A Living Hope In A Dying World

 

1 Peter 1:3-9

Faith Proven Is Greater Worth than Gold

Life nowadays is often filled with worrisome issues. The whole world is shrouded in pandemic, economic instability, upheavals of society, etc. Most of us feel deprived of joy and peace and hope in our hearts as we face all these issues.

Do you have hope for the future? God our Father is the God who gives us a living hope.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:3-4)

Men are anxious and restless because the world has offered us things that could perish, spoil or fade. No good things in the world are permanent in nature. Many have put their hope in properties, shares, gold, etc., and some put their hope on certain people or even certain political systems. Yet they will soon discover that all these are floating and fleeting and changeable, and can even turn out to be deceptive lies!

In fact, all we have received in this world carried with them this very nature, and hence, what we have received and hoped for will be shaken with fluctuations in economy or ups and downs in commodity prices. Because of this, it is hard for us to enjoy real peace, and it is equally hard for us to be worry-free.

Nothing on this earth lasts eternally, and all things are merely temporal and changeable. Therefore, this world could not give us real peace. But there is one and only unchangeable, true and faithful being in this changing world, and He is our God. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We can anchor on Him in our journey of life.

Scripture tells us that God enables us to have a living hope, and it also tells us that because of this living hope, we would live joyously in this anxious and restless world.

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

The Bible tells us clearly that we are bound to have various trials as we live in this world, and we might feel sad temporarily. Trials like losing loved ones, sickness, failure of career and business, persecution and so on could cause us to experience issues of anxiety, confusion and restlessness.

Nevertheless, we can live joyously as we carry with us this living hope that gives us hope even when we encounter sadness and sorrow on earth. This joy is more than the joy in our spirits. It is a joy that enables us to leap and rejoice.

In reality, all these trials are meant to mature or refine us in all aspects, especially in our faith and our knowledge of God. Though the world is full of anxieties, confusion and restlessness, our relationship with our Lord will not be the same again after we have gone through all these trials.

The Lord Jesus Christ has brought us such a hope, and it is the hope that is full of vitality and life energy. We can experience it right now. This is a very real and living hope.

Christ is our hope. When Christ was born, a group of shepherds were tending their sheep at night. These shepherds were of no different from the rest of the world, and they too had anxieties and needs in their lives. However, it was in the darkness of that night that the glorious light of the Lord shone on them, and angels who appeared and announced to them the good tidings of the birth of the Savior.

We are like living in the darkness of the night. However, the glorious light of the Lord Jesus has shone on us, and it drives away the darkness. It turns a new page in our lives, and gives us hope.

This hope is the salvation of Christ, and it enables us to be reconciled with God, and that we are able to glorify God by becoming someone who pleases Him, so that the peace of the Lord shall come upon us.

Though the world is full of anxieties and restlessness, the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world and His light had penetrated the darkness of our nights, and it shone forth in our hearts, removing the darkness in it so that we could have real peace and joy. The Lord Jesus gives us this life and hope, and enough grace to live everyday lives.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

We will experience God’s presence in the process of anxiety and restlessness, and our anxiety will be turned into joy, and our restlessness will cease. It enables us to move forward with more hope and faith.

It is said in the scripture, that, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

We are confident towards our future, because we trust that the Lord Jesus is with us, and He will give us hope.

Recently I read a news that talked about an American man with his wife and his three children. The driving license of this man had expired but he had no money to renew it. So, he couldn’t go on with his daily life without driving his car.

One day, he was spotted by a policeman when he was driving his car. He explained to the policeman that he was jobless, and he had many unpaid bills, and he could not even afford to pay his driving license.

The policeman gave him a summon and left. He opened it, and instead of finding a summon, he found a one hundred note in it. He was so touched that he cried out loudly. His family members came to know about this, and they wrote a letter to the police station to give his compliment to this policeman.

The policeman said that it was his obligation to do so because the man had a more urgent need than himself. Later, this man found a job and he solved the financial problem in his family.

Someone interviewed him, and he said, “When I was in my most difficult time, someone, who was a policeman, gave me not a summon, but a sum of money. This incident instilled hope and joy in my life once again before God.”

In fact, God favored him, and His love came upon him through a policeman, and that caused his life to be renewed. Our Lord is true and living, and He will lead us forward, and His presence is with us.

Let’s get hold of our Lord Jesus Christ, for He is our real hope. Not only will we receive praise, glory and honor when He is revealed, but He will care for us and lead us through our life journey on this earth.

Our hearts shall rejoice and be glad whenever we think of all these things, for our God is true and living, and He is the God who gives us real hope, so that we have confidence to face today and tomorrow.

Thanks be to our God the Father, for He loves us and gives Jesus to us. Jesus is our real hope, and He enables us to receive peace and joy, and causes us to have an abundant life. Though we have anxieties and sadness for a while, but we have hope in Christ. Hence, we are confident of tomorrow.

What we hope for is not going to perish, spoil or fade, it is an eternal and true inheritance laying in store for us. Let’s receive new grace, strength and joy daily, and experience God as the true, faithful, almighty and unchanging Lord of life.

安息在创造主的同在里 （东岭）

 

创世记 1:1-2:3

1:1“起初，神创造天地” 是标示神的创造工程。神既是宇宙万物的创造者和设计者。就对受造界有主权和目的，因此万物都应当顺服在祂以下，遵守他的律例典章，并且成就他的旨意。

第2节“地是空虚混沌，渊面黑暗；神的灵运行在水面上”提出创造前的本相是：空虚混沌，就是没有形状和没有物体，而且是黑暗的深渊和混乱的大水。然而，神的灵扑击和控制邪恶混乱的大水，借此开展了气势磅礴的创造工程。

第一日，神说有光就有了光。这个时候神还未造太阳和月亮，但是有了光。作者强调光，无需要来自太阳月亮。太阳和月亮是迦南人的神祗。这光来自神的同在。神把光与暗分开，神称光为“昼”，称暗为“夜”。神解决了黑暗的问题。

第二日，神创造了穹苍或称为天，穹苍以下的水和穹苍以上的水被分开。

第三日，神说天下的水要聚在一起，使旱地露出了。神就把海和旱地分开。神使旱地肥沃，长出各种植物和菜蔬，预示地上活物的出现，因为菜蔬和果子是活物的粮食。

在这首三天，神用他的话创造。他的创造方法是分开和命名，来产生秩序和意义。光、天空、海洋、地面都是形式，解决了混沌的问题，但是空虚的问题还在。后面的三天创造，神把万物安置在光、天空、海洋和地上，解决空虚的问题。

第四日，神造了大的光体管白天，小的光体管夜，以及造众星。这些光体各有功能，在穹苍中发光，分昼夜，定时间、节令、日子和年岁。作者没有称呼它们太阳和月亮，因为这些是迦南人的神祗。

第五日，神在海洋里和天空中安放各样的生物和雀鸟，令它们能繁殖，各从其类，又赐福吩咐它们数目增多。

第六日，神造了各样活物野兽，安放地上各从其类繁殖。神又照自己的形像造人，祝福他们生养众多，遍满全地，并指派人类管理海里、空中和地上的所有被造之物。

2:1说： “这样，天地万物都造齐了。”

到了第七日，神完成了祂一切的创作，于是祂歇息了，祂赐福第七日，定为圣日，因为在这日，神完成了创造，休息了。”

神的创造的高峰，原来是安息。作者是强调神创造宇宙万物，特别是人，是要一切受造物在神的同在里得安息，蒙福。耶稣降世拯救罪人，也是应许给凡劳苦担重担的人得安息。

结语

“耶和华”与以色列民立约的神，但创世记第一章用神Elohim，一个普世性称谓来指创造主。创世记第二章的创造故事，作者就用耶和华的名称。作者强调与以色列立约的耶和华神，就是那位创造主。他是超越迦南人的神祗。他是子民的守护者和供给者。他击败了邪恶，并且赋予我们一个有秩序和意义的人生。我们每天的生活，无论大小事都当信靠他。在神的同在里，我们无惧病痛或死亡或新冠病毒。我们放下所有的苦担和忧虑，来到神的跟前，安息在他的同在里。

再者，神知道什么对我们最好。他给我们的生命设下了计划和目标。我们来献上自己当作活祭给神使用，来成就神在我们生命的计划。我们若追求成就自己的理想，那只能实现小我或可能陷入空虚混沌，若是遵行神的话，成就神的计划，我们就能发挥自己的潜力到极点，实现大我，荣神益人！

安息在创造主的同在里

 

创世记 1:1-2:3

神创造天地

创世记第一章的创造故事，强调神以创造者的身份，从原本的空虚和混乱状态，创造了井井有条的天地万物。神将一片混乱转化成为时空中的各种有生命和无生命的物体。

第一章1节，“起初，神创造天地”是标题，提示神即将开展创造之工。

第2节，“地是空虚混沌(formless and void)，渊面黑暗；神的灵运行在水面上。” 谈的是创造之前的本貌。起初的本貌出现三个问题：

1. 空虚混沌，就是没有形状form和没有物体things。希伯来文的意思是不适合人类居住的废墟waste land

2. 渊面黑暗

3. 混乱的大水chaotic water

随后3至31节再详细地介绍了神如何按部就班，按次序orderly从宇宙空虚混沌的原况，创造出形状form和物体things。因此，上帝不单是从无造有creatio exnihilo而已，同时也是从混乱造出次序create order out of chaos。

今天我们在基督里重生了，上帝也在转化我们的生命，叫我们原本空虚混沌的生命，转化成按神的计划前进，有生气和意义的生命。魔鬼要拆毁人的生命，叫它变成空虚混沌，神却是拯救人的生命，赐予他新生命，并且叫他活得更丰盛。

解经

神是造物者及始创者，唯有神是自有永有，在一切被造以先已经存在。创世记一章1节， “起初，神创造天地” 强调神对万物的主权。神是宇宙万物的创造者和设计者。他的设计有他的目的，因此万物都应当顺服在祂以下，遵守他的律例典章，并且成就他的旨意。

另外，第1节也反驳了四种流行的宗教哲学：反驳无神论（Atheism），因为它指出神存在；反驳泛神论（Pantheism），因为神与被造物是分开的；反驳多神论（Polytheism），因为神是单一的；反驳宿命论（Fatalism），因为创造是出自有位格的神自由的选择。

第2节“神的灵运行在水面上”，这句话带来了希望，预示创造即将展开，因为神的灵运行在大水上面，即是扑击和控制邪恶混乱的大水，借此开展了气势磅礴的创造工程。

创世记第一章是诗歌文体，第二章是散文式的叙事文。神用六日创造了宇宙万物。创世的描述是富诗意的，且具韵律性的结构，对于神每一件创造奇工，都引用了一个重覆的记敍手法：

神圣的命令：“神说：……”（3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, 29节）

命令的结果：就有了创造之物。

神处理混沌的状态：“神说_与_分开”

神表示满意：“事就这样成了。”（6, 9, 11, 15, 24, 30节）

神为其创造之物命名：“神称＿为＿”（5, 8, 10节）。（出现在首三日的创造）

神对其创造的评价：神看“是好的”（4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25节）。

结语：“有晚上，有早晨；……”（5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31节）

神在首三天的创造，是创造结构或形状form，解决了混沌formless和黑暗的问题。

第一日，神权威地创造了光，说有光就有了光。这个时候神还未造太阳和月亮，但是有了光。作者强调光，无需要来自太阳月亮。太阳和月亮是迦南人的神祗。这光来自神的同在。神把光与暗分开，神称光为“昼”，称暗为“夜”。

神解决了黑暗的问题。他将黑暗化为人们睡觉休息的时段。启示录说，将来在新天新地，神的荣光照耀整个新耶路撒冷城，全天候都是白天，没有黑暗（启示录21:22-25; 22:5）。黑暗被彻底消灭了。

第二日，神权威地创造了穹苍或称为天，这样穹苍以下的水和穹苍以上的水被分开。这个穹苍是一大块硬体，保护着下面的万物不被大水淹没。如果神把穹苍或天的窗户打开，天上的水就会倾倒下来成为淹没人的洪水。

第三日，神说天下的水要聚在一起，使旱地露出了。神就把海和旱地分开。神解决了大水狂奔的问题。神使旱地肥沃，长出各种植物和菜蔬，预示地上活物的出现，因为他们的食物是菜蔬和果子。

在这首三天，神用他的话创造，说有就有，说立就立。他的创造方法是分开和命名，来产生秩序和意义。神就这样造了天空、海洋、地面，又为这些创造物命名为昼与夜、天、地与海。

天空、海洋、地面都是形式form，解决了formless混沌的问题，但是空虚void 的问题还在。 后面的三天创造，神把万物安置在天空、海洋和地上，解决空虚void的问题。而神的创造的高峰是造人，并且派人作为祂的代表看管所有被造之物。

第四日，神造了大的光体管白天，小的光体管夜。这两个光体各有功能，在穹苍中发光，分昼夜，定时间、节令、日子和年岁。作者没有称呼它们太阳和月亮，因为这些是迦南人的神祗。

第五日，神在海洋里和天空中安放各样的生物和雀鸟，令它们能繁殖，各从其类，又赐福吩咐它们数目增多。

第六日，神造了各样活物野兽，安放地上各从其类繁殖。神又照自己的形像造人，祝福他们生养众多，遍满全地，并指派人类管理海里、空中和地上的所有被造之物。

创世记对人的创造作出非常独特的描写，将之与其他创造物作对比，就可以看见。

第一，在记载人的创造时，使用的是第一人称代词：“我们要……”（26节）但在创造万物时的描述（3, 6, 14节），使用的是第三人称代词：“神说：要有……”

第二，在创造鸟类、牲畜和动物的描述时，作者使用“各从其类”（21, 24, 25节）；而对于人的创造，作者却强调是神“照着我们的形像”造成的（26-27节）。

第三，男人女人的创造包含了性别的描述（27节），这点在其他生物的创造中相对不重要而没有被提及。

第四，只有人被赋与管理所有空中、海里和地上被造物的权利和责任。由此可见，人的创造，对比起其他生物，确实是独特的，不单因为人是特别被造的，更重要者，人是有着神的形像和样式的特别创造。

第五，在创世记第一章，作者强调神的创造“是好的”。这词在此章出现七次，提示神的美善和创造物的美善，更以此对比在第六日创造人的时候，神认为是“很好”。试想想，神的创造的精美、和谐和井井有条，真的是精彩绝伦，very good啊！

第二章1至3节说：“这样，天地万物都造齐了。” 

	形状Form			物体Things
第一日	光		第四日	大光体，小光体，众星
第二日	穹苍/天		第五日	天空的飞鸟；海里的鱼
第三日	旱地，菜蔬		第六日	地上的动物；人类
		第七日
		安息日

到了第七日，神完成了祂一切的创作，于是祂歇息了，祂赐福第七日，定为圣日，因为在这日，神完成了创造，休息了。”

神的整个创造工程停止在第七天2:3，而不是第六天。第七天是特别的，是圣洁的。在第七天，神整天无论早晚都没有说话，也没有工作，因为祂歇息了。神做工是有节奏的，做了六天，第七天休息。

神的创造的高峰，原来是安息。作者是强调神创造宇宙万物，特别是人，是要一切受造物在神的同在里得安息，蒙福。耶稣降世拯救罪人，也是应许给凡劳苦担重担的人得安息。

既然人是照着神的形像而造成，人当学效神在第七天休息。神日后吩咐以色列人必须守安息日，作为十诫之一。这条诫命也是给你和我的（出20:8-11）。

结语

旧约圣经很多时用“耶和华”（YHWH）为神的名字，表示祂与以色列民有“约”的关系，但创世记第一章用Elohim，一个普世性称谓来指创造宇宙万物的神。创世记第二章的创造故事，作者用耶和华的名称。

结合了1-2章的创造故事，作者强调，与以色列立约的耶和华神，就是那位宇宙万物的创造主。他是超越以色列人对手（迦南人和埃及人）所拜祭的众多神祇，包括太阳神与月神。

神是创造者和与子民立约的神，是子民的守护者和供给者。神能将黑暗变成光明，死亡变为生命，空虚混沌化为有次序和意义的人生。我们每天的生活，无论大小事都当信靠他。在神的同在里，我们无惧病痛或死亡或新冠病毒。我们来放下所有的苦担和忧虑，来到神的跟前，安息在他的同在里。

再者，神创造了我们，他就是那位总设计师。他知道什么对我们最好。他也给我们的生命设下了计划和目标。我们来献上我们的身体，当作活祭给神使用，为要成就神在我们生命的计划。当我们寻求神，向他祷告祈求，他一定启示我们当跑的路。

我们若追求成就自己的理想，那只能实现小我或可能陷入空虚混沌。但若是遵行神的话，成就神的计划，我们就能发挥自己的潜力到极点，实现大我。

Unshakable Joy in Affliction

 

Philippians 1:1-26

Living For Christ in Times of Suffering

Introduction

Life on earth is often filled with pains and sufferings. We hardly laugh when we live in a suffering world. There must be something wrong with somebody who laughs when calamity strikes. As people’s lives are very often plagued with bitterness and sufferings, so they have depressed and troubled looks on their faces. Is this really the truth of human lives? There is a story which goes like this:

An old woman had two sons, one was selling umbrellas and another sandals. When the weather was good, she felt sad because she was worried that the son who sold umbrellas would end up having a poor business. When it rained, she was troubled too because she feared that the son who sold sandals would suffer a poor sale. Therefore, the old woman usually looked troubled and worried.

Let’s think about the reason why the old woman never came to realize that her son who sold umbrellas could have good businesses in those rainy days and was rejoicing. The reason is that many times we are unable to have a positive perspective over life itself.

Somebody has rightfully pointed out that men and women who suffered the most are those who only look at what they don’t have without looking at what they already have, or those who only see what they have lost without seeing what they have gained.

The most joyful ones are exactly the opposites. They lead a positive lifestyle, and often look at life from a good perspective. They do not bother about things that they have lost, but are contented with things that they have already gained. And we know that happy is the man who is contented in all circumstances.

Interpretation

Paul was imprisoned when he wrote the book of Philippians, but he was still able to rejoice. Not only that, Paul also faced opposition from within, where his enemy sought to “stir up trouble for him while he was in chains.” (Phil 1:17) Yet Paul still rejoiced under such a circumstance.

Moreover, Paul remained rejoicing when he faced death. At that time, he was facing a possible death sentence, and he said he was caught in a dilemma, for he did not know how to pray. He could have asked God to bring him out from the prison, or he could have also asked God to let him leave the world so that he could meet Christ face to face.

Paul did not know how to pray, for it was indeed very good for him to leave the world and to be with the Lord. If he managed to come out from the prison alive, he would have to face many difficulties and persecutions.

Paul was then stuck and torn between these pains and dilemmas. How then could he still rejoice? Chapter one of the book of Philippians told us that there were three reasons for this:

1.   He was able to rejoice in the prison because the Gospel was preached and spread. He led many to come to receive the Lord in the prison, and it helped encourage more believers to preach the Good News boldly.

“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.  And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.” (1: 12-14)

2.   He was still able to rejoice when he faced the attacks from his enemies, for Christ was widely preached. The ulterior motive of some people preaching the gospel was to increase trouble for Paul (1:17). However, what was Paul’s response to them? He said, “…in every way, … Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.” (1:18)

Though his enemies sought to increase his pains and sufferings, Paul was able to rejoice exceedingly because Christ was preached.

3.   He was able to rejoice when he faced death, because he sought to exalt Christ in his body. “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” (1:20)

We can sum up in a nutshell. Paul was able to rejoice in the midst of his sufferings mainly because he lived a Christ-centered and Gospel-centered life. As long as the Good News was preached, Paul was able to rejoice in any circumstance.

He said, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” (Phil 1:3-5)

Many of us can understand the heart of Paul very well. When brothers and sisters in church participate in the ministries of the Gospel, we would be filled with the joy of the Lord. Indeed, I am filled with the joy of the Lord whenever I see our brothers and sisters devoting and involving themselves in the ministry of the Gospel.

When there are evangelistic meetings held in the church, our brothers and sisters would play their parts and be occupied in their various tasks. Some serve as ushers or chaperones, and some invite their friends, and we all pour in our effort and time. We are also filled with joy whenever someone comes to receive Jesus. Many believers work hard during weekdays, and also serve diligently in the church during weekends. They might be busy, but they rejoice for the sake of the Gospel.

The focus of Paul’s life was not on himself, but Christ and the Gospel. We would not have all our wishes fulfilled in accordance with our will as we live on earth. Often, we are very concern with our gain and loss, but Paul did not pay attention on his gain or loss. He rejoiced when he saw that the Gospel was preached, and that he had gained Christ.

We need to change our value and priorities, in order to live such a joyful life. Not only are we shifting our focus on Christ, but we need to have a submissive heart.

Many times, we do know the importance of preaching the Gospel and Christ’s sovereignty over our lives, but we are not submissive to God’s will. Hence, it is hard for us to rejoice. Paul was able to rejoice in his hardships because he submitted to God and accepted all these as God’s arrangement in his life.

Application

I was touched deeply when I read a testimony of a sister during my youth time. She was none other than Christiana Tsai (1890-1984), the Queen of the Dark Chamber.

Madam Tsai suffered from a kind of sickness that she could not see light. Even the blind could go outdoor for activities, but she had to spend her forty years in the darkness and be tortured by her sickness daily.

Though Madam Tsai lived under pain and inconveniences, she was very willing to receive visitors and testify God with her life. She would usually meet her visitors in a very dark room.

There was only one little bulb prepared for her guests in her dark room. She wore a pair of sunglasses when she talked to them. Her visitors were encouraged by her life that was full of joy when they conversed with her.

Madam Tsai liked to say this to her visitors, “God has never done anything wrong.”

It seemed that she had experienced the truth of such a statement for her to say such words after going through 40 years of sufferings from the sickness that caused her to be able to live in the darkness only. “God has never done anything wrong.”

The center of the life of Madam Tsai was the Gospel and Christ. She came to understand that God allowed her to suffer so that the Gospel could be preached through her. Many came to know the Lord through her, and many loved the Lord more because of her. Therefore, her life was filled with joy.

Now we are already trapped under the pandemic for more than two years. We are caught by surprise. We heard that many had contacted the virus, and some even died. Scientists work day and night to speed up the innovation process of the vaccines during this period, However, the vaccines are not able to give us full immunity for the virus of Covid-19 to be eradicated.

How should the church move forward in the coming year? How should all industries move on in the future? Nobody can give us a definite answer.

The Word of God becomes the lamp onto our path under such a circumstance. We receive guidance and encouragement from Paul’s reaction and exhortation. Today let us entrust all our difficulties and worries to the Lord Jesus. We only need to do two things:

First, rejoice in Christ always! We believe that our God is in control of all things, and He could take care of us. Remember this: God never does anything wrong!

Second, we lay down all our personal gains and losses. We should make serving God, glorifying God, witnessing for God and preaching the Gospel our life’s pursuits and value. By doing so, we would be fearless in the face of Covid-19.

God’s way is not human’s way, and man could never out plan God. The end of man is the beginning of God! Those who are willing to follow the Lord closely shall have the peace and joy that comes from above.

In Philippians 4:4-7, Paul exhorted us that, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”