Dear…
I, even I, have spoken, yes, I have called him. I will bring him, and he will succeed in his mission.
Isaiah 48:15
The Tokaido Trail, a well traversed route, in times past that linked Edo(modern day Tokyo) with Kyoto, where travellers take much needed rest in the 53 stations that lined the 492 km route.
With the Shinkansen, I covered much more miles than travelers of old in the past 7 days, but nevertheless, human energy was still needed, and by the grace of God, I actually did enjoy the daily 20 km walk, pounding the once hard land of Japan.
I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.
Isaiah 46:10
Once back in Singapore, my arrival gate was near the end of Terminal 2. A rather long walk by Singapore standards, but should be a breeze after my marathon in Japan. Yet within a few hundred metres, I felt my muscle strained. Is it because the body knows it is home and now is the time for protestation?
And the next day, much as by our standards, with inclement weather, it is a cool day. Again walking was no longer as enjoyable as in the 16 degree ambiance of Japan.
What about our journey of life?
-Is it a function of our circumstances?
-Can it be joyful much as it is challenging or it is a drag with its concomitant pain with very little gain?
- And what is the purpose of our temporal existence?
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:25
- just like the Tokaido trail, it is both a physical yet spiritual journey. Many temples and shrines do the entire route. Why. Because travelers seek solace and strength in the divine.
But for us children of God, we seek to live a life that honours and pleases Him till HE takes us home, or when Christ returns.
Resting in our Lord, in prayers, in His words, always with a thankful heart.
This might seem counterculture to what most of us are led to believe. To try to finish a race fast, our way, on our finite resources. We look for the next conclusion, like a greyhound on the track, chasing after the elusive hare. Not realizing that what truly matters is, God seeks our obedience.
...till I entered the sanctuary of the Lord, then i understood…
Psalm 73:17
God wants us to always enter His rest. Only then are we able to move forth on His strength, and not lean on our finite wisdom. Only then will we be at peace with joy, no matter our circumstances.
This was the thought that fills my very being even as I ponder upon the journey that our good Lord has led me on these past 6 years since I left my comfort zone.
Eloi, lama sabachthani? Which i translated, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
Mark 15:34
The cry of anguish, that most of us are familiar with, but maybe only fully empathize with when we find ourselves in the same situation. Abandonment, a feeling that as a toddler, we cry aloud when faced with that fear, but as mature adults, we often face it alone, afraid to show our vulnerability in a world that judges. Even as Christians, there are times in the desert when we feel that God seems nowhere in sight, till we will ourselves to enter His rest.
Then will we realize that He has always been with us. Much as He let us struggle, He is refining our spirit man.
Abandonment, how wonderful the English language. In a different context, the sense of abandonment. This carefree joy and peace, where fear has lost its insidious grip upon us. For the Spirit of God uplifts us, and we know we are in His good hands.
What joy the life of a determined and diligent follower of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Station in life is what many of us seek. A million dollars will be nice. A billion even more delectable. But like the wealthy man whose barn was overflowing, one might never complete the 53 stations of oneś life journey, nor is there a certainty that one could live it up in oneś chosen station in life.
As I closed these thoughts, this verse comes to mind.
With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God.
2 Chronicles 32:8
Those of us who have been blessed to walk the journey of faith in obedience has seen the Risen Christ and continue to do so.
And the journey of life is one rough undulating road with many crossroads. If it was smooth, the tendency is that we will slip.
Struggle we will, for following God is about total dependency upon Him. Letting go and letting Him. Being imperfect, God knows we will struggle. But throughout that wrestling with our Lord, one thing must always hold firm. That we will cling on to Him. And that we will seek to obey.
For God knows our hearts. Let us not make the mistake of Johanan and the remnants of the Jews, whose hearts were already set on going back to Egypt, much as they outwardly profess a desire to follow the will of God.
For you were hypocrites in your hearts when you sent me to the Lord your God saying, Pray for us to the Lord our God, and according to all that the Lord your God says, so declare to us and we will do it.
Jeremiah 42:20
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(11th Nov 2018)
An afterthought - Consistent inconsistency
Like the financial markets, every generation of investors tend to make the same mistake. Buying near high and selling near low. Some do learn after the painful humbling, but many do not, like lemmings running over the cliff.
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance
Luke 3:8
Yet, the Bible is replete with examples of the same consistent inconsistency. Of kings of Judah who consistently sin. Some repent, many do not. Some who walked right at the beginning, but lost their sight of God in the midst of His blessings.
Such is the consistent inconsistency of us finite and sinful humans.
Yet, throughout the Bible, God is faithful and forgiving. And that is the assurance in this journey called life. Much as we often fall awry, He is there for us, if only we are willing to grasp His loving hands. It is never too late to turn to our Lord, till one becomes dated(as in expired).
Work on your relationship with God and through Him with people He places in your life.
Now when he was in affliction, he implored the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his father, and prayed to Him, and He received his entreaty…….Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.
2 Chronicles 33:13
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