Dear…
'For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble…'
2 Peter 1:9-11
Lately, or more like since Dec last year, I have been quite forgetful. But thankfully I do remember my wife's name and not someone else of the fairer sex. And I had better not lapse into indiscretion, or one will soon have a string of names of the fairer sex spring up faster than a jack in the box and quickly ascribed to one's purported follies. Reminds me of this nursery rhyme where everyone gets stuck onto each other like a chain. A temporary memory lapse can be very frustrating as one tries to bring light to what seems like a twilight zone of inconclusiveness, and that was the emotion that gnarled at me, for the world of me tried as I can, I cannot remember where I placed some cheques. Frustration will soon have other negative emotions like anger and fear come on board, suffice for one to wallow in misery. Thankfully, this state of emotion might not be prevalent for most, but for only the chronic few like me, but God is good, He reminded me that He is Sovereign, and we should not lose our focus upon our Lord Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.
'…Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?' But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.'
Luke 13:7-9
Past experiences are what mars or formulates our present outlook on life, and possibly our future behavior. It is what makes us tick? Or does it? Can someone walk through the Great Wall of China? The great illusionist, David Copperfield did. We know that it is a illusion, nothing supernatural about the man. Can tulips be worth more than its weight in gold? Silly isn't it, for other than the aesthetics, there is no other intrinsic value and flowers do wilt fairly quickly. But it seems not the case a few centuries back, when what modern man had in the dot.com boom, the Europeans had their tulip mania.
Can money grow out of trees? Ludicrous as it seems, the world seems to believe in that possibility, as governments of the developed world continue to convert trees into paper monies, not backed by thrift but rather by their once impeccable but now fast devaluing credibility. Many do recognize that the continued erosion of their purchasing power by governments' fiscal irresponsibility will eventually degenerate into possibly high to hyperinflation and social unrests, and are racking their brains to prepare for the looming threat. We are in this world, God knows, but we are not of this world, and should the pot take over from the potter, as many are doing or should we truly learn to be still and know God's will and let Him bring fruits forth from us, by His loving nurture, even if the environment does get harsher?
'Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.'
2 Peter 1:13-15
God has not given me any great insight that He plans to take me home tomorrow. I am not even sure if He truly does call, if my present reticence to obey is due to my not being ready. Not ready either because I still miss the world, including my loved ones or not ready, because I am not sure if I have truly lived a life that has always honored God the way He has been leading me?
'Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. The Lord your God, Who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place. Yet, for all that, you did not believe the Lord your God.'
Deuteronomy 1:29-32
Christ's blood on the cross has cleansed us of all of our sins. God has given us a new start, an opportunity given to all to be molded into His likeness. A repentant heart that truly believes in the salvation given to all, is all that is needed to accept this wonderful grace of God. But the buck does not stop here. God wants to move us from believer to follower of our Lord Jesus Christ. To be in His likeness, to be made ready, when Christ returns. You might have been saved, but you still need to be transformed into the likeness of Christ, for man is made in the image of God.
'Son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities, and let them measure the pattern. And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple and its arrangement….Write it down in their sight, so that they may keep its whole design and all its ordinances, and perform them.'
Ezekiel 43:10-11
An epitaph is an inscription on a tombstone, in memory of the once alive, but now departed. It is usually brief and can often be humorous. But can a few sentences truly describe a life rich in experiences, and angst for the once standing, but now silent dead? If one were to put down every spoken word, thought and action by you, the space needed to house all these details in the finite life of the individual would probably be many times the size of the solitary tomb. But does it matter? It does for many, hence the Egyptians build their great pyramids, the Chinese Emperors their opulent tombs and even atheist like Lenin and Mao Tse Tung have their masoleum. Be it great or insignificant in their finite life, can man be more than a memory?
'And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east….And the glory of the Lord came into the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east. The Spirit lifted me up, and brought me into the inner court, and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple..'
Ezekiel 43:2-5
The church is the body of Christ made up of followers of our Lord Jesus Christ. But individually, we are the temple of God and the Spirit of God resides in those who truly believe. To believe means the need for a response, to follow as the Holy Spirit leads us. Many who call themselves Christians(ie followers of our Lord Jesus Christ), stay as believers, no different from the devil, but like the devil either refuse to follow or acknowledge the Sovereignty of our Lord Jesus Christ. Much as salvation is given to all, like a house once cleansed, if left empty, will eventually either degenerate to its former derelict self, or worse, be at risk of being occupied by spiders, cockroaches, rats or even human denizens, broadly termed squatters. Will it not be the same for us, for the devil is just waiting to reclaim its place in your life, if you choose not to let God?
'…And there shall be a time of trouble. Such as never was since there was a nation. Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered. Everyone who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake. Some to everlasting life. Some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament. And those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever."
Daniel 12:1-3
If life truly ceases once our bodily shell stops functioning, then it is understandable that many do fancy a nice tombstone and some nice words to describe their finite life. But if eternity is real, then just a few nice words in an epitaph is not what God our Lord is looking for. It is not what you wrought from what you sow by your own strength and understanding, but rather, it is about how you let the Spirit of God write on you, the tablet of life, how your life reflects what you see and do faithfully as the light of God's love leads you.
'Your hands have made me and fashioned me. Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. Those who fear You will be glad when they see me. Because I have hoped in Your word. I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right. And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me…..'
Psalm 119:73-75
'Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth. A stranger, and not your own lips.'
Proverbs 27:2
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(12 Mar 2010)
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