Thank you 2020!

Ecclesiastes 7:3 (NKJV)
Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better.

Happy New Year!  The start of a new year always brings hope and promise.  This year, 2021, in particular is extra hopeful for many because the past year was difficult for all of us.  News articles and social media posts such as “Good riddance, 2020” flood the internet.  I understand this sentiment because people are happy that the bad times are now over and, with the development of the vaccine for COVID-19, people are saying that the dawn is now breaking over a dark and gloomy year.

There are two problems I have with this kind of mindset.

First is that there is no guarantee that 2021 will be a better year than 2020 with regard to solving the global health crisis.  Even with the development of the vaccine, some countries reimplemented travel bans because of the discovery of a new strain of the virus towards the tail end of 2020.  I don’t want to sound pessimistic and dampen your elation of the new year, but I believe a more prudent attitude would be something like what James said, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’” (James 4:13-15 NKJV)

Second is the perspective that our happiness is found in the privileges and pleasure of our modern way of living.  Think about it.  Why were many people affected by 2020?  Because their freedom were restricted and they were not able to enjoy the things that they are used to doing like going out with friends, shopping at the mall, going on vacations, watching movies and concerts.  Yes, there are those who lost their job and business because of the lockdown. And there are others, who lost loved ones to the coronavirus epidemic.  I sympathize with those who suffered loss.  While expressing sadness in these situations are valid, many people fail to realize that if the global pandemic did not happen, we would not have experienced blessings such as reduced fuel and travel expenses, extended time with our families, connection with our friends and loved ones through video chats, new business opportunities, the reinvention of new business models, self evaluation of identity and worth, and many more.  

Something that I’m learning is that my joy is not dictated by circumstances, but is found in the character of God.  It is the belief that no matter what happens on the outside, I can fully trust that God is still good and He is still in control of world events.  He has a reason for what’s happening about issues beyond my control, and I don’t need to waste my thoughts about what I could not do.  Instead, I should focus my energies on what I can do in a new normal situation that I have not done before or I have failed to do because of my busyness during pre-covid.

For me, personally, 2020 is the blessing of extended time that I get to spend with my family where we can sit down and talk about our fears and worries.  It’s these times that I can give my children advice, speak life into them, or simply just watch Netflix movies together with them.  I would not have experienced these moments if not for the lockdown, and they will be good memories to look back from in the years to come.

So instead of saying, “Good riddance, 2020,” I would rather say “Thank you, 2020!”

PUT GOD FIRST!

Haggai 1:3-11, 2:15-19

After many of the Jews had returned to Judah from exile in Babylonia, they built for themselves expensive houses but had to struggle to make a living. Haggai told the people that if they put God first by rebuilding the temple, God would richly bless them.

For the Christ-follower, its not hard work that will bless you but “heart-work.” The litmus test of putting God first is not how hard you work in your job and in your ministry. The litmus test is where are your treasure, time, and talent invested? Are they invested in the building in God’s kingdom or your kingdom (Matt. 6:19-21)?

LOVE THAT'S OUT OF THIS WORLD

“How can I give you up, Israel? 

How can I abandon you? 

My heart will not let me do it! 

My love for you is too strong. 

- Hosea 11:8 (GNT)

Using grim figure of speech, the prophet Hosea described the utter destruction that will befall on the nation of Israel. He writes, "So I will attack you like a lion. Like a leopard I will lie in wait along your path. I will attack you like a bear that has lost her cubs, and I will tear you open. Like a lion I will devour you on the spot, and will tear you to pieces like a wild animal." (Hosea 13:7-8 GNT). "Samaria must be punished for rebelling against me. Her people will die in war; babies will be dashed to the ground, and pregnant women will be ripped open.” (Hosea 13:16)

History tells us that the Assyrian army in 722 BC attacked the northern kingdom of Israel. The Assyrians were a military power extending its rule by conquering nation after nation in the ancient middle east. Its army is known for its ruthlessness in war. After reading such statements from God, one would ask, "how can a loving God allow Assyria to cause such savage acts to his people, the Israelites?" And yet after the destruction of Samaria and the exile of its people to other lands, God assures them that he will never abandon them completely. The fact that Israel is alive today, in our present time, is a testament to his undying love and forgiveness for his people.

Any person who acknowledges Jesus as His saviour and master are given the opportunity to become children of God and this reality about God's love comforts us in that while we may become unfaithful to him, God will always remain faithful to us.

The Lord says, “I will bring my people back to me. I will love them with all my heart; no longer am I angry with them. (Hosea 14:4 GNT)

Things Are Gonna Be Alright

"I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you." (2 Kings 20:5 NIV)

In times of seemingly insurmountable problems and utter desperation, who are you gonna call? Financial distress, family disputes and conflict, extreme pressure to perform and conform, depression are too common in our lives. Some are outside our control and others are consequences of the poor choices we made. Regardless of who's fault it is, it gives us much comfort and assurance that God hears our prayers (Matthew 7:7). 

People have different personalities and temperaments. Some immediately tear up after watching a heartwarming movie or hearing a story. Others are as cold as stone; their eyes don't even twitch after hearing news of a close friend's death. Some men are so "macho" that they don't want to shed a tear in front of everyone because doing so would show vulnerability and weakness. 

But God created us in his likeness. We are emotional beings because God too has emotions. Whenever we are downcast, our loving father feels it too. Psalm 56:8 (NLT) says, "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." God cares and sees your tears. More than that, he will comfort you of his presence and assure you that everything's going to be alright because "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3 NIV).

All of us, including atheists, need sympathy and encouragement in times of pain, suffering, and oppression. To experience God's comfort and loving embrace (and I do believe everyone would want to receive a hug, even the macho ones), the best thing we can do is to just let all our emotion burst out. Ask God to help and heal you. Things may not instantly turn out as you'd like it to, but surely you will feel his peace and presence. He will take care of you; things are gonna be alright.  

God looks at the heart (Reconciling God's wrath and kindness)

When you read the Old Testament laws and regulations, one would tend to think that God is a rigid, legalistic power and that He demands perfection from His subjects without any room for mistakes. One violation will result to punishment often ending in death. If this disturbs you, then be assured that you are not alone. Many Christians struggle reconciling the holy and stern God of the old testament with the teachings of Jesus on love and grace. But examining the laws and stories of the bible in its context, gives us a clearer expression of the heart of God. God is love and His love for His people overshadows His standard. His law is the embodiment of who He is and it is given for man's benefit, not the other way around. If one lives by the law, he will bear the fruit of a meaningful and fulfilling existence. God is simply saying, "if you want to live a happy and satisfying life, follow my principles." But the choice is eventually ours to make whether we follow Him or not. And our choices will always have consequences whether good or bad.

Whenever God punishes someone for a violation of the law, God is really looking at the intent of the person's heart, not the behaviour itself. Proverbs 16:2 says that, "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord." (NIV)  The story in 2 Chronicles 30 illustrates this very well. After many years of idol worship, King Hezekiah wanted to celebrate a nationwide Passover feast after it has been neglected for more than 200 years. Hezekiah invited all Israelites even their countrymen from the Northern tribes who have separated from Judah. Many people ignored the invitation and even laughed at the messengers sent by the king. But some responded and journeyed to Jerusalem with sincere hearts. According to the scriptures many came from all over Judah and Israel so much that "nothing like this has happened since the days of King Solomon..." (2 Chronicles 30:26 GNT). A spiritual revival was happening! But since the people have not observed the feast for a long time, a lot of them didn't meet the requirements and standards of purification as prescribed in the law of Moses. Upon learning this, Hezekiah prayed, “May the good Lord pardon everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though not according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.” (2 Chronicles 30:18-19 NASB). And the Lord heard Hezekiah's prayer, forgave the people, and accepted their worship.

Knowledge (of the bible) and ritual is good and has its proper place in worship. But more than these, God weighs the motives of your heart. He will always offer grace and forgiveness to those whose hearts are repentant and upright.

Its not about us

"You will give us prosperity, Lord! Everything that we achieve is the result of what you do." (Isaiah 26:12 GNT)

• A promise-claim by Isaiah the prophet for the nation of Israel.
• A promise-claim of peace. The word "prosperity" is the hebrew word "shalom" which means peace, completeness, soundness, welfare.
• I like the use of the word "Everything" because it indicates Isaiah's admission that all of life's achievements come from God and we don't have a single contribution.
• This goes against the tide of "self-made man" philosophy that is prevalent in modern times.
• #Itsnotaboutme #Iamnothing #AllHis

A Good Soldier

"Who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, 'Why did you make me like this,' will it?" (Rom. 9:20)

Often, atheists, agnostics, and postmodern thinkers accuse Christians of being judgmental and prejudiced. But the honest truth is, we are just being good soldiers.

If a traffic officer issues you a ticket for violating the number coding scheme, will your anger burn against the traffic cop if you disagree with the number coding policy? Take your issues with the local government or congress. It is them who ratified the law. The traffic police’s job is to implement what the authorities make legal. Let’s not associate the implementer with the lawmaker.

In the same manner, God is the lawmaker and good Christians are merely implementers. If you have a problem with biblical truth, take it up with God, not his servants.

Someone once said, "There is a God and you're not Him!" Let's not play God. It's either we submit under His authority or not. There's no middle ground.