Dear…
'I love Your commands more than gold, more than pure gold.'
Psalm 119:127
'Listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him.'
Deuteronomy 30:20
Gold has recaptured its lustre?. Though nothing has changed since King Midas, for we cannot eat it, yet gold has always held great fascination for men, since time immemorial, especially in times of great uncertainty. In the tumultous days of post Vietnam war, gold bars secured a passage on a rickety boat, out of communist rule, into a hope of living in non-autocratic environs, provided one survived the hazards of the South China Sea. And financial freedom is what most hoped for, when they seek their many "gods," when they offer obeisance to whichever "gods" that have or will answer their material hopes.
Are Christians that different? Do we truly seek God or do we seek God for His provisions?
'…and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. Nevetheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt; but I wholly followed Jehovah my God..'
Joshua 14:8
'Behold, I have told you before.'
Matthew 24:25
I like many who are desirous of following God faithfully, like to believe that imperfect as we might be, our heart truly wants to obey God. But like many of the faithful, there are times where lingering doubts arise, as to if we heard God right, be it from our own finite understanding, or from views of others, even out of good intent.
Can we be truly like Caleb, one of two men who remained sure of God's promise. And their steadfastness stood out from amongst the many who were sent to recce the promised land and came back knowing the promised fruits, but unsure if God will deliver?
'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding…'
Proverbs 9:10
'…and I will shake the house of Israel and all the nations.'
Amos 9:9
Ever since I seek to profess my faith, by living out God's leading publicly, God has been very responsive, for HE draws near to those who draw near to Him. So responsive that whenever I err, the Spirit not just convicts my very heart, but the follow through "rap on the knuckle" to ensure that I sinned no furthur is both swift and sharp. I am indeed not just truly fearful that God will correct His children, but thankful that He does, to ensure that I go no furthur down the sinful path.
'Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser, teach a just man, and he will increase in learning..'
Proverbs 9:9
'…making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit.'
Amos 8:5
Much as most know that the world's economic fundamentals are far from improving, reality is more are jumping into the bandwagon of optimism in the financial markets, for not to do so seems quite silly, for throwing caution to the wind is rewarding, for now. Did I hear God right? A question or doubt I asked myself less for I am sure I did, but how do you know you heard Him right? some will still ask. And much as most know that the nuts and bolts in my mental faculty are still very much in place, my past few months of boldly pronouncing on God speaking to me, might seem to be that of a man in delirium, even as the markets are delusory.
Is one truly in a position to engage in conversation with the Sovereign God?
'…ye pollute yourselves with idols, even unto this day, and shall I be enquired by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by you.'
Ezekiel 19:31
'Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.'
Romans 10:1
It is always good to take the bull by its horn. Question is, do you truly believe that God is real? And if you do, do you believe HE is Sovereign?
For those who don't believe in the existence of our Divine God, never say never, for you will know the presence of God, at His timing, of course, you still have a choice not to accept that reality.
For those of us do believe in a Heavenly Father, why are we not quite prepared to spent time developing that relationship?
'….for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us. But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? Let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble…'
Jeremiah 2:27-28
'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'
Romans 11:13
Most of us show a little more credance to the presence of God only when trouble strikes us hard. Flat on our back, we grudgingly consider turning to that possible "God" Who has never figured much in our lives, because we chose to ignore His presence. But will God spring right unto your very presence just because you needed your wants met? He might, but from most experiences, we will have to go through much greater periods of humbling, till our hearts are truly humbled and contrite, where we no longer cling on to the things of the world, and where only the love of God can fill the hunger in our very spirit, then will we "hear" and "see' God.
'Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…'
Psalm 37:7
'For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.'
Romans 10:10
I have believed in the existence of God since age 13. Till age 21, only truly experienced His Sovereignty when I had to call on Christ out of desperate fear, almost every nite for 2 weeks continuously, whenever unwanted spirits chose to impress their presence upon me every nite in my army bunk. And it did work, for I regained the mobility of my limbs and my voice, once I called upon the Lord.
The first 3 years of my career was downright depressing. And church was where I went, hoping to get not just solace, but answered prayers. God did bring me forth in my career, and for the next decade, there was nothing to talk to Him about, for I plain forgotten about Him.
Yet, God remains faithful and when the stirring in my heart showed even that minute sense of interest to renew our acquaintance, He literally ensured that the connectivity is restored, and though it still needed that defining moment for me at age 40, in Bangkok to truly be moved from desirous believer to determined follower of our Lord Jesus Christ.
'And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.'
1 Samuel 10:6
A new man I might be, and it was just the next phase of my journey with God. It has been 8 wonderful years, and indeed God did speak to me many times, but the modus operandi has always been through His Word, in my time of prayers, in His work, and sometimes through people and coincidences of circumstances, and on a few occasions, through experiential dreams. But through it all, it is the peace of heart that gives comfort and affirms the decisions that I made at every crossroad, it is the knowledge that God will make a wrong right, even if we have taken mis-steps, as long as we continue to look to Him through it all.
Conclusions matter not, but obedience is imperative.
'And let it be, when these signs come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee, for God is with thee.'
1 Samuel 10:7
Wisdom God does give us. Being a follower of Christ does not mean one becomes stupid. On the contrary, one will be more diligent in being a good steward of the gifts that God blesses us with, for His work. But in all things, we must look to God first, and if HE shows otherwise, we must be prepared to throw conventional wisdom out of the window and do as the Lord leads.
'For as many as are led by the Spirit of god, they are the sons of God.'
Romans 8:13
'Who is the wise man, that may understand this? And who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord hath spoken, that he may declare it….?'
Jeremiah 9:12
So what has God been speaking to me lately? Conversation with God is often via the heart and the only difference for me this year is that I seem to "hear" God a lot more and in more specific manner. For the past one year, God has spoken to my heart, at the point between dreamland and awakening. Like what King Agrippa said about Paul turning mad with too much knowledge, delirious I have not become, but it is my belief that the time has come that God will be very specific for those who truly seek Him, for the end times have intensified.
'..Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many…there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.'
Matthew 24:4-8
'And the Lord saith, Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and have not obeyed My voice, neither walked therein…'
Jeremiah 9:13
Do take time to read and reflect upon the rest of Matthew 24. The times of sorrows are indeed with us, and as Christ says to those who believed and follow His will, to remain steadfast in our faith will indeed be very daunting, if we do not 'converse" with God every moment of our lives.
'Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake….But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come,'
Matthew 24:9-14
'Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I, send me. And He said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not, and see ye indeed, but perceive not.'
Isaiah 6:8-9
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(16 Oct 09)
Note
- like all conversations, it must be two way. Do take time to reflect on the verse couplets that dots the landscape of this reflection,and may God truly speak to you, as He surely would, if you learn to be still and know His will.
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