Are You Afraid of Death?

Well……

Apostle Paul was not.

He even said: “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.” (Phil 1:21 NLT). He said that because he couldn’t wait to go and be with Christ (Phil 1:23), but he knew he still had works to do while he’s still alive.

As a follower of God and a firm believer of Jesus Christ, our Savior, we should know that we only live temporarily in this world. It’s just a “temporary business trip.” Our real home is the Kingdom of God, Heaven in up above.

Think of it this way.

We are all working in God’s company. Every one of us was assigned with a task and then sent to the world to complete the task. The task is simple; We have to “promote” God’s kingdom and win souls (or “get new customers” as the business term would put it). The difference is only the time limit. Some are given 18 years, some are given 43 years, and some others are given 87 years to do so. When the time is up, the “letter from the President Director” will be sent to tell you, “It’s time for you to go back to the headquarter. Please present your report to Me in person. Your President Director, God.”

I don’t know about you, but for me… I don’t want to return back and face my Boss and show Him, “This is all I got…” while in fact my heart knows I could have done so much more. And what makes it worse, I know He knows I could have done so much more – that will be a total embarassment!

So, I am just like how Paul put it: I can’t wait to go back to my real home and be with Jesus, lover of my soul, for eternity; but at the same time I also don’t want to disappoint Him with a “homecoming present” that is less than what I can actually give to Him. I want to give Him the best present I can give!

I want to meet Him with joy for finishing the race well and never quitting, and not meeting Him with shame for having fun and play too much during my “business trip” and fail to give Him the best result He expected from me. When I’m back home, I want to be able to say this with joy: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” (2 Tim 4:7)

So, am I afraid of death? Definitely not!

But am I nervous about the “report presentation”? You bet…

God is Faithful, He Will Forgive

Do you feel like your sin is so dreadful that you think it is unforgivable even though you know that the Almighty God CAN forgive you?

 

You know what?

It is not God who cannot forgive you.

It is you who cannot forgive yourself.

 

When you cannot forgive yourself, you are closing the door to your heart.

And God cannot do much with your life when the door is closed.

 

Open the door.

Surrender.

Let Him cleanses you and takes the course of your life.

…………………….

Paul was a “huge” sinner, remember?

He dragged people of God out of their houses and persecuted them.

Remember Stephen, the anointed one?

That old Paul, Saul, was the one commanding the soldiers to stone Stephen to death and watching it with satisfaction.

After Paul followed Jesus, he realised of what he did bad in the past and got so embarassed about it. He even said he’s not worthy to be called an apostle after what he did in the past (1 Cor 15:9 NLT).

But Paul did not hide in the darkness and try to keep it a secret.

He actually stood forward and made known to public that he was THAT Saul.

He knew he had to open up himself in order for God’s works to be done through him. But, more importantly, he knew his past mistakes and sins had been cleansed and therefore these did not define his future, as his future was then in God’s righteous hands.

Paul was still the same person as Saul was, “By the grace of God I am what I am,” said he in 1 Corinthians 15:10. But he was changed in the inside because after he followed Jesus, he did not dwell in his past sins. He had a totally new life through which God’s work was being done.

……………………

If you know your life is in a messy sin and you want to get out of it, don’t ever listen to evil’s lies that whisper to your ears as such:

 “You’re doomed. Your sin is just too big to forgive.”

“There’s no way out. God won’t accept you back.”

“You are not worthy to step into God’s house. You’re just too filthy.”

“Who do you think you are??? You’re a sinner! Once a sinner, forever a sinner! Give it up!”

Those lies are whispered to you to keep you away from returning back to our Father. Don’t fall into the trap; don’t trust them because God on the other hand said these:

“If you confess your sins to Me, I will forgive you and cleanse you from all wickedness,” said God in 1 John 1:9. “Come now, let’s settle this. Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

Remember that the battle between God and evil to win your soul will go on forever until the end of day. Those evil whispers are evil’s way to win your soul. When you hear them, run. Run as fast as you can to your real home, because your Heavenly Father has been waiting for you. Confess your sins whole-heartedly, ask for His forgiveness, and stick with Him.

You don’t want your soul to end at the eternal torment of hell, do you?

It’s a Simple Life, My Friend

I have heard quite a lot of people telling me that life is complicated, intriguing, hard to live, so frustrating, and so many other similar calling. Even on an online social networking site, a relationship status can be identified as “It’s complicated.”

Is it THAT complicated???

I may create some controversies here, but I do believe it is THAT simple.

I remember some time ago I prayed about so many challenges, questions and hurdles in my life: from the small stuffs to serious matters. I babbled throughout that one night to Him, about what should I do with this, what should I do with that, why it is like this and that is like that and other the bla…

And when I got silent, He broke the silence with a very simple answer: “You only need to ask me and you’ll know it.”

I was struck.

I did “absent” for so many months of prayer. When I traced back, I realized my life started messing around after I drew farther from Him, thinking that I knew enough about so much so I preferred to think and decide everything in my life by myself, not even considering seeking counsel from Him.

And my conscience struck me like a lightning: I was indirectly declaring myself “Smarter than God”! I put Him aside and leaning on my own understanding.

How embarrassing!

That very night I repented from my superb arrogance!

He told me how my life can be so easy to live in. It’s just a matter of keeping on asking directions to the Guide who knows it all.

Since then I’ve been practicing it, although not without flaws. Every time I have decisions to make, I will discuss it with and ask Him. And trust me, He does answer prayers.

Some friends who I have been sharing about it with asked me, “How do you know God’s preferred way for you?”

I just know.

He answered me with so many different ways that I can’t just say one or two concrete ways of Him doing it. He is way so much more creative than we can imagine. I just pray about my confusion, do what I know is right, and BANG! there He provided me with an answer.

Sometimes He answers it very bluntly and immediately…

Sometimes He answers it very vaguely and without me knowing it being answered already… (I know it after a while – sometimes years afterwards.)

Sometimes He answers it through His whatever creations…

Sometimes He asks me to wait…

But whatever the outcome is, He surely does answer prayers, in His own creative and sometimes unimaginable ways.

Since I’m back on His track, I can now happily declare that so many things I would deem in the past as complicated have all now transformed to simplicity. Some answers are (and were) even beyond my expectation and imagination.

It all becomes so much simpler by walking with God and seeing from God’s perspective and not from Human’s imperfect perception and perspectives.

I believe, when we are well connected to Him, it will be easy for us to identify His answer. Resting our life to the One who knows it all is so… comfortable, and not to also mention, hushing frustration and complicatedness away from your life.

Don’t worry, be happy. Our God is an awesome God, He is.

Do you really know Me?

John 14:9-11

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Phillip? He who has seen me seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.”

…….

The concept of Trinity is always an interesting topic to discuss. But what I want to discuss today is not the concept of Trinity, but more of this line: “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me?”

I have encountered the above passage for so many times before, yet today’s reading knocked hard my heart. I’m afraid I’ve been with Him for so long (I’ve known Him throughout my whole life years), yet knowing so little about Him because I don’t put enough effort to do so.

I feel afraid because I’m not sure if suddenly Jesus asks me, “We’ve been together for so long. Do you know Me well?” I can answer, “Yes!” confidently. I believe it’s not going to be a Bible Trivia quiz questions He will ask. Instead, He will ask about “Do you know Me? Do you really understand Me? Do you really know what My heart long for, My mind thinks of, and My passion goes for?”

I probably thought I know Him pretty well since I communicate with Him quite regularly. But again, I’m so far away from being certain of understanding Him. I know I’ve been skipping so many times of Bible reading, daily devotions, prayers, compassions… so I realistically and consciously acknowledge that I shouldn’t have known Him that much with all these failings…

Then:

How can I deserve calling Him my Best Friend if I do not put effort to care about and understand about Him?

How can I deserve calling Him my Lord if I do not serve Him well and make other people glorify Him?

How can I deserve calling Him ‘Abba’ if I act just like the worldly humans act; ignoring what He has been telling me about what to do and not to do?

Today’s passage knocks my heart so strongly. It strikes me to have a heart longing for my Best Friend; to know more about Him and to always seek Him and seek His passion and heart and thought at all times.

So, here are my commitments for today:

• I will search for Him at anywhere possible, trying to find out more about Him. I will write about “My Discovery about Him” in this journal
• I will live as a Christian (that stands for a “Christ’s follower”) shall live: listen to God’s words, walking on God’s given path, being a blessing to my surrounding, and glorify God through my words, acts and everything

God help me :)

God’s Law of Fairness

“If you do not judge others, then you will not be judged. If you do not find others guilty, then you will not be found guilty. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good amount will be poured into your lap. It will be pressed down, shaken together, and running over. The same amount you give will be measured out to you.” (Luke 6:37-38)

The bottom line is not to judge others because it is not your part to do judgment; it is God’s. If you judge others, you will be judged by the same measure. If you find the wrong of others, others will also find the wrong of yours.

Live a just life. Keep your eyes open to God. When you’re about to judge others, halt! Remember not to overtake God’s role. God is the Judge of all, the Super Judge. He needs not us to judge other people.

After all, what are we? Humans. And how can a human judge another human? It is like a blind person guides another blind person. Won’t both be falling into the same hole?

And before we judge others, remember to judge ourselves first. It is always easier to point fingers at others, but not to us. Sounds easy to do, but it is not as easy as it seems. Sometimes people do self-reflection or “punish” one self not because they remember what God has said, but because of their own ego.

Sometimes one punishes one self because s/he doesn’t want to look bad.

Sometimes one punishes one self because s/he doesn’t want to be ashamed further.

Sometimes one punishes one self because s/he wants to draw attention and pity from others.

And very rarely one does self reflection to find out whether what s/he does is in accord with God’s will…

As we now know that we ought not to judge others, why don’t we just spread love and wisdom to our surrounding? As we all know, Love Conquers All. And as God said, give and you will be given; forgive and you will be forgiven – God’s fairness rule; love and you will be loved.

It takes proactive actions, not reactive. You do it first and you will get the same in return. IT IS NOT you wait to get it first and then you will do the same in return. Those who sow will reap the fruit.

Amen.

Praise Him at All Times because He is Good!

I will talk about the kind things the Lord has done.
I’ll praise him for everything he’s done for us.
He has done many good things for the nation of Israel.
That’s because he loves us and is very kind to us.

(Isaiah 63:7)

Sometimes (and quite often actually) I mourn or whine about my life.

Why people despise my kindness, God?
Why people are so mean around me?
Why is it everything I do always turn out not the way I want it to be?
Why I can’t do good in this thing even though I have been trying and working so hard and badly?

Why Lord?

Isn’t it easier for us to whine than to give thanks? And sometimes it’s even easier to whine even to our beloved God by reflecting all the above to Him:

Lord, why don’t you do anything to those who do bad to me?
Lord, what do you want from me? I did my best and it always fail!
Lord, are you really watching over me? So why do you give me an ugly life??

Lord, why? Why would You? Why did You? Why??

And we forget the essence…

The real essence of this life that God has given His best for us, and it is called SALVATION. And if we remember those nails on Jesus’ hands and feet, the torture on His way up to the Calvary, the stab into His abdomen…what else can we ask for from the Lord?

He gives us just more than enough.

And He didn’t stop there, believe me.

Try to have a quiet time of yourself and rewind all your days with a new Positive Eye Wear. I believe God has given you so much goodness in our life: from the smallest to the most gracious.

I remembered asking God for so many years long time ago when I couldn’t get into the school I really wanted to be at; and I was convinced it was the school for me. But whatever I did to get into the school, the path was just so closed to me. My family even approached and talked to the principal. Still I couldn’t get in there. So I went to another school.

At that time I was wondering heavily: “Why God? I believed I can serve You better if I was there. My faith in You will go stronger there! WHY?”

And so many years after I graduated from that school, I looked back and smiled. God is good. He definitely knows what He is doing in our life. I thought I knew what was best for me; but God knew better! In the “other school” I served Him very actively — which later on I found out I wouldn’t be able to do this in the other school due to the academic pressure that will leave me no time to minister. My talents were all used for Him in a lot of ways — I believe it wouldn’t happen either in the “Best School” for the same reason. And now I am convinced: I may know what I think is best for me; but He knows better! So why don’t I leave it to the Best Planner of all then?

After all, we are all His children; children of no ordinary parent. We are children of He who give birth to Love and Justice!

Don’t you think such a parent will always want the best for His children out of His love?

If a bird knows how to care and love its juniors, how much more our Heavenly Father would do the same to us?

Sometimes what happens may be hard, tough and weary. Just persevere, rely on Him, and be patient until the final outcome emerges. I have witnessed and will always believe that God’s plan is always the sweetest of all :)

So, in good and bad times, keep singing praises to the Lord, because He is good! And I will resonance to Isaiah:

I will talk about the kind things the Lord has done in me.
I’ll praise Him for everything He’s done for me.
He has done many good things for me.
That’s because He loves me and is very kind to me!

Is God’s Glorified or Disgraced through You?

What does it mean for you to be a Christian?

Literally, Christian stands for Christ’s follower. Following Christ means that we adore Him and try to think, do, and act like Him. Just like a little boy idolizing a superhero; the boy will act like flying or having a super power, wear the superhero’s costume, and also have the passion to achieve the superhero’s objective: beating the enemy and save the world.

This is exactly what we have to do as real Christians, so that we reflect God through our life – people can see God through us. Christ is full of love. He did not revenge to those who did bad to Him; instead He said grace to them and ask God to forgive them. Christ lived for one mission: to spread God’s words and save life. He gave all His lifetime for this. He speaks in wisdom and patience. He does not boast Himself. He forgives, He teaches, He accepts everyone without exception.

Are we like Him?

Are we calling ourselves Christians and act like what a Christian ought to be?

Or are we more like the Jews elders in the past to whom Paul said in Rome 2:17b-22:

“You boast about your special relationship with Him. You know what He wants; you know what is right because you have been taught His law. You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth.”

BUT!

If you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples?

I’m afraid many Christians nowadays take for granted God’s grace of salvation to them. They think once they have become a Christian they already get a “ticket” to go to Heaven. The rest? Just wait until the “train” comes to pick you up. Before the train comes, let’s just play around and get the most fun out of this world!

They deceive. They “steal”. They commit adultery. They dishonor the Temple of God. They kill. They …

How sad…

What if Jesus had a thought of getting the most fun out of this world before He got into the tough life of saving humans through humiliation and severe pains? After all, He knew He would be seized and ended on the cross. Not a pretty future picture and it would be humanly to seize His days with the most fun and entertaining He could get before getting into the “real business.”

But, what would happen if He did so?

I don’t even want to imagine…

I just want to thank God that Jesus is not one of us…

Christians, ARISE! You know who you are! You know what you have to do before that train comes picking you (or us) up!

The time is about to end, the field ripes, yet no workers!

Want to call yourself a Christian? Think and act like Christ! Do God’s wills, save life, act like Jesus so people can see God through you.

And let God at the end says to us:

“Good job. You have done your race and kept your faith. Come with me now and let Me give you Your crown of righteousness,” (2 Tim 4:7-8)

AND NOT

“Because of you the non-believers blaspheme My name! Away from me, all you evildoers!” (Rom 2:24; Luk 13:27)

God help us all to keep our faith and glorify Him. Amen.