Is your flame on a stand or hidden under a basket?

Listening to friends argue about Scientology, I picked up something which distressed me...
Scientology was being commended and advocated for its self-less, self giving, charitable attributes - while many may disagree, this opinion does exist, and it makes me wonder why we don't hear this about Christianity!

Christianity is built upon love - loving others as ourselves, treating others the way we would want to be...but why isn't 'loving' or 'charitable' or 'self-less', the first things that come to the minds of unbelievers? Instead we hear, 'hypocrisy', 'selfishness' and so on!

We preach forgiveness, but do we forgive?

We preach love, but do we love?

We preach kindness, but do we show kindness?

Where is the evidence for the changed life? Of God transforming and working in us?

We, as believers, first and foremost, are called to evangelize and spread the good news of the Gospel and the love of Jesus. However, mere words or sermons aren't going to convince this generation, we need to live it out and educate them about God's love, by example. All of us may constantly SAY the right things, but do we DO them? Message and manner go together; people may undermine our message but they can never undermine our testimony. When we live the Gospel out, expressing brotherly love, obedience to God, discipline, care and kindness, others become witnesses and will be challenged to follow - they will SEE the DIFFERENCE!

In 1 Thessalonians 2:1-15, Paul exhibits how to set a good example. Three key points pointed out by our Church Pastor, Pastor Derek Sewell are:

1. Lead the way in pleasing God and not man
2. Lead the way in giving our all
3. Lead the way in living a life worthy of God

May I take this opportunity to encourage you to explore this truly eye-opening scripture, with these points in mind.

We ought to live a life of self-giving - demonstrating an honest love, gentleness and intimacy. Preaching alone is no use, if we do not share our lives with others by building relationships and spending time to care and love them. Love that we exhibit needs to be 'from the heart' - an earnest love.

Moreover, we are called to be 'salt and light' - salt makes food taste better, do we make others' lives feel better? Light leads the way, comforts the hurting and provides security; do we do that? Are we reflecting the light of the Savior, who is the Light of the world?

Matthew 5:14-16 ~ You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

We have a flame burning within us, a flame set alight by God when we accepted Him into our hearts. You are called to make it shine brightly, for all the world to see...but it is your choice! 

Are you going to keep your flame hidden under a basket? Or are you going to dare to be different and place it  on a stand?

Remember, a candle soon burns out when it is covered due to the lack of oxygen! Don't let that happen to your flame!

How are you going to finish the race?

Tests come in all forms and are inevitable...we aspire and long to overcome each one victoriously...but seldom, we remember that the greatest test is life!

Romans 14:12
So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Life itself is a test. With every choice, every word, every action, we choose to honor or dishonor God. This is what determines how we finish this race...in Heaven or in hell!

The Bleak Road

The unbeliever is on a bleak road. He tries to work his way up to Heaven and misses the beauty of life passing by. He accumulates good works upon good works or just relies on the times he got it right, to win God's favor on the day of judgement. Much to his surprise, he will find out that his good works are of no worth if they weren't the product of genuine faith in His grace. Unfortunately, many who call themselves Christians, also make this mistake.

Why won't 'good works' bridge the gap between us and God?

Firstly, by relying on good works, we are relying on ourselves. This unveils the pride within us as we boast in our goodness. James 4:6 says, 'God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Being prideful prevents us from seeking God's help.

In addition, 'good works' cannot cover up sinfulness! This was one of the points that shocked me, before I became a Christian! Many believe that God would weigh their 'goodness' against their 'sinfulness' without realizing that the 'sinfulness' is still present, it doesn't vanish. Besides, no matter how many good deeds we've done, God's standards are very high, we can never measure up, thus our 'sinfulness', on the scales (if it were to be weighed), would weigh A LOT more than our good deeds. Heaven is a place WITHOUT SIN, NO SIN IS PERMITTED. All our slates need to be wiped clean of sin, if any of us were to enter Heaven.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Yes, it's not all bad news! There is a way our slates can be clean, if the price, for our violation of God's Holy Law, is paid. As of ourselves, we are imperfect, we cannot pay for our sins; our offerings are worthless and inadequate...
There is only one hope, only one way...Jesus! The only perfect man who ever lived on earth, God-incarnate, died on the Cross to pay for all our sins and redeem us, so that we do not have to face the fiery jaws of hell! All we need to do is believe and trust in this sacrifice of His. By believing and relying on Him, we understand our incompetence, practicing humility and receiving grace and forgiveness as a gift from God. That is the only way out!

The Road is Long

It doesn't end there, in fact this is where it starts... Salvation isn't just believing, but also repenting. We need to show the evidence of our faith in Jesus by a changed life. Resent sinfulness, strive in the Lord for purity and accompany it all with good works. Ah! So this is where good works come in! James 2:14 says, '...faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.' Good works here, are a result of the faith, you're not relying on these to work your way to Heaven, you're just obeying God because of what He has done for you first.
More importantly, we need to live a God-centered life, living sacrificially for the sake and glory of the gospel. This is long, hard, unpredictable, yet a worthwhile road that many have given up on...don't make that mistake, press on. All the struggles we face will be worth it when we hear God say, "Well Done!"

Acts 20:24
However, I consider my life worth nothing, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the Gospel of God's grace.


1 Corinthians 9:24
Run in such a way as to get the prize


There is only one winning road and it is not easy, but we have a God who is always by our side! With this in mind and practice, we can be assured of how it'll end. With Jesus at the center, we are guaranteed a victorious finish...
May we, with Paul be able to say:
'I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.' - 2 Timothy 4:7

Are you on your way to victory or peril? Are you eager to hear a "Well Done!" from God? How are you going to finish the race?

Trust and Give Thanks

My Youth Pastor, Geoff Low, clearly pointed out: When things go wrong, the world blames God, but when things turn out great, no one even speaks about God.

This statement doesn't apply to the world alone but unfortunately, also to Christians. Ever so often we present lengthy lists asking God to fulfill the desires of our hearts, but do we thank Him when He does fulfill? In fact it might even be easier to thank Him when His answer complies to our will, but why is it so hard when He answers differently; with a 'No' or a 'May be' or a 'Wait for it'?

God is in control of all our lives; prayer is important because it acknowledges the fact that we ought to rely on Him for everything, and the fact that only He can strengthen our weaknesses. When we know our lives are in His hand, shouldn't we trust Him? Like my ODB today highlights, 'He who sees has foreseen and will not lead us astray.'
Yes, we may not always have our way, that is because God knows where our way can take us, He works all things for the good of those who love Him, we've got to overflow with trust and thankfulness, in good times and bad, when He says 'Yes' and when He says 'No'.

'Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.' - Philippians 4:6
I am in no way implying that we should not ask God to fulfill our desires, He is our Father, we have to bring our requests to Him, however as Paul reminds us, we ought to present them with thankfulness, knowing that His answer may not necessarily comply with ours.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, 'In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you' - Paul doesn't say 'In good times...' or 'When prayers are answered the way you want them...', he says 'In everything...'

Life is certainly not easy, it has its ups and downs but instead of blaming God for life's valleys (where we get a 'No' or need to wait patiently) and losing hope, walk in trust and thank Him for them, only if you walk through the valleys can you see and truly appreciate the wonder of life's mountains! When you do reach the pinnacle, because you will, make sure you glorify His name above all else.

The Passion and Crucifixion of Christ

Good Friday, a time to grieve and mourn the death of our Savior.
I personally don't agree with mourning as we know Jesus reigned victorious over death itself by beating it and rising again. Instead, I believe we ought to reflect on the passion of Christ with gratitude to acknowledge its true worth and power.
That is the purpose of this post, to record my reflections and what I've learnt from a sermon by our Church elder, Derek Moon, based on Luke 23:26-43.

Christ's passion teaches and equips a Christian with the knowledge he/she requires to follow the Lord...

Following the Lord is not an easy route to heaven. He makes it clear in many places. A Christian should expect to suffer, be neglected and isolated for the sake of the Gospel. Jesus re-affirms this key point in Luke 23:31 when He says,
"For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
Jesus performed many miracles for the people, He did not harm any of them, yet 'he was despised and rejected by men'. The joyful, once grateful voices that sang, "Hosanna! Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!", shouted, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" If Jesus, a perfect man, without any sin, had to suffer so much, how much more we, who are filled with sin from head to toe; even our 'good deeds' are tainted with self-seeking sinfulness.
Some, lose their lives for their trust in the Savior, others, may be despised or rejected by friends and family; whatever the form, every Christian faces persecution.

However, Jesus' response to suffering and hostility is remarkable and holds a lesson for us, as Christians, to follow...

HIS REACTION:
He grieves and prays for future generations who will be in greater suffering. - Luke 23: 28-31
OUR REACTION:
Living life as a Christian is never easy, but a few years ago, at least in the west, it was easier. Since then, things have changed! This depicts the slippery slope our culture and society is on, towards secularization and materialism. Above all, it accentuates the detriment future generations will face and the height of persecution and opposition that will lurk - the years ahead look bleak for a Christian! Hence, as our Savior prayed, so we ought to pray and grieve for steadfast, persevering believers to arise from the generations to come.

HIS REACTION:
He doesn't retaliate but grieves and prays, with love, for those who hurt Him. - Luke 23: 34
OUR REACTION:
Instead of yielding to our 'human instinct' to retaliate and seek revenge, we need to forgive, I mean TRULY FORGIVE, WITH LOVE! Love is awesome! When you love someone despite the misery they cause you, you let God's love shine right through you, your life speaks and testifies to the risen Christ living in you. You never know, you might even win souls for Christ this way.
Remember, we are able to love because He first loved us, despite our resentment towards Him.

HIS REACTION:
He repays evil for good.
OUR REACTION:
Actions do speak louder than words! Just saying you've forgiven someone or that you love someone doesn't mean much if your life doesn't exhibit it. Jesus said "Father forgive them...", He died on the cross paying the penalty for the sins of the world, including those who hated Him. He didn't just say He loved, He exhibited it through the ultimate sacrifice. Likewise, we ought to do good to those who do us wrong, repay every hostile act with a genuine act of grace, mercy and love.
It is hard and we cannot do it as of ourselves, however, we have a God who is willing to transform, enable and equip us.

There is certainly a lot more we can learn from the Passion of Christ, I have only recorded a tiny fraction. His suffering not only warns us but also challenges and encourages us; yes, God outlines the trials and problems we will face but, He also gives us the answers and solutions to help us deal with them. We need to trust Him, persevere and put it all into practice - and its not easy!

I'd like to conclude with some further thoughts, especially for the non-Christians:

The reason why Jesus gave Herod 'no answer' in Luke 23:9, was because the time of grace for Herod had culminated. Herod did not repent of his sins even though John the Baptist repeatedly warned him. His pride eventually led him to silence the preacher completely. Yes, grace is available for us all, however, only for a period; the unrepentant sinner will not be let off, given infinite chances or even yet another chance after death. There are only two options, this is reiterated by the two thieves who are symbolic:

1. Penitent Thief: Knew his sin, humbled himself and sought grace and mercy accepting his punishment as fair - He was offered forgiveness and was redeemed through Christ's blood.
2. Impenitent Thief: Ignorant, prideful and didn't understand the value of the penalty paid - He faces judgement and an eternity in hell.

I pray that you are able to identify yourself with the penitent thief. There are only two options available, you need to make the right choice before it's too late. Make haste.

Finally, sorry for the long post! May this Easter turn your eyes to Calvary and help you see the power and value of the price Jesus paid for you. Happy Easter!

Don't Get Rusty

Have you ever neglected your bike for a long time and then tried to ride it?
If you said yes, you will know that riding it requires quite a lot of effort, more than what is normally required!
Why?
The links of the chain in the cycle that connect the pedals to the wheels develop rust. Old door hinges and machinery suffer the same fate!
How do we fix it?
We add a lubricant to smooth it out so that the links can move freely, the way they should.

This 'lubricant rule' doesn't only apply to machinery, it also applies to us, as Christians. Ever so often, absorbed in the hassle of life, we neglect praying, reading and meditating on the word of God. By doing so, we become rusty Christians - it is impossible for us to function smoothly. We make the wrong choices, end up in a mess and wonder why! We forget to seek His guidance, listen to what He has to say or even pay attention to His warnings, no wonder we get tangled in a mesh!

No matter, how busy your day is, set apart at least ten minutes to read the Bible and pray, asking God to speak to you and guide you. You may wonder if it would really make a difference, but trust me, it really does enhance your relationship with the Savior - He is a personal God who is eagerly waiting to be involved in your life, to smooth out the creases and carry you through the calamities. Just let Him. Spend time with Him and you will see and feel the difference. His word is the lubricant, unless you use it effectively, you will never be able to function smoothly.
Remember, things that remain rusty for long, eventually stop working forever, lose all potential and have to be discarded. Hence, whatever you do, don't get rusty!