When God seems absent, He's Present

 

Psalm 62

My Soul Waits for God Alone

When is God’s presence found with us? Does it mean that God is with us when we have a stable job, healthy body and happy family? What if we have become seriously ill, or inflicted by Covid-19 or encountered difficulties in our family or work? Would it mean that God is not with us anymore?

David’s Experience

David encountered many hardships in life, and at times, he felt that God was not with him in his pains:

“Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long?” (Psalm 6:2-3)

“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” (Psalm 13:1-2)

When David was in all kinds of trouble, extreme distress, severe illness, and when he was set up by others and slandered by the vicious words of others (Psalm 64:3-6), he felt weak and trembling. He was troubled all day long and felt that God was not with him.

Isn’t it true that God would not forget us?

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15)

David was in distress, and he really felt that it was like God had forgotten him forever.

We would encounter difficulties too, for example, when we suffer from severe sicknesses, encounter problems in our works and families, and when we are set up by people around us, attacked by their vicious words, and face an endless spread of plague and MCO, etc.

When we encounter all these, we really would feel as weak and distressful as David, and we would think that God is not with us anymore. “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?”

David knew that man couldn’t do anything in his predicament. When you are at your deathbed, and doctors are at their wit’s end, how could you cure yourself? When the Covid-19 cases shot above 10,000 daily, when you are maliciously accused and attacked verbally, how could you shut the mouths of those wicked people? How did David face such a situation?

“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him…. Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” (Psalm 62:1,5）

There was no other way out for him but to wait upon the Lord in order to be restful. David knew that he could only come before God to pray and to wait patiently. It doesn’t mean that we should be lazy to settle the problem ourselves, but the truth is that we couldn’t even settle it at all. It is like when the doctor tells you: “it can’t be helped.” Then, you could only pray and wait upon God.

Praying and waiting upon God are actions to be taken when no other further actions could be taken, and these demonstrate the highest level of faith that one could ever have! It is to trust ourselves wholly unto God and believe that only He can do something for us. It is the most powerful action one could ever take at that moment. David experienced peace in heart when he responded in this way.

The Israelites’ Experience of Exodus

There the angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. (Exodus 3:2)

The fire within a bush is likened to an abyss of misery. The Israelites were suffering pains in Egypt as though they were living in a burning bush. Nevertheless, there was God’s presence in their burning bush.

God spoke from within the burning bush to Moses. The un-destroyed burning bush indicates that, though outwardly the fire is burning, and it seems that God is not there within, God’s presence is indeed found within it and hence the bush was not burnt nor destroyed.

This tells us that though outwardly we might be in an abyss misery, yet inwardly we possess peace and calmness. Environment does not change, but we have peace and joy in our hearts. God seems to be absent, but He is indeed present.

When we pray and seek God, the peace of God which transcends all understanding, would guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). Even though we are still trapped in our difficulties, we have peace of God in our hearts. How good it is when we have the presence of God which seems to be absent among us!

Wait upon God and you will have peace in your heart. When David prayed, he came to recognize that power belonged to God, and unfailing love belonged to Him too (Psalm 62:11-12).

Even when the Israelites were living in Egypt as though as they were living in the burning bush, God never forget them. He heard their cries all the whiles (Exodus 3:7). He sent Moses to rescue the Israelites, and He said to Moses that, “I am who I am”.

This statement is the very meaning of YHWH, God’s name, which carries the meaning, “I am who I am，I cause things to happen”. It indicates that He is an unchanging God. How He was with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, He would be with the Israelites.

Moreover, He is in control of the progression of human history, and He would work out everything in order to accomplish His plans.

The bush was on fire but not burnt, and it shows that in the midst of troubles, God was with the Israelites, and He is a God who finds His presence with His people. He is a loving God, and He never forget about the Israelites.

He is also a powerful God who had rescued the Israelites from Egypt. God accomplished His salvation, and He fulfilled His covenant with Abraham, that Abraham would be blessed with many descendants, and He would build a great nation on earth.

God is also righteous, and He would surely judge sin

When David waited upon God, he discovered God was a God of love and power. However, God is righteous also, and He will reward everyone according to what they have done (Psalm 62:12). If we live in sins and do not live-in accordance with the will of God, we would not enjoy peace in our hearts even if we have waited upon Him.

Many people look good outwardly, but they do not have real peace in their hearts. It is because when they do not live-in accordance with the will of God, they would not be able to open their hearts to a righteous God.

However, if one lives in the Word of God, he/she would be able to enjoy peace in his/her heart in the process of waiting upon Him, regardless of how the outward circumstances might be.

Lincoln’s subordinates said to him once, during the American Civil War, “We will surely win, for God is with us.” Lincoln said, “I dare not say that God definitely would stand by our side, but I must know that we stand on God’s side.”

We must be reflective and discover where we have sinned against God. We must stand on the side of God, and to live in His will. By then, our hearts would be able to enjoy peace no matter how our circumstances would be, because God is with us.

Experience of Daniel’s three friends

Daniel’s three friends refused to bow down to the gold image because they obeyed God’s instruction, and hence, they were thrown into the fiery furnace. Yet they were not burnt in it, and even Nebuchadnezzar saw a fourth figure appeared in the fiery furnace, and he looked like the son of God, and he walked with three of them. (Daniel 3:1-30)

The fiery furnace was like the burning bush. These were threats of suffering and death that fell on them, as though God was not with them. However, God’s presence of joy and peace was with them in the fiery furnace! His peace and joy are something that could not be taken away by the circumstances.

God was the One who revealed Himself to Moses in the midst of a burning bush that was not destroyed. He was also the One who walked with Daniel’s three friends in the fiery furnace.

Conclusion

Thank God for He is the One who says that “I am who I am”. He will never change, and how He was with the Israelites, the three friends of Daniel, He would be with us also. He seems to be absent at times but he actually is present. We must wait upon Him and look up to Him.

God walks with us in the fiery furnace, judging the wicked and saving the righteous, that His fruit of salvation shall be revealed, that all men shall see His glory when history came to past.

Babylon the Great has Fallen

 

Revelation 14

The Lamb and the 144,000

Chapter 14, verses 1-5 brings out a positive aspect of the heavenly worship! The change takes place with the great fiery red dragon standing on the seaside, yet the Lamb of God standing firmly on Mount Zion.

It shifts from martyrdom to Mount Zion, from the imperfection of 666 to the perfection of 144,000 (the totality of God’s people), and from the mark of the beast to the name of the Father on his people’s head.

John hears the voice of many waters singing a new song that talks about the victory of the Lamb. 144,000 (12x12x10x10,10) are the faithful saints, the Bride of the victorious Christ who has been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

The faithful saints follow the Lamb wherever He goes. It requires heroic effort to carry out Christ’s commission to face oppression and even death if required. Too many shrink back when the work is difficult or the future looks bleak. We are to join those who take their stand with Christ and against evil.

The faithful saints can sing new songs, for they have received the salvation of Christ (The Israelites sang their new song when they came out of Israel and crossed the Red Sea).

Then an angel announces that God’s judgement is about to begin. Another angel shouts, “Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen—because she made all the nations of the world drink the wine of her passionate immortality.”

“Babylon is fallen” points to the Roman Empire, its economy, social culture and the distorted values behind it shall be overthrown. Those who worship the beast and his mark shall face the punishment of the living God and they will suffer forever.

By extension, Babylon is all of God’s enemies of all times who are evil with dominion of might, power and wealth. People who share the victory of the great city by drinking the adulterous wine of Babylon, shall be astonished to discover it to be the wine that brings about the pain and the wrath of the final judgment of God in the lake of fire and sulfur.

Those who worship the beast, accept his mark, and operate according to his world economic system will ultimately face God’s judgment. Our world values money, power, and pleasure over God’s leadership. To get what the world values, many people deny God and violate Christian principles. Thus, they must drink of the wine of God’s anger.

This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying God’s commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus. Blessed are those who die in the Lord for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them.

The ultimate result of sin is unending separation form God. Because human beings are created in God’s image with an inborn thirst for fellowship with him, separation from God will be the ultimate torment and misery.

Sin always brings misery, but in this life, we can choose to repent and restore our relationship with God. In eternity there will no longer be opportunity for repentance. In this life we choose to be independent of God, in the next life we will be separated from him forever.

Nobody is forced to choose eternal separation from God, and nobody suffers this fate by accident. Jesus invites everyone to open the door of one’s heart to him. If we do this, we will enjoy everlasting fellowship with hm.

This news about God’s ultimate triumph should encourage God’s people to remain faithful through every trial and persecution. They can do this, God promise, by trusting in Jesus and obeying the commands found in his Word. The secret to enduring, therefore, is trust and obedience.

Trust God to give you patience to endure even the small trials you face daily; obey him even when obedience is unattractive or dangerous.

While it is true that money, fame, and belongings can’t be taken with us from this life, God’s people can produce fruit that survives even death. God will remember our love, kindness, faithfulness and all the good works done in the present life.

And those who accept Christ though our witness will join us in the new heaven and new earth. Be sure that your values are in line with God’s values, and decide today to product fruit that lasts forever.

Then another angel shouted to the one sitting on the cloud, “Swing the sickle, for the time of harvest has come; the crop on earth is ripe.” So, the one sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the whole earth was harvested.

“Christ reaps the harvest” (v.16) refers to His intense judgment which seeks to destroy the evil forces completely. The Creator of heaven and earth is truly glorious and worthy to be revered, and not the arrogant evil trinity.

This is an image of judgment: Christ is separating the faithful from the unfaithful like a farmer harvesting his crops. This is a time of joy for the Christians who have been persecuted and martyred—they will receive their long-awaited reward.

Christians should not fear the Last Judgment. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believer in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sin, but they have already passed from death into life.” (John 5:24)

The vision John sees in Revelation 14 has completely turned the situation around found in Chapter 13. Chapter 13 described the onslaught of evil that will occur when Satan and his helpers control the world. Chapter 14 gives a glimpse into eternity to show believers what awaits them if they endure.

The Lamb is the Messiah. Mount Zion, the Holy Place is contrasted with the worldly empire. The 144,000 represent believers who have endured persecutions on earth and now are ready to enjoy the eternal benefits and blessings of the life with God forever. The three angels contrast the destiny of believers with that of unbelievers (vv.14-19).

This heavenly scene tells us that, in the end overcomers are those who are faithful to the Lamb, who are persecuted and killed because they hold on to the Word of God. However, the arrogant beasts and people of all nations who covet after the comfort and steady lifestyle shall receive eternal punishment from God.

The message of the judgment of God projects to us a greater future, hope and longing we have for the universe and world. The light will definitely overcome the darkness. The vision and hope had strengthened the seven churches and their believers to persevere in keeping their faith.

Pray that we will not yield to the intimidation and inducement from the great fiery red dragon, the beast of the sea and the beast of the earth, even it means giving up our lives. Do not covet and participate in the prosperity of Babylon. We will definitely be conquerors, as our Lord has overcome and triumphed over all His enemies.

Confronting Evil in the Darkest Hour

 

Revelation 13

The Unholy Trinity – Red Dragon, Sea Beast, Land Beast

Chapter 13 reveals that the great fiery red dragon has two alliances, the beast from the sea and the beast from the earth. They have formed the evil trinity who stand in contrast with the true and Holy Trinity. They intended to usurp the glory of God and receive the worship and submission of the people that only God is worthy of.

The beast out of the sea points to the Roman Empire (military and political powers) that persecutes and subdues the faithful ones to God.

This Sea Beast has seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on his horns. One of the seven heads was wounded but is healed. The whole world marveled at this miracle and gives allegiance to the beast.

The beast is the Antichrist, is a false messiah, he is a counterfeit of Christ, and so stages in a false resurrection. This is also alluded to the Nero Redivivus Legend (Nero resurrected) that is popularly spread throughout the end of the 1^st century.

To this effect, the author emphasizes that the power of the Roman Empire was further strengthened after turning from decline (e.g., today’s rise of formerly wounded kingdom).

Then beast speaks great blasphemies against God, is given authority to do whatever he wanted for 42 months (3.5 years). And he wages war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. The power given to the beast will be limited by God. He will allow the beast to exercise authority only for a short time. Even when the beast ins in power, God will still be in control.

The beast is given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation (alluded to Roman empire dominance). All the people who belong to this world worship the beast. Their names are not written in the Book of life.

But true believers refuse to worship the beast which will result in temporary suffering for them. God’s people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful. They will be reward with eternal life in the end.

Then John saw another beast coming out of the earth. This Land Beast has two horns like a lamb, but he speaks like a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast. And he required everyone to worship the Sea Beast.

The Land Beast is the false prophet of the imperial cults, and even found among the community of believers who promotes emperor worship. He is a counterfeit of the Holy Spirit.

He seems to do good, but the purpose of his miracles (signs and wonders) is to deceive the believers to give allegiance to the Sea Beast.

He also requires everyone to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead (e.g., social credit score). And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name. and the number is 666.

This mark of the beast is designed to mock the seal that God places on his followers (7:2-3). Those who accept it show their allegiance to Satan, their willingness to operate within the economic system he promotes, and their rebellion against God.

To refuse the mark means to commit oneself entirely to God, preferring death to compromising one’s faith in Christ.

The original readers of Revelation probably applied the number 666 to the emperor Nero, who symbolized all the evil of the Roman Empire. The Greek letters of Nero’s name represent numbers that total 666.

Whatever specific application the number is given, the number 666 symbolizes the worldwide dominion and complete evil of the unholy trinity designed to undo the plans and works of the Holy Trinity.

To the Sea Beast, Satan gives political power. To the Land Beast he gives power to do miracles. Both beasts work together to capture the control of the whole world.

This unholy trinity—the dragon, the Sea Beast, and the Land Beast (the false prophet)—unite in a desperate attempt to overthrow God, but their efforts are doomed to failure.

“The beast wages war against the saints and conquers them” definitely carries with it a sense of martyrdom of the saints. Whatever it will be, saints are to hold on to the truth and to testify the truth. They are to persevere and to keep their faith.

When Revelations was written, the power and influence of the Roman Empire penetrated every sphere of life. People who agree and submit to the culture and religion that were promoted by the Empire would enjoy certain stability in life.

Those who don’t yield to the authority would be persecuted, which includes being banned from trade (buy and sell through e-pay).  It was indeed a real tough oppression on the believers who held on to the truth!

The author requires readers to recognize the source behind the power of the Roman Empire and its final destiny. All these understanding would help them persevere through their hardships, and they would be able to receive the final victory.

What is the implication today?

This Unholy Trinity has its evil root springs forth from darkness and extends to political, military and economic realm, and they even take their shares in the religious faith in a blasphemous way. They are so powerful that whoever submit to them shall live, and whoever disobey them shall be killed.

Today, the universal church is also under the influence of the Evil Trinity. The church suffers physical persecution, forced to submit the Beast’s dominance instead of God’s dominance only, compromises their morality and truths of the Bible.

The devil’s attack faced by the believers is so tough. It goes beyond the forces of persecution, which also comprises enticing invitations and promises of power and glory (power, signs and wonders, economic network and achievement).

All these temptations and coercion are of the devil which come in forms of economic and political nature (v16-17). Their motive is to deceive the world and the believers, to make them compromise their belief in order to weaken the authority of the truth and God over their lives, so that they will not worship God only and implement his will on earth.

Believers need to be perseverant in the midst of their persecution and lies. Evil forces of the empire (regime) shall be destroyed quickly because God will definitely judge the evil and they shall be punished severely.

God’s people are to share the gospel and speak out for justice to uphold the well-being of all people. And, we are called to confront evil and persevere in suffering even in the darkest hour.

Conflict of the Ages

 

Revelation Chapter 12                 

Battle Between Woman’s Seed and Satan’s Seed

The seventh trumpet (11:15) ushers in the bowl judgments (15:1 – 16:21), but in the intervening chapters (12-14), John sees the conflict between God and Satan. He sees the source of all sin, evil, persecution, and suffering on the earth, and he understands why the great battle between the forces of God and Satan must soon take place.

In these chapters the nature of evil is exposed, and Satan is seen in all his wickedness.

Revelation 12 serves to be the pivotal chapter of the entire book of Revelation. The author has clearly revealed to us from here onwards, that the devil and his adherents are the source of all conflicts and sufferings on earth.

However, they are already defeated by Christ on the cross, and they are right now in their deathbed struggles, and soon and very soon they will be destroyed completely.

Chapter 12 depicts three characters: a pregnant woman, the male child she gave birth to, and the great fiery Red Dragon which threatened to devour her baby (through Herod). The great fiery Red Dragon is the serpent, also known as the devil, or Satan. Satan has seven heads, ten horns and seven crowns, representing his power and the kingdoms of the world over which he rules.

The pregnant woman signifies the community of God, and the male child is the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Christ’ lowly birth in the town of Bethlehem had cosmic significance. The boy will grow up to defeat the devil and to rule over the nations.

The great fiery red dragon seeks to kill the woman and her son, but God protects and saves them. And her child was snatched away from the dragon and was caught up to God and to his throne (resurrection and ascension).

And the woman fled into wilderness, where God had prepared a place to care for her for 1,260 days (3.5 years – a short period of suffering time). Because God aided the woman’s escape into the wilderness, we can be sure that he offers security to all true believers. When Satan’s attacks seem overpowering, remember that God is ruler over all. Trust him.

Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. The dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven, thrown down to the earth.

Falling from heaven signifies the loss of ultimate command. The heavenly realm dominates the earth scene, so no matter what may happen on earth, despite persecution and suffering of the righteous, the devil had already been defeated and God is in control. There is nothing that can separate men from the love of Christ, not even hardship and persecution.

So, the battle against Satan had been won at Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection. The accuser of our brothers and sisters had been thrown down to earth—the one who accuses them before our God, day and night. But now instead, Christ, in heaven at the right hand of God, intercedes for us unceasingly.

When the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman and the rest of her children who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus. This implies that members of the Messianic community will be involved in the fight.

Then the dragon took his stand on the shore beside the sea (12:18). The dragon stands on a shaky ground (alluded to the Roman domination of sea route).

Satan rebels against God and entices people to rebel against God too. He likes to purse believers who are vulnerable in their faith, who are spiritually weak, or who are isolated from other believers.

His attack involves both oppression and temptation, and are not merely spiritual, but also present in the social economic and political institutes. By temptations and coercion, Satan makes the children of God and the world become his followers or swayed from doing God’s will.

If the people of God are faithful, as Christ was to God, they will be inevitably attacked by the evil one as he did to Christ. However, the power and forces of Satan are temporal and limited (represented by three and a half years) and it will collapse ultimately. One day Satan will be bound forever, never again to do his evil work (20:10).

The blood of Christ has redeemed people of all nations and make them the children of God. This Messianic community (the seed of woman in corporate sense) follow the footsteps of Christ to battle with the Satan, and they will overcome their sufferings with their perseverance and testimonies.

And they do not love their lives so much that they are afraid to die. They have relied on the blood of the Lamb and the Word of their testimony – i.e., the Gospel.

The fact that God’s salvation through Christ is achieved through sufferings – crucified on the cross, makes all kinds of sufferings meaningful for us. It does not mean that our sufferings will be lessened, but it does mean that God identifies with the pains of all people on earth. God meets us through our sufferings.

Those who belong to Christ have gone into battle on God’s side, and he has guaranteed them victory. God will not lose the war, but we must make certain not to lose the battle for own souls. Don’t waver in your commitment to Christ. A great spiritual battle is being fought, and there is no time for indecision.

Now, as we face the battle with Satan, we should not fear it or try to escape from it, but we should loyally serve Christ, who alone brings victory. We ought not give in to the temptation and coercion of the devil.

Instead, we ought to endure hardships, and serve and worship God faithfully in keeping God’s commandments and maintaining our testimony for Jesus.

All honor or hardship in this life is temporal and limited (three and a half year).  We desire to be in Christ’s presence in eternity.

Keep Watching and Praying in Crisis

 

Mark 14:32-42

Jesus Prayed in Sorrow and Distress

We often encounter crisis in our life journey. Now, the crisis we are encountering is the rampant attack of Covid-19 upon the whole world, and no one is certain when it will end.

The scope of Covid-19’s widespread and the level of damages are unprecedented in human history. Our national economy, international relationships, church ministry, human lives and possessions all have become vulnerable.

Since we are living in such an age of crises, we need to be very watchful and vigilant. How did our Lord Jesus Christ react when He faced the greatest crisis of His life, i.e., to be crucified on the cross? How did He prepare himself for it?

To Be Watchful and Prayerful in Crisis

Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 

“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed…. (Mark 14:32-35)

How did the Lord Jesus face such a crisis? He knelt down to pray.

The Bible recounts that Jesus was deeply distressed and troubled. His soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Not one commentator doubts the genuine trauma of Jesus. His sense of crisis was truly so acute that it is beyond our imagination.

Today, are we overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death?

We have experienced MCO1, MCO2 since the beginning of last year, but our sense of crisis was not acute enough. Now with the prevalence of MCO3, we start feeling overwhelmed by a sense of crisis because the daily Covid-19 cases has reached few thousands with two-digit number of death cases!

Many have become very depressed and desperate because we do not know what will happen tomorrow when we could resume our norms. As we face all these many uncertainties, may we feel deeply distressed like our Lord Jesus, and may we kneel down before God.

To be deeply distressed is not an expression of our weakness or distrust in God, but rather, it is to see our need of receiving grace and help from God, and for God to come into our midst and do wonderful things.

As we entrust ourselves into the hand of God, we must also believe that God has His plan for us.

The Lord Jesus knew deeply in His heart that His future was held in God’s hand, hence He prayed,” Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me, Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Our life, work, family, church and even the future of our nation, are all held in the hand of God. We do not trust ourselves for tomorrow’s journey, and we do not rely on ourselves to finish our tasks.

Instead, we are to be watchful and pray, “Father, not what I will, but what You will. May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Do to us according to Your will and plan, and may Your will be done in us individually and in the church.”

People Could Stumble in Crisis.

Men tend to have moments of weakness when they face crisis. The disciples then were very weak, and they could not keep watch and pray. The Lord said to them, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Satan, the devil always does his work when we are not watchful, and He would attack us and make use of us. May God help us to always keep watch and be able to witness for Him in whatever circumstances in our personal lives, ministry, work or family, etc.

On the night at Gethsemane, the disciples were falling asleep when the soldiers approached them. Though the Lord Jesus was deeply distressed and troubled in his crisis, He prayed to God earnestly, and knew what God wanted, and was well prepared to face the danger.

But, how about those disciples who were not watchful?

They all left the Lord and fled for their lives. Peter even denied the Lord three times! Just a few hours ago, he did say to the Lord firmly, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”

When Peter denied the Lord the third time, and when the rooster crowed the second time, he remembered the words of Jesus and he wept.

Maybe we are like Peter. We think that we love the Lord dearly and we have followed Him faithfully and are willing to serve Him, and we are even willing to die for Him. We think that we would not stumble and fall. However, this pandemic may be weaking the faith of God’s people and ruin many churches in this land.

Sometimes it is not that we are willing to backslide in faith, or do it intentionally, we are just being careless by allowing the flesh to overtake us, especially after so long time of not joining an in-person worship. Somehow or rather, we have given Satan an opportunity to cause us to fall, just like Peter who denied the Lord thrice.

However, the Bible allows us to see that Peter wept and felt sorry for his weakness. Peter saw himself offending God and denying his Lord. He asked the forgiveness from His Lord. God would not despise a contrite heart. God surely would not belittle those who wept before Him like Peter, who saw their own shortcomings and who felt indebted to Him.

Though Peter once stumbled, the Lord Jesus did not doubt his love for Him, and He even entrusted His sheep to Peter. Similarly, though we may be weak sometimes, God does not question our love for Him, as long as we are like Peter, who grieve over our faults and have a contrite heart.

“Do you love me more than these?” The question the Lord Jesus raised to Peter previously becomes His intention for us now to love Him once again, that He longs to have us serving Him and be used by Him greatly once again.

Prayerful Watchfulness Overturns the Crisis

What happened later to these apostles who couldn’t keep watch at that time?

God used them greatly in the early church and they became the founding fathers for churches over all the world. This bunch of apostles who were weak, unwatchful, fleeing away and insensitive towards crisis, turned out to be people who were used by God greatly. It was unimaginable!

The reason is that though they fell, they also cried and stood up, and learnt to be prayerfully watchful in crises.

Acts 1:14, “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”

“They” were the disciples of the Lord Jesus, and they prayed fervently with one heart. At that time, they were in their crisis, and it was more than forty days after the Lord Jesus’ crucifixion on the cross and His resurrection from the dead.

At that point of time, they were the focus of all people, and they were not out of their danger completely. However, they came together and prayed.

This prayer was the prayer they prayed while they waited upon the Holy Spirit as instructed by the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit came upon them, and Peter was changed, as well as every of His disciple. They, who once fled for their lives, stood up and preached the Word of God!

Be watchful in prayer. Church revival shall follow personal revival. We pray that we will not focus solely on the result of God’s work, for God does not only change others but us in this process. We renew our strength through prayer, and we offer ourselves again to the Lord.

The greatest change experienced by the early church was that those who prayed were changed by God. Then, God used them greatly to change the world.

Let’s take heart, confess our sin and weakness to God. Let’s cry out to Him in distress. Let’s entrust ourselves again to the Lord today and be someone who is watchful in prayer in this age that is full of crises. Let’s reverently commit our lives unto God’s hand, and allow Him to mold us and change us, and cause our church to be united in prayer.

As we go on our knees, we allow God to empower us with the Spirit and use us to change this world, that we will become the channels of God’s grace and bring forth His blessings upon all men.

Disaster is Always a Call to Repentance

 

Luke 12:49–13:9

Introduction

Catastrophic earthquake, tsunami and the radiation leak of nuclear power plants In March 2011 have caused Japan to be plagued by the severest disaster of the age. Some perceive it to be the retribution of Japanese atrocities of the second world war. However, was it really the case?

The coup in Libya caused death to countless number of people, and their neighboring countries like Yemen Syria, Bahrain also underwent coups too. Are they more problematic or sinful than the rest of the other countries?

Covid-19 began in Wuhan in December 2019, and it has surprised everyone by spreading all over the world. Now it is still rampantly spreading and causing severe damages to both human lives and their possessions. Whose fault is this?

Natural calamities and man-made disasters are often caused by many factors. Some are avoidable while some are beyond our control. We ought to look into the matter for remedy and accountability purpose. However, how does the Lord Jesus look at these natural and man-made disasters?

Christ’s Urgent Call to Repentance

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices (Luke 13:1-5). 

Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

The Galileans were killed by Pilate when the Jews were making their sacrifices in the temple, and their blood was mixed with the sacrifices of the Jews. This raised a question for the Jews: Was it that these Galileans were so sinful that God punished them in such a way?

The Siloam tower fell on those eighteen people, and they died. Why these eighteen ones? Were they more guilty than the others? Both these incidents have caused many to ask: Does God give men their reserved retribution in their lifetimes? Whose fault is it indeed?

Natural and man-made disasters do inform us a fact, that all people are destined to die once, and their times are not predictable. An end shall come to all men, and physical death is the end of all things in our lives. However, “repentance” is the main point in this passage.

“But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:3,5)

The Lord Jesus did not make clear the reasons of those natural and man-made disasters, and He also did not hold any person responsible for them. But He turned the issue of physical death in sufferings to the issue of eternity. Death brings men before God, and it ends the problem of sin once and for all.

“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” (Rev 20:12)

Therefore, it is the grace of God when man is given a choice and opportunity to repent while he still lives.

Do Not Consume All the Grace of God

Subsequently, Jesus uses a parable to explain the importance of repentance and the limitation of grace (Luke 13:6-9).

“Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So, he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

It was something special for a fig tree to be planted in the vineyard. The soil in the vineyard was better and the fig tree did not need such good soil to live on. Therefore, the fig tree was under grace. With such a good environment, it should yield a better harvest.

Nevertheless, the master waited patiently for three years, but he still could not find a good fruit from it. No wonder the master was so angry that he wanted to cut off the fig tree.

By using this illustration, the Lord Jesus warned the Jews of His day not to abuse or consume God’s grace, but to live out a godly life. John Baptist also issued a warning to the Pharisees who came for baptism, and he said, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Luke 3:8)

If one truly believes in God, his faith would carry an attitude of “repentance”. Similarly, if one is to truly repent, this repentance must also be built upon the foundation of “faith”.

“Leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.  If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”.

The request and aid of the gardener were in fact, extra grace given. However, the extension would only last for another year. In another word, grace also has an expiry date!

Even though God has eternal love and grace, man’s life is limited, and the intervention of death is unexpected. If we did not repent and be saved on time, it would be too late for us to do so when death looms.

In Romans 11:21-22, when Apostle Paul talks about salvation that has come upon the non-Jews, he uses the wild olive branch which is grafted into the natural olive tree to illustrate the saving grace that is freely received by the Gentiles.

Here, he warns the Gentile Christians that since God did not spare the fallen Jews, He would not spare the fallen Gentiles either. Therefore, we are not to neglect both God’s kindness and harshness.

Why Would People Despise God’s Grace?

God’s mercy and righteousness are not to be overlooked or taken lightly. What causes one to despise and overlook this great salvation? In the teachings of Jesus found in Luke 12:49-59, we can observe three reasons:

1. A Wrong Interpretation of Gospel

“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” （Luke 12:49-53）

John Baptist introduced the Lord Jesus and said, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3:16). “Fire” represents judgment, and God once said, “I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes.” (Jeremiah 5:14)

The Lord Jesus came to preach the message of judgment, and that caused many to confess their sins and repent. However, His action offended the religious leaders of the day, and they conspired to put Him to death.

Modern day culture depicts Jesus as someone who would pursue peace at all cost, and he is someone who holds himself aloof from the world, and he never talks about judgment.

However, real peace is not about compromising, giving in, accommodating to the general interest of all, etc. Real peace is built upon confession, repentance and reconciliation with God (1 John 1:3).

The Gospel of Christ carries with it the message of judgment, and it leads people to repentance and reconciliation with God. The gospel of the Lord Jesus demands people to make a choice by either receiving or rejecting it, and hence, it causes family conflicts (Luke 12:52-53).

2. Refuse to discern the Truth

Jesus said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time? (Luke 12:54-56)

What the Lord Jesus meant is very clear. It is not that they were unable to discern but were unwilling to. They might have to pay a price if they were serious in discerning truth from falsehood. Not being discreet when challenged by God’s truth looked like the wisest choice to them.

Nevertheless, biblical truth is to be accepted and obeyed by faith, and it is not to be interpreted according to our own intention or to be used as an application by our own choices!

3. Take the Impending Judgment Lightly

“Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you; you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” (12: 57-59）

“Try hard to be reconciled on the way” is an opportunity and a grace that would rescue oneself from an inevitable severe punishment.

The Lord Jesus reminds us that everyone of us should be responsible for the task we assume. Be it a small or a big task, God’s judgment is never slack! “How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:29)

Conclusion

“Repentance” is the greatest grace given by God to all living men, so that men could receive the joy of salvation. Submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit always, and to be set apart in our daily life through the truth that is given by God. This is something that we should do now.