Devotional for September 14th

Our Hope and Destiny

Beloved, have you thought about what heaven is like as our future destiny? In your attempts to preach the gospel to others, similar questions might prompt up such as: “If the people in heaven have no lust and desire, are they living like monks? If there are no money, no hunger, no material needs, what then will be their satisfaction?” Do you have an answer for them?

For a genuine seeker of ETERNITY, we should praise them for their sincerity in their quest for human beings’ ultimate destiny. Obviously, there are NO simple answers to the above questions. However, we could take the chance to reflect on the promises in the Bible and to share our honest belief and hope with them. Most of such questions have two foci, namely,
(1) What is "heaven" in the Christian sense? and
(2) How is the life in the heavens like?

The biblical answers for (1) are available in Isaiah 65:17 which points out that the Lord will create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. Isaiah 66:22 assures that the new heavens and the new earth shall remain before God. II Peter (3:13) states that righteousness will dwell in the new heavens and the new earth. Hence, the Righteousness of God will replace the unrighteousness and depravity (including the transient good things) of the current cosmos we are in. In fact, chapters 21 & 22 of Revelation describe the new heavens and earth as an absolute purity. They are also free from the wrath and curse of God.

As for (2), I Corinthian (2:7,9) says, “But we (i.e. Paul & his coworkers) impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glorification.… But, as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him'.” The important clue in these verses is that it is beyond our imagination and physical senses concerning the actual livelihood or events which will take place in the new heavens and earth.

Thus, we have a good reason to believe that our eternal destiny is really good and promising. It is guaranteed by God's grace given through our faith. It is the true gift of God not because of our works; lest any man should boast and might find a reason to argue that one may become dull of such eternal destiny.

Devotional for September 13th

A Choice for the Narrow Gate

Have you ever seen somebody spitting in the public? If you are a regular mainland traveler, I would bet you must have seen such “disturbing” acts as spitting in the open or yelling aloud in restaurants. Honestly, I feel a bit disgraced as a Chinese in front of such uncivilized acts because they are either unhygienic or causing a nuisance. Nevertheless, people's reaction to unseen but potentially hazardous acts is very much different.

One of my good old friends in Canada asked me recently: Is man-to-woman marriage a moral standard based on biblical story? How about one to two, two to two etc.... If God had created two men and two women in the first place, do we have a two-to-two situation? He also pointed out that the church has been against the homosexuality strongly via different means while some scientists had suggested it was a genetic problem. Beloved, have you been challenged by a similar question before. Sadly enough, the advocates for homosexuality and homosexual marriages often turn a blind eye to the ever increasing divorce rate in our modern society, the increase in the incidences of sexually transmitted diseases especially the risk of AIDS spreading around the world. They also neglect the important findings by sincere researchers that it is too early to conclude that homosexual inclination is genetically determined. The traditional family system and values of the west are facing a threat of disintegration much as the Chinese Confucian values were facing during the Chinese Cultural Revolution.

The western world today is not only that the fear of God and faith in the Lord Jesus are no longer their norm, their peoples have a tendency to do away with all the traditional norms. Instead, the individual person and individualistic freedom is at the center of such post-modern cultures where the INDIVIDUAL often takes precedence over the collective society. There are definitely social and anthropological reasons behind such a tendency. Amazingly, the Bible (e.g. Jude 17-19) has foretold long ago that in the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires. They are the men who divide the Christians; who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit – what a striking similarity with our existing situations!

As an individual, one is free to choose one's choice and values. However, the reasonable choice should be made in terms of the development, welfare and sustainability of the human society at large. As Christians, we must remember the Apostle Peter's warning (II Pet. 3:10) that the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. For this reason, we must exercise our spiritual freedom to bear witness to our Lord and to be a salt and light to the world even though it is the narrow gate that the world would despise.

Bulletin Article for TPIBC on September 17th

Peace and Courage

Joanne's article last Sunday (Sep. 10th) mentioned Tse Pau Pau, a sister whose life was dictated by a great sense of fear before she was delivered by Christ Jesus. We, most probably, have gone through a similar struggle and bondage (be it fear or emptiness) before our conversion. Being saved is a wonderful experience. On the other hand, being Christian is a life long experience and blessings. Nevertheless, our Lord has not promised his followers a through road of success and prosperity in the world. What the Lord Jesus has promised (Jn.14:27) is His Peace. He also reminds his followers not to let their hearts be troubled and do not be afraid because Christians are Jesus’ messengers sent into the world (Jn.17:18). For this reason, Jesus had prayed for all those believe in Him before he returned to the Father. His prayer (Jn.17:15-17) is not that the Father will take the believers out of the world but that God the Father will protect them from the evil one because Christians are not of the world and are sanctified by the truth – the Word of God.

As a matter of fact, proclamation of the gospel is not an easy task for behind someone's choice to accept or reject the Salvation of Jesus Christ is spiritual warfare! It is obvious warfare when we try to preach the gospel to the Muslim or anti-Christian countries. It is also warfare even when the gospel is preached in Christian countries! Do you agree? Let's think about the 9-11 attack and tragedy 5 years ago. It is a sign of the conflict between the western Christian nations and the Muslim Middle East. Furthermore, it is the result of mutual distrust and hatred between the two camps. More unfortunately, the road to a real peace and solution to eliminate terrorism through the application of armed forces and retribution appears to be endless! Indeed, such a retributive reaction and treatment of the problem does not conform to the Christian principles of love and hope.

The modern advocacy of the liberalistic freedom and rights has resulted in pluralistic and highly individualistic societies in the west. The fear of God and faith in the Lord Jesus are no longer their norm or foothold. The authority of the Bible is replaced by their ever changing constitutions. The Christian love and hope are being overwhelmed by the quests for worldly achievements and competitions. Today, few people in the west talk about leadership through service and humility. Rather, people are craving after leadership by leading and success. It is against such a backdrop that the gospel is making its way through to save the lost souls. Dear brothers and sisters, let's encourage one another with the Lord's promise of His Peace and do not be discouraged in our Christian pursuit for we are Jesus’ messengers sent into the world having a divine protection from God. Amen.