Weeks 23 & 24 (10) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

I celebrated Father’s Day last Sunday going hiking with our elder son Nic. Our younger son Ben was away in Canada.

We went to a place called Bride’s Pool, a scenic area in the NE part of Hong Kong, near the China border. Although the total walk was more than 5 hours, I enjoyed every minute of it.

We saw some beautiful scenes of old villages, lovely flowers and a gorgeous waterfall, which I was tempted to jump in for a swim because it was a hot day.

We were also amused when we saw an old banner which says “Should you come across any suspected illegal immigrants please call the police by dialling 999 or 112”. It was displayed in this general area at a time when many Chinese crossed the border trying to come into Hong Kong illegally.

We also had a yummy lunch in a small village close to Sha Tau Kok, an area that straddles the Chinese border. I was involved in the planning and redevelopment of Sha Tau Kok into a new town for the 4000 villagers living there way back in 1986.

I really enjoyed the bonding time with Nic, something I would like to do a lot more with him and Ben. Looking back, I can see that I have not been a model father in their growing up years. Although I provided for the family comfortably, sent the boys to good schools and universities, I did not spent near enough time with them, when they needed my guidance most.

Now I am older and wiser, after knowing Christ, I understand God’s plan for a family, the basic unit of a healthy society. I understand the leadership role of a father, which is a lot more than simply providing for the family. If you ask 10 children today which one they like better, mother or father, I am certain that 9 out of 10 would say mother, sadly!

God holds a father accountable for the well being of his family, the wife and the children. The Bible is very clear in the roles the man should play as a husband and as a father and the wider role of leadership in the work place and society. The world would be a much better place if men understood God’s principles and plans for them.

The failures of fathers playing their correct roles have caused much misery in the world today. The failures have also caused many to misunderstand the heart of God the Father, resulting in their rejection of God’s love and His plan of salvation for mankind. It is up to the Church to live up to God’s ways and principles and to bring about changes in God’s people to rectify the mistakes and to repair the brokenness in families and societies.

It is important for man to have this understanding. “For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others. Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves. But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish. This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them. The upright will rule over them in the morning; their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions. But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself. Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him. Though while he lived he counted himself blessed — and men praise you when you prosper — he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light [of life]. A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish. [Ps 49:10-20 NIV]

The question is "Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest? One man dies in full vigor, completely secure and at ease, his body well nourished, his bones rich with marrow. Another man dies in bitterness of soul, never having enjoyed anything good. Side by side they lie in the dust, and worms cover them both.……” [Job 21:22-34 NIV]

For “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. This is the one who came by water and blood-Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. [1 John 5:1-12 NIV]

This is the advice of a wise father to his son. “Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path. Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding. The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him. May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice!” [Prov 23:19-35 NIV]

Amen & amen.

Weeks 21 & 22 (10) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

Israel and the Middle East will no doubt take centre stage as we enter the final chapter of the history of mankind in the years ahead.

On Monday 31st May, Israel caused an international furore when its commandos shot dead 9 protestors on a Turkish ship that was bound with humanitarian supplies for Gaza, which Israel has been blockading. The commandos boarded the ship before dawn in an effort to prevent it from reaching Gaza but opened fire when some on board tried to repel them with sticks and, according to the Israelis, knives. The Israelis impounded 6 ships in all and detained 600 campaigners with a view to deportation. Most governments deplored Israel’s actions but America was more hesitant, persuading the UN Security Council not to lay the blame exclusively on Israel.

For years, many in the international community have been complicit in a policy that aimed at isolating Gaza in the hope of weakening Hamas, a radical Islamic organisation who are Israelis phobic. But the policy turns out to strengthen Hamas in its grip over the strip that measures 10kmx40km. No doubt the conflict will continue and no one can predict the future.

The nation of Israel has a special place in the Kingdom of God. In the Old Testament, we see how God deliver the Israelites from slavery and turned her into a proud nation who worship God. But along the way many rebel against God, unknowingly crucified the Messiah and are still waiting for the Messiah to come. The Bible says that they are the last to be saved when the full number of the Gentiles has come in [Rom 11:25-26].

I saw a recent e-mail calling to pray for Israel. Yes, it is the right thing to do. Let us pray for a softening of heart. Let us pray for the knowledge of the Lord to be made known to the Israelis. It will bless God’s heart!

Let the Israelis one day say that “we have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago. With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our fathers; you crushed the peoples and made our fathers flourish. It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.” [Ps 44:1-8 NIV]

Indeed, "What is man, that he could be pure, or one born of woman, that he could be righteous? If God places no trust in his holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes, how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks up evil like water!” [Job 15:2-16 NIV] Man is but a filthy rag without God’s grace. His forgiveness allows us to receive the gift of righteousness.

But His grace will not wait forever. Although “the Lord is ……patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.” [2 Peter 3:9-18 NIV ]

The sad thing is “a fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes disgrace……Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out. From the fruit of his mouth a man's stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. [Prov 18:2-3,9,12-15,20,21 NIV]

Amen & amen.