ear…
'Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you.
Seek ye the Lord….it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger.'
Zephaniah 2:1-3
This ominous warning might have more credence back in Mar this year, when the world looks decidedly like going over the abyss. But now, with the seemingly roaring good times now back with us, not many will give a hoot to what could have been.
'For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death, but their strength Is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain…. Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world….Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain..'
Psalm 73:3-14
A conversation I had with a dear brother in Christ reminded me of the sense of angst and grievance Asaph, a faithful man of God felt, in a faithless world. He could not understand why the godless seems to be amply rewarded in all senses, and not just materially, and is the consideration keeping Asaph from pronouncing his doubt about God aloud, is his non desire to shake the faith of fellow faithful men?
Up to a year ago, my whole emotional mix now would be like Asaph, for having obeyed faithfully God's leading this past one year, I would have found myself losing out financially compared to what could be, if I have leaned on my own understanding. This is the year where the reckless, the irresponsible and all things bad seem to be gaining tremendously financially, while those who are prudent, content and of integrity seem to be losing out. But have those who seek to follow God's leading truly lost out??
'Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely Thou didst set them in slippery places, Thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors….'
Psalm 73:17-19
In my more sinful days, I used to be like Jonah, wishing that God will bring about the promised destruction on the sinful in Nineveh. Is it out of envy for destruction does benefit those who think that they obeyed God, at least in justifying their "sacrifices" in living godly values? But can the destroyed repent, and like the once sinful people of Nineveh, God relented because He truly wants all to be turned back to Him.
The Spirit of God has been graceful, and I have like Asaph, learned the folly of our self-righteous ways, and much as we must pray for all humanity to turn away from the devil to the Sovereign Lord our God,it is better to let the Spirit of God transform us, for change has to start with ourselves. And the days of 99% of our life for God, and 1% for ourselves are over. God must be our sole provider and focus. and our two hands must fully gripped on to Him, and not just 9 out of 10 fingers literally.
But does it not mean that we look inward, and not correct our brothers with love, wherever the Lord lead us to share a word? I believe God will use the faithful to remind the pending faithful, and on this, let me share a couple of verses that the Lord has brought me to these past few days.
'And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.'
Romans 13:11
The world is again caught up with its own measures of success. Spanking new skyscrapers, that looks cool on the outside, but needs an inordinate amount of energy to stay cool on the inside. Sterling rise in share prices, but on the inside, questionable business ethics and even more questionable balance sheets. Well coiffuered executives and the moneyed class, but beneath the façade, deep insecurity, discontentment and disconcertedness. A world catapulting into the 21st century with all its promised gloss, but yet, the gross inhumanity towards fellow beings, the great divide between the materially endowed and the increasingly underclass widens.
'And he said to the woman, "Thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace."
Luke 7:50
Is it not time to acknowledge the vacumn in our hearts, that desire for fulfilment that is far from being satisfied by our relentless efforts and finite understanding? A black hole of unfulfilled peace and joy, that can only be sated, by seeking God and obeying His command to love others?
God knows all our needs in this world. He has and will provide for us. But God wants us to know Him, to know His plan for us to be in eternity with Him. It is there for our taking. But to take, we will need to give first, by leaving everything aside and coming unto His presence. We will need to response as He leads us step by step in total obedience, and learn to leave our desire for conclusions to Him.
'Martha was distracted with much serving.'
Luke 10:40
It is time to stop being like Martha, much ado about nothing and instead be like Mary, who truly know that the sole purpose of our finite life is that come unto the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God will speak to us if we only learn to be still. In my own quiet time with him, He has brought me twice in two days to the same verses below. Do spend time reflecting on what it means for I truly believe God wants to prepare us for what is ahead.
'So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the Lord…'
Jeremiah 43:7
(Have we gone back to our old sinful ways of chasing after everything except to following the leading of our Lord?)
'Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the Lord afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind. We are confounded, because we have heard reproach…'
Jeremiah 51: 50-51
(Many of us have been blessed to escape materially the overwhelming and systematic financial carnage of the period between Oct 08-Mar 09. It is good not to forget what could have been, for many lost permanently a substantial part of their wealth, no different from the disobedient Israelites whose land in Jerusalem were destroyed by the conquering Babylonians)
'Waves of enemies will rage like great waters; the roar of their voices will resound. A destroyer will come against Babylon; her warriors will be captured, and their bows will be broken. For the Lord is a God of retribution; He will repay in full.......
This is what the Lord Almighty says: Babylon's thick wall will be leveled and her high gates set on fire; the people exhaust themselves for nothing, the nations' labor is only fuel for flames.'
Jeremiah 51:55-58
(this final verse ie Jeremiah 51:55-58 besides coming to me twice in two days, left a deep impression upon my heart. Does it portend what is ahead if we continue to seek the Babylonian lifestyle of excesses, to be like our conqueror, the devil, whose wiles led to Adam forgoing his birthright and special relationship with God, to instead enter into a life of bondage and sin to the devil? The call of nature is getting more virulent, judging by the almost daily earthquakes the past two weeks, and the howling typhoons. What about the call of God to all of us?
It is time to take a step back, be still and ponder upon your relationship with God. It is never too late, but it does not mean that God will withhold His hands in perpetuity)
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(7 Oct 09)
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