Dear…
‘Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.’
1 Peter 4:12-13
Fiery indeed it has been for the residents of Bangkok, a place I have spent an inordinate of time the past twelve years, thankfully not for carnal pleasure, but for the simple fact that it is where work beckons. And for those who have been to the Land of Smiles, nigh would anyone have imagined the ferocity of anger and resultant violence, that have turned this once vibrant capital city of Thailand into a land of smite.
‘To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt. Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us….’
Acts 7:39-40
Thailand is a land of not just watts, as in mega smiles, but of wats. There is a surfeit of shrines that do the whole landscape, and the closest comparable must be in Japan, a courteous society dotted with Shinto shrines and portable shrines. Interestingly, beneath the congenial façade in civic society, and the civilized man, lies an uncontrollable anger that will surface, if the right buttons are pressed, for not many of the present generation in peacetime Asia can fathom the extent of cruelty that the Japanese conquerors of most of Asia of World War II had inflicted on the local population. Just as none can imagine the degree of violence wreaked upon Bangkok just last week.
And on pressing buttons, there are views circulating, albeit not substantiated, that certain vested interests do desire the whole socio political structure of Thailand to collapse, a failed state. For only in chaos, only in bringing down the functioning pillars of the country can the same vested interests have an opportunity to take power. Is this conspiracy true? Is man capable of such extreme selfish interests and great evil? History seems to attest to the capacity of man for such singular evil and even as this is being written, the political landscape of the world is increasingly being filled with more potential failed states like Somalia, possibly Yemen, Afghanistan and Iraq. And not forgetting Mexico and Jamaica, where the drug lords are increasingly more powerful than the State.
Would USA or Western Europe ever degenerate to this same sorry state? The political and social structure might still be in place, but increasingly, the financial system are increasingly pilloried and should this life stream of free market economies ever stall, the ramifications will be far reaching.
And with the welfare system of Europe increasingly untenable, social unrests will be the norm in once rich Europe and will this be similar fertile ground for the anti Christ in the form of a Hitler reincarnate to surface?
‘Another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel.’
Judges 2:10
For those of us in Singapore, it was indeed gratifying that our present leaders honored the contributions of the late Dr Goh Keng Swee, with a State funeral. For those of us who spent the early part of our lives in an undeveloped Singapore, and progressed materially, as our country developed, thanks to the wisdom and dedication of such men, the recent deluge of history on the work of such men is a good reminder to all of how Singapore is blessed. But does the work and sacrifice of first generation leaders like Dr Goh strike any chord in the hearts of the present generation(age 35 and below)? Save for a miniscule minority, I doubt there will be any empathy, for our children might be the full beneficiaries of the fruits of these past efforts and sacrifices, but without going through the baptism of fire of personal deprivation and challenges of life, nothing can be ingrained nor understood, for second hand learning is at best academic. And even a determined effort on our part to educate them on our past history can only scratch the surface of their psyche.
‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God.’
Mark 10:4
Does it mean that younger Sovereign countries like us will go the same way as the once great civilizations of past? History is replete with the rise and fall of both great Empires and independent states, and much as it is due to conquests by stronger enemies, often, the seeds of collapse have already been sown by the weakening of generational mettle, no difference from the proverbial generational curse of the family.
I was just reminded by our Abba Father that it need not be this way. Our Lord Jesus Christ in Mark 10:4 specifically welcomed children into His presence. An article I read just yesterday gave an interesting insight. Britain during its heyday as the Empire of the world, was also a land filled with faithful and eloquent men, full of the Spirit of God. By the privilege position of its superpower status then, the Christian faith was preached successfully in the entire realms of the British Empire, including its far flung reaches. However, very little was done at home base to teach/share the faith to the children and the youths. Today, amongst these spiritually neglected recent generations, very few have a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, and a disproportionate many are more in tune with the ways of the world, the devil’s ways, and today, once fervently Christian Britain is increasingly not just secular, but penalizing anyone who dares to live the faith on the public platform.
‘Now we have received ….the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.’
1 Corinthians 2:12
The war is already won with the risen Christ. Satan no longer can use death to grip our very being. But he is still trying, for God gives us all a choice. To follow Him to the road of eternity in Heaven or down the slippery slope of eternal damnation? The battle for our very soul is now waged in the family platform. The traditional family is the cornerstone of every civilized society, regardless of its choice of economic system, be it free market, mixed economy or central government as per the communist.
The weakening of the family foundations through divorces, infidelity, co-habitation, same sex lifestyle, non God ordained procreation methods coupled with determined coordinated efforts to push God away from common areas like schools, offices and government have led to sinful and prideful man and their mortal creations taking over the role of our Heavenly Father. Men being finite, imperfect and selfish can never replace nor replicate the goodness of our Sovereign God.
And the family is an important mirror of our relationship with our Heavenly Father. It is the mirror upon which our children will learn about selflessness and unmitigated love of parents. To learn about the follies of pride and selfishness as contrasted to concern for others and to feel the indescribable joy of sharing love. It is no wonder that the devil and his lackeys are so determined to destroy the family foundation. For family relationships is our glue to knowing God, while self centered individualism is a reflection of Satan’s sinful pride.
‘For such are false prophets, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light…’
2 Corinthians 11:13-14
A country is a confluence of individuals of different diversity, but with sufficient commonality to be functioning as a corporate body. Satan knows that, and in appealing to the need to respect diversity, or more like to each his or her own selfish interests, the devil knows the end result. A failed state.
For a corporate body can only function if each are prepared to be more selfless than selfish, and that laws and majority interests are respected.
The world that the devil advocates is one that impeach anyone that dares to have a different view from his, one that hides behind the façade of secularism, yet stamps out anyone who dares to have a different view, one that advocates lustful carnality and disdain basic human goodness that differentiates us from the beasts.
‘So then everyone of us shall give account of himself to God.’
Romans 14:12
Evolution is what Darwin used to describe how man originates from lesser creatures to our present superior human form over time. To each their own beliefs, for each has to answer to our Sovereign God. However, today, evolution is what the devil and its proponents are insidiously propagating, by sledge hammering the family foundation, the cornerstone of any society and in tearing down good godly values, the devil hoped that modern man will evolve back to the behavioral characteristics of an animal, where the fittest survive and the laws of the jungle rule.
This is not what God wants for all of us, His children. For Ephesians 4:12-15 is what God planned for us
‘For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we call come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive…..’
Ephesians 4:12-15
It is time that as men blessed to know our Lord Jesus Christ, that we let the Holy Spirit transform us, for only in letting God make right our present fallen state, can we be used by Him to bring about change in our family, in the corporate body that He has placed in our lives. To continue to be blissfully unaware or disinterested will not just lead us to the degenerative state that we are witnessing in the Western world, but to eternal damnation.
‘Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery , which was kept secret since the world began. But now is made manifest and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.’
Romans 16:25-27
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(24th May 10)
Sowing more than rice
The latest news report indicated that Vietnam is fast taking market share from Thailand in the lower grade rice market. Nothing to be sniff about given Thailand’s long predominance in what is still a very huge market base, for Asia is very much still a developing continent.
Indeed rubbing salt into a festering wound, but through it all, I am reminded of what is happening in Thailand. For a long time, the more receptive grounds to the gospel of salvation are located in the minority tribal areas of Northern Thailand. Mainstream Thais, especially in the capital city of Bangkok, it is very hard ground given that their religion is very much intertwined with their culture and lifestyle. Yet, God is faithful, much as we might be faithless. Just last month, a friend shared on an interesting phenomenon happening in Thailand. The long sown seeds on hard ground seems to be sprouting forth, judging by the significant increase in the attendees at a pastor conference. Bangkok is the place where I moved from being an acquaintance of God to truly desirous of following Him. Bangkok is also the place where God has allowed me to witness His grace many times, the most recent when He opened the hearts of many of my Thai friends to accept warmly His book “Reflections – a traveler’s muse”
Much as we must pray for the many in Thailand to come to know God, for their eternity is at stake, it is not for us, even with good intentions, to wish the worst on anyone so that they will be shaken out of their stupor. And the recent events in Bangkok has indeed been cataclysmic in its ramifications. But truly only God knows what is the way, and as for us, it is to continue to pray for and to journey with love, our fellow stragglers not just from Thailand, but from anywhere in the world, when they finally join us on this wonderful journey with our Lord.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment