Weeks 41 & 42 (09) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

On Saturday 17 October, I officiated the wedding ceremony of our elder son Nic & Wai Wa. Because of work commitment, Kim & I departed from London after work on Thursday night, arriving in Hong Kong on Friday evening, and the wedding was on the next day. I prayed for a good night sleep!

On Saturday morning, Kim & I woke up at around 6am. We decided to stay in bed and prayed in agreement for the whole day’s proceeding. I sensed God’s presence throughout.

The wedding was held at the Canadian International School, Nic's place of work. The ceremony was conducted in a large space with nice high ceiling and a large terrace. It was excellent for the service and for refreshments afterwards. Nic invited the children from his class (Reception 1). Over twenty 3 – 4 years old children turned up with their parents, all dressed up smartly for the occasion. One little blonde haired girl came in a flowery cheungsam (Suzie Wong dress) because the Mum was expecting a “Chinese” wedding! All the children were so cute and well-behaved.

The evening reception was held in Helena May, a women club housed in a colonial building on Garden Road. The venue was cosy and beautiful, a great setting for a western wedding reception. The friends of Nic & Wai Wa put together a very interesting programme, which included a very nice video of Nic & Wai Wa. The food was buffet style, with a quality that rivalled that of a 5 star hotel. The choices of dessert were also wonderful. It was a brilliant idea because we had guests from all kinds of background and culture. Everyone was able to find something to suit one’s taste bud.

Looking back, I can see God’s hand and blessing on the wedding day. I was surprised how alert I was and practically unaffected by jet-lag throughout the whole day. Also, everything went better than expected. All praises and thanksgiving to God!

As parents, Kim & I are absolutely delighted (and relieved) that both our sons are now married and we have 2 beautiful daughters (in law) added to the family. Our younger son Ben took a picture of Kim & I relaxing at home after the wedding and someone commented that it was a picture of 2 contented parents with both their kids finally married. Funny, but true :o).

I am also thankful to God for His amazing provision, and I am not referring to our sons’ wives, although they are God-sent. The fact that God miraculously opened a door for me to work in my civil engineering profession again some 4 years ago allowed me to comfortably finance the 2 weddings!

It is interesting to note that the middle of the Bible is also the shortest chapter in the whole Bible. Yet it encapsulates the essence of what all creatures should do with our lives. “Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love towards us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.” [Ps 117:1,2 NIV] The psalmist (possibly King David) reflects the correct attitude and heartbeat towards our great God through these simple words.

King David also demonstrated his words in action in wanting to build a great house for the Lord. Although God told him that it will be his son Solomon who will build the house, David did his utmost in preparation and supply of materials and labour. “Then David said, "The house of the LORD God is to be here, and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel."……. David said to Solomon: "My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God…… "Now, my son, the LORD be with you, and may you have success and build the house of the LORD your God, as he said you would. May the LORD give you discretion and understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the LORD your God. Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the LORD gave to Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. "I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them. You have many workmen: stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as men skilled in every kind of work in gold and silver, bronze and iron — craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and the LORD be with you." …….Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD." [1 Chron 22:1-19 NIV]

Our devotion and humility before God stem from the fact that it is God who made us. All we have in material possessions, talents, health, career, families etc are from Him. Hence our boasting is in the Lord. “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are, so that no-one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." [1 Cor 1:26-31 NIV]

Only God is wise. His advice and instruction are the best. Therefore “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails……..The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble……..Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.” [Prov 19:20-29]

Amen and amen!

Weeks 39 & 40 (09) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

As we journey towards the end of the Age and look forward to the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, we need to distinguish between the agenda of God and the agenda of man. This will help us to remain focused in God’s work and the advancement of His Kingdom, and to know how we best spend our time and resources.

Today (Friday 9th Oct.) at 1231 BST, NASA crashed two unmanned spacecraft into the Moon in a bid to detect the presence of water-ice. The $79m (£49m) mission is called LCROSS (the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite). NASA scientists were hoping to find water-ice in the impact plume, because a supply of water on the Moon would be a vital resource for future human exploration. LCROSS was to have helped paved the way for US astronauts to return to the Moon by 2020. This search for life or life-supporting elements in the universe besides planet earth is a clear denial of God’s original creation found in the 1st chapter of the Bible. It is also an agenda of man that chooses NOT to believe in God the Creator, not to mention the total waste of money at a time of financial crisis.

This news was eclipsed by the award of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples, for his vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons, for creating a new climate in international politics whereby dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts, for USA playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting, for strengthening democracy and human rights and for giving the people of the world hope for a better future.”

To those who long for world peace, these are noble initiatives indeed!

But to the discerning, it is in reality an agenda of man, paving the way to a period of false peace before the Anti-Christ reveals himself. This is not to infer that President Obama is necessarily the Anti-Christ. He and many other modern history-makers, are merely paving stones for the eventual arrival of the Anti-Christ himself.

Recently I preached on a message about “Faith that sees the Final Difference” based on [Heb. 11:29]. Somehow, unbelievers seem to be better off than believers [Ps 73:2-5] in the present world, until we see the final difference [Ps 73:16-19]. Yes, in the face of struggle, believers can find strength in [Ps 112:1-8 NIV] – “Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered for ever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.”

When we have acquired the faith to see the final difference, we will have the confidence to “sing to the LORD….proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendour and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling-place.….ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name……Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!"…..Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures for ever. Cry out, "Save us, O God our Saviour; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, that we may glory in your praise." [1 Chron 16:23-36 NIV]

Apostle Paul understood that only God is wise. He urged his brothers “to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. ……Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him — to the only wise God be glory for ever through Jesus Christ! Amen. [Rom 16:17-20, 25-27 NIV]

God has also granted King Solomon lots of wisdom, which are recorded in the Book of Proverbs. Little gems include “A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke…..Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice…..The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death…..He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. [Prov 13:1,10,14,20 NIV]

Amen!