Sin makes us Stupid

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

We are flawed people who are vulnerable to temptation. Ever realised how we have the ability of rationalise and justify any course of action if we try hard enough? One of the main reasons why I never subscribed to having a mobile phone was because I was extremely displeased with the slack attitude of most people once they had a mobile phone. It became a easy and convenient approach to being late for appointments and constant distraction when things are going on. People seem to lose the virtue of punctuality and just lived by their own reasons of why they were late and conveniently messaged reasonable reasons like "Bus came late", "crowded"... There is never a reasonable reason which cannot be given as an excuse.

Its never too difficult to state reasons after reasons of why this and not that. But its precisely such a easily compromised attitude in us humans that the Paul warns us that sin easily entangles our lives. How else can you explain the actions of King David, the man after God's own heart who with once glance at Bathsheba made him plot to sleep with her and then decide to murder her husband Uriah? Or the reckless choices of Samson to want to marry a Philistine woman in Timnah and later fall for another called Delilah?

Anyone who does gardening will tell you that vines and seemingly pretty flowers of the creeper plants (like morning glory), are nothing short of pesky weeds! They compete with the crops and intended plants for nutrition, are more hardy and in time are able to grow faster, overwhelm and choke the garden. Similiar, sin easily corrupts us and make us do foolish things. Stupidly, with or without our knowledge, it entangles us like a creeper vine and starts to cause us to trip, do foolish things, and choke us.

Sadly, the foolishness of our mind can rationalize and justify almost any actions and our causes. If we are to have victory over the power of sin in our lives, it will come only by the power of the cross. Today may you surrender and acknowledge that we are helpless to save ourselves and only God can set us free from of our sins and its ensnaring power.

blessings,
M.

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:24-25)

Tribulation

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

In the continuation of the end times series preached in church, this week we talked briefly about tribulation and the rise of the anti-christ (aka the lawless one). The bible records that for a period of 7 years, the earth will undergo a tribulation period and during this time, anti-christ will arise, and the world will also be afflicted by various judgements of God - each more scary and devestating than the earlier. (Read about the 7 seals, 7 trumpets and 7 bowls from Revelations 6 onwards)

In the initial 3.5 years of tribulation, the lawless one will be seen as the bringer of peace, however, the latter 3.5 years is what biblical scholars deem the Great Tribulations, because it comes with the massive latter judgements of God and Christians would be mercilessly persecuted and anti-christ would proclaim himself as god and the world would be subject to his bidding.

One of the key passages that we discussed was how 2 Thessalonians 2:7 revealed that the secret power of lawlessness is already at work in us today. Increasingly towards the end times as we are witnesses to greater levels of unrestraint in mankind, young kids defying parents, adults and teenagers refusal to accept authority, control or conventions simply because they view it as a restiction against their feedom and idealogy.

For greater understanding, the passage from 2 Thessalonians 2:7 in the Amplified bible version states: "For the mystery of lawlessness (that hidden principle of rebellion against constituted authority) is already at work in the world, [but it is] restrained only until he who restrains is taken out of the way."

Many who ascribe to the pre-tribulation rapture believe this passage refers to the One who restrains the antichrist to be the Holy Spirit, who lives in all believers and will be removed with believers as they rapture at Christ's 2nd coming. It is a scary vision of the future without Godliness because the bible says anyone who lives in the period of tribulations would be see unrestrained evil and lawless days.

To many of us, even myself, the idea of such a lawless and evil future still seems too remote. It doesn't help that we are a skeptical generation living in increasing lawless days that we are increasingly numb to any more wars, scandals, inhumane-ness.

But today something awakened in me as I read a marketing article which states the increasing demise of MTV's foothold on teens because of the sudden popularity of free online hosting sites like YouTube and MySpace. The article states that more and more teens are now going online into sites like YouTube and MySpace where they can embrace shiny new world of fan-created and fan-consumed content -often violent, sexual or crude.

The article states: "Teens don't care about who delivers their stuff - just that they get things that entertain them.... As a teen, if your options were MTV vs. the Land of Do As You Please (through Youtube & MySpace) which would you choose?"

Against secular and often unbecoming entertainment content of MTV, sites like YouTube have sprouted from nothingness and become the biggest thing since email. Simply because they offer a seemingly fun, but celebration of lawless freedom and entertainment. The word of God prophesies that the works of Satan in the end times will be displayed in all kinds of every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

May it speak to you because only Jesus Christ as your saviour and redeemer would save you from lawlessness of these end times.

blessings,
M.

"Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position." (2 Peter 3:17)

A Time for Everything

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
A time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
A time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Yesterday a crushing blow to me was dealt as I got another rejection from a job which I thought I would get. For the longest of all times, I've been wanting to change career and to seek something greener, more luxurious, something I consider better. Everything of this job seemed perfect. The location, the environment, the job description, the opportunity to advance myself and of course, an increase in remuneration. I clearly thought I heard a ringing affirmation in me that "this was it", and a similar prompting to drop another even more prestigeous application in faith. Thus, "in faith" I just went for this alone.

It had been a conflicting day of emotions, especially since I woke up at dawn and something seemed to say that I didn't get it. But that negative thought seemed natural as I knew that it was by mid-week that any successful candidate would be informed and as the days went by with no contact, it just seemed imminent. However, it seems that time like this, we always hold out and encourage ourselves to keep the faith because miracles can happen. But, when the email came saying, "sorry. you didn't make the cut". It felt as if the final nail was drilled into my coffin. Rejection is really a terrible feeling, its a blow on ego and self esteem and emphasises FAILURE / LOSER in big caps.

Sullen in attitude, while trying to cope with normal work and not feel downtrodden at the same time, this passage in Ecclesiastes spoke to me of how in God's principles and every living thing, there is a season for everything. Times like these, its frustrating to rationalise the possible whys and why nots of the outcome of our life. But humanly, its almost impossible not to.

Today as I was doing my online readings, I read upon a topic of what it means to be a follower of Christ. The key struggle encountered is as we feel that we are losing control, and the potential of managing our own life the way we want to manage it.

When Jesus recruited the 12 disciples, He said: "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men". Note the essence He is saying, "Follow me, and let me make something of your life." Most of us, however, want to make something of our lives on our own terms, and are happy to fit Jesus into the picture now and then. But Jesus says it's about total submission.

The author of Ecclesiastes succeeded in life and got more than what any man would have dreamt of, only to find that ultimately "the good life" was illusive or unfulfilling.

I know its tough at times to handle failures and moments of uncertainty. I call it a season of bobbing in the middle of an ocean with no wind, no land and no respite. Trust me, I of all people should know better what I should be doing, especially after today. But humanly, its just tough for seasons like this which seem to go one for the longest time, but the bible says its not forever.

In aweful times of your life, may you and I too learn to let go and let God because there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.

Blessings,
M.

"I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him." (Ecclesiastes 3:14)

Falling from your secure position

2 Peter 3:17
Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.

This week marks the start of the topic of end times which the church is preaching and the cell groups are discussing in-depth. From rapture to tribulation and then to the new heaven and new earth, there's a lot of interest in the many views and interpretation of what is written in various prophesies and visions recorded in the bible.

Saturday, we discussed about scoffers. People or christians who have heard so much about the second of Christ that over the years they grow skeptical or dulled to the fact. It was a call for everyone to make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and be ready for the return of Christ.

Have you ever stood on the edge of a swimming pool, safe and secure, just to have a friend push you down into the waters? As you fell from your secure, dry position, the only reason why you got sabotaged was because you did not remain alert and on goard against any pranksters.

Likewise, its very important to note that the writers of the new testment spoke constantly on the need to be on guard and to stand firm in faith. For the devil knows his end is due and is actively prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. The devil is not a prankster friend awaiting to push you into a pool, rather he is a evil threat aggressively attempting to push you into the lake of fire.

Humanly, everyone laments the fact that the bible doesn't reveal the actual date and incidence of the second coming, so how can we keep waiting in anticipation? But no one can ever deny the many biblical warnings that are told to us to not loose our faith. Revelations 20 records that on the final day of judgement, everyone would be judged on how we lived and if we stood firm in our faith. With the final conclusion of the end of time written in black and white, why should we choose to fall from a secure position of eternity in heaven?

On June 18, AD 64, a fire broke out in Rome that burned for ten days and destroyed much of the city. Most people suspected that Nero himself started the fire, ostensibly to rebuild Rome, so to allay the rumors Nero blamed the Christians. They died by methods of mockery; some were covered with the skins of wild beasts and then torn by dogs, some were crucified, some were burned as torches to give light at night.

History records that Nero's cruel, appalling acts resulted in sympathisers as ordinary citizens watched Christians martyred for their faith. I shudder at the methods used as they stood firm and never fell from their security of staying true in their faith in Jesus Christ, in spite of tormenting and painful death.

I'm sure you have heard many upteenth times the end times are periless and you need to be on guard. May this warning always ring in your head and remain raw in your heart that you would never fall from your secure position. An eternity in Heaven is worth it.

Blessings,
M.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen (2 Peter 3:18)

Whatever the LORD has Given Us, We Will Possess

Judges 11:23-24
Now since the LORD, the God of Israel, has driven the Amorites out before his people Israel, what right have you to take it over? Will you not take what your god Chemosh gives you? Likewise, whatever the LORD our God has given us, we will possess.

In the time of judges, the Ammonites made war on Israel because they wanted to claim back land which Israel had conquered and won many years ago when they first crossed the red sea. The elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah to be their commander to repel the Ammonites.

Jephthah sent back messengers to the Ammonite king to fairly recount the entire history and then makes a powerful stand of possession. As I read the passage above, I'm challenged by the surety of his words and the powerful destiny which is meant for us.

Who was Jephthah?
He was despised person. Born a son of a prostitute, he was driven out of the house and deprived of any inheritance by his siblings. When he was approached to be a commander, Israel was a weak composition of different tribes. It had lost its allure of its former glory as the mighty conquering force of Joshua's time.

Inspite of the circumstances, and the challenge of repelling against the forces Ammonites, Jephthah states strongly against the king of the Ammonites, "whatever the LORD our God has given us, we will possess".

As I read the words of Jephthah, my spirit stirrs up because of the truth and power of the statement. It's time that we bring into captivity the spirit of intimidation and fear and confidently stand in the truth that whatever the Lord gives to us, no one, no powers and principalities of the air or circumstances, would have any rights to take it over. In these endtimes, we must arise in confidence and recognise that we will possess the destiny, plans, promises and blessings which God has given to us!

How often we forget our inheritance as children of God and, in the face of tempest and storms of life, we waver and struggle. They could be prophesies which have been given to your life, promises of the unknown future, blessings proclaimed to your life, or bible verses which had been real to you but now they are all a dim part of your memory. Perhaps it was a life of a friend who has since fallen from God's presence, wilful friends who seem to have no hope of ever turning back from wickedness to recognise the Lordship of Jesus Christ, a physical infirmity which never seems to get healed inspite of prayers. There could be a lot more negative circumstances and situations which seem to overwhelm your life and perspective.

Take hope! Nothing has the right to take over what God has promised us. May your spirit arise in intercessory faith and hope as you profess today "whatever the LORD my God has given me, I will possess it". We are children of destiny, and its time we arise to challenge anything that comes against the perfect will and plans of God for us and the things that we hold dear.

Blessings,
M.

"The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good" (Proverbs 15:3)

Youth

2 Timothy 2:22
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

I love the exuberance of Youth. The energies felt as I was growing up. I recall the many long hours spent burnt under the sun training for volleyball, enjoying the pleasure of physical and mental training as we played match after match, despite the fact that the sun had gone down and I had bruised myself silly since afternoon.

I love the carefree days of my youth. The world was my oyster as I laughed and played with unlimited energy and engaged friends with arrogance and a care-free attitude. Apart from the major exams which caused me some stress, there was no real stress and responsibilities that bound me and constrained me. As I entered secondary 3 (15 year old) , the world was a big, exciting treasure chest. I acquired independence, was maturing, gaining self-confidence, and intellectually more confident.

But I also recall the ugly moments where the energies of youth were translated into aggression, violence and uncooth behaviour that caused tempers to flare, hurts and destruction. These were not proud moments of my life which I would like to relive but sadly, something that would continue to haunt me.

Paul warns his young ward, Timothy to "flee the evil desires of youth" simply because he too recognises the passions and energies associated with youth. Scientifically we know that the onset of youth, puberty, is when individual experiences physical, cognitive, social, and emotional changes. During which the body begins to produce the hormones necessary for pubertal development and the world of a youth seems to go upside down.

Adolescence is a period of great change and growth. Its a challenging phase because there are different expectations and encounters with the surrounding, and wide range of possible reactions and responses to growing up. Its also a time where sexual and material awakening occurs. Only in my days of youth did I suddenly desire to have branded clothes, nice shoes, stuff my peers had and I thought was essential for being normal.

In God's creation eyes, he fully understands all this issues of youth. Often I wonder how Jesus lived in his teenage years and wished the bible documented his life as he was a youth. That would be a great encouragement to many who go through this seemingly aweful phase of life. But it really doesn't matter as there are enough examples of how we are to live and cope with youth.

It's all about pursuing God and allowing him to teach us and mould us. Added to that, Paul says it is important to band together with other Godly youths and do things that are in righteousness, faith, love and peace. Peer pressure and support is one of the most vital experience of adolescence. Its all about selecting the correct circle of friends to be with. When we band with peers that support and pressure to do the right thing, we grow up well. If these friends are God fearing and pure hearted, they influence us to grow up to fear and worship God.

The days of youth was also the time which I experienced God and the passion of pursuing and worshipping Him. Suddenly, the bible stories learned as a child could be seen in a a different spiritual dimension and prayer was no longer dead silence. My life no longer became centered on myself and suddenly I perceived the corruptness of my own life through every little life's failure of adolescence.

In church, as I looked up to the fellow youths who were budding musicians and committee members. I was inspired by their talents and gifts and the rich experiences which they had with God. So inspired and envious that I even tried out some instruments to realise that I couldn't play either to save my life. Thank God that I saw the lack of talent in my life and an opportunity arose for me to help to look after young children. Eventually God used my talents differently and called me to teach. I would have been the worst musician ever. today, as I look back, I am greatful to have a bunch of Godly church friends who inspired me to pursue God and be found in the house of God and not like my other secular friends who encourage me to have fun in the secular things of life, albeit clubbing, drinking or spending my weekends outside the church.

David proclaimed, "Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds." (Psalms 71:17) . May the Lord guide and teach you like David in your youth, bind you together with passionate Godly youths that would help you grow up well into adulthood - complete and in the grace of God - ready to declare God's blessings and name.

Blessings,
M.

"For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth." (Psalms 71:5)

The Agony of Hell

Luke 16:20-31
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell,where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'
He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'
Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' '
No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "

It's so easy to be taken up by this life that we live. The stressful challenges, unreasonable expectations, the desire to succeed, the pleasurable pursuit of self, and a need to secure a good life for the future. There's heaps and heaps of excuses and reasons that we generate to justify our actions and how we choose to live. Sadly, when we die, nothing will be able to justify how we are unable to live according to the warnings of John in 1 John 2:15 "Do not love the world or anything in the world."

The bible tells strongly on the agony of hell as we read the desperate expression of the rich man who said "have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire".

Have you ever eaten chilly or super-spicy food that burns your tongue and seems to burn through your into your inner being, and you actually start feel your lips and tongue swell and then you perspire? It's absolutely agonising when you don't have a cool fan blowing and a cold glass of drink to quench that agonising moment. Well if you don't know what I've described, find a chance to watch Christopher eat grilled chicken wings with heaps of fresh chilli sauce to see a perfect example of what I'm talking about.

This parable which Jesus tells is the only one which clearly describes the burning agony that is to be experienced in Hell. But, it isn't his only warning as time and again he warns of the "weeping" and "gnashing of teeth" found in darkness, outside the kingdom of heaven upon judgement. (Matthew 8:12, Matthew 24:51, Luke 13:28)

We know for sure Hell is real. We are not talking about the fictional holleywood movies depicting hell and its resident house of the devil. However, Revelations 20 states the truthful picture of Hell as a lake of fire. On the day of judgement, each person will be judged according to what he had done. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he will be thrown into the lake of fire. Hell is a lake of fire which would burn and torment the soul for eternity and there is no turning back or any more chances to go to heaven.

I know it seems like a freakily scary thought of being burned for all eternity, but not many of us have this eternal persepective that grips us every waking day to live Christ-like lives and guard our salvation. Sadly, if we continue today to live normally and enjoying life, without the need for God, as the rich man did, there may just come a day when our life passes by and we too would have to face the agony of hell.

What can we do then? As quoted in the parable above, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead." May we learn to pay attention to the leaders, instructions, warnings and prophesies that God places in our lives that we may live God fearing lives. The agony of Hell should never be an option.

Blessings,
M.

"The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:41-42)