Dear…
‘Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’
Hebrews 11:1
This morning’s paper had a tantalizing picture of silver ingots, with the accompanying headline touting its virtues as the investment of choice at current prices of US$39/oz, even better than dull gold. It is a sense of déjà vu for me, for almost two decades back, a friend and I were the few who believed in this metal(at a time when demand for photographic films like Kodak were on a long term decline and the only other major use for silver was for dowry in Indian weddings), and we did make some decent monies on it, trading silver at between US$3.50oz to US$4/oz, and it was quite comfortable given that production costs was US$3.50/oz. This belief or comfort in knowing that we were buying near production costs allowed us to savor at our leisure, the joy of watching profitable movements of silver as quoted on the Teletext(a limited financial service provided by the Singapore Media) long before many had easy access to the internet. A rewarding after dinner aperitif, for spot silver was most active during New York trading hours.
Fast forward today, many now believe less in the dross of silver than its compelling potential as an inflation hedge, much as for an older fogey like me, who, some years back, could not bear to join Warren Buffet and Bill Gates when they started to corner silver at below US$10/oz, how can I bring myself to join into this new manic amongst investors, who might not realize that back in 1979, there were two once very wealthy brothers(the Hunt brothers) who translated their belief or rather obsession with the idea that silver will rise higher than the heavens and plunge the depths of their no small largess to eventually see it frittered away, when that belief turned out to be a delusion.
‘For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come and will not tarry.’
Hebrews 10:37
Much as my friend and I have missed out on the big moves in silver, thankfully, both of us in unconnected ways have moved from casual believers to determined followers of our Lord Jesus Christ. And is that belief more rewarding compared to our having stayed the course in silver, which would have made us 1000% over 20 yrs or 50%pa? For those who think death is the end all and there is no eternity, than the things of the world that one can connect with one’s carnal senses is definitely placed on a very much higher pedestal and it just happen that it is silver’s turn to be worshiped.
Death is certain believer or not, but for many professed Christians who believes in a Sovereign God and His promise of resurrection and eternity, we seem to be giving short shrift to that belief in eternity and instead rather be consumed by the tyranny of the temporal, and we trade both the character and power of a life with an eternal focus for the ordinary(an extract from “Kingdom Living, by Joe Stowell, Discovery Series).
Is it because our carnal self are more in-tuned with the things of the world, while most of us cannot connect with the “invisible” God, for God is Spirit?”
‘Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten My word to perform it.”
Jeremiah 1:12
With time spent in the presence of our Lord these past decade, with that desire to seek Him thankfully stirred up in greater intensity these past 4 years, I have come to sense the presence of God and His Spirit’s leading in greater clarity in recent years. And it is often very personal that only my spirit man can understand for God speaks to us in different ways, and that is the wonder of our God Who knows the very strand of our hair.
Yet the common response commanded from each of us who seek Him is not that dissimilar. To be holy for God is Holy. And we do that by placing Christ as the center of our lives and to love others as much as ourselves. And we live out that command by living out the fruits of the Spirit and in doing so, we will come to truly know God well.
( see link to Joe Stowell’s Kingdom Living. It is a worthwhile read. http://www.resourcesforyourministry.org/Products/Kingdom-Living-Part-1--Embracing-The-Virtues-Of-The-King--(PDF)__HP091.aspx)
Much as I am very cognizance of my own deceitful self and finite understanding, this ministry of sharing His journey with me is what God has placed me in, and by His grace, may the thoughts shared be truly from Him. And lately, at least in the past few months, I have up the ante in being even more specific about the thoughts He has placed in my heart. Is it foolishness or mere bravado or it is truly a response to the Spirit’s prompting, for we share not the just the word of the Gospel, but live out its power if we believe?
‘And I will utter My judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken Me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.’
Jeremiah 1:16
Now that the world has watched the doomsday movie “2012” in reel life, and have in the past few months witnessed an increased cycle of natural disasters, would it be appropriate now for some of us to don the mantle of prophets of doom and verbalized loudly the words of doom onto placards that one is tempted to carry to remind all and sundry on the day of reckoning? “Repent or be doom!!”
‘Know ye not that which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.’
1 Corinthians 9:24
I think not. It is not our job to foretell the future, nor are we equipped to do so, even if one is desirous.
But it is imperative for us to remind ourselves and each other that Christ must be the center of our lives, for only then will we remain unshakeable, much as the world is increasingly being shaken. And it is time to bring ourselves back into focus. “June 2011” was the date God placed in my heart back in Nov last year. It was only recently that I begin to understand a little better, its significance, thanks to a recent write-up I received from Rev Francis Khoo(Covenant Vision Center) who described a vision God gave him, same time in Nov last year, on the need to be prepared as the world will move from the first 6 months of great prosperity to a change of scenery to one of great evil.
‘No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life.’
2 Timothy 2:4
It is not about when, be it June of July or whichever day, for no one knows when Christ will return, nor can one fathom the plans of God. But it is about recalibrating our wandering hearts that have deviated from the call of God, and to turn back to Him now and be transformed by His Spirit into Christ-likeness, to be made ready not just for His return, but to ensure that we will be correctly anchored in the storms that are fast swirling in our midst.
If like me, you believe in and have come to experience the very real presence of our Sovereign God, then you must follow as He leads.
‘Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good..Those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.’
Psalm 34:8,10
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(8th April 2011)
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