Dear….
‘But they mingled with the Gentiles. And learned their works. They served their idols, which became a snare to them. They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons, and shed innocent blood. The blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. And the land was polluted with blood. Thus they were defiled by their own works. And played the harlot by their own deeds.
Therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against His people…’
Psalm 106:35-40
Rare is the opening verse in my sharing such a mouthful, and in the mind of most, Psalm 106:35-40 is more applicable to an era of bye-gone days, when men were less civilized or at least in our present times, it does not apply to developed societies like ours. Or does it??
Cheek in jowl is a phrase less commonly seen in everyday vernacular. In my mind, it is almost as institutional a phrase as “fish and chips” that permeates the impressionable minds of some of us in still rural Singapore of the 1960s, who were caught up with what how wonderful the ‘promised land’ of our then British colonial masters must be like. Guess the ingrained thoughts in the minds of most locals then was that every Briton or for that matter Caucasian must have a great life back home as well, given their privileged position in the colonies and much as we are natives of the land, most of our lives are as far as chalk is from cheese compared to the Westerners.
Cheek in jowl is a term used in a recent article in the Financial Times to describe the odd juxtapose of the financially comfortable staying in well manicured surrounds, just a stones throw away from the impoverished underclass in the still great financial centre of London. And how just a few mere meters or yards for the old British Imperialist, might not just make a world of difference in one’s lifestyle, but the very length of one’s mortality rate.
‘A little that a righteous man has. Is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken. But the Lord upholds the righteous.’
Psalm 37:16-17
I am blessed, though some may think that it is all relative. Wealthy I am not, at least materially, but by God's grace, also far from destitute. But if riches is measured by the love of God, then I am blessed to have the blindness in my hearts lifted by His grace. Balance within our comfort zone is what most of us seek for, and control of our life and destiny is most ideal, much as it is not just unrealistic, for life is fickle but more importantly, it is not what God’s plans are for us who He has removed the scales from our once blinded eyes.
The Lord knows the days of the upright. And their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time. And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. But he wicked shall perish…’
Psalm 37:18-20
These are wonderful times, at least for those on the right side of the increasingly great wealth divide. The economic numbers are looking great, never mind the finer details. Travel is back in fashion, much as the airlines are raising fares, but not restoring flights previously cut. Disease has flown the coop, and if ailments do abound, it is the usual mania of exuberant greed and fear of missing out on the present great asset boom in properties and art.
Can we as desirous followers of our Lord Jesus Christ still be in this world but not of this world? Can we be not just bedfellows of our non believers, but also equally enthusiastic participants in what the world has to offer? There is nothing wrong with monies, for it is a necessary medium of exchange, but God has an issue with us, when our love of monies or any other things caused us to place Him as just one of, or if not at all, in the cluttered focus of our lives.
Like some, I am blessed to have benefited from the strong recovery in property prices. And my sinful self wishes that I should have followed my instinct and intellect last June, to add on to the only property that I am staying in. Even now, as prices become a relative game, my analysis tells me that there are ‘undervalued’ opportunities.
But what is God telling me? Patience is the word under-girding the thoughts He has placed in my heart these past four months. It is difficult to be patient when one sees lost profit opportunities. But who are we truly serving?
Many who professed to be Christians also have room in their home for ‘idols’ that, in their belief will help them attain wealth. Idols need not necessary be an inanimate carving sitting cheek in jowl with the long unused bible in your hall. Idols could be anything that keeps your focus from God and leaves no room for God in your heart. Idols could be anything that cause you to not want to obey the leading of the Holy Spirit, for to do so could mean lost material opportunities or forgoing the fruits of our finite understanding.
God impressed upon my heart this year on the need to not just continue but to magnify my investments in the lives of people He will place in my life. And in Feb this year, He brought it further with the need to invest in a place for His people to rest, while in transit in our blessed land. And right after this thought, He affirmed it with a situation that is more than coincidental. This property investment is not about having a nicer abode, for He has already provided me with, nor about potential profit opportunities, but rather, it is about providing a convenient resting place for the many faithful people He will send to Singapore. For Singapore is the Antioch of the East, and from this historically key transit point, many will be sent forth to our surrounds, just as many from the rest of the world are now making a permanent stop in Singapore. And Singapore has always been and is now even more an expensive place for those with minimal income to seek a temporary abode, while they do His work.
In the context of our present very expensive red hot property prices, and with the reality of the need for a limited budget, without leverage nor expected source of generative income from this planned haven, it will take a miracle to find a suitable place.
Idealistic I might seem, but for those of us who have seek God diligently in our lives, we know that He is a faithful God and if truly this is His will, He will provide. I share this to remind all of us that truly, our lives are about staying close to God, to understand His will and not about seeking other gods much as many, even believers are doing like the sinful men of old in the opening verse in Psalm 105.
God knows our needs in this present world and He will provide and has provided. But are we willing to trust Him and go forth where He leads us, or are we like the Israelites of old, despite all the miracles that God has done in our lives, continue to disobey Him and regress back to the bondage days of the Egypt of our once wretched lives? It is good to take time to ponder upon your own walk with God at this juncture and may His Spirit convict and speak to you, to bring you back to the route that God has already laid for all who are willing to stay faithful. but when will you start to respond?
Life as a Christian is not about comfort zone, nor is it about the proverbial balance in life and it is never about symbolism nor sacrifice. Life for all, be it Christian or not is always uncertain, even more so now than before, as the end of times intensifies to match the increased sinfulness of men. The only certain thing is the faithfulness of our loving and Sovereign God. And much as some of us might know the obvious principles of God’s commands, living it out without time with God is never possible. And what is also clear to all who has spent time faithfully with God is that He can and often does bring us out from the obvious to the once oblivious, but never into oblivion.
Life with God is about responsive obedience to a ever present and faithful Father.
And our reward is the joy and peace of serving our Abba Father. Our neighborhood literally changes all the time, and you never know who you will be seated cheek to jowl with next, but it matters not, for God is Sovereign and He is always faithful, even when we are not.
And let me close by including a note from a dear Australian couple, both in the twilight of their life, age wise, but still full of youthful vigor in serving the Lord, as He brings them to new harvest grounds. I have personally benefited from their word based ministry, a self bible study course for the past 7 years and life does bring many challenges or more like refinements for those who desires to be make ready for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. .For this wonderful couple, the early return of their beloved son David, who had helmed this ministry till his return to our good Lord a few years back. But they have stayed faithful because God is faithful.
'And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.'
Romans 12:2
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(14th April 10)
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