Dear…
'Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Consider your ways!"
Haggai 1:7
Time stuck in the narrow confines of a plane is not exactly a joy for me, yet, it is often in such conditions that I find the most enlightening experiences. "Be still and know that I am God" is a biblical truth put into practice for with 8 hours to kill before Sydney loomed in the horizon - read, reflect and pray are thankfully edifying activities. I finally found time to read this book "Half Time" by Bob Buford, given by courtesy of my dear brother in Christ, Henry. (see weblink http://halftime.org/)
'And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned..'
Mark 16:15-16
I was an avid reader in my student days. But by the time University came along, it was mostly on subjects relevant to my course of study. With the onset of my career, it was again limited to financial type books and for the past few years, with my foray into the world of collectibles, I degenerated further in my literary pursuits to looking at mainly beautiful picture books of objects of desires. Thankfully inanimate and not of the flesh.
What about faith based materials? The Word is God, and God is the Word and on that basis, I spent most of my reading time on the Bible, and rarely do I move into books written by men, much as I am sure they are written by men anointed and led by the Spirit of God
This book "Half Time" is in all probabilities, the tenth book(related to the Christian faith) that I have read since I moved from a believer to follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, back in year 2000.
It is a wonderful book, very insightful and thought provoking. Yet for me, what is wonderful about the few books that I have read is that they affirms recent experiences that our Lord had just put me through, via a recent OJT(on the Job Training) and such books crystallized and affirms the discoveries that I have already made in the prior period before reading these same books.
'And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.'
Mark 16:11
Almost to the tee, human beings spent an inordinate amount of their time and resources and all to achieve what the world has to offer, temporal as it might be. But how many of us who call ourselves Christians, truly take time with the Lord our God? Is it because we do not believe in what we profess or there are other more distracting interests that calls for our attention?
'For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.'
Ephesians 2:10
The book "Half Time" describes this change in one's focus, from the world to God, from pursuing success to significance. Like most, I spend the first 40 years of my wretched life trying to have a better life, which for most meant material comfort, good health and everything nice. For most, it will also mean angst and all things tough, but most continue relentlessly towards the goals desired. Yet upon attainment, though it might turn out nice, it can bring with it other costs and is but temporal.
'For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals, one thing befalls them, as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath, man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity.'
Ecclesiastes 3:19
I had my half-time at age 40, with that defining moment in Bangkok, when the Spirit of God filled and lifted me up, and much as I have for the past nine years reorientated my priorities, with God increasingly the focus of my life, it has not been a 100% instantaneous change, but rather over a period of transformation, for God knows our limits.
For many, you might still be caught up in your first half, like a rat running on a treadmill, whose end game is delusion, disappointment, despair and despondency. Even many who are aware of the need to re-balance and give more time to family and spiritual needs tend to procrastinate because they feel they do have time. But time waits for no one.
'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor. He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives. And recovering of sight to the blind. To set at liberty them that are bruised. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord…..Today hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears…'
Luke 4:18-21
Two earthquakes(Haiti and Chile) in two months, and extreme weather globally serves as a reminder to all of us that our own set balance of life can be rudely disrupted. And the shaking is not just in the natural, but might be soon in the economics and social(be it Europe, Japan or even closer to home?) And what about political, as Iran and Israel move closer to an embrace in hatred. How many of us do remember that the world literally came to a standstill back in the first Gulf war in 1990?
'When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it. For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed. Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.'
Ecclesiastes 5:4-5
Today, I read an article in one of the blue blood British newspapers, by presumably one of their more eminent journalist. The writer talks about the earthquake in Haiti and how in their despair, the people turned even closer to God. The writer rants about how can God allow such adversity and how it is men, rather than God who is there to help alleviate the material needs of the victims.
Men looks at the temporal, God wants us for eternity. Man wants a God for their material comfort, God comforts the spiritual longing in us that the world cannot provides. This disconnect has led to men, since Adam chose to disobey God, to walk a path totally out of line with the will of God.
'He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, …..'
Ecclesiastes 3:11
As people who call ourselves Christians, we declare our willingness to be like Christ. But reality is that many "Christians" are living a life strange to the ways of Christ.
God placed us on Earth to live a life that is a holy and living sacrifice to Him. The victory over death is already won, much as we still live in a sinful but temporal world. God wants us to be ready for His return, and to be used by Him to lead others to His presence to be made ready.
'For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance, but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness...'
Matthew 25:29-30
As the world shakes in all areas, more will be willing to learn about knowing God. But will you be ready when they are ready?
When we pray for our loved ones, we often pray for their good health, and all that the world values. But what should be more pertinent is that they be with us in eternity. We must pray for them to be made ready, when God calls upon them, be it to do His work on earth or to join Him in Heaven. For these are End Times intensified, and many might not have the luxury of time, be it first or second halves.
'The end of a thing is better than its beginning…'
Ecclesiastes 7:8
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(3 Mar 2010)
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