A Year of Tribulations

Now that a new year has come, our hopes are renewed for a better life. We think of prosperity, for smooth relationship paths, promotions, and pleasant ministering experiences. We humbly ask God to favor us this year and to bring good things in our way. As Christians, we know no other means more fitting than depend on God and faithfully hope that He would look upon us with mercy. 

When we look to the future, all is but vague hues of expectations and aspirations. The details of our lives are so uncertain. It is only but natural to hope for beautiful things, but these hopes become wrong when it eventually translates to entitlement. It seems as though, when problems, sufferings, and persecutions come, God is against us. And instead of looking to God more eagerly, we look the other way. We dissolve in sorrow and waste away in our anxieties. 

Acts 14:22 reads, 

“…strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” 

Christians are called to go through tribulations as we enter the kingdom of God. It was not an unsettled and ambiguous statement of Paul, but rather an incontestable reminder for us to be prepared. However terrifying this may be, this passage is afloat of two encouragements for us.

1. A Determined Path. 

When tribulation comes to us, we are instinctively distressed about it. But when we look into this passage, we know that tribulations were already set upon Christians to walk into as we live our faith in Christ. If we suffer in this life and approach it in the attitude of Christ, it is almost as if we see ourselves walking with Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress through that "straight path" to Celestial City. So in one way, we may be distressed but we also rejoice in suffering and persecutions knowing that we are in the path where God wants us to be. Only true Christians would understand this state of emotions.

2. A Determined Destination. 

This is the greatest comfort and joy we must hold onto. Our journey might be hard and full of defiance, but the Lord had already gone before us - not only that but He had set our destination. 2 Corinthians 4: 17 says, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” Our future dwelling is in heavenly realms with our Lord God. And "He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). We will behold God’s glory and enjoy our fellowship with Him and His saints forever.

Today’s future must prepare us for tribulations. But let us not shrink back for we are also assured of God's grace. Paul charges us to “continue in the faith” for he knew that God is the One who will sustain us throughout our journey. May it be our encouragement that every step we take brings us nearer to our ultimate future- our future glory with Christ our Lord.

Enoch, the Man Taken by God

                      image: google

"By faith, Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found because God has taken him. Now before he was taken and he was commended as having pleased God.  And without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever draw near to God must believe that He exists and that he rewards those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:5-6

Hebrews 11 talked about mighty men of God from different generations who exemplified extraordinary faith. Many a time we have heard about a man named Enoch who was one of the champions of faith in this chapter. He is known on those few verses as the one who ‘was taken away by God and then was no more.’  The Bible mentioned little about him, yet his experience cannot be discounted. The few verses that determined his person communicate so much more to us if only we would look closely.

On how he was taken, surely it was the whole of him. As many commentators believed, Enoch was taken wholly in his physical body to be with the Lord since verse 5 says, ‘... that he should not see death, and he was not found.’ Interestingly, God did not take him because he had faith that he will be taken by Him, for he had already lived 365 years when God took him.  And in those years, Enoch had lived pleasing God; confirming in verse 6 that he pleased God with his faith. (For it is impossible to please God without faith.)  I noted to myself, he pleased God. For 365 300 years (ref. Gen. 5:21). 

Many would declare that they would die for Christ, yet many of us struggle to live for Him. That daily basis of battle is overwhelmingly exhausting. At times, it even overcomes us. How did Enoch do it? As I study Hebrews 11, I realized that living out our faith would only be possible through faith as well! 

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17

The undeniable truth of living a holy life makes it much easier to just excuse ourselves oftentimes. This difficult task will only be resolved if we will seriously consider these bases as our cause to labor well in our walk.

1. That God and His Providence are ever present with us. 

It makes it easier for a man to bear his cross with patience knowing that God’s sovereignty is always present even at a time of affliction.  That despite sufferings lay upon him, he knew that the Lord had already determined it for his good, no matter how visibly distressing it is. For if you walk with the King, who could dare do you wrong? “So, he that walks with God, what evil can touch him?” (W. Perkins). The point is, people around you may think of evil against you, but the Lord has the power to dispose of it all for your good.

We remember Joseph the Dreamer, the guy who was plotted by his brothers to death. But then again, providentially, their plan changed to subject him to slavery. He suffered for many years as a slave and then was thrown to prison. Later on, the Lord prospered him to be the second most powerful man next to the Pharoah in Egypt at a time that powers will be recognized more than ever. When his brothers discovered who he became, they feared him.  But then he argued, “Fear not… for am I not under God?” (Gen. 50:19)

2. That We are in God’s Presence

That consciousness that we are in the very presence of God every second of our life persuades our choices to please him than ourselves. Sins become more visible to us when we see our invisible God with our hearts. His fullness is always brought to our remembrance - how righteous His judgments are and how powerful He can execute it. We flashback once more to Joseph when he was accused to have mistreated his mistress, he answered, “How shall I commit this great wickedness, and to sin against God?” (Gen. 39:9).  The holy company of God keeps him away from committing sins.

The duty of our faith to be faithful is dependent not on itself but on the God who gifted us this wondrous grace. To have faith on His providence and His presence is to bring remembrance that we are not our own but belong to God, and for that, we are preserved until His return. Soli Deo Gloria!

Reference: Hebrews 11 Commentary by William Perkins

Life is like a breath. How have you used it so far?

O Lord, make me know my end

and what is the measure of my days;

let me know how fleeting I am!

Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,

and my lifetime is as nothing before.

Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath

Surely a man goes about as a shadow!

Surely for nothing they are in turmoil;

man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!"

-Psalm 39:4-6

If I were to measure life, how would I evaluate it? Through the number of years, achievements, relationships, or wealth? Perceptions may differ but the question remains, which measurement really quantifies?  We haven’t been at the end of our course, but surely our glimpse is crystal clear, and so we know the answer to that question.

We drift away with this so-called "life"

It is not unknown that people drift away with this so-called "life.” We are like the Israelites, gathering meat in the desert, thinking it will be stored away until we need it, only to find out soon enough that the maggots had their share.  What a waste of time! All the hard work put into it.  The Lord clearly told them what is to be done; gather what is enough for the day. They have known what to do from the start, but they chose another way, a way seemed good to them.

Fast forward to our times now, we are so consumed with the things going on in our lives.  Getting a promotion, fancy cars, building a house, raising children, establishing a business -name it, all the things that fill our heads. This is what we must do and we have to fulfill and we have to achieve. Then we all shout, “For the future!” How confident we are! Psalm says, surely, we confuse ourselves with such things. 

Then turn away from God

We turn our heads away from what God has called us to do. No? What are we busy today? What is the longing of our soul? We ponder our earthly needs more than our spiritual life. Our pleasure craves perishable things rather than eternal ones. The more we deny, the more we sink deep in the turmoil, inadvertently grasping the invisible idols we have built.

And then we laugh shamelessly. It would pass by like every other day, we thought. The same day as the times that we have ignored our conscience and embrace our earthly pleasures and treasures. We toil yet we will never know who will gather our wealth. What vanity! If all we have today is what we see, we are miserable!  If what we deem important do not differ from a natural man, then where is our hope? 

The Psalmist realized that he is at the mercy of God. The Lord can “consume like a moth what is dear to him” as he disciplines him for his sin. And so he cried out to God, “Deliver me from my transgressions” and “look away from me.”  

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you."

Stand or fall, or both? 

What is there to hope for? All other things are mere sand that can be tossed by waves. It is destined to be ruined and bury you nowhere deep. Run to the Rock, a sure foundation. Yes, there will be tossing and beating, but a man whose hope is in God will stand in the midst of his scorners. He may stumble and fall, but His grace will lift him up in all the storms. 

Like a breath, a shadow, or as nothing before God, may we see our lives as it is, and not to indulge into things that do not profit our eternity.  Every moment is a rare opportunity to please our Maker, may we not miss it. And when the time comes that we take our last, we will see His the light of His face and rejoice in His presence.

The Spiritual Person

“The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. ‘For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?'  But we have the mind of Christ.”          - 1 Corinthians 2:15-16

The spiritual person is not the one in position or holding an office in a church, nor a perfect believer without sin - for if that would be the case, then there will be no ‘spiritual person’ here on earth because his place would be in heaven.  The spiritual person is someone who was born of the Spirit (John 3), his being regenerated through the gospel of Christ and he lives the truth and walks in faith.

He judges all things, not that he has knowledge of all things in nature but things that are spiritual. He discerns the foolishness of this world, the truth from error, the voice of God from the voice of strangers. He knows when the gospel is preached and when it is distorted.  He never compromises the truth with unwarranted claims.

The greatest mystery that the world cannot understand is the greatness of the divine salvation that Christ provided for many. Thus the verse,

"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, 

nor the heart of man imagined, 

what God has prepared for those who love him" 

1 Corinthian 2:9

The world proves the Scripture right when it says, "the message of the cross is foolishness to them" (1 Corinthians 1:18).  Through the suffering of Christ and the ransom He paid for our sins, we were freed from the slavery of darkness and has come to His light where we see everything in His love and mercy and grace.

He has the mind of Christ… for the Word which is Christ and the Spirit who illuminates the Word are in him.  He is humbled by the truth so does not fear to speak out the truth... for the sake of love and for the glory of God.

Paul's Ambition

“And thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, but it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” Romans 15:20-21.

If we claim to follow Christ, then Paul's ambition should be ours as well. The root of the great commission in Matthew 28 is to become witnesses of Christ. To be a witness of Christ is to preach His gospel through the power of the Spirit and to live it as well. 

The word 'ambition' suits well for this difficult task (actually 'impossible' suits best but since God is with us, that'll do 😊). Difficult is a word that puts emphasis on great efforts, engagement and passion unto something. Paul and the rest of the disciples managed to spread the Word throughout the world even with difficulty! Through the help of the Spirit, Paul knew what to do in order to accomplish this goal. 

1. Paul worked on it. I mean really worked on it. In his letter to the Romans, he says “This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, I hope to see you…” (Romans 15:22-24a).  Paul was longing to visit the brothers in Rome but the ministry of the gospel of Christ hindered him.  This was not the kind of hindrance that forced him to stay in Corinth, rather Paul set it to himself, a thing to be done before doing any other.  He was focused on the task and the task of completing it. He made efforts in reaching out to people, not only to those who were within his reach, but also to those he was able to go to. He saturated the territory where God had put him with the good news.  I say it was laborious but the Spirit was there to aid and strengthen Him, just as He is now with us.

Where did God put you now? Are you making every effort to reach out for those who don't know Christ yet?

2. Paul asked to be prayed for.  

“I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers…” these were written by Paul to Romans (15:30-31a), an appointed apostle of Christ. Regardless of our calling in Christ, we need the prayers of other believers too.  Paul is specific that the church should strive together in prayer for this command that God had given us all. We must pray for each other to be brought to opportunities to declare Christ and declare it with the power of God.

What do you really mean, Paul?

"Therefore," Paul concludes with almost certainty in Romans 15:7, "welcome one another as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God."  I believe this goes beyond welcoming our brethren in a church fellowship. It is rather an acceptance with a deep understanding of each other's sin-stained flesh and a full recognition that every one of us is at the mercy of our Lord. 

What does Paul really mean when he said that we must welcome one another as Christ welcomed each one of us? Let us look back and see how were we accepted by Christ in His family. 

1. Christ rejoices as we come to Him.  At times, we require a lot of effort in joyously accepting our new family in Christ. Perhaps because of a past happened between you and your brethren, racial discrimination, unsettled issues, impressions and expectations. We must remember how God greatly values them in Luke 15:3-7 parable, where 99 others were left for one. It shows how Christ was 'infinitely pleased', as Matthew Henry puts it, in the repentance and conversion of great sinners. Matthew 10:40 also says "He who receives you, receives Me, and he who receives Me receives who sent me."

2. Christ looks at us impartially.  Jews or Gentiles, the Lord did not show partiality among His chosen people (Romans 2:11). His promise is unequivocal. He welcomes those who fear Him and do what is right from every nation. James clearly spotted what every believer's attitude should be: 

"My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.  For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet," have you no then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?  If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.  But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors." James 2:1-4, 8-9.

3. Christ redeemed us to the glory of God. Everything Jesus does is to His glory. His pleasure in saving us is to glorify Himself (Eph. 1:5-6 and Phil. 2:9-11). There is coherence on Paul's instruction to imitate Him as He imitates Christ. This is our chief end - to glorify God in every thing we do. "We receive each other in love and without judgment or condescension  we do, as He did, to the glory of God"  (J. MacArthur). 

In wretched state, Christ welcomed us in His family. He demonstrated His love and mercy on the cross while we were still sinners. He brought light into our darkness and life in our death. We were accepted to glorify His name and in Him we will be glorified. God endured all our griefs and sorrows in his humanity to Calvary. He is patient in our weaknesses, even encourages us and will continue to do so until He comes again. May we always remember God's graciousness to us whenever we look at our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Source: John MacArthur New Testament Commentary on Romans 

The Irony of Parenting

"Mommy, obey me!" my five-year-old daughter then demanded. I laughed it off and explained to her what's wrong with that. Obviously, she did not understand that obedience varies in the application.

At that time, I was reading the book of Genesis. God had plainly revealed in the earlier chapters of this book that He is our Father and we are His children, which along with that concept injected a few important principles of parenting.  He, being our Father, imposes obedience to His children which we, in turn, are expected to comply.   Since our heavenly Father is God, and God as He is, a perfect being, all righteous, just and full of wisdom, always proved the beauty of being obedient to Him.

When I came to Genesis 9, I discovered another perspective in parenting.  This chapter enumerated how Noah and his family lived after the flood.  God gave them the same command to multiply and fill the earth as to Adam and Eve. Verse 20 showed that Noah became occupied in increasing the productivity of the land. He [Noah] began to be a man of the soil, and [he] planted a vineyard. Until he was fully drawn into it and finally sinned (v. 21).

From that verse until the end of this chapter, I remembered the statement of my daughter and realized that parenting, in most cases, is wrapped with irony like that.

1. The Irony of Teaching Obedience

Noah was a parent of three sons. I am convinced that it was clear with him that he was to teach his children that obedience was a good trait and must be applied.  

But on one fateful day, Noah drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent (v. 21). He disobeyed God by giving in to his intemperance and abusing God's gifts.

It is logical to say that when you teach something, you are expected to be better than who you are teaching. But in the stance of obedience, Noah's story proved something else.  The hard truth presses on:  Parents struggle in obedience as much as their children do. So what shall we do? The task of teaching obedience to children was commissioned to us, parents. We must be reputed as obedient. We must persevere in genuine efforts to obey God for our sake and the sake of our children.  

But outward obedience is cheap.  Let us desire for the real thing - inward submission that will inevitably express outwardly. The Bible tells us to keep watch of our lives so that we are prepared to meet our Lord anytime. It is our destiny to encounter different temptations and trials not just as a parent but as a child of God. To lose heart is not an option but to be expectant in the Lord is an enduring confidence that we are helped.  Habakkuk 2:1 tells it with great exact,

"I will stand on my guard post 
And station myself on the rampart; 
And I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me, 
And how I may reply when I am reproved." 

Noah disobeyed God and shame was brought upon him through his son Ham. This story was told not for him to be eternally humiliated but to remind us that Noah was a perfect man yet not without sin.  Our nature opposes the Spirit, but as we come nearer to God, by His grace, our calling as parents will be fulfilled.

2. The Irony of Scorning a Disgraceful Parent

We often say, "Respect must be earned, not demanded".  If it is fitting to respect someone who is respectable in his ways and words, then it is just right not to revere anyone who does not deserve it! 

Or is it?

Let us look at how Ham, the son of Noah, reacted on probably his father's most shameful act."Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside" (v. 21).  He intentionally went into his father's tent to see him disgraced.  He delighted on the sin of Noah and intended in his heart of disgracing his father publicly (... scornfully spoke about his father to his two brothers outside.). He wanted everyone to see that his father sinned and that he is deserving to be shamed.

I have heard hundreds of stories of children hating their parents for being "bad parents".  Sons and daughters crush their parents with insults and rejection, thinking they are not obliged to respect such parents. In fact, they feel it is their duty to embarrass and expose them for what they have done.

Does God favor that? Verse 25 answers, "Cursed be Canaan (son of Ham); a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers." Noah cursed Ham and his entire generation for scorning his disgrace. Though this incident is within the divine appointment of the Lord, we cannot disregard that Noah's punishment to his son was also vindicated.

Shem and Japheth had a different take on the situation. It was settled in their hearts to honor their father despite him. For that, they and their generations were blessed (v. 26-27). 

"Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both of their shoulders, and walked backward, and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father's nakedness... " (v. 23)

Our fallibility will surely fail our children many a time. So we must clearly teach them that their obedience is not really to us nor it is dependent on who we are, but their obedience is to God  -- because ultimately, He is our Father.