Dear…
‘For the man also knoweth not his time; as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.’
Ecclesiastes 9:12
Age does sober one up, and it was not too long ago that I spent my 30th birthday away from home and of all things, in a two man 6km road race with Bill, my colleague then, an American Chinese in the lovely summer heat of Connecticut. Fast forward almost two decades later, and the only running I am doing lately is together with my son, making a dash for the next available sofa, while the more energetic ladies in my small household soak in the items on offer in the shops in Hong Kong.
A year to go before I cross the magical half century, at least magical if you are a cricketer looking to score a century in a Test match, but for the mortal man, it means that we are much nearer our three score years plus ten or maybe fourscore(Psalm 90:10)
But the passage of time need not necessarily be the sole determinant of one’s length of stay in this world. If God so determine, one could be off in a whiff before that last breath could make its way down one’s bodily passages. So, like some I am taking to heart the exhortations of Ecclesiastes 9:7,9
‘Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart, for God now accepteth thy works…….Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which He hath given thee under the sun….’
Ecclesiastes 9:7,9
This year, the wife and I had a greater preponderance for short overseas sojourns, honeymoon I am not sure, but good things do come in small dosages. Wife is happy, I am too, but did I really do a good job these past decade of my living as a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deserve His manifold blessings?
‘So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.’
Psalm 90:12
This was the thought that crossed my heart, or more like been troubling me these past few days. At age 49 just, have I stayed true to the command of God to seek Him with my all and to love others as much as myself? And with the balance of life remaining, having likely crossed the 60-70% mark, how would God want me to live the balance of my days?
'Behold these are the ungodly, who are always at ease. They increase in riches. Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain. And washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I have been plagued, and chastened every morning.'
Psalm 73:12-14
And do I not feel drained from the great exertion of seeking to live out my faith these past decade, that maybe it will be truly good and wise to withdraw from the few ministries I have been actively involved in and take a break and smell the roses of God’s blessings instead, that is, the receiving without the giving.
‘He by His wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man.’
Ecclesiastes 9:15
God knows our every heartbeat. And He does not leave us to ponder for too long. For a fertile mind is a dangerous mind. This morning’s Daily Bread reading(June 22nd Tuesday) shares about how often our “good works” are rarely appreciated nor remembered. Guess lying just beneath my inner consciousness, is still my carnal desire to be appreciated and recognized for my “self-sacrifice” these past decade since the Spirit of God lifted the blindness in my heart. And with the bodily shell starting to reflect its age, one tend to engage in some self-pity like a dog wet in its tail.
'When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me. Until I went into the sanctuary of God. Then I understood their end.'
Psalm 73:16-17
The Spirit of God quite quickly convicted me of my sinful self, and I have since perked up, and truly remember that it is God Whom I am accountable to, not man and all provisions come from God, and not from my own efforts. And without our participation, God’s plans will still be fulfilled, but with our participation, He allows us to see the wisdom of His ways and appreciate His glory and grace.
‘Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy, that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute…’
1 Timothy 6:17-19
Like most, I sometimes wish that God will give me more provisions, and even then, give me a little more time to do my own things before I do His. We often read of the trend amongst some preachers who focused very much on the message of prosperity. A God Who so loves us that we should not be afraid nor apologetic about asking for our wants to be fulfilled. And indeed it is a great message that is more easily digestible, for who will not mind all grace without works, that is, more receiving, less giving.
'I beseech you therefore, brethren by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.'
Romans 12:1
This was the issue that bothered me these past few days, quite connected to my sense of inequity, that here was poor me, joyfully giving, with less expectation of an immediate material payback from God our Provider(for it is the Provider not the provisions that matter) and here are some of my fellow Christians, lapping in every word from their enigmatic preachers promising that God so love us, that we just need to ask for the riches of this world.
Is not our faith one of seeking and doing the will of God, rather than our own will? And is not prayers always answered when asked in God’s will, rather than ours?
‘And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’
Luke 4:3-4
It is good to ponder upon this verse in Luke 4:3-4 and think in the context of the messages that some of us might be hearing. Is the devil today tempting us to test God again by our asking Him to give us bread – the things of the world because we are told that God so loved us that He will give us anything we asked for.
‘Judge not, that ye be not judged.’
Matthew 7:1
'Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things....Let him who eats despise him who does not eat....Who are you to judge another's servant?'
Romans 14:1-5
What is the truth? Rather than hear from imperfect man like me or anyone else, would it not be better to heed Jesus Christ’s command in Luke 4:4 that as Christians, we must immersed ourselves in the Word of God, not for head knowledge, but rather, the Word is God, and God is the Word and time in His Words will bring us unto His presence, as His Word will transform our hearts and renew our mind, to enable us to move from the carnal to the spiritual man.
‘For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.’
Matthew 24:24
Interestingly, the numerals in Matthew 24:24 in Cantonese means “easy to die, twice over” Not sure about dying, but much as we think we have great intellect and discerning minds, the truth of the matter is that indeed our minds are self deceiving, and none of us by our own strength are a match for the powers and principalities of the devil’s world. And many will literary die for their carnal wants, but not be willing to die to Christ, in letting go and letting Him.
‘Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness, I will cast thee to the ground….’
Ezekiel 28:17
The prophet James reminded us of the need to submit to God first and foremost, then can we resist the devil and the latter will then flee from us. Submission to God’s Sovereignty must underline our every thought and action, quite contrary to the normal human reaction of resistance, pride, self interests and self survival.
'..that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.'
Ephesians 1:17-18
How can we move away from our natural human instinct to the Spirit man that is always ready to let the Spirit of God residing in us who believe lead us?
'Now to Him Who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith..'
Romans 16:25-26
Let me close by bringing us back to the record of our Lord Jesus Christ walking with two of his disciples soon after his resurrection. How these two men disbelieved what the women folk told them about Christ’s missing body and the appearance of two angels and in sharing this story with a stranger who journeyed with them, not realizing that it was our Lord Jesus Christ though out the journey.
‘And their eyes were opened, and they knew him, and he vanished out of their sight.’
Luke 24:31
‘And they said to one another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?’
Luke 24:32
The blindness in one’s heart can never be lifted by our own efforts nor that of others. Only the Spirit of God can and it will be at God’s timing and form. But does it mean that as man we do nothing? God indeed wants us to enjoy His blessings both on Earth and in Heaven. He will more than provide. But God commands us to seek Him with our all and to love others as much as ourselves not because it is a legal consideration in exchange for His grace. But rather, in seeking God in prayers, in His words, in praise and in His works, we learn to come unto His presence, we allow His Spirit to minister to us, to teach us to let go and let Him.
'..to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God..'
Ephesians 3:19
Many times, it is not about logic or clarification, but rather, it is about that unexplainable but joyful peace that comes from a heart that is strangely warmth, that feeling that is indescribable, yet, we know that it is God’s sanctifying presence in our very being. It is God’s compassion for us, His fallen children, that reassures and strengthen that passion or desire in us to live a life that honors Him. It is not about how many things of the world that God should give us, but how blessed we are to have the blindness in our hearts lifted by His grace, to allow us to know Him
‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.’
Acts 14:22
It is not about material riches or things that the world values. It is not about a comfortable life, but God our comforter. It is about Who God is, and how blessed we are in our short finite life to be able to journey in His presence, and yet knowing that eternity with Him is given, if we are willing. Every day is indeed a joyful day, be it that tribulations may come our way for the pain will be fleeting, but the gain from God’s love is permanent.
‘Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God, and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.’
Ecclesiastes 12:13
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(22nd June 2010)
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