Dear…
'But mine eyes are unto Thee, O God the Lord: in Thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute…'
Psalm 141:8
Many years back, there was this video either on Candid Camera or was it America's funniest video that showed this guy trying to walk on water in a lake, using a pair of outsized paddles fitted on his legs. He was more waddling, like a penguin, than walking, and his moment of greatness lasted no more than a split second, suffice for the camera to capture his moment of folly.
'Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.'
Lamentations 3:40
Faith comes from God. Faith is received when we come unto His presence. Faith means a need to response in total obedience and trust, wherever God leads us to. It does include walking on water!! Immersion in water, that is familiar to most of us who have gone for baptism, an important step in our journey of following our Lord Jesus Christ, when we commit to put aside the old,and put on the new self, to be like Christ. But to walk on water, what does that really mean?
'And he said unto them, Where is your faith?'
Luke 8:25
One common desire amongst those who seek to be like Christ, is always to ask ourselves, in any particular circumstances we find ourselves in, is what would Christ wants us to do. How can we be like Him, how can we honour Him?
And one common experience for some of us is that as much we are desirous, we are not too sure if the decisions we made, the actions we take are truly what God wills? Is this perceived shortfall in certainty due to not knowing Christ well? Which in itself has its causal reason in us, the sinful man, not placing God first in our daily living.
So should it not be a question of where is our faith, but rather, where is God in our daily scheme of things?
'And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.'
Mark 6:48
When the winds blow against us, when we are buffetted by what life can throw at us, do we often not try to withstand it upon our own strength, instead of clinging upon the Lord our Rock.
Similarly, when the wind is behind us, do we not often power along on our own puffed up pride, and leave behind the true driver of our destiny, the Lord our God?
If we cannot even stay firmly rooted upon the Lord our God on familiar terra firma, it is even more unfathomable that we can do so, when the Lord brings us to swirling new territory.
'But straightaway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid…..But when he(ie Apostle Peter) saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.' And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?'
Matthew 14:27-31
As a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am unlike superman, whose only failing is a weakness to krytonite and wearing his undies wrong side out. As a desirous follower of Christ, I have my fair share of troubles, less monies than I would like and whenever I wobble in my faith, God does not give me a genie out of its magic lamp that I can summon to meet my wants??
When God says walk on water, the winds are still there if not stronger, the water is not just wavy, but underpinned by strong undercurrents that can truly overwhelm the fragile and still sinful me, and I have no wings to keep me afloat. How can just looking towards the Lord our God ensure that I will stay afloat??
'Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart, for God is with thee.'
1 Chronicles 17:2
Man asked too many questions. It is time to discard the "how" and instead, bow in submission to the Spirit of God residing in all who believed and start following as He leads us, from the heart.
And how can we hear the promptings of the Spirit upon our heart?
Christ has shown by example many times in the Bible, that come what may, he will take time with God in prayers. And this morning, even as the ground shakes, from the not so distant earthquake in Sumatra, I am reminded again by the Lord of the story of Mary and Martha.
Martha did so many things, except to come unto the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. Mary on the contrary stayed focus on the Lord.
'And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things. But one thing is needful and May hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.'
Luke 10:41-42
If you were thrown into a deep sea today, the natural and logical reaction will be to tread water(if you know how) and to struggle interpersed with gasps for help, if you cannot swim. This behaviour is correct if we assume that we are denser than the body of water we are in. But will it not be better to just relax and float naturally, if you were in the Dead Sea, where the salinity ensured that the water is denser than you?
The Dead Sea might be unique, but to "die to Christ" is what all of us who wants to follow our Lord Jesus Christ must do every moment of our life.
When we truly let go and let God, we might not float on water, but the uplifting of our very being as described in Romans 5:5 will bring us forth, come what may, for God is Sovereign.
'..because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.'
Romans 5:5
Boldness comes when we know God. Wisdom to ask for what God has already planned for us comes from staying close to God every moment of our lives. Humility comes when we know that truly with man, nothing is possible, with God everything is possible and we will walk where God leads us to, in any conditions, because the Spirit of God residing in us will carry us forth
And prayers has everything to do with our relationship with the invisible, yet very present God , much as many have not given much credence to it.
'…how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?'
Luke 11:13
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(1st Oct 2009)
An afternote, not aftershock
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"Then they cried out unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses.'
Psalm 107:13
Near but yet not so near, at least for now. The memories of the Aceh tsunami might have faded for most, but the ramifications of the seismic changes are still very much with us, as our brethren in Padang, Indonesia were rudely reminded by the devastating earthquake yesterday. In Singapore, other than more frequent tremors, we are truly blessed to be near yet not in the path of nature's wrath. Singapore is not just an economic miracle, but by the grace of God, a very blessed nation geography wise.
But do we continue to be enamored by our God given providences and forget about God our Provider and His calling to reach out to our neighbours, both at home and within Asia?
In this sinful world of ours, nothing is permanent, as once pristine Japan can be covered in yellow dust, just because of overgrazing in faraway Mongolia. And closer to home, even the seriously wealthy globally are not just immune from financial downturns, but were severely devastated by the financial shocks of Oct 2008 and possibly more in the near future.
'..always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God'
Colossians 4:12
While the sun is shining and the our lives are stable, it is good to remember the source of our joy and comfort, the Lord our God. But sadly, most tend to be still and start to seek God only when their hearts are humbled and contrite. What manner of shaking will one be desirous to go through before one's focus is drawn back to the ever present God?
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