The Crucible of Life

Jump

2006-08-10T16:07:00.000+08:00

Just like to share an article reminding us of the Father's unfailing love and faithfulness which a friend shared over email.

JUMP

One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, “Jump! I’ll catch you.” He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. The boy could HEAR his father’s voice, but all he could SEE was flame, smoke, and blackness.

As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: “Jump! I will catch you.” But the boy protested, “Daddy, I can’t SEE you!” The father replied, “But I can see YOU son... and that’s all that matters!” The boy jumped and was SAVED because he trusted his father.

God is looking for FAITH! The Scriptures teach us that, Without faith, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God, because anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who diligently SEEK Him" (Hebrews 11:6). Jesus asks the haunting question; "....when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8). He is looking for the kind of faith that will trust and obey Him even when life is difficult.

But I can’t see Him!” someone might object. No, but He sees YOU… and that's all that matters! He is not far from anyone of us! (Acts 17:24-27) “The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth” (Psalm 33:13-14). He sees YOU, and He cares! He cared enough to provide a way of salvation from that “burning house” (SIN). His Son had to die so that YOU and I can be saved (Ephesians 1:7). If we will trust Him – trust Him enough to “jump” – He will catch us and care for us eternally.

Donner Atwood has written: “The Christian faith enables us to face life or meet death, not because we can see, but with the certainty that we are SEEN; not that we know all the answers, but that we are KNOWN.”

Salvation requires FAITH on our part - faith that will: trust in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turn from SIN in repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confess Jesus (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) in the name of Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). Then if we continue to be faithful to Him, He will save us (1 John 1:7).

Jesus warned His disciples: “In the world you WILL have tribulation” (John 16:33). He also told them to trust Him even when times were difficult: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1). Jesus never promised that life would be easy, but He did promise that following Him would be worth every difficulty, every sacrifice (Mark 12:28-30).

The house is burning (1 John 2:17) and will one day be burned up! (2 Peter 3:10). The Father is waiting with outstretched arms calling for you to “jump” through your obedient faith. Even though you can’t see HIM, He sees YOU! You can trust your Heavenly Father! Take that “leap of faith,” today by trusting and obeying His will.

God Always has an Answer
We say: “I can’t go on.”
God says: “My grace is sufficient” (2 Corinthians 12:9; Psalm 91:15).
We say: “I can’t figure things out.”
God says: “I will direct your steps” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
We say: “I can’t forgive myself.”
God says: “I forgive you” (1 John 1:9; Romans 8:1).
We say: “I can’t manage.”
God says: “I will supply all your needs” (Philippians 4:19).
We say: “I’m afraid.” God says: “I have not given you a spirit of fear” (2 Timothy 1:7).
We say: “I’m always worried and frustrated.”
God says: “Cast all your cares on ME” (1 Peter 5:7).
We say: “I don’t have enough faith.”
God says: “My Word will give you faith” (Romans 10:17).
We say: “I’m not smart enough.”
God says: “I will give you wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:30; James 1:1-5).
We say: “I feel all alone.”
God says: “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

Counting The Cost

2006-05-27T01:48:00.000+08:00

Sometimes the feeling really sucks when you make sacrifices; arguably even godly sacrifices only to find that perhaps your efforts were all for naught. I hate to use that word but I guess my limited vocabulary does not afford me the ability to think of another word to describe my feelings.

Today, I ungrudgingly sacrificed an eagerly anticipated Bible study on the book of Romans with some Word-thirsty friends for the sake of my church cell group which I am co-leading. Friday happened to be the only 'convenient' day for members of both groups to gather, and thus I had chosen to given priority to my church group which I feel spiritually responsible for. A meeting that could have been held on any other day of the week was given my precious Friday slot so as to accomodate everyone.

However, what was meant to be the joy of sacrifice turned into dismay when I arrived only to find my co-leader and another dear member were in attendance. The others somehow had last minute matters to attend to and could not turn up. Much as the galling taste of disappointment swelled over me, I composed myself to do justice to the one and only member who came. It would have been dreadfully unfair to her if my feelings of being hurt and 'cheated' were allowed to dictate the atmosphere of a gathering of God's people. Yes, though it was just the 3 of us instead of 7 or 8, it was still a potential time of fellowship and ministering to one another. I thank God that the meeting went well and we all went away feeling blessed. However, the feeling of being cheated still lingered. I had made a personal sacrifice in turning down a group of friends, who are equally thirsty to explore the Bible more deeply, in the hope that my cell group members would be able to come and be blessed together, and now the sacrifice had proven unjustified. Yes, while sacrifices aren't made based on their worth, but surely I wasn't wrong to feel hard done by.

This led me to think about Christ's sacrifice on the Cross. While Jesus hung on the Cross bearing the weight and shame of the sins of all mankind so that we might be redeemed and made righteous once again before God, the very people he was bearing all that pain (not just physical but spiritual as well) and agony for were mocking him, totally oblivious to the greatest sacrifice that has ever taken place.

While I am certainly not Christ and cannot claim to have made a sacrifice of a magnitude that can be even placed in juxtaposition with that of Christ, I guess these circumstances have given me a chance to experience what Christ actually went through just for you and I. This is why in Luke 14:27 Jesus said, "And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."

Anyone who truly loves God and wants to serve Him as a result has to taken up his own cross and make immense personal sacrifices just like Jesus did. Jesus then went on to say in Luke 14:28, "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?" This once again emphasizes the need to count the cost before we say "Yes Lord, I love you and I will serve you with all my heart, all my strength and all my soul, and I will serve you in every way you can use me.

For me the call to cell leadership was one that I answered with much trepidation. To be honest, while many may see spiritual leadership as something to glamorous to be grasped, I was and still am a reluctant leader. I was and still am afraid that my busy schedule will give me insufficent time with my cell members and thus shortchange them, and thus intially I dared not flippantly take up such a sacredrole in the lives of others. However, the prompting of God ultimately made me say yes in obedience and confidence that He will provide. From that time till now, much greater costs have been incurred in my ministry, but yet God continues to sustain me through each new and tougher challenge.

Thus, may I conclude this simple piece of sharing my frustations with a reminder that it is always so easy to say yes to serving God and His people (after all it is the right thing for Christian to do), but we always need to count the cost of ministry - abounding pain, disappointment and personal sacrifices, with the occasional gratification of seeing people touched by your efforts.

On Abortion and Capital Punishment

2006-02-05T12:42:00.000+08:00

Here's some new insight I gained from the current preaching series on the Ten Commandments.

Some time ago I posted an article which I wrote for a VCF's newsletter about playing God. In that article, I shared what was undoubtedly a rather hardline stand on the issue of abortion and euthanasia. Even for an increasing number of 'liberal' Christians in this day and age, the question on the correctness of abortion is deemed a 'grey topic'.

No Christian argues against the 5th Commandment which is "You shall not murder." Exodus 20:13. The words of God here are clear and simple. Murder is defined by the Oxford dictionary as the unlawful and premeditated killing of one human by another, and in no questionable terms does God prohibit this vile which shows callous disregard for the sanctity of life - which God reserves exclusive rights to give and take in accordance with His perfect plans.

Having established the fact that murder is taking another human's life into our own hands, it now follows that whether the act of abortion in any circumstance does indeed contravene the Commandment that we shall not murder hinges on whether a foetus is a life.

If we were to examine carefully Luke 1:41, we would realise that Luke describes the foetus of John the Baptist as a life. "And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit." The babe leaped in the womb of Elizabeth! The action of leaping demonstrates the life that existed in the unborn foetus of John the Baptist. It implies the firing of neurons and the contraction of muscles even if it was the power of the Holy Spirit which effected that. Having seen this, how can one still question whether a foetus is only considered a life when it is born into the world? We do not need any gory videos of abortion to show that foetuses desperately squirm and flee the suction tube that snatches their lives away from them. We need to look no further than the Word of God to understand that right from the time of conception, the foetus is a living being.

The psalmist David thoughtfully wrote, "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them." Psalm 139:13-17. God cherished our existence from the very time we were conceived and we are as he wrote 'fearfully and wonderfully made'. We were 'substance' in the eyes of God even when were were 'yet unformed'. God had in mind a master plan for our lives, fashioning our days even before we lived our first in this world. Thus, I guess even for the 'unplanned' and 'unwanted' babies, it was by no accident that they were conceived; even for the child of a poor rape victim. Every life is a marvellous work of God and shall we determine it is unworthy of a chance to live out God's divine and unfathomable destiny?

Now on to the topic of capital punishment. From time immemorial, there has been raging debate over the moral right for the State to declare that a convict should be executed as punishment for his or her crimes. Different legal systems carry mandatory death sentences for a range of crimes such as murder and drug trafficking. In recent times, the case of Nguyen Thuong Van stirred up widespread protests in Australia which does not condone the death penalty. Meanwhile, I regularly read on CNN about passionate demonstrators some of whom are reduced to tears protesting outside US prisons whenever convicted murderers are sent to the death chamber. While the debate on whether drug traffickers should be sent to the gallows is one which cannot be answered biblically, that on the right for judges to sentence murderers to death is clearer.

It is interesting to note that in Genesis 9:6 God declared, "Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man." Thus, in this declaration which is often overlooked, God validates punishment of those who have taken the live of another with their own death. This is because God abhors the disregard for His divine creation of Man which He made in his very own image, and wants to safeguard other humans from those who do not value the sanctity of life.

"You shall therefore keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord your God is giving you for all time." Deuteronomy 4:40

God's Commandments are not meant to restrict our liberty but the obedience of them is meant to equip us for a blessed life on this earth. Thus, let us respect these sacred rules which God has lovingly laid out to guide us down the path of righteousness in this world plagued by sin and immorality.

What is Faith?

2006-01-15T02:33:00.002+08:00

I just finished a 2.5 hour phone call with a friend whose faith in God has taken a serious battering. Much as I would have loved to help, I was helpless to help. Faith in God is not something that you can coax a person into having. It is not something that can be reasoned out. Objective, textbook answers from the Bible to problems and injustices which rip one's faith into shreds only serve to reinforce feelings that the promises of Scripture are all merely well-constructed lies. Yet on the other hand, as a Christian whose faith is steadfast, I know that I cannot further fuel my friends' feelings of being cheated by God. The feeling of being in a quandary; not knowing what to say yet wanting so badly to offer help like any loving Christian brother would left me utterly vexed and frustrated.

"Faith means believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse."

This is a quote which left an indelible impact on my life after I came across it while reading Philip Yancey's book 'Where is God When It Hurts?' However, may I now contradict myself by saying that if this is truly what faith is, then I am a complete moron.

Pardon the use of strong words and apparent boastfulness which I need to employ to get my point across here. As a supposedly intelligent individual who is able to secure a prized place in medical school; as a person with an analytical mind who is able to reason and subscribe to logic, it seems impossible that I would believe in God.

I hate to admit that I would never be a Christian today if not for the fact that I believe that God miraculously saved my life. 13 years ago when I was still an 8 year old kid, my parents said that the obstinate bull that I was refused to believe or pray to God. In fact even at that tender age, having been born into a Christian family didn't mean that I became a naturalised Christian. I was a kid with a logical mind. No one could make me believe something unless something I experienced made it real to me. God was never real to me until I was struck with dengue haemorrhagic fever. From my parents' account, the paediatrician caring for me in NUH said that my condition was critical and only supportive treatment could be given. In fact, the Christian doctor said that the only thing that could be done for me was to pray! In that state of desperation, humans hope. My worried parents hoped for Jehovah Rophe's healing hand to come upon me. When no human intervention could save me, only God could; and He did. I stand today testifying that this miracle transformed my life by convincing me that God is indeed real. Had I not been snatched back from the brink of death, I would probably be one of the biggest atheists around this day persecuting the perceived folly of the Christian faith.

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Hope is something that humans thrive on. Without hope, our lives would be in a state of perpetual gloom. Hope is the very essence of faith. Without hope, there can be no faith; and without faith, no one can possibly claim believe in God; for when our hope in God is placed in the crucible of life, the purified end-product that emerges from the fires of refinement is faith. Indeed, faith is not based on empirical evidence but on divine assurance.

Detractors including the cynic in me even today can doubt that it was God that really saved me. As I now know as a Medical student with knowledge of the natural course of dengue fever, that supportive treatment to tide over the period of thrombocytopenia and dehydration will stand one in good stead for a speedy recovery once the body starts producing new platelets, which are so crucial in preventing haemorrhage and consequential multiple organ failure, perhaps I can doubt that it was the prayer and faith in a God that no one has seen. Indeed no one has even seen God as is confirmed in John 1:18. "No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known." Thus, it is with blind faith that I believe that God is real, and that my salvation through my confession that I am a sinner and that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for my sins as taught by the Bible is indeed true.

So faith is indeed an illogical thing. It seems to me that the more intellectual a person is, the harder it is for him to humble himself to believe in the seemingly senseless and asinine notion of God. I would think that the uneducated people who live in the remotest jungles are far easier to convert to my belief of God and salvation than the most brilliant scientists on this earth. To have faith means to blindly believe. It is irrational; and one needs in that sense to stupefy himself to say that yes, I shall put my trust in God and surrender my life to him. To have faith means to read the bible and use it as the basis of your beliefs without questioning its authenticity.

Romans 5:1-5 is one of the cornerstones of the Christian faith. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, [2] through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. [3] Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; [4] perseverance, character; and character, hope. [5] And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

The promise in this passage sounds incredibly good. It makes people believe that we can glory in our sufferings because in God we have a hope that does not disappoint. How do we know that it does not disappoint? Because we feel the love of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Yet, as atheists would contend, perhaps this thing called the Holy Spirit is just some psychological phenomenon that some brilliant con-artists have come up with to fool millions of Christians around the world.

Don't get me wrong here. Atheists may be rejoicing at my apparent enlightenment at this juncture. However, while I concede that there will always be doubts about the reality of God in my rational mind, I insist on believing in God. I choose to be the stupid fool in the eyes of the world because faith gives me hope. It is the hope that God is indeed real; that all the victories in life that I experience are correctly attributed to the sovereignity of the omnipotent God that I believe in. Faith is not for the intelligent. It is not for the worldly. It is for the innocent. This is why Jesus said in Matthew 18:3, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Children are innocent and foolish in the eyes of learned adults who have seen the world. Yet it is this foolishness which gives them a simple, innocent faith that my ever-wandering, complex and intellectual mind craves. It is indeed a burden to be a logical human being, for it makes faith in God something so hard to have.

I pray that whoever reads this will see that faith is not for the proud in heart. In all our purported human wisdom and knowledge, it takes great humility to acknowledge that God is real.

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom." 1 Cor 1:25

If you ever cast aside your human wisdom and follow my example by hoping in the foolishness of God, that's faith.

"Yes" by Walter Brueggemann

2005-10-23T13:58:00.000+08:00

You are the God who is simple, direct, clear with us and for us.
You have committed yourself to us.
You have said yes to us in creation,
Yes to us in our birth,
Yes to us in our baptism,
Yes to us in our awakening this day.

But we are of another kind,
More accustomed to “perhaps, maybe, we’ll see,”
Left in wonderment and ambiguity.
We live our lives not back to your yes,
But out of our endless “perhaps.”

So we pray for your mercy this day that we may live yes back to you,
Yes with our time,
Yes with our money,
Yes with our sexuality,
Yes with our strength and with our weakness,
Yes to our neighbor,
Yes and no longer “perhaps.”
In the name of your enfleshed yes to us,
Even Jesus who is our yes into your Future. Amen.

God's Relentless Pursuit

2005-06-26T16:50:00.000+08:00

O Lord our God,
How excellent Your name is,
How excellent Your name in all the earth,
Your glory fills the heavens,
Beyond the farthest star,
How excellent Your name in all the earth.

When I think about the heavens,
The moon and all the stars,
I wonder what You ever saw in me,
But You took me and you loved me,
And You've given me a crown,
And now I'll praise Your name eternally...

Whenever I sing this song, tears will well in my eyes for the lyrics are so steep in meaning; speaking of God's amazing love and favour upon us. Inspired by the words of David in Psalm 8 (my emphasis), "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor", the song first exalts the majesty and splendour of God. Then in a juxtaposition of us and the marvels of God's creation, we seem so insignificant and unworthy of His notice. Yet, our heavenly Father took us and He loved us, giving us a crown of glory and honour, making us ruler over all creation.

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." (James 4:8, NKJV my emphasis).

God is in a constant pursuit of an intimate relationship with us. When God created Man, His desire was for us to commune with Him on a personal level. Notice in Genesis 1 that when God created day and night, land and seas, the sky, plants and animals, each time He noted that it was ‘good’. However, after creating Man, God said that it was ‘very good’. Man was a special creation above all others, made to be in His own image (Gen 1:27), designed to rule over all other things and dwell in the Garden of Eden in the intimate presence of God. However, Man sinned by wilfully partaking of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and fell short of the glory of God who detests sin. In their nakedness, Adam and Eve hid from God, yet God called out to them, “Where are you?” (Gen 3:9). Surely God who even numbers the very hairs of our head (Mat 10:30) knew their whereabouts, yet even in His anger at their sin which He already knew they had committed, He called for them in an act of seeking them.

"... for he is a God who is passionate about his relationship with you." (Exo 34:14, NLT my emphasis).

The NKJV translation reveals that God is a jealous God whose name is Jealous. When we think of jealousy, a negative connotation immediately comes to mind. However, when we think of our God who is perfect in righteousness, why does He command in Deut 5:7 that "You shall have no other gods before me.”? This is precisely because God created Man to worship Him as is evident in Exodus 8:1, “Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me.” God wanted his people free from the Egyptians so that they may worship Him. Thus, God who created us with the sole purpose to praise and glorify His name has the divine right to be jealous of the god of this age (2 Cor 4:4) that so many tragically have turned to. Satan, the master deceiver, has used the the allure of money, power, and pleasure to blind people to the light of Christ’s gospel. When people reject Christ and prefer their own hedonistic pursuits, they have unknowingly made Satan their god, and this most certainly pains the heart of our Father in heaven.

Ever since the fall of Man, the human race has plunged into moral depravity. The prevalence of sin in our lives grieves the Spirit of God (Eph 4:30). God and sin cannot co-exist, yet in God’s relentless pursuit of us, He masterminded the perfect redemption of our sins through Christ’s death on the cross. John 3:16 is the bedrock theology of the Christian faith, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Knowledge of the law rendered it impossible that we ever enter the Kingdom of God by our own effort. (see Rom 5:20, 7:7-11). However Romans 3:22-26 encapsulates the hope of salvation we have through Jesus Christ. “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. [25] God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-- [26] he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”

At this juncture, some may wonder, “God may have done that for mankind collectively. I recognise that I am a sinner yet I think that I am unworthy of this salvation that Christians speak of. Who am I, 1 out of 6.5 billion people that God is mindful of me and desires an intimate relationship with me?” Well, the answer to your doubt is that even if you were the only one on earth, God would still have pursued and ransomed you relentlessly with the great price of His only begotten Son.

This truth is evident from Jesus’ ministry in Mark 5:1-21 (note in verse 21 that “Jesus had again crossed by boat to the other side of the lake"). In this story, in the midst of teaching multitudes about the Kingdom of God, Jesus purposefully crossed the lake to save just one, yes one, demon-possessed man. This was a man who must have been the scourge of society. He lived in tombs and people had often attempted to restrain him with chains but to no avail. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. A desolate and pathetic figure of misery indeed! Yet, Scripture notes that Jesus crossed the lake with the sole purpose of liberating this man from the clutches of Satan. Jesus cared so much for one man that society considered unwanted that he journeyed to and fro across the lake to minister to him and him only!

Finally, I would like to share some assurances that we are indeed no strangers to God in a world of countless people. God knows everyone of us from head to toe!

Isaiah 49:15-16 writes, "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”

David sings most beautifully of God’s intimate knowledge of and attention to us in Psalm 139:

[1] O Lord, you have searched me
and you know me.
[2] You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
[3] You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
[4] Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O Lord.

[5] You hem me in--behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
[6] Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

[7] Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
[8] If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
[9] If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
[10] even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast...

[13] For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
[14] I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
[15] My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
[16] your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

God loves us so much that He pursues us every second of our lives. How much longer will we harden our hearts to Him? Every step we take to Him he will take two steps or more to us. God wants to draw close to us. However, it takes two hands to clap in every relationship.

“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. The Lord preserves all who love Him.” (Psalm 145:18-20a)

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." That is a promise from the most faithful Promise-keeper in you can ever know.

Can There Be No God?

2005-04-21T02:29:00.000+08:00

Here's an article that I wrote a few years back for a university application. I felt inspired to share it with you as a thought-provoker. I acknowledge that a belief in God cannot be something forced upon someone even with the most logical and convincing of arguments. The Christian faith is something that cannot and should not be argued for. Thus, my hope is that whatever I am about to share in a very objective voice will be a catalyst to coax your mind into thinking, and may the Lord whose boundless love and salvation is extended to every single one of His beloved creations enlighten you and speak to your hearts in His own special way; for only the conviction of God and not even Man's greatest wisdom can attest to the truth of His existence.

Living in a world which is split over two opposing views on whether a God really exists, I would like to propose one of the most mind-boggling questions that will certainly spark off intensive debate: "Can there be no God?"

From time immemorial, Man has often raised the cliched question of whether God really exists. People have come up with countless theories to prove the non-existence of God, while others have bitterly raised counter-arguments to justify the reality of God. During the course of history, the fierce argument has swung between two opposing camps with no real conclusion found to the biggest mystery that baffles mankind. I thus feel that it would be ideal for us to turn the question around and consider it from a fresh and different perspective.

The answer to the million-dollar question: "Can there be no God?" is an emphatic "No". I shall now attempt to prove why the answer to this question is so simply negative.

Throughout the course of history, atheists have sought to prove the non-existence of God by attacking the credibility of the Creation Theory. Ridiculous, they would say of the Bible's claims that God created the heavens and the earth. If God really created the universe, then who created God?

Doubters of the Creation Theory have also embraced Darwin's Theory of Evolution (which he renounced late in his life), believing that Man actually evolved from apes and that the Bible's records of Adam and Eve are purely fictional.

That question is one that neither I nor anyone else in the world would have an answer to. However, considering things in a different light, I can clearly prove that there cannot be no God (which implies that there must be a God).

Suppose we are standing at the foot of the Empire State Building in New York. I say to you, "Every sensible person would think that this gleaming skyscraper is the result of a team of architects and engineer's carefully designed plans, but they are wrong. I know better. In some strange way, the steel girders appeared from nowhere and fashioned itself into the structure of a building. And then glass panes started to form windows and cement began to line the floor. After a long while, furnishings grew into place and 'poof', there stood the what was once the world's tallest building."

You would probably consider me an absolute lunatic and shy away from my ludicrous chatter. This is precisely because your logical mind reasons that where there is a design there must be a designer, and having seen other products of the human mind, you are positive that the Empire State Building was indeed planned by a human mind and built by human engineering.

Considering this, it shocks me that there are highly educated men of incredible knowledge who can argue and believe that the entire universe came into existence purely by chance. SOme more scientific people even tritely propose the earth was formed by a phenomenon called a 'cosmic boom'. Unfortunately, their great knowledge amounts to nothing when we appeal to our logical minds.

All that atheists can offer us is the enigma of design without a designer, of creation without a creator, effect without a cause.

Every sensible person believes in a sequence of causes and effects in nature. Each cause results in an effect, which becomes the cause of yet another effect. The acceptance of this simple model compels us to agree that there must be a beginning or some sort of initiation to any series. If there was no God, the universe could not come into being.

Moreover, it seems to me a mockery of human sensibility that men of great learning can stubbornly insist that the human body with all its intricacies is a product of chance and chance alone. Oh yes, the millions of blood vessels somehow assembled themselves to form our circulatory system. Our brain which controls every action of ours was a fortunate product of millions of cells coming together by some form of telepathy. Infants teach themselves to cry when they are hungry or hurt.

Allow me to give a simple mathematical illustration and you may judge for yourself how probable it is that our bodies were self-assembled. Take ten identical coins and mark them one to ten. Place them in your pocket. Now remove one coin. There is a one in ten chance that you will get number one. Now replace it and take a second coin. The chance that the number two follows the number one is one in hundred. Following this sequence, the chance of drawing one to ten in a sequence is amazingly one in ten billion.

George Gallup, an American statistician once said, "I could prove God alone statistically. Take the human body alone - the chance that all its functions would just happen is a statistical monstrosity."

Indeed, even mathematical evidence points to the fact that the possibility of there being no God (which implies our very existence was a product of chance) is virtually zero.

While I agree with the natural selection theory of Darwin's Theory of Evolution, I am inclined to assert that men who claim God's non-existence by claiming that Man, God's most valued creation, evolved from apes is totally unacceptable. What Darwin suggested was a series of changes without intermediates. Humans could not have been descendents of apes for the simple reason that the vast differences between Man and their supposed ancestors cannot be accounted for.

If we were to just open our eyes and admire the beauty of our natural world; the majesty of the Niagara Falls, the vastness of the Sahara, or the grandeur of the Himalayas, how could there possibly be no God? If my arguments have not been convincing enough, the marvels of creation themselves are perfect testimonies to the very existence of God. Thus, it is my conviction that there cannot be no God.

Titles Or Testimonies

2005-04-16T15:35:00.000+08:00

"And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God." Col 1:10.

In our lives, we can chase after two things - titles or testimonies.

Often, it is so easy to become enamoured with titles which encompass things like material wealth, accolades, recognition and adulation; the list goes on. These are the things which make us feel important, accepted and most of all give us instant gratification for our toil and endeavours. After all, who would not want to be the top student if he had studied exceedingly hard for an examination? Admittedly, I am no exception, and the human in me craves to reap the rewards for my effort. However, one thing I have noted is that titles are but ephemeral trophies of human achievement that will soon be forgotten forever. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy... But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven." (Matthew 6:19-20, my emphasis). Similarly, 1 Cor 3:12-13 warns us, "If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light (fire)." God will use fire to test the fitness of our work for eternity. "The fire will test the quality of each man's work... If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames." (1 Cor 3:13-15, my emphasis)

Testimonies on the other hand are legacies which would live on for eternity. These are the things which may not earn us worldly recognition, but yet we can be assured that a greater reward awaits us in heaven. God promises us a reward if we build our lives and sow for eternity, "If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward." 1 Cor 3:14. This is analogous to the story of the wise man who built his house on the rock (things that last for eternity) and the foolish man who built his house on sand (worldly things that bring fleeting pleasures). In life, we have a similar choice. If we choose to place God's work above chasing after titles and pleasures in life, sowing into the lives of others and availing our lives as His humble servants, we are assured of an eternal reward. In 2 Cor. 4:18, Paul exhorts us "fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." It may go against our innate hedonistic instincts to turn our backs against what is commonly termed 'living for the moment' and invest in the eternal reward, but be assured that God knows our weakness and desires in this area, and will sufficiently reward us here on earth too as a mere primer of what awaits us in eternity. This I will attempt to explain using my own life as an example.

The past year has been a defining period of my life. It has been a time of regrouping and examining my position and goals in life; a time when I began to question whether I was chasing after titles which moth and rust will destroy, or testimonies which will I can leave behind as a legacy and carry on into eternity.

At the start of my second year in university, I prayed to God and earnestly told Him that I wanted to live for His glory. I desired to live every aspect of my life in a way worthy of His calling. I had realised that my first year in university had been squandered away caught up in the academic rat race, scrambling to be above average in CAs that would ultimately count for nothing in my life; much less in the eyes of God. In retrospect, with that kind of lifestlye, I was depriving myself of the fulfilment that God has so desired to pour out into my life.

Having made those resolutions to live for His glory, I began to adopt a whole new attitude towards my studies. I resolved to try to dissociate myself from comparing results with my peers and I resisted being drawn into the competition for academic glory. In Romans 12:2, Paul exhorts us, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." Not wanting to bow to the immense forces of peer pressure to, I constantly prayed that He would renew my mind and strip away those unhealthy desires to win the adulation of Man and gain acceptance with good results. I knew that God's good, pleasing and perfect will for me was not that of chalking up good results in my CAs.

In Jeremiah 29:11, God promises us, "For I know the plans I have for you... plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Yes, our good Lord has wonderful plans to prosper us, to give us a hope and a future. If my idea of prosperity, hope and my future was merely that of good results, recognition and acceptance from friends and relatives, I would be grossly short changing myself from the great things Father wants to do both through and in my life. God's plans for us are certainly far greater than those we lay down for ourselves. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways... As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isa 55:8-9.

At this juncture, please do not be mistaken and think that God does not want to bless us with the 'worldly' things such as stellar academic results and material wealth. God says that he has "plans to prosper you" Jer 29:11 (my emphasis). However, I am convinced that the prosperity spoken of here is far greater than just our heart's desires. He wants to use our lives in many ways for his glory (refer to my previous post 'Living for the glory of God'). If only we were to open our hearts and avail our lives to his plans and not our own, we will enjoy far greater gratification than we could even ask for when His work is accomplished through us, His vessels. " Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Mat 6:33.

Allow me to continue using my own life as an illustration.

When we make a choice to seek testimonies over titles in our lives, we are choosing to embrace God's plans and destiny for us above our own. I made that choice this year when I surrendered my own personal ambitions to God and prayed He would help me to be the best servant I could be for Him in every aspect of my life. I was under no illusions that henceforth my life would be a bed of roses after I made that solemn commitment, but through all the struggles I've faced in living out His plans for me, I have found such immense peace, joy and contentment that I have never experienced before.

Over the past 6 months, by His grace and divine appointment I have had the privilege to serve in a greater capacity in my ministry. During this time, I was blessed to have had the opportunity to sow into the lives of many dear friends, to hear them out, to encourage, to share my experiences and help them grow in their walk with the Lord. It was certainly not an easy time for me, for sharing my time with others meant less time for my studies, family and my own personal space. However, over time, this sacrifice on my part gradually began to show itself worthwhile. To see people grow in faith, all zealous and passionate for God, to hear words of thanks and encouragement for what I have done for them; these are the greatest sources of gratification that I could have ever asked for. These are the testimonies that I have been talking about; legacies that I will leave behind knowing that I have made an impact for Christ in the life of another.

Moreover, while I have chosen to place His work above my own personal agendas in life, God has been no less than faithful in the other aspects of my life. He has consistently blessed me with results that could only have come by His providence and grace. In the area of friendships, I am blessed to have gotten to know so many great new friends this year despite my initial worries that my social life would be affected by my commitments to God.

Having testified of God's faithfulness even as I have sought testimonies over titles, I am not prepared to rest on my laurels and bask in the glory of yesterday. "I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead." (Philip. 3:13, my emphasis) At this juncture, the gravest mistake I could make would be to consider myself to have taken hold of God's promises for my life and be content to sit back and enjoy what He has given me.

"Run in such a way as to get the prize... we do it to get a crown that will last forever... I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." (1 Cor 9:24-27, my emphasis).

Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Until the day we meet our Maker, we need to resist the temptation to slacken, and persevere in running a good race for Him. If we are careful to do that, when the day comes when we are called to give an account of our lives comes, he will not be ashamed to say, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" That is the ultimate reward at the end of a life wholly committed to His purposes.

Now will you join me in seeking the Master's embrace and reward that can only be found through a lifelong pursuit of testimonies?

Passion For God

2005-01-29T03:00:00.000+08:00

Today, we discussed during cell what it really means to be passionate for God. Indeed, this is a very profound question that drew many different responses, albeit all with the underlying focus on our love relationship with God.

Is passion for God about adrenaline rushes, feeling all pumped up by His amazing love and works in our lives and thus desiring to spend more time with Him, getting to know Him better and receive more of His touch? Or is it an outward manifestation on our part; how we come before him desiring greater intimacy, coming before Him with fervour and having great zeal and devotion in doing the things that please Him? Or is it a combination of both our feelings and actions?

Personally, I feel that there is and can be no answer to this mind-blowing question. The answer lies hidden deep within our hearts, and this is a testament to the fact that God works in lives in ways our human mind cannot fathom. Nevertheless, it is a faith-building experience for us to search our hearts and discover what having passion for the Father really means to us; not that we will find a definite answer, but the process of chasing after God can only serve to bring our relationship with Him to a deeper level.

Passion for God takes on a special place and meaning in each and every believer's heart. Sometimes, God touches our lives in unimaginable ways that words cannot even describe, and this inspires within us a greater desire to love Him and serve Him. It is my conviction that much as discipleship and accountabilty should take on a key role in my walk with Christ, no one can ever make a call on my level of passion for God. This is a sacred relationship in which there is a mutual understanding between Father and child, Creator and creation.

Indeed, passion for God is not something quantifiable. We are all imperfect humans living in an imperfect world by the grace of God. I admit that the temptation is always there for us to assess a person's spirituality or level of passion or fervency for God through certain standards or precepts that we may have unwittingly conceived. For example, we are inclined to think that youth are more passionate for God because they jump exuberantly in worship while many of us adopt a more 'subdued' posture of worship. However, this is not the least a fair judgement call. While we should desire all forms of fervency in our relationship with God, we cannot discount the way God is touching us in this season of our lives.

To further illustrate this dilemma, it is so easy for us to walk into a charismatic worship service with a vibrant atmosphere, catchy music and people leaping with their hands raised and singing praises to God and say, "Wow! This congregation is really passionate for God!" Instantly, this passion is contagious and we would probably feel a surge in our spiritual emotions and desire to worship God with the same kind of fervency. However, for a vast majority of us, I am not sure if the same feelings would be evoked in a more traditional service in which hymns are sung with organ accompaniment. But then again, isn't passion for God something that should come from within and not be determined by an environment or felt atmosphere? Surely people in the traditional service could be worshipping with equal, if not more passion. Thus, it is my conviction that passion from God can be felt anywhere and any time.

Yet another controversial example would be that of a new believer's passion for God compared to that of an 'older' Christian who has so-called 'been there before' or ' already seen it and experienced it'. Often times, we marvel and are envious of how God inspires such an awe and passion for Him in a new believer's life. The testimonies I hear sometimes really evoke in me a burning desire to want to revisit the times when I had that kind of experience. However, I know deep within me that though my passion for God at this stage is a different kind of experience or feeling (for lack of a better word), I don't desire God any less or love him any less just because I possibly know God better for who He really is through the ups and downs I've been through in my walk with Him.

My passion for God is inadequately described as an ardour to spend time quality time with Him, serve Him wholeheartedly and share my experiences of His love with others. This stems from the unshakeable assurance of His unconditional love for me, and knowledge that His perfect plans that will work according to His will for my life even as I love Him and wholly submit my life to His purposes. It is a kind of feeling which grows from the comforting knowledge that God pursues a covenant relationship with me, and this culminates in an expression of passion through feelings and actions that come so naturally that I cannot even account for them with my most rational mind.

In any case, it is not my desire to debate on the terminology we use. Such discussions are inconsequential and would edify no one. My purpose here is to remind us, myself included, through my own unsuccessful attempt to explain what passion for God is to me, that such a passion is unique and special to every believer. God our Creator, who even knows the number of hairs on our head, searches the hidden areas of our hearts and knows our every need. He ministers to every individual in His own special way. Yes, God's relationship with us is personalized! That's why He promises us in James 4:8 (NLT), "Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you." Hence, my conviction is that to each and every believer, the meaning of being passionate for God is something that is personal and precious to their hearts. It is a mystery or secret that is only shared in their special personal, intimate relationship with the Father.

Thus, coming back to the issue of making a call on another's passion or fervency for God, I feel that it is most important for us to realise the sacredness of a believer's personal relationship with God and not consciously or unwittingly encroach on that with our own standards even if we mean well.

I believe that the greatest tragedy that could happen is for one to be robbed of his passion for God. That is the goal of the Evil One; to deny us of the personal intimate relationship that God wants so much to have with us. To put it crudely, by expecting others to conform to certain perceived standards, even that of a church (eg. time or perceived dedication to ministry, amount of 'quality time' spent with God etc), we are actually being the devil's advocates in killing the passion of another. For little do we realise that by certain words we say or actions we do, we subtly exert pressures on others to think that 'no I'm not approaching God in the correct way, maybe his way is better' or 'I need to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the manifestation of speaking in tongues to be able to commune with God in a deeper level'. Such thoughts rob us of that cherished, (may I emphasize again) personal relationship with God, and this quells the passion in our spirit for God.

Take for example the woman who broke and poured the alabaster jar of expensive perfume on Jesus' head. It was her own way of expressing her passion for Him, but some of the people present contrived to rob her of this passion by condemning what was outpouring of love to her as wasteful. The Bible does not record her feelings, but note Jesus' response, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me." Jesus appreciated what everyone else could not. While the Pharisees could only criticize and belittle the woman's an act of affection for her Saviour, Jesus identified with her passion for Him and exalted her.

May I conclude with an exhortation to all who share with me a passion for God and His people - that even as we embrace the importance of discipleship and accountability; looking out for our brothers and sisters in Christ to ensure that no one falls, and challenging others to cultivate a deeper relationship with God, let us take extra care not to carelessly cause another to stumble and lose their passion for God by unintentionally discounting their own ways of displaying their love for Him. My heart, and I am sure more so God's heart will certainly grieve the day when I rob another of the unique treasure he has searched for and found in God.

Lessons and Hope In The Midst of Disaster

2005-01-12T01:27:00.000+08:00

Just thought I’ll share this meaningful article that was shared by a friend.

In the wake of the tragic tsunami which has caused massive upheaval around the world, I think this article by John Piper is one that helps us to put things in perspective. The call for a fallen world to repentance in the midst of a disaster that has seen more than 100,000 perish may sound harsh and distasteful, but I cannot help but agree that the world at large has missed the most pertinent lessons from this act of God. Truly, as Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose,” we cannot discount the fact that God is indeed sending out a strong message for repentance in these end times. Yet, even as so many people, Christians and pre-believers alike weep for the dead and scramble to offer aid of all forms to the survivors, how many people have actually stopped to examine their own position in life? Yes, people are reminded that is fragile, but just knowing that is not going to win them salvation.

It may sound cruel and inappropriate to talk about repentance from our evil ways even as the death toll soars every day, but I believe that there could not be a more apt and timely opportunity than this to bring the message of salvation to our many friends who cannot see beyond satisfying themselves that they are good people doing good by donating generously to those poor and unfortunate souls who have fallen prey to nature’s wrath. God’s wrath will descend upon the unrepentant when the Day of Judgment comes. No amount of good deeds will force God’s hand to write their names into the Book of Life. Thus, let’s not let the chance to reach out to the lost pass us by! The power of God’s love and salvation can and will prevail over the gloom and doom of disaster.

Tsunami and Repentance
January 5, 2005 - Fresh Words Edition
By John Piper

From pulpits to news programs, from the New York Times to the Wall Street Journal, the message of the tsunami was missed. It is a double grief when lives are lost and lessons are not learned. Every deadly calamity is a merciful call from God for the living to repent. "Weep with those who weep," the Bible says. Yes, but let us also weep for our own rebellion against the living God. Lesson one: weep for the dead. Lesson two: weep for yourselves.

Every deadly calamity is a merciful call from God for the living to repent. That was Jesus' stunning statement to those who brought him news of calamity. The tower of Siloam had fallen, and 18 people were crushed. What about this, Jesus? they asked. He answered, "Do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:4-5).

The point of every deadly calamity is this: Repent. Let our hearts be broken that God means so little to us. Grieve that he is a whipping boy to be blamed for pain, but not praised for pleasure. Lament that he makes headlines only when man mocks his power, but no headlines for ten thousand days of wrath withheld. Let us rend our hearts that we love life more than we love Jesus Christ. Let us cast ourselves on the mercy of our Maker. He offers it through the death and resurrection of his Son. This is the point of all pleasure and all pain. Pleasure says: "God is like this, only better; don't make an idol out of me. I only point." Pain says: "What sin deserves is like this, only worse; don't take offense at me. I am a merciful warning."

But the topless sunbathers amid the tsunami aftermath in Phuket, Thailand did not get the message. Neither did the man who barely escaped the mighty wave with the help of a jungle gym and palm-leaf roof. He concluded, "I am left with an immense respect for the power of nature." He missed it. The point is: reverence for the Creator, not respect for creation.

Writing in the New York Times, David Brooks rightly scorns the celebration of nature's might: "When Thoreau [celebrates] savage wildness of nature, he sounds, this week, like a boy who has seen a war movie and thinks he has experienced the glory of combat." But Brooks sees no message in the calamity: "This is a moment to feel deeply bad, for the dead and for those of us who have no explanation."

David Hart, writing in the Wall Street Journal, goes beyond Brooks and pronounces: "No Christian is licensed to utter odious banalities about God's inscrutable counsels or blasphemous suggestions that all this mysteriously serves God's good ends."

These responses are foreseen in Scripture: "I killed your young men with the sword . . . yet you did not return to me, declares the Lord" (Amos 4:10). "They cursedthe name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory" (Revelation 16:9).

Contrary to Hart's pronouncement, the Christian Scriptures do indeed license us to speak of od's "inscrutable counsels" and how he works in all things for mysterious good ends. To call this banal and blasphemous is like a bird calling the wind under its wing wicked.

Jesus said that the minutest event in nature is under the control of God. "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father" (Matthew 10:29). He said this to give hope to those who would be killed for his name.

He himself stood on the sea and stopped the waves with a single word (Mark 4:39). Even if Nature or Satan unleashed the deadly tidal wave, one word from Jesus would have stopped it. He did not speak it. This means there is design in this suffering. And all his designs are wise and just and good.

One of his designs is my repentance. Therefore I will not put God on trial. That is my place. And only because of Christ will the waves that one day carry me away bring me safely to his side. Come. Repentance is good place to be.

Living For The Glory Of God

2004-12-05T02:14:00.000+08:00

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Cor. 10:31

Some time back, I was discussing the issue of living for the glory God with a friend when this verse was brought up. Looking at it in context, Paul was addressing the Corinthians over the controversial issue of eating food sacrificed to idols. Here, the concept of exercising our freedom as Christians with the caution against stumbling the faith of others was first introduced. 1 Cor. 10:23-24 tells us that, “Everything is permissible - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible - but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”

This is indeed a concept that is easy to grasp yet extremely difficult to put into practice; for it is our innate human nature to want to place self before others in everyday circumstances. However, the issue at hand was more of coming to terms with how we can glorify God in ‘whatever you (we) do’, and not merely through our eating and drinking.

Numerous times in his letters, Paul exhorted the believers to live a life worthy of God. Col. 1:10: “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God”. 2 Cor. 8:5: “And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.”

In the light of the above 2 verses, is important for us to note that we cannot enhance the glory of God. God is perfect in His own glory and we as sinners cannot embellish his glory per se.

Before I continue, I would like to share a very apt passage from John Piper's book 'Desiring God':

"God created us 'in his image' so that we would image forth his glory in the world. We were made to be prisms refracting the light of God's glory into all of life. Why God should want to give us a share in shining with his glory is a great mystery. Call it grace or mercy or love—it is an unspeakable wonder. Once we were not. Then we existed for the glory of God! Therefore it is the duty of every person to live for the glory of God. 'So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God' (1 Corinthians 10:31). What does it mean to glorify God? It does not mean to make him more glorious. It means to acknowledge his glory, and to value it above all things, and to make it known. It implies heartfelt gratitude (Psalm 50:23). It also implies trust (Romans 4:20)."

Living for the glory of God is in fact an act of complete surrender; declaring God sovereign over every aspect of our lives. This includes casting aside our worldly worries, which are in actual fact subtle lapses in our faith that our omnipotent God is in full control of our lives, and that He in all his wisdom knows what is best for us. Matthew 6:25-34 is a beautiful passage in which Jesus teaches about the futility of worrying. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? [26] Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? [27] Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ...[33] But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. [34] Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Living for the glory of God also involves giving him due reverence as our Creator and Saviour, respect and acknowledgement for all the wonderful works He’s done in our lives, and most importantly making his name known to the world.

Let’s also note that living for the glory of God not only involves a spiritual sense as mentioned above, but also in a physical sense. 2 Cor. 6:16: “What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people’.” Not only should we actively seek not to defile our lives with sin which is detestable in the eyes of God, but may I also add that we should love and take care of our bodies which have been 'fearfully and wonderfully made'.

God has birthed a unique calling in each and every one of our hearts. Thus, living out our personal callings and surrendering our lives to allow Him to shape our destiny is an important means of glorying God. After all, who are we but humble creatures of God’s creation?

In Ephes. 4:1, Paul exhorts us, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” This is echoed in 2 Thes. 1:11, “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfil every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.” If there is any good in us, it is owing to the good pleasure of his goodness, and therefore it is called grace. If we submit our lives totally to him in an act of faith, we will be bestowed with the power to complete the works that God has intended for us.

Thus, the big questions come. Are we a living testimony for Christ? Do our lifestyles and purposes in life reflect God’s work in us?

2 Cor. 5:20 reads, “We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” We are indeed privileged to be God’s chosen representatives in a fallen world. However, just like contestants in the Singapore Idol competition endeavoured to win the hearts of voters, are we similarly canvassing actively as beacons of God’s love, doing our utmost to be soul winners? I am a firm believer in lifestyle evangelism; not that I disapprove of other means like street evangelism, but I believe that the way we live our daily lives speaks volumes to others about what our God is all about. It grieves my heart to think of the bad testimonies we’ve heard about from hostile pre-believers. “… and he calls himself a Christian.” I am sure most of us are guilty of doing God a huge injustice by living a ‘defiled’ life under the watchful eyes of many who are so ready to highlight and condemn our slightest faults in their case against Christ.

It is not that we are expected to be perfect, for we are not. Romans 3:23 reminds that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. It is precisely so that we need the saving grace of Christ. However, the question is are we even making a concerted effort to shun the temptations of sin (even simple acts such as gossip), or do we take the infinite grace of God for granted, and in doing so become poor testimonies to those who expect nothing short of perfection from us because we are Christians? No, we cannot be perfect even if we want to. If we could, there would be absolutely no need for God in our lives! However, I believe that the mere act of sincerely trying to avoid sin and please God in all we do is indeed precious in His eyes. Just like our parents are gratified when we do little things to make them happy, our Heavenly Father is gracious and merciful, and I am convinced that He will take great pleasure in seeing us try our best to please Him. In doing so, we will also unwittingly portray a different lifestyle from those who conform to the sinful patterns of this world, and they will undoubtedly be drawn to the unique difference in us Christians that is made possible through God’s infinite love and grace. The principle of honouring God with our lives is encapsulated in Romans 12:2, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Living for the glory of God also means to be a man after His own heart. In searching for a successor for the wayward King Saul, 1 Samuel 13:14 reveals that “the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart”, and we all know that David went on to become a man with God’s passionate heartbeat. “I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do” (Acts 13:22). Indeed, glorifying God with our lives involves patterning our hearts after His like King David did. The 73 Psalms that David wrote are a testament to how David aligned himself with the heart of God through the praises he sang and his confiding in God in times of distress. Truly, David’s heart was so in tune with honouring and glorifying God that he would rather have died than to grieve the heart of God.

Honouring God with our lives entails an act of sanctification to live out his divine purpose for us. Proverbs 19:21: “Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.” I believe this verse does not exclude our free will to choose our own plans over God’s. Being a loving God, it is certainly not in His character to make us honour him by forcing us to submit to his plans. However, let’s remember the latter part of the verse which promises us that if we willingly and obediently consecrate our lives and embrace His perfect plans for us, He will definitely ensure that these Godly plans will prevail. Isaiah 55:8-9 further emphasizes this point. “ ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ ” Thus, in every circumstance of our lives, let’s acknowledge that God in all his perfect wisdom knows what is best for us.

By being good stewards of our God-given talents and time, we will indeed by living for His glory. In 1 Cor. 9:24-27, Paul writes, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. [25] Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. [26] Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. [27] No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” Life on this earth is ephemeral, just like a race. We should not take any moment of our life for granted, for just as He created us, God has the prerogative to take us home at the snap of the finger. As Rick Warren strives to convict us in his excellent book ‘The Purpose Driven Life’, we are here on earth for a purpose, and the onus is on us to discover it and fulfil it in accordance to God’s will.

In the area of spiritual gifts, the Spirit of God has endowed each and every one of us with a unique array of talents. These are not to be stored and hidden like the servant with 1 talent did in the Parable of the Talents, but rather these manifestations of the Spirit are to be used for the common good of our brothers and sisters in Christ (1 Cor. 12:7). Later on in 1 Cor. 12, Paul goes on to compare the church to a body. Indeed, we are the body of Christ; we all serve a unique function as determined by our special individual talents. Only when we faithfully utilise our spiritual gifts and work together like clockwork can we collectively fulfilling God’s purposes as a body of Christ.

Finally to look once again at the big picture, as Christians, living a life to honour and glorify God ultimately boils down to fulfilling the Great Commission - “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20.

“Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, [16] making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. [17] Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.” Ephes. 5:15-17. Only through abiding prayer and the constant seeking after God’s heart in His word can we first understand His will. From there, we should be careful to live our lives as good stewards and ambassadors for Christ, seizing every opportunity to do what would please Him. One of the greatest things would be to share His love with others who are equally precious in His sight.

Living for the glory of God is no mean task. Being imperfect people in an imperfect world, wanting to please Him in every aspect of our lives is always going to be an uphill struggle. However, let's not be disheartened, for our omniscient God knows and sees our every action. He is not a sadistic policeman, but Hebrews 4:13 says, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." I believe that our simplest efforts to live in a way that pleases Him will not go unnoticed, and our gracious and loving Father will most certainly give us the strength to run a good race for him.

Playing God

2004-12-04T01:08:00.000+08:00

An article Winston invited me to write for VCF's Epistole. It was a great honour to be able to write about something that will speak to fellow Christians, especially fellow future doctors. However, it was a pity that the discussion it is not as comprehensive as I would have liked it to be due to constraints on the length. Nevertheless, I hope it speaks to you though.

The idea of playing God may sound far-fetched or even blasphemous. Few of us who recognise our sovereign God as omnipotent and omniscient would dream of assuming equality with Him by taking on roles that only He should possess. Yet, it is important for us to realise that we live in an increasingly liberal society that is veering towards condoning many not-too-uncommon acts that would make us culpable of playing God.

“To cure sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always -- this is our work. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it - Thou shalt treat thy patient as thou wouldst thyself be treated.” - Anonymous

In the medical field, doctors are finding it increasingly legally and socially acceptable to take the lives of others into their own hands. With the advent of modern technology, doctors are now well-equipped with a whole host of methods to dictate the course of life and death. Constantly faced with the dilemma of choosing between their obligations to preserve life and alleviate suffering, it is inevitable that all doctors would sometime in their career have to take a definitive stand on the controversial issues of euthanasia and abortion. Are doctors obliged to grant a patient’s request to die or to abort a foetus?

First of all, it is important to define euthanasia as “good death” or the bringing about of a gentle and easy death in the case of incurable and painful disease.

By simply looking at the world’s understanding of euthanasia, it is easy to understand why many would think of it as a humane and justifiable act as it seeks to relieve a terminally ill patient of the torment of suffering. Proponents of euthanasia argue that suffering is valueless, and the quality of life should take precedence over the sanctity of life. They question the understanding of personhood and whether one should have the freedom to choose, for example, against the ‘dehumanising’ act of hooking oneself up to a life-support machine. Moreover, utilitarian concerns and the idea of self-sacrifice on the part of the patient further complicate matters.

The arguments for abortion are quite similar to those for euthanasia. The central debate over the morality of abortion revolves around the issue of personhood. Is the foetus a human life? Invariably, the baby’s right to live is pitted against the mother’s freedom of choice. There are also arguably justifiable cases like ectopic pregnancies when therapeutic abortions are performed to save the mother’s life, while in other cases eugenic abortions are performed to abort a foetus that has or is at risk for some physical or mental handicap such as Down’s syndrome to spare the child and its parents the agony of suffering.

However convincing these pro-euthanasia or pro-abortion arguments may be, we as God-fearing Christians should seek to adopt a godly stand – one that God will be pleased with.
Life is sacred and the bible strictly prohibits killing. We are fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image, and should respect God’s prerogative to create and sustain life. Compromise is a slippery path, for who then should we deem fit to live?

Though suffering is neither enjoyable nor to be sought, it can have a positive influence in a person’s life. Similarly, in the case of abortion of a handicapped child, let us consider that handicapped children can be blessings; drawing a family closer together and to God! In John 9:3, Jesus said that even though neither the blind man nor his parents sinned, “this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” Rom 8:28 proclaims that in all things God works for good. Thus, suffering need not be deemed as valueless and to be escaped at all costs, even by death!

Let us remember, however, that there is a time to be born and a time to die (Ecc 3:2). Man’s manipulations cannot overturn God’s sovereign control. For unbelievers, death is something to fear, whereas for Christians the outcome of death is positive (2 Cor 5:8, Phil 1:21). However, nowhere does Scripture encourage us to ‘speed up’ entry into the
Lord’s presence, for He does things in His own perfect time.

In all cases, it is crucial to consult the best medical opinion of a pro-life doctor and make decisions in the light of his advice and the Holy Spirit’s leading. In cases when the sustenance of life is dependent on a life support machine and it is impossible to predict whether or not the patient will die, or when the outcome of a medical procedure is uncertain, we are obliged to do what is reasonable and moral to preserve life and relieve pain, and then leave the outcome in the hands of God who is sovereign. While euthanasia is wrong in general, there are some forms in some instances that may be acceptable. We need to seek divine guidance in these cases!

As for abortion, while from a Christian perspective elective abortions for the mere convenience of the mother and eugenic abortions are undoubtedly wrong along the same lines as those in euthanasia; this judgement does not encompass hard cases such as the morality of abortion in cases of rape or incest. Even then, Rom 12:21 exhorts us, “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.” Thus, we have to question whether the sin of robbing the foetus of life can be justified by being a victim of the sin of rape.

Finally, no amount of logic or reasoning can bring us to a concrete stand on the countless complexities of these issues. God has given us freedom of choice. Different Christians live by different standards, and ultimately only God has the right to judge us. Thus, it is imperative that we live our lives guided steadfastly by biblical principles and not conform to the ungodly pressures of this fallen world. When confronted with controversial issues, we should always fall back on the convictions of the Holy Spirit and do what Jesus would do. This is only possible when we walk closely with Him; understanding His heart and knowing His will.

Is Suffering Part of God's Plan?

2004-10-07T21:25:00.000+08:00

Here’s my take on the much-debated issue of healing and suffering in the Christian life which I wrote some time ago. It sort of captures the inspiration behind this blog.

First of all, we believe in a good God who wants the best for us. There is no doubt about that as Jeremiah 29:11 very clearly promises, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God loves us – His very own handiwork and creation, which he fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) that He gave His only begotten son to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16). However, I’ll like to go one step further to say that God loves us so much that His passion for us does not stop at the work on the cross. God loves us too much than to give us a life on this temporary earth that is smooth sailing; akin to a bed of roses. I’ll also like to clarify that I am no sado-masochist who likes to suffer and see others suffer. However, I deem suffering an essential aspect of living a victorious life on earth.

Yes, suffering was not part of God’s original created order (Gen 1-2). There was no suffering in the world before humanity turned and rebelled against God. Moreover, we can also be comforted to hear that there will no longer be any suffering when God creates a new heaven and a new earth (Rev 21). "…Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Suffering only entered this world because Adam and Eve sinned.

Now we may ask that if we believe in an omnipotent God, and if suffering is a result of sin, then why did he allow the intrusion of sin into a world that was originally intended to be Utopia?

God did so because he loves us and wanted to give us free will. As we know, love is not love if it is forced. If I like a girl, I cannot force her to love me. There will be no love! Love can only be a result of choice. Thus, God gave human beings the choice and freedom to love or not to love. Given this freedom from the all-loving Father, men and women have chosen to break God’s laws, and the result has been suffering.

Some of the suffering we endure is a result of our own sin. God made a world built on moral foundations and there is a natural connection between sin and its consequences. If a person smokes, we all know that he can end up with obstructive lung disease. If someone drives a car recklessly and gets involved in an accident, his injuries are partially a result of his sin. Similarly, selfishness, greed, lust, arrogance and foul temper often destroy relationships and stir up unhappiness.

Sometimes God actively judges sin in this life. The great flood was God’s punishment for a gravely sinful world. “The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.” (Genesis 6:5-6). Similarly, sexual immorality was not God’s intention (but note that he allowed Man the free will to do as he wished), and he wiped out the promiscuous cities of Sodom and Gomorrah with rain of burning sulfur as divine punishment. There are countless times in the Old Testament that God judged and castigated nations and individuals for their sin.

At this juncture, we may wonder if all this discussion of Old Testament evidence is anachronistic. One may say that the very fact that Jesus died on the cross for our sins has brought a whole new dimension to the idea of suffering as a consequence of sin. Yes indeed, Isaiah 53:5 proclaims that he (Jesus) was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. However, I would say that it is rather parochial for us to say that just because the blood Jesus shed on the cross washes away our sins, that removes suffering from the equation, and as a result all sin can be attributed to the detestable works of Satan. Let us realize that our omnipotent God has every power to stop Satan from wreaking havoc and dishing out suffering to His children, but above all He chooses not to for a good reason which I shall later explain.

It is important to stress that not all suffering is the direct result of our own sin. Job’s friends, Bildad, Eliphaz and Zophar were quick to judge that Job’s suffering was a result of his sin, but Job 1:1 clearly dispels this possibility,”…This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.” In fact, in the end God not only exonerated Job (Job 42:7-8), but also gave him double of what he initially had (cross ref Job 1:3 and Job 42:12). Jesus himself repudiated the automatic link between sin and suffering (John 9:1-3). He also pointed out that natural disasters are not necessarily a form of punishment of God (Luke 13:1-5).

Much of the suffering in the world is a result of other people’s sin. Take for example the innocent man who was run over by a drunk driver. The remaining suffering can be attributed to the fact that we live in a fallen world: a world where all creation has been affected by the sin of human beings. It is the result of Adam and Eve’s sin that ‘thorns and thistles’ entered the world (Gen 3:18). Ever since, creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. (Romans 8:20)

Now then, why does God allow suffering?

Let us remember first that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). Personally, I feel that the emphasis in this commonly quoted verse should be the word ‘all’. ‘All’ refers to both the GOOD AND BAD, for better or for worse, health or illness, times of joy or sorrow, life or death. Many people often interpret this verse in the way that they like to hear it: that God only wants the good for us who are living out His purpose. However, have you ever considered that the God could have allowed a baby who has yet to even see the world die in the arms of his distraught mother?

I’ll like to share with you the story of Jeremy, the baby son of a one of my dad’s good friends. When Jeremy was only 1 month old, he died in hospital of pneumonia. Now Jeremy’s parents were not Christians, but in their desperation to get their dying son healed, they turned to my dad with requests for prayer. My dad obliged and even got a pastor to go down to the ICU to pray for the child. Alas, God’s plan was not for Jeremy to live. Two days later, Jeremy died cyanotic due to the excessive fluid that had accumulated in his lungs. What good would come out of this? A week later, Jeremy’s parents gave their lives to the Lord Jesus. At Jeremy’s funeral wake, his dad gave a heart-rending testimony. He also noted that Jeremy (Jeremiah) was the weeping prophet in the Bible, and that his only purpose on earth was to get his parents saved. An amazing testimony that came from the mouth of a father whose child had just died days ago! Now you discern whether suffering (or allowing suffering) was the plan of God in this instance.

Times of failure and suffering are periods when we learn to depend on God. Can you imagine a world in which everything is in perfect order; one without pain, failures and setbacks? There would be absolutely no need for a God in such a world! People would be self-reliant, and if there’s anyone they would worship it would be themselves (self-worship). God knows too well the egotistic tendencies of sinful Man to grant us a pain-free and failure-free world. He wants us to love and depend on Him by choice just as He loves us unconditionally. Thus, He knows better than to create the barrier of self-sufficiency between himself and us. Proverbs 3:5-6 exhorts us to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” The words ‘lean’ and ‘acknowledge’ are extremely important here as they emphasize dependence on God’s infinite wisdom rather than our own, and recognition of God’s hand in every aspect of our lives. All of us are innately proud beings. In Genesis 11, the people said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth." The Tower of Babel was meant to be the hallmark of human hubris. The pride of Man had gotten to him and he wanted to build a structure (with his own strength and wisdom) that would reach the heavens, thereby putting him on equal footing with God. God immediately sensed the danger in allowing Man to speak a common language, and knowing that it would be an absolute disaster if he was allowed to think that everything in this world is under his control, God deliberately confused the languages, preventing the construction of the tower. As such, it is evident that God will do all that He deems necessary to teach us to rely on Him.

Pain as God’s mode of communication

Pain is something God uses to get our attention. C.S. Lewis once wrote, ”God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains… it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Truly, as Christians, we often get lulled into a sense of complacency once we break into the mundane cycle of life. We focus on God’s blessings in this and that and lose sight of our purpose here on earth. Worse still, when everything seems to fall in place nicely, we forget to lean on His wisdom to guide us in our daily lives, trusting instead in our own human insight and judgment. (I remember the pastor of a church embroiled in controversy here in Singapore telling the media that he built up the ministry through sheer grit, hard work and wise planning. Notably, there was no mention of God.)

John Donne was a 17th century poet who found himself listening to the megaphone of pain. An angry father-in-law got him fired from his job and blackballed from a career in law. In desperation, he turned to the church and began to serve as an Anglican priest. But the year after he took his first parish job, his wife died, leaving him with 7 children. A few years later, in 1623, he was diagnosed with the bubonic plague. In the midst of this illness, Donne wrote a series of devotions on suffering. As the years went by, Donne’s paradigm shifted from that of self-pity to the stark realization that the periods of sharpest suffering are the very occasions of spiritual growth. Trials had purged sin and developed character; poverty had taught him dependence on God and cleansed him of greed; failure and public disgrace had helped worldly ambition. Pain could be transformed and even redeemed. In the course of his years of affliction, he has much time for prayer. Through it all, he learned humility, trust, gratitude and faith. He began to realize that his life even in his bedridden state was not meaningless. He directed his energy toward spiritual growth and got his mind of himself and onto others. Devotions records a seismic shift in his attitude toward pain. He began with prayers that pain be removed but he ended with prayers that pain be redeemed, that he be catechized by affliction. Such redemption might take the form of miraculous cure – he still hoped so – but even if it did not, God could take a molten ingot and through the refiner’s fire of suffering make it pure gold. Truly, God puts us through life’s crucible of trials and tribulations so that we will emerge from the fire of suffering cleansed and purified of all our inadequacies; better equipped for life in eternity.

At this juncture let us realise that while throughout his ministry on earth Jesus never denied anyone healing; he used his supernatural powers to heal and never to punish, and though miracles of healing were crowd-pleasers, he refused to make them the centerpiece of his ministry. More than anything, he used physical healing as ‘signs’ of some deeper truth. At times Jesus seemed almost reluctant to intervene, telling the disciples he performed the signs only because there was a need to. Often, he hushed up the spreading talk about his miracles. At times, Jesus deliberately chose not to intervene with the natural order of things, for example by not calling on angels to deliver him from his most painful hour.

In his Gold Medallion-winning book “Where Is God When It Hurts?” Philip Yancey recounts attending a funeral service for a teenage girl killed in a car accident. Her mother wailed, ”The Lord took her home. He must have some purpose… Thank you, Lord.” This incident made him reflect on sick Christians who agonize over the question, “What is God trying to teach me?”, or plead, “How can I find enough faith to get rid of this illness? How can I get God to rescue me?” He quips that maybe such people have it all wrong. Maybe God isn’t trying to tell us anything specific each time we hurt. Pain and suffering are part and parcel of our planet, and Christians are not exempt. Half the time we know why we fall ill: too little exercise, a poor diet, contact with germs. Thus, do we expect God to go around protecting us whenever we encounter something dangerous?

I’ll shall continue to explain why although in Luke 13:16 Jesus made it plain that Satan directly causes suffering as in the case of the crippled woman “…Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?", our sovereign God is the one who allows Satan to inflict the suffering so that His higher purposes may be fulfilled.

In John 9, Jesus refutes the traditional explanation of suffering. When the disciples asked him if the blind man could not see because he had sinned or he was born blind because of the sins of his parents, Jesus replied, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned…but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” The Message translation puts it more clearly, “You’re asking the wrong question. You’re looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do.” Note however that this does not mean that God allows all cases of suffering in this world so that in each and every one of these instances He can manifest His work through supernatural healing. Neither is it an act of doubting God’s ability to heal or His loving nature if we say that there are instances when chooses not to heal but to manifest his work in other ways. It would be narrow-minded and in fact fallacious for us to presume that our omnipotent and omniscient God can only display His work through the act of physical healing. Isaiah 55:9 says, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” God in His infinite wisdom works in ways beyond our own finite understanding. Thus, I conclude that sometimes, as with the man born blind, the work of God is manifest through dramatic miracle. Sometimes it is NOT. But in every case, suffering offers an opportunity for us to display God’s work.

We need to humble ourselves in our times of suffering to accept God’s greater purpose in our life rather than presumptuously and petulantly demand God’s healing by taking Him to task with His very own promises in the Bible. No doubt God never breaks His promises, but where in the Bible did he promise healing here on this earth? Our healing will come in due time, be it in this temporary life or in eternity (Rev 21 as quoted earlier). There is nothing fundamentally wrong with having faith for healing here and now, but I dare to say that we are losing sight of the big picture (ie. the reason why God has strategically placed us here) if we choose to obsess our minds with promises such as that by His stripes we are healed and by our faith we are healed. Why should the focus be on claiming God’s promises here when much more awaits us in eternity? 2 Cor 1:20-22 (KJV) says, “He carries out and fulfills all of God's promises, no matter how many of them there are; and we have told everyone how faithful he is, giving glory to his name. It is this God who has made you and me into faithful Christians and commissioned us apostles to preach the Good News. He has put his brand upon us--his mark of ownership--and given us his Holy Spirit in our hearts as guarantee that we belong to him and as the first instalment of all that he is going to give us.” Shouldn’t we focus not on what is seen but what is unseen? “For what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Cor 4:18) Go ahead and ask God for healing. Even I do that. As I have shared before, the fact that I am sitting here writing this is a testimony of Jehovah Rophe’s healing touch; I was miraculously saved from the brink of death 12 years ago when I came down with a bout of dengue haemorrhagic fever. I was also cured of the nasty affliction of atopic eczema in 1996. However, I cannot say that I enjoy perfect health today, and if God does not heal me it is not due to a lack of faith on my part. I accept my suffering as part of my humble service to God for I know that when I am ultimately promoted to heaven, I will be made whole and perfect. There will no longer be any suffering. As for now, I gratefully thank God that I have hands and legs, the gift of speech and life so that I may be a living testimony of His goodness, which is no less than perfect even if one of my legs is shorter than the other.

The life of Joni Eareckson is one that has inspired me greatly. Joni was a lively Christian teenager who loved outdoor activities. In the summer of 1967, she was paralysed neck down in a freak diving accident. From that fateful moment, her life was changed. She could no longer live the active life she enjoyed. At first, she found it impossible to reconcile her condition with her belief in a loving God. It took three years of tears and violent questioning to change her attitude from one of bitterness to one of trust. She once said, “I have hope for the future now. The Bible speaks of our bodies being ‘glorified’ in heaven. In high school that always seemed a hazy foreign concept to me. But now I realise that I will be healed. I haven’t been cheated out of being a complete person – I’m just going through a forty- or fifty-year delay, and God stays with me even through that. I now know the meaning of being ‘glorified’. It’s the time, after my death here, when I’ll be on my feet dancing.” This was such a poignant reflection of the highest order of faith that I could feel tears welling in my eyes when I read it.

At first Joni received a flood of letters urging her to pray for healing, or berating her lack of faith. She did pray for healing, of course. In the summer of 1972, after an intimate service of healing, she became convinced that in the next few weeks her spinal cord would miraculously regenerate. However, it did not turn out that way, and in her books Joni explains why she came to the conclusion that she would not receive physical healing. She now calls the accident a ‘glorious intruder’ and claims it was the best thing that ever happened to her. God used it to get her attention and direct her thoughts towards him. Apart from the accident, she says, she would have lived a typical middle-class life: aimless, comfortable, with two divorces under her belt now. The injury changed all that. Over time, God’s grace in Joni’s life became so evident that she now stands as an emblem strong enough to silence puerile arguments about faith. Does a lack of healing mean lack of faith? But what about Joni Eareckson Tada? Moreover, Joni has become a striking demonstration of transformed or ‘redeemed’ suffering. Today, Joni directs a ministry called “Joni and Friends” that sponsors conferences and seminars, and funds worthy projects for the disabled. Her powerful testimony has brought hope to the disabled and enlightenment to those who are not.

Is a lack of healing a result of little faith?

I’ll now like to address the question having sufficient faith for healing. Once, at a tutorial group outing, I got engaged in a lively debate with a classmate who highlighted to me many verses in the Bible about grace, faith, redemption and healing. Please do not get me wrong. I am a firm advocate of the Word of God and I believe that it contains the gems of truth that will undoubtedly set us free from the wages of sin to live a victorious Christian life - one worthy to be called a servant of God. During the discussion, it was argued (in a rather misguided way I feel) that Christians who did not receive physical healing failed to do so either because of a lack of faith or insufficient faith to claim the promises of healing made in the Bible.

First of all, it is important to note that there are Christians dying every second. If we all wait long enough, whether people are Christians or not, the ratio of births to deaths is 1:1. That is a cold, hard fact! It is absurd for a church which believes in the Prosperity Gospel to say that there are more marriages than deaths in the church. All over the world, many people who trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour are suffering from infirmity. This includes pastors and church leaders too. When we talk of a lack of faith and a lack of healing as a cause and effect thing, are we saying that some of our pastors and evangelists are suffering because of a lack of faith? This sounds like a totally ludicrous notion to me, for who then can profess to have enough faith? It is most certainly not a case of I was healed, and thus ipso facto, I had sufficient faith. Faith is not a measurable quantity. Can we imagine God with this instrument for measuring the quantity ‘faith’ and after substituting the value of ‘faith’ as a function of healing, He carefully determines who has enough faith to deserve healing? How about the Buddhist, atheist or pagan who was healed? Does that go to say that they had more faith than the pastor of Faith Assembly of God Church Simon Loh who died of SARS as a result of ministering to a victim? Or does Buddha have the power to heal the devotee who burned stacks of incense as an offering?

It does not require much more than a logical mind to reason out that faith and healing cannot be as loosely associated as many make it out to be. God is a faithful God who loves us and hates to see us suffer. We can draw assurance from Psalm 111:7, “The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy,” and 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Yes, indeed our God is faithful and just. The promise that we receive immediately upon confessing that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour is: we will not perish but have eternal life. If God intended that every single believer to be physically healed upon receiving salvation, John 3:16 would instead have read "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not suffer but receive healing.” However, we all know that that is blasphemy. We cannot extrapolate a promise of physical healing from Christ’s work on the cross. When God’s own perfect time for us comes, no matter what suffering we may have gone through in this ephemeral world, we will be restored to wholeness. Echoing what Joni Eareckson said, we will be dancing for joy in heaven, enjoying rewards for having run a good race for the Kingdom of God despite all the trials and tribulations that hindered us.

Finally, healing is a certainty for all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour. However, Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us that “there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” God never promised that we’ll be granted physical healing here and now when we are under heaven, but he did promise that in due time “He will wipe every tear from their (our) eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:4). I find it saddening that many people who truly love God with so much fervour would constantly deceive themselves that they MUST be physically healed because the Bible speaks at great length about Jesus’ healing miracles and the redemption on the cross. It is all the more tragic when people bewilder themselves with the notion that failure to receive God’s healing touch is a result of having insufficient faith. God will never test us beyond what we can bear. He loves us, the darlings of His creation, too much to see us suffer. However, I will do no more than to assure you that in our times of pain He cries and feels for us. We must constantly bear in mind that He knows what He is doing and that it is part of His greater plan for us; far beyond what the human mind can perceive. Let us thus remember that whether we are healed now, tomorrow or in heaven; we are all going to be made perfect eventually. The greatest concern of ours on this earth should not be on how much God can bless us, but rather how much we can be a blessing to others, for Jesus said in Matthew 10:8, “… Freely you have received, freely give.” Truly, faith is believing in what is unseen and living life with the knowledge and assurance that the greatest reward awaits us in heaven.

This old but meaningful song “In His Time” encapsulates the gist of what I’ve said.

In His time
In His time
He makes all things beautiful
In His time
Lord my life to you I bring
May each song I have to sing
Be to You a lovely thing
In Your time

In Your time
In Your time
You makes all things beautiful
In Your time
Lord please show me every day
As You're teaching me Your way
And I'll do just what You say
In Your time

Prologue: Writing for the glory of God

2004-10-03T19:12:00.000+08:00

This is by no means going to be a collection of meaningless ramblings and grouses about my personal life. My life per se is mundane and insignificant. It is the power and wonderful love of God who works all things in accordance to his good, pleasing and perfect will in my life that gives me reason to write. Thus, my desire is that this blog will be a platform through which I can put my spiritual muses into words for the edification of all readers.

There is a mammoth struggle within me even as pen my first few words. I believe God has generously blessed me with a unique ability to share the revelations he impresses upon me through written words, and it humbles me to have the privilege of being used as His mouthpiece. However, I am just as human as everyone else; liable to fall into sin, and there are many potential pitfalls when I start publishing my thoughts.

I acknowledge the grave danger of this special talent becoming food for my ego. Moreover, painful experiences in the past have taught me that expressing my views through writing can potentially stir up controversy when words are misconstrued. In such events, I fear that I may stumble others.

However, after placing my concerns at the feet of God and receiving encouragement from dear friends who share in my love for God to write for Him, I have the peace to go ahead with publishing this blog.

In The Parable of the Talents (Matt 25:14-30), Jesus was teaching us to be good stewards of the talents that God has bestowed upon us. In this parable, the master went away after entrusting his money (talents) to the care of his servants in accordance to their abilities. When he returned to find that the servants entrusted with 5 talents and 2 talents respectively had put the money to work and doubled the money for him, he commended each of them, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" As for the servant who hid the 1 talent that was put in his charge in the ground, he was stripped of what he had and thrown out of the master's presence. The master then took that 1 talent and gave it to the servant who had 10 saying, "For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."

In applying this great teaching of Jesus to our lives, the talents that God has placed in our trust inovolves more than just money. He has blessed each and every one of us with special abilities so that we may use them to edify the body of Christ. 1 Cor. 10:31 exhorts us, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." Just like the servant who was entrusted with the 10 talents, I desire to use my God-endowed abilities solely for His glory and run a good race for Him, so that on the day I am asked to account to Him how I have lived my life He can look upon me with pride and say the very same words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

1 Cor. 2:13 exhorts us, "This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words."

Matthew Henry explains the above verse beautifully, "The pride of carnal reasoning is really as much opposed to spirituality, as the basest sensuality. The sanctified mind discerns the real beauties of holiness, but the power of discerning and judging about common and natural things is not lost. But the carnal man is a stranger to the principles, and pleasures, and actings of the Divine life. The spiritual man only, is the person to whom God gives the knowledge of his will. How little have any known of the mind of God by natural power!"

I am a mere vessel through whom God can speak. Surely it is not by human wisdom, logic or understanding that I put forth my views and arguments. My prayer is that you will partner me in helping to keep my motivations in check; ensuring that pride does not get the better of me, and at the same time be blessed richly by what I humbly allow Him to share through me.