Dear….
Is Wikileak the light that shines forth in the darkness of this world? In its unwelcome opening of the Pandora Box of sinful man's real thoughts about fellow men, will it bring about more honesty in the world, or even greater subterfuge and discord amongst men?
But what if the perpetrators of such openness are of less than honorable intent? Imagine the present grip that they are starting to have on the lives of many, and the foretaste of the potential destructive power of the unseen masses unleashed in reaction to measures taken against the perpetrators of Wikileak.
‘That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life…’
1 John 1
Interestingly, God has already given us the solution to ensure that none will need to be under the grip of such threats. Speak the truth with grace and love, that is what the Bible teaches us. Doing that does not mean that one will have no detractors, but it will definitely be disproportionately fewer and with no skeletons in one’s cupboard, none can rustle up any possibility of a hint of blackmail.
‘Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people.’
Luke 1:68
But way before Wikileak, there is already the light of the gospel of God’s love. A light that will take away the unbearable darkness encapsulating the lives of many, for darkness is the absence of light. And this gift of salvation and freedom from the bondage of death is why the world should celebrate Christmas, for that is the day that our Lord Jesus Christ is born. But in reality, many in our present world are either ignorant of this truth or don’t give much thought to its significance and as a result, continue to be in the bondage of the devil through life and thereafter.
‘And(‘the devil’) saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.’
Matthew 4:9
But is freedom not a desire innate in humanity? The recent tragedy of lives lost amongst the boat people from Afghanistan, whose boats came to grief in the treacherous waters of Christmas Island, brings memory flooding back. Of that period in the post Vietnam war in the 1970s, when many fled from communist ruled Vietnam and the rest of Indochina, and took to the shark and pirates infested waters of the South China Sea, crammed into their rickety boats, looking for perceived freedom in the Western democracies.
Life for many of these refugees are better but is it that significantly better? It is a moot point, for freedom from one carnal need, could mean an enslavement to the next pertinent need. Now that Christmas is over, many of us in the developed world would have likely overindulged in the festivities, and have received one too many presents that remain unopened, even if they are unwrapped. Surfeit of blessings does bring about a drop in our sense of satisfaction or in economic jargon, our marginal utility drops. And worse, with the New Year just a whisker away, deep in many hearts, is a dread and fear of another long slog, before we get another short reprieve when the world literally slows down again in December.
But God never planned for our life to be this burdensome and meaningless.
‘And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.’
Acts 24:16
As I resume the pounding of the computer keyboards, my heart is a lot more uplifted than most of this morning. The troubled heart came about because our good Lord had allowed me to be tested on a decision I have been praying that He will not lead me to have to make. The test came and like all good imperfect men, I struggled. The rational me wants to do what is good for myself as my finite minds sees it, much as the spirit man in me knows that it will dishonor God. To speak the truth and to live the truth is indeed daunting and on my own strength, not possible.
But God is good. Time with God is always good, for we will be cognizance of His Spirit’s correction, and the time spent with God in the past and the present, has ensured that I will still come unto the light of His presence, much as my sinful self prefers to do otherwise and stay in the shadows. In staying in God’s presence, submission to His will, will come, and Acts 24:16 convicted me of the obvious truth, much as I will like to be oblivious to the will of God.
‘Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.’
Matthew 4:10
Many in the sinful world today have yet to reach the level of relationship that I have with our beloved Father in Heaven. This is not meant to be a statement of smugness or pride, but rather, an loving admonishment and more importantly, a humble reminder to all who profess to be a Christian that believing has to be translated into a responsive following to the leading of the Spirit of God residing in our hearts, in order for transformation into Christ-likeness to occur. Many do not realize that God has not just promised us an eternal life of joy and peace in heaven, but also a life of blessed peace and joy in this finite world, come what may. But we must want to stay in His presence always and respond to His will. I am have grown in Christian maturity because I want to and I work responsively on staying in the sanctifying presence of our Lord, much as I still am imperfect.
For disbelievers, the gift from God remains unopened since the day Christ was born. And ditto for many of the professed believers, for the outer layer that is, the Xmas wrappings might be opened, in the sense that they have mouthed their acceptance of the salvation, but the gift of salvation is never fully taken out from its original box as evidence by their continued carnal life in disobedience to the leading of the Spirit of God.
Only God knows the genuine repentance of our hearts.
‘But ye that did cleave unto the Lord your God are alive everyone of you this day.’
Deuteronomy 4:4
And what about determined but imperfect followers of Christ like myself? I have fully enjoyed the blessings from our Lord by letting His Spirit residing in my heart transform me from the natural to the spiritual man. But often, my carnal self do surface, and I get distracted momentarily like now. The gift is from God, but when we finally meet God our giver, can we unequivocally state with God given assurance that we have received and responded to it well? Thankfully, God is perfect, much as I the willing is imperfect and God the giver will ensure that we receive His gift well by being with us always, if we allow Him.
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(29th Dec 10)
Last words??
'But he answered and said, 'It is written , Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.'
Matthew 4:4
As I was rummaging through the internet, taking time with our Lord for guidance and affirmation as to His will for this last sharing for the year, He brought me to the site of the Online Bible College (http://onlinebiblecollege.com/site/meet-the-team/), which had a biopic on the key servants of God in this wonderful ministry of Word. The late founder, David Collins, whom I had a couple of correspondences with, before he left at the age of 44 to be with the Lord back in year 2006, has in that short span, written many spirit inspired lessons that have truly benefited many Christians like myself who seek to grow in the Word of God. David's parents, Paul and Bunty, whom I am privileged to communicate with regularly, have now taken on the responsibility and much as they are in their twilight years, God is using them wonderfully for His work.
God would use all of us who are willing in His ways, to do His will. Would the words that I have shared this year and in years past be like water that slipped off oil or have they truly ministered to you, and it will, if it is truly from our Lord to a receptive heart?
I count myself blessed to be used by our good Lord to write relentlessly these past 8 years. Prayerfully, it has not been inundating but rather, spiritually uplifting. And I am gratified that our Lord has broadened my ministry from the internet to the printed book and to all who have been generous in accepting my first book "Reflections - A traveler's muse" this past one year, it is with joy that I dare say that the second book "Happy Family - A mirror of God's love" is truly on track to be completed the way both Rosanne my dear friend and publisher and myself know that the Lord so wills. And I do ask that you continue to pray for us in this ministry of using art to share the gospel and that you will be as generous in accepting a copy of the book and to share your blessings with those who are in need, be it spiritual or material or in anyway the Spirit of God will show you.
In giving, we truly receive. And God has commanded all who love Him to share the gospel by sharing the love of God through our relationship with people He placed in our lives.
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