(that populated our growing up years), with an x-ray vision when television was the only major source of distraction, I have till now never had that leading from the Lord to directly speak forth what is in a person's heart.
'I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.'
1 Corinthians 3:6
The words that I have shared now or in the past might not have mean't anything to you. But it is the Lord who lifts the veils in one's heart, and I would love to have you share that moment with me, when the Lord speaks to your heart, by dropping me a note, as some have.
'Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts, and then shall every man have praise of God.'
1 Corinthians 4:5
For those of us who professed to be Christians, does it mean that God should be no different from our diverse areas of interest, to be spoken to only when we are in need or when time does allow us, which is usually never?
To believe in our Lord Jesus Christ is to signify an intent to enter into a relationship with a God, Who loves us and wants to bring us into His likeness. But we must not just be willing but determined to cling on to Him, every moment of our finite life.
Men desire to be the rooster in their own roost, but can one in propagating one's desires, not impinge and infringe upon the desires of one's neighbours. Relationships amongst men is about finding common ground, yet allowing for individual expression. Reality is, it is impossible for the imperfect man to be a perfect arbiter, and utopia where all are satisfied, is just a delusion. Man is not God.
'Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness in their heart. Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lascivousness, to work all uncleaness with greediness…'
Ephesians 4:18-19
Without God, much as we might believe otherwise, we are no different from animals, our needs and wants are carnal. If there is no God, indeed one should live for the moment, and partake in the sensual instincts of our primate self. "Let him die with dignity" is a common one liner amongst those who can do no better for friends whose days of carnal pleasures are over, and where the future means nothing for those who had always lived for the present.
Much as advocates of Darwin might think so, I am no primate, but like all, I do have carnal desires. If not for the presence of the Holy Spirit in my heart, it is indeed easy to degenerate into our primeval desires that the devil so loves to lead us on.
The Apostle Paul summed it up succintly when he said "to live is Christ, to die is gain" and indeed, we must live every moment of our life not just the way God wants us to, but with Him, for God walks with us.
Heaven is here with us, for the Spirit of God resides in the hearts of those who believed, and the desires of the carnal world pales in comparison with the love of God that envelopes and encapsulates our very being.
'So, I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature….'
Galatians 5:16
For those who claimed that they were born different, be it in sexual orientation, or unfettered lusts, or good old simple selfishess, deceit and all other sins attributable to the fallen man, the Plimsoll line has been what society is prepared to accept, hence the push and pull between those of differing views, that permeates human civilization since Adam and Eve, in their efforts to redraw the Plimsoll line.
But have we all missed the big picture?
'Not by work of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour..'
Titus 3:4-6
If one is willing to repent and believe in God, what nature wreaks, and science cannot change, the transforming power of the Holy Spirit will.
It might be impossible with men, but all things are possible with God.
But are you willing to let go and let God?
'A factious man after a first and second admonition refuse, knowing that such a one is perverted, and sinneth, being self condemned..'
Titus 3:10-11
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(11 May 09)
How can I make you believe?
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'Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou me.'
John 11:25
If a friend is dying, and if I clearly believe and know that God is Sovereign and that damnation or salvation for eternity is a matter of choice, how can I convince him or her of the urgency to believe before it is too late?
Belief can only come if one is willing to surrender to God, and one thing I noticed common to all is the unwillingness to let go, even as death beckons.
Our surrender to the Sovereignty of God in our lives, can only come by the grace of God. It is not a question of self will or imposition by a fellow human. Does it mean then that we should let one's dying friend wait there for God without any participation on our part.?
Prayers are important, for God hears the prayers of the faithful. Pray we must but what more must we do?
Grace is the love of God at work through us, and in seeing us responding with the love that God imbue in us, the Lord will use us to nudge or even push our loved ones over, not by compulsion but by creating that compelling desire in them to experience the same love that they see in us, that can only come from the "unseen" yet very visible God.
We are looking for a response from our non-believing friends, but God is leading us to respond His way and prayers will ensure that we will "hear" Him right for that moment when He wants us to move from prayers to love in action or even asking the simple but important question "will you be willing to accept the salvation that God has given us all by the sacrifice of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross?"
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