Dear…
'Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Suffficient unto the day is the evil therof.'
Matthew 6:34
With the green shoots sprouting forth, or at least, the optimistic spoutings from mouths of the till recently dime a dozen prophets of doom in the financial services business, now dramatically transformed into harbingers of bullish news, it is a matter of time before human emotions spring forth unfettered, leaving self discipline and rationale in its wake, for envious green from having missed out, or simply red hot lust of a raging bull turns us all blind to deceptiveness and reality, for a rampaging bull is all color blind, just like greed can blind even the sanest.
The meaning of life is a question that seems more apt in the inevitable deflating aftermath of another one of these present solid and sordid pursuits of the devil's delusions of material wealth being the elixir to life's woes, but the meaning of death is a question few will ask in their lifetime, and if any do harbour that thought, it could be in the afterlife, when none of the living will be in a position to commiserate with you, the departed.
'If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.'
Job 36:11-12
A morbid thought it might be, but this is the thought that the Lord placed in my heart. It is not just because I attended a recent burial of a dear friend, but as I surveyed the rows of tombstones marking what once was, but now no longer is except in one's fading memories, new plots of land were also being laid for future occupants, for death is inevitable for all.
And as I now prepare to complete this reflection, not too sure if it is an affirmation from the Lord, but some of you were quite kind to send me four interesting emails just these past two days.
One is a testimony of how God brought a departed non believer to Christ, but the son who is a Christian, only found out two years later. Truly it is at God's timing and form, and till recently, the sad and angry son, who thought that God had forgotten about his dad, repented and was reassured.
'…after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.'
1 Peter 5:10
As a believer, there are indeed many times where we strive to overcome, to live out our faith, but always seem to end up hitting the wall. Many in fact lose the will to cling on to the unseen God, and instead, start to turn to other "gods' that seem to fulfill their prayers. Faith does not come from us. Hence, it cannot come from our self will nor understanding. Faith can only come from God. But to receive that faith, we must want to come and continue to stay unto His presence. The devil knows this simple rule more than any of us, and it is its desire that you do not die to Christ. What does literal death truly mean?
In my finite understanding, I have learned, in all times, especially the challenging times, to cling on to the words of the Apostle James, who reminded us that we must first submit to God, then resist the devil, then will the devil flee from us.
In letting go(ie literally dying to Christ), it seems that we might find ourselves plunging into the abyss of our worst fears. It is, but only in letting God, will we see His ways, will we begin to understand His loving grace, and realize truly, God is indeed everpresent, He is Sovereign.
'But He knoweth the way that I take, when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.'
Job 23:10
The second testimony is an ode to woman, our wonderful mother. If you are a test-tube baby, you might be hardpressed to know who your dad is, or even your mum, but for most of us, whose parents tamper not with nature's work, we are all blessed by God who uses the womb of a mother to brings us forth into this world. For most, birth is always a joyous ocassion. It is the fruit of a God blessed unison of God's creation, man and woman. A family with children mirrors our own relationship with God. Mums are always more resilient than Dad. Mum is always the one who leaves that indelible memory of comfort and love for many of us, especially in our times of vulnerability or maybe rare expressions of humanity, even if we are an old baby like me. I am blessed my mum is still with me. But I am sure for many of you, your mum might have gone into the pearly gates of Heaven, but she is very alive in your memory and her presence is ever so real, and as Christians, we know that we will meet our mum again in Heaven, and so while death could be finality for many, for us who know the Lord our God, death is sad, yet a joyous occasion, for we not just will meet our loved ones, but we will all be in the family of God, our Heavenly Father. For indeed, all of us who believe and seek to follow the Lord our God, will indeed come forth, clothed in His glory, for eternity.
'And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness…'
2 Corinthians 12:9
The third and maybe you could say, the fourth as well are two testimonies by two Catholics. For many, even believers, one often get confused thinking that Catholics are not Christians, and that Christians refer only to Protestants. Without dwelling too deeply into history and man's imperfections, yet God's divine workings, all who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ and seek to follow Him are Christians, be it Catholics, Protestants or the subset of Protestants, eg Methodists, Baptist, Anglicans, etc etc.
God make us all different, with different gifts, but it is the same God, and so, when Christ returns and we meet the Lord, the differentiation is not about one's denomination, but rather, has one truly been a desirous and obedient follower of our Lord Jesus Christ?
'For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us..'
Romans 8:18
The 3rd testimony is about how a Roman Catholic in Singapore was diagnosed with 4th stage lung cancer and how by the grace of God, He was led to the route of healing. The 4th testimony is from a dear friend, who received God's healing, much as in a moment of weakness, she moved away from Him, to seek other "gods' and yet God remained faithful and brought her back. My friend, in her joyous repentance, she responded to God's call for her to share her testimony of God's faithfulness, even in our unfaithfulness.
'So the wall was finished….. And it came to pass . That when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes, for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.'
Nehemiah 6:15-16
From the day we are borned till the day we return back to dust, God has a purpose for all of us. Which is, to live a life that honours Him, to be a living sacrifice, to be a testimony of His grace, to be the lamp upon which His light shine forth in the darkness of this temporal world. That is the meaning of life. It is not about finite achievements, nor about ourselves but about who Christ is, and who we are in the eyes of our beloved Father, in Heaven and how we allow God to mould us in His likeness.
'Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight.'
Isaiah 5:21
Death is not a finality, as those who do not know nor want to know God might choose to delude themselves. Death is just the beginning of eternity, a blessed time with God in Heaven, or a time in eternal damnation, to be bedfellows with the unrepentant devil.
What has all 4 testimonies in common? It is more than about God's love for us in the present, nor is it just about extending our finite time on Earth. But rather, it is about God's desire and faithfulness in wanting all of us to understand what death signfiies, so that we will truly use well, the finite time He has given us all, in making the right lifestyle choice.
'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.'
John 11:25
'Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live.'
Psalm 116:1-2
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(25may09)
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