This physical body of ours is not made to last for all eternity. When man sinned against God, the ground was cursed, producing thorns and thistles which symbolize the seeds of evil being sown. Jesus alluded to this in the parable of the tares among the wheat (Mt 13:24-30, 36-43). The sons of the evil one appear throughout history in the pages of Scriptures as well as in the mass media, beginning with Cain, who rose up to kill Abel his brother (Gen 4:8). Thus health and life in the idyllic Garden of Eden gave way to sickness and death. Man was forbidden to eat of the tree of life, lest he should live forever (Gen 3:24) and his life expectancy was capped at 120 years (Gen 6:3). The writer to the Hebrews affirmed the finiteness of human existence when he says, “It is appointed for men to die (physically) once and after that to face judgment (before God).” (Heb 9:27).
Old age brings with it its attendant health problems. The classic passage on growing old is found in Eccl 12:3-7 which says, “In old age, your body no longer serves you so well. Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen. The shades are pulled down on the world. You can't come and go at will. Things grind to a halt. The hum of the household fades away. You are wakened now by bird-song. Hikes to the mountains are a thing of the past. Even a stroll down the road has its terrors. Your hair turns apple-blossom white, adorning a fragile and impotent matchstick body. Yes, you're well on your way to eternal rest, while your friends make plans for your funeral. Life, lovely while it lasts, is soon over. Life as we know it, precious and beautiful, ends. The body is put back in the same ground it came from. The spirit returns to God, who first breathed it.” (The Message)
Sicknesses afflict both the righteous and the unrighteous inasmuch as rain falls on both groups (Mt 5:45). The godly king Hezekiah was struck with a terminal illness in the prime of his life (2 Kg 20) but had his life extended through intercessory prayers. The wicked king Herod was struck dead because he took in all the glory that was meant for God (Ac 12:22-23). We are told that the second coming of Christ would be preceded by famines and plagues in various places (Lk 21:11). When a body is subjected to harmful germs and viruses, and if the immunity is low, it would be naturally fall ill. Often times, medical intervention is needed to bring about healing and restoration of health. As believers in Christ, we can also turn to God for healing, recognizing that the great exchange took place at Calvary’s cross when Christ gave us His health for our sicknesses. By His wounds, we are healed both physically and spiritually (Is 53:5).
The psalmist declares that the righteous will flourish like the palm tree and will still yield fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and very green (Ps 92:12,14). Palm trees grow tall and straight, and are evergreen. It is a picture of strength, vitality and fruitfulness. So even though king Solomon paints a picture of the old losing strength and many bodily functions, we can still claim the promise of God through the psalmist, that the righteous will continue to grow old gracefully, with the strength that the Lord provides. Of course, this does not preclude the need for us to take care of our own health by exercising and watching our diet. God has instituted natural laws to govern the earth; if we fail to obey them, we would have to face the consequences.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Listening
Much has been said in the recent General Elections that the government has not been listening enough to the people. Hence the groundswell of discontent gets magnified in the megaphone of the opposition voices. And after the results of the election, there has been a lot of soul searching in the ranks of the PAP. Ministers are saying that listening must cascade down to the rank and file of the civil service as well as at the grassroots level where MPs interact with the populace. This would hopefully make for more robust debates in parliament where the elected representatives are to be sounding boards for the people they serve. Certainly the needs of various segments of our community should not be neglected as the nation seeks to progress.
The tagline of Prudential is "Always Listening. Always Understanding." Implicit in this is that they would listen to the needs of their clients to see how they could serve better. Listening is an art and for those of us who are not the auditory type, it would take a lot from us to register what was spoken. We know from experience, too, that if we listen to a speech or a lecture only a small percentage (10%) gets retained unless it is supplemented by visuals and actions (like writing down). It is often embarrassing if we speak to a person and we forget his/her name half way through the conversation. One way to overcome this is to try to associate the name with something or someone. Going one step further, it would be good to jot down the name somewhere to remind you of the conversation you had with so and so. With mobile phone devices easily available, this shouldn't be difficult unless one is simply too lazy.
I was reading Jeremiah 25 recently: "So Jeremiah the prophet said to all the people of Judah and to all those living in Jerusalem: For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—the word of the LORD has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened. And though the LORD has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention. They said, “Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land the LORD gave to you and your ancestors for ever and ever. Do not follow other gods to serve and worship them; do not arouse my anger with what your hands have made. Then I will not harm you.” “But you did not listen to me,” declares the LORD, “and you have aroused my anger with what your hands have made, and you have brought harm to yourselves.” (v2-7 NIV)
For the above passage, we see that the Israelites were not listening or heeding the voice of God spoken through His servants the prophets. Three times within the six verses is the indictment, "You have not listened". Many of them were practising selective hearing, that is, they prefer to hear the words of false prophets who promised them greater ease rather than the judgment God was about to bring on the nation. Because they chose not to hear and as a result chose not to obey God's word, they brought calamity on themselves (v8-11). Jeremiah himself suffered greatly due to his proclamation of God's words to His people. God preserved his life to see the destruction of Jerusalem, in which he lamented over her in the Book of Lamentations.
What about us? Are we listening to God when He speaks? Inasmuch as we would like people to listen to us when we speak, God wants us to accord Him with the same kind of respect when He speaks. When we read the Bible or listen to the Word being read, do we listen attentively or selectively? The Holy Spirit is in the business of sanctifying us by setting us apart for the Master's use. He convicts us to enable us to repent and get back on the right path once again. In contrast, the devil brings condemnation and seeks to douse our spiritual flame.
In the coming age, God promises, "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear." (Is 65:24). Isn't that amazing - God listening to the deepest longing of our hearts! May we learn to be like Him as we serve/interact with people on a daily basis. As they say, "Seek to understand before you can be understood."
The tagline of Prudential is "Always Listening. Always Understanding." Implicit in this is that they would listen to the needs of their clients to see how they could serve better. Listening is an art and for those of us who are not the auditory type, it would take a lot from us to register what was spoken. We know from experience, too, that if we listen to a speech or a lecture only a small percentage (10%) gets retained unless it is supplemented by visuals and actions (like writing down). It is often embarrassing if we speak to a person and we forget his/her name half way through the conversation. One way to overcome this is to try to associate the name with something or someone. Going one step further, it would be good to jot down the name somewhere to remind you of the conversation you had with so and so. With mobile phone devices easily available, this shouldn't be difficult unless one is simply too lazy.
I was reading Jeremiah 25 recently: "So Jeremiah the prophet said to all the people of Judah and to all those living in Jerusalem: For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—the word of the LORD has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened. And though the LORD has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention. They said, “Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land the LORD gave to you and your ancestors for ever and ever. Do not follow other gods to serve and worship them; do not arouse my anger with what your hands have made. Then I will not harm you.” “But you did not listen to me,” declares the LORD, “and you have aroused my anger with what your hands have made, and you have brought harm to yourselves.” (v2-7 NIV)
For the above passage, we see that the Israelites were not listening or heeding the voice of God spoken through His servants the prophets. Three times within the six verses is the indictment, "You have not listened". Many of them were practising selective hearing, that is, they prefer to hear the words of false prophets who promised them greater ease rather than the judgment God was about to bring on the nation. Because they chose not to hear and as a result chose not to obey God's word, they brought calamity on themselves (v8-11). Jeremiah himself suffered greatly due to his proclamation of God's words to His people. God preserved his life to see the destruction of Jerusalem, in which he lamented over her in the Book of Lamentations.
What about us? Are we listening to God when He speaks? Inasmuch as we would like people to listen to us when we speak, God wants us to accord Him with the same kind of respect when He speaks. When we read the Bible or listen to the Word being read, do we listen attentively or selectively? The Holy Spirit is in the business of sanctifying us by setting us apart for the Master's use. He convicts us to enable us to repent and get back on the right path once again. In contrast, the devil brings condemnation and seeks to douse our spiritual flame.
In the coming age, God promises, "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear." (Is 65:24). Isn't that amazing - God listening to the deepest longing of our hearts! May we learn to be like Him as we serve/interact with people on a daily basis. As they say, "Seek to understand before you can be understood."
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Prayer of Deliverance - Psalm 64
This is a wonderful prayer of David, asking God to preserve his life from the attacks of his enemies (v 1). More importantly, it's a prayer we can pray against the work of terrorists who hold fast to themselves an evil purpose, laying snares (explosives) secretly (v 5). Their target is the blameless (v 4) and their modus operandi is to work in stealth. No wonder Osama bin Laden was able to live in Pakistan undetected for quite a period of time until his untimely demise. Terrorists are often devising injustices, and their plots are often pretty well-conceived (v 6). Their words and actions are like poisoned arrows aim at destroying innocent lives (v4-5).
Thank God for the 'but' in v7. This is where the contrast begins. The Message Bible says the God of Arrows shoots and they double up in pain (v 7). Instead of the enemies having the upper hand, they would be defeated and the righteous will shake their head (v 8). The marvelous workings of God will produce a holy fear among all men, declaring the work of God (v 9). The righteous would be glad in the Lord and take refuge in Him (v 10). We can certainly hide under God's wings in the storms of life. The storms we face may not be from terrorists, though it's a potential threat in a small country like ours, it could come by way of gossip and people backstabbing you. Whatever the situation we may be in, we can call on the Lord to preserve our thoughts and attitudes, so that we do not react in a rash manner.
Whenever we think about taking revenge or hurting people, know that these thoughts do not come from God but from the pit of hell. Like what the psalmist says, these are the inward thoughts of man and they are deep (v 6). But God is able to search the innermost recesses of our hearts to bring conviction of sin within. We have to be trained to discern good from evil; seeking forgiveness from God and learning to yield our lives to the Master and not allow the devil to have a foothold in our lives. The hallmark of the righteous is that he will glory in the Lord and be glad in Him (v 10). May the Lord preserve you from the secrt counsel of evildoers as well as from the evil thoughts planted in your mind (v 2).
Thank God for the 'but' in v7. This is where the contrast begins. The Message Bible says the God of Arrows shoots and they double up in pain (v 7). Instead of the enemies having the upper hand, they would be defeated and the righteous will shake their head (v 8). The marvelous workings of God will produce a holy fear among all men, declaring the work of God (v 9). The righteous would be glad in the Lord and take refuge in Him (v 10). We can certainly hide under God's wings in the storms of life. The storms we face may not be from terrorists, though it's a potential threat in a small country like ours, it could come by way of gossip and people backstabbing you. Whatever the situation we may be in, we can call on the Lord to preserve our thoughts and attitudes, so that we do not react in a rash manner.
Whenever we think about taking revenge or hurting people, know that these thoughts do not come from God but from the pit of hell. Like what the psalmist says, these are the inward thoughts of man and they are deep (v 6). But God is able to search the innermost recesses of our hearts to bring conviction of sin within. We have to be trained to discern good from evil; seeking forgiveness from God and learning to yield our lives to the Master and not allow the devil to have a foothold in our lives. The hallmark of the righteous is that he will glory in the Lord and be glad in Him (v 10). May the Lord preserve you from the secrt counsel of evildoers as well as from the evil thoughts planted in your mind (v 2).
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Transitions
All of us go through transitions in life. In the case of physiological development, we transit from being a baby to a toddler to a child to a teenager to a young adult and finally to an adult. Transition has to do with the ending of a phase and moving on to another. In this regard, we can go through many transitional phases based on the environment we are put through. Moving one's house, educational institution, work place and place of worship are some instances of situational transition. Beyond coping with the change in environment, one has to, more importantly, deal with the psychological transition that would ensue. It's not easy to say goodbye to people, places and experiences that have been important to us. On the other hand, there could be relief over an impending end to unpleasant state of affairs. Whatever might be the case, we would certainly be excited and anxious over what is to come whether it's a baby, a new posting, a new venture, a trip, a wedding or some other event.
There are major transitions in a person's life that would impact him/her in a substantial way. Based on my own personal experience, the following are some major turning points in a person's life:
1. Graduation: your qualifications in life will determine the job(s) that you would take on, which would determine your paycheck and inevitably lead to the people whom you would interact with. Paycheck could determine the kind of lifestyle one would lead; people could influence us in a positive or negative way. This means we could be predisposed to up keeping a certain lifestyle that we may have to alter if our fortunes change for the worse.
2. Marriage: when two people from different backgrounds come together for holy matrimony, there are bound to be lots of adjustments and compromises in the initial years. No longer does one think about himself or herself alone, like in the happy care-free days of single-hood, but the needs of your spouse would have to be factored in. The romantic days of courtship will give way to the reality of married life, exposing one's warts and all. Commitment to the marriage vows becomes the key to sustaining one's marriage.
3. Conversion: believing in Christ as personal Saviour and Lord can take place anytime in a person's life, but usually when one is of age enough to understand the significance of the decision. This would invariably influence one's value system through the circle of friends one mixes with. Beyond that is the work of the Holy Spirit seeking to transform us from the inside out. His sanctification work (making us holy) continues until the day when we leave this earth.
4. Children: married life with children is very much different from one without children. When a child arrives in a family, the routine of life would revolve around that child. Once the focus of attention has been on one's spouse, it now shifts to the child(ren). That is nature's way of ensuring a helpless child is well taken care of until he/she becomes independent. The education and upbringing of children in their formative years are crucial to their life's journey ahead. More importantly, the transmission of spiritual values should be the foundational bedrock that parents ought to lay when they are young.
5. Work: the first couple of years would usually be a time of adjustment, to new environment and to new people. We learn from colleagues who are more experienced and would usually be required to go for courses to equip us with the necessary knowledge and skills to do our work. We quickly learn that there is an appraisal system and we report to someone higher than us for the purpose of work accountability. As time progresses, we become more familiar with the way things function and could possibly initiate things. With competence and experience, we may get promoted and assume greater responsibility. When we do move on to a new place, the whole process would repeat again, albeit at a faster pace. Currently, I am about to transit to another new work environment.
6. Bereavement: the passing away of a friend or loved one is always painful. When close familiar ties are broken and taken away from us, we cannot but experience loss and helplessness. I have mentioned about the grieving process one goes through in an earlier blog. It would take awhile to get over the loss and resume life once again, without the friend or loved one.
The Bible talks about a great transition that would soon to that place when Christ comes again. This is known as the rapture of the church, whereby the saints of God would be translated out of this earth to be with God. (1 Thes 4:13-18). Those who are still alive when Christ returns are known as the omega-transition generation, a term coined by Bill Hamon. Christians await in eager anticipation for this to happen. In the meantime, we pray, "Come O Lord!" or "Maranatha!" (1 Cor 16:22).
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