Dear...
'All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of
God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for very good work.'
2 Timothy 3:16-17
"Yesterday once more" ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwxsWIYJI2A) sung by the
siblings, Richard and Karen(late) Carpenter is still one of my favorite secular
songs, much as it harks from the period of the 1970s. And it is more than just
nostalgia or maybe it is, for many of us who tend to remember fondly the good
parts of the past, while quite easily forgetting the forgettable aspects.
But as for me, since the Spirit of God imbued the sanctifying presence of God
unto my very being almost a decade back, and through time spent in His Words and
in all my imperfections, in doing His work, I have come to appreciate and be
thankful that every second of my life lived till now has been a blessing, much
as one has and will still go through the amplitude of emotional challenges that
the fallen world has and will continue to subject all of us to, believer or not.
'If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of
Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you
have carefully followed.'
1 Timothy 4:6
Is 'deliberate malnourishment' the right way to describe 'anorexia.' What often
started out as a conscious attempt to align one's physique to meet the match
stick definition of modern beauty, often spiral into an uncontrollable rejection
of food necessary for our bodily well-being. This is my layman's interpretation
of what anorexia mean, but what matters is that promising young lives are being
loss unnecessarily, be it the recent report on the French model who died, having
suffered from anorexia or in the case of Karen Carpenter, seems like just
yesterday(though it was in the 1980s) that we read about her death, after
coming out from one year of rehabilitation from anorexia.
'But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.'
1 Timothy 5:6
Seems rather paradoxical, this verse from the Bible. Is not attaining and
soaking oneself in the material pleasures of the world what most are living for
and literally would die for? Like today's Daily Bread reading, the author
encourages us to chew upon the Word of God, and He will speak to you. And indeed
do ponder upon this verse in your reflective moments with our Lord and I am sure
your response will be very dissimilar to that of a betel nut chewer, who gets a
temporary high and then spit out the messy aftereffects.
The Word of God is God and God is the Word, and those who truly seek to spend
time in His Word, will indeed not just be refreshed in the body and in the
spirit, but will as in 1 Timothy 4:6, be used by our Lord Jesus Christ to 'feed'
people He will place in their lives, to point them to the source of all comfort
and grace, God our Father in Heaven.
Are you spiritually anorexic? Seems like a rather inappropriate question to ask
when most are still savoring the lingering days of a month of festivity and
relaxation, but it is not just a necessary question, but a question of life and
death. It is a reality that many professed Christians hardly read the Bible, and
if they do, most take it like a quick inconsequential bite of breakfast, before
rushing headlong into the demands of the world.
It is no wonder that many do not feel that spiritual connect with our
omnipresent God, and many easily caved in, when subjected to the temptations of
the devil, for they are spiritually malnourished,
'For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all
things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.'
1 Timothy 4:8
Strange things have happened to me, and more since the Lord placed me in this
ministry of His Word, to encourage and be encouraged. And what you are reading
now is fresh from the oven, reason being an earlier draft I had done for some
reason could not be loaded from my Apple Imac, much as everything else in this
computer is working, be it my inbox and sent box. And I could see the contents
of my draft in my Iphone notwithstanding that the change in year has led to a
bug in the Iphone's alarm not working globally. But it matters not, for I have
come to learn that God is Sovereign, and spiritual attack or not from the devil,
it is for me to take time to ponder upon God's will and to submit to His will.
Very different from my carnal past , where frustration will translate into anger
and verbal assault in varied colors.
And indeed, the Word of God has truly transformed my very being, but like 1
Timothy 4:8 which exhorts all who seek our Lord, that the Word of God must lead
to a response from us to His Word. Anorexic many Christians might not be, but
God is not looking for 'couch potatoes' either.
'Whose voice then shook the earth; but now He hath promised, saying, Yet once
more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more,
signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are
made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.'
Hebrews 12:26-27
I like many determined followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, I spent the best part
of the past two years buying gold from our Lord, as in our characters going
through the painful but gainful fire that God will put all through, who
professed to be like Christ. I believe that all who were willing are now much
purified, much as we are still imperfect and I believe it is for reasons that
God is preparing us for and will show us all this year, ie year 2011.
'I will deliver them to trouble into all the kingdoms of the earth, for their
harm, to be a reproach and a byword, a taunt and a curse, in all paces where I
shall drive them. And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence
among them, till they are consumed from the land that I gave to them and their
fathers.'
Jeremiah 24:9-10
I look forward to reading and reflecting in the presence of our Lord, the
prophetic word that Rev Francis Khoo from Covenant Vision Center traditionally
released at year end. As I write this sharing, I am not sure if our Lord has
released the word through this faithful servant of His, but will take a look and
if available, I will include the link for your prayerful thoughts. God through
history, does speak through His servants. But it is not a question of accuracy
of prediction, but rather, every word of God has a purpose, that will be very
specific to us, as we take time in His presence.And it is in this context that I
believe that all who hear or read messages shared by fellow men, no matter how
anointed they are or seem to be, must be cognizant that it is God Whom they must
look to, not men. Words from men are to point us to Christ, our Savior and
Redeemer, but men must not take the place of God.
'The Lord has said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah, Do not go to Egypt.
Know certainly that I have admonished you this day.'
Jeremiah 42:19
This is the closing verse that I felt the Lord wants me to leave with all. Most
might be familiar with the story of how the remnants of once mighty Israel, were
determined to run back into the perceived safety of Egypt, back to the place of
bondage of yesteryear, a place where God through Moses led them out of. Why,
because in their rational thinking, the remnants were afraid of the wrath of the
Babylonians, and they could not accept that indeed God wanted them to stay with
the Babylonians.
As we head into the first few days of this new year, is it right to continue to
live a life of bondage, an "Egyptian" lifestyle, because we do not trust what
God is saying to us now, to put Him as first and foremost in our daily living,
and not our needs and aspirations or fears? I fear God will not allow us to
remain spiritually anorexic nor uncomfortably slouched in our seats. I believe
that this year 2011 will be a watershed year, more intense than year 2008, for
your soul is at stake, and the times are near for the return of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
'Therefore thus saith the Lord, Ye have not hearkened unto Me, in proclaiming
liberty...behold I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the Lord, to the sword, to
the pestilence, and to the famine, and I will make you to be removed into all
the kingdoms of the earth.'
Jeremiah 34:17
And the signs are stirring and pointing to a strong possibility of the horrible
yesteryears of the late 1970s/early 1980s making a comeback.
- a famine of food and also words. The former as climate change and rising
affluent population coupled with hedge fund speculation lead to a shortage of
food and hyper prices. And for the latter, as Christianity gets pushed into the
sideline by the rising tide of secularism.
- the emergence of One Europe as the fragility of the European Union will lead
to a need to reconfigure the EU built around Aryan Germany as the core, and not
the present unrealistic union of equals. And Europe can never be truly one as
long as the British Isles remain an island of independence but with the summer
of discontent of strikes and civil unrest and changing coalition governments,
fast approaching in near bankrupt UK, the English Channel will soon be paved
over literally and the Sterling Pound could be yesterday's currency.
- the borrower is indeed a slave to the lender, and if investors ever lose
confidence in the ability of heavily indebted countries to ever set their
finances right, the days of high teen interest rates could be back to haunt us
again, and indeed "yesterday once more, the song of the 1970s might not hit the
charts, but events reminiscent of the late 1970s and early 1980s could make a
comeback, and rest assured, none of us will be very nostalgic about those
painful days, especially if you happen to be perched right now on a mountain of
debt simply because you believe that all these free monies will ensure that
stock price and property markets will continue their unreal climb?
- greater anarchy and xenophobia
In the 1970s, the Western world had its anarchist groups, with hijacking and
bombings a common occurrence. Japan had its Red Army, while Italy and Germany
had their own versions of home spun terrorists. And protectionism and racialism
will be the tools that politicians bankrupt of ideas to salvage their indebted
economy will find as convenient tools to rally a disgruntled population.
Do excuse me for going a little wild with my thoughts here. But we are still a
little intoxicated from all the parties past few days. But do take time in the
presence of our Lord. It is not what will happen, but will we be willing to
anchor ourselves upon Christ our Rock, should it happen? God is faithful, but
for us to remain faithful, to want to cling on to Him, when the shaking starts,
the preparation has to start now. And please do not make this your New Year
resolution, for resolutions are rarely kept, but instead pray that you will, by
the Grace of God, be resolute, for the days are upon us.
Regards and God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(1st Jan 2011)
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