"And now, brethren, I commend
you to God, and to the word of his grace,
which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities,
and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things,
how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all."
which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities,
and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things,
how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all."
--
Excerpt from the Scripture Reference
These days are the last days!
Not that I know of, when would be the Lord Jesus Christ's return, but as
revealed unto His Word, "these times are the last days". But herein,
daily or weekly, having seen and heard of many things of the church, grieves me
greatly. How that the picture and kind of Christianity or the church of God,
purchased by His own blood (v. 28), at the time of the Apostles have greatly
diminished and have now become vain or worthless. I do not say that
Christianity or the true church of the Lord Jesus Christ is gone, it's just
that, it is a rare thing to find the kind of believers of the Lord Jesus Christ
from which they are likened to a star that shines even in the midst of
darkness, where everyone sees the light, whether Jews or Gentiles, or whether
they believe in Christ or not.
These are the heartbreaking
reality of Christianity... And the truth is? Christians can't do anything about
it! Why? Because it's written already in His Word. How that even in the midst
of the church or His people, wolves wearing sheep's clothing or deceivers or
false teachers shall come driving others away from Christ and drawing the
people towards themselves... Many hunger of power, position and possession will
come to stand in the midst of the congregation drawing others towards their own
selfish ambitions (v. 30). And the sad thing is, they continue to prosper here
on earth, while many continue to suffer and die not knowing Jesus Christ as
their Lord and Savior.
Having been with my father in
the ministry for almost 3 years now, I've seen and heard realities of the what
the Word of God continues to declare and teach. One of which greatly amazes me
but pricks my heart, is the reality of what Jesus have taught with the 4 kinds
of soil or ground, which depicts the true status of man's heart (Mark 4, Matt.
13). The saddest reality of it is that, there would be so called professing followers
of Christ, yet they are not. Matthew 7:21-23 affirms it! True, I cannot judge
the heart of man whether they are true believers of Christ or not, but the
evidences of Faith in Christ is of which we could see (Matt. 7:20). And
usually, "churches" these days having this kind of heart,
"deceived heart", becomes a great hindrance for the church to grow.
Let us just look in a simple illustration of the plants we sow, if a weed grows
nearby the plants we sowed, would the plant grow? I don't think so. If we are the farmer, we would be taking out the weeds. But that is not the work of
the Christian! That is the work of our Lord, for He is the Farmer.
Nevertheless, we should continue to pray hard and indeed pray hard and plead to
the Master.
Other heartbreaking realities
of today, is the lack of passion for the lost souls. Sometimes I wonder, who
amongst our leaders or pastors of today have the kind of character that of the
Apostle Paul? What I'm sure of, they are not many. They are rare, few and
numbered. If it were countless, I'm sure Christianity will not be as dull or as
likened today as "routine" Christianity. Though of course, I do not
say that this pictures the general status or condition of the whole world,
because I cannot say such over the kinds of the reality which we could see in
places of which Christians are oppressed, killed or murdered, just for the sake
of their Faith in Christ. Theirs are such a heartbreaking truth and should be
eye-opener to those of us who freely roam and declare "we are Christians!"
Too often my heart breaks
hearing or seeing the kind of situations of Christians on other places where
Christianity is not open. Yet in places where we are free, how is it that we
don't have so much initiation or passion to do our best in doing ministry or
service for our Lord and Master? True, this question is not just for those who
read but also a question towards me. It's a question we all need to answer. As for me, I greatly
rejoice for every opportunity given, in taking part of sharing His Word and the gospel of Christ Jesus. I may not be like my father
who's gift is to evangelize, but I can always assist in every help I could
give, such are opportunities no enough money or riches could equate to. Of
course, I do not say that giving in terms of finances is not good. I'm simply saying that opportunities
given to serve in terms of laying your life for God is such an honor and worth
taking for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Such is what apostle Paul has
been mentioning as well in his farewell speech.
But the discouraging realities
of today, so few leaders, teachers, pastors seem to have the kind of heart. So
few! How that selfishness runs so easily. Apostle Paul's advantage perhaps was
that he had nothing to lose. He gave everything, he gave his whole life.
Whereas, we? We are so connected, bound in this physical life. We have a
family, friends and people to mind. We have to work for our financial needs and
others. This is the picture of this era. Where God seem to have no more place.
And when we make time and place for Him, usually it's a dragging picture. The
heart for it is gone.
Yet still, many are lost! Many
have not heard the gospel of Christ, His Word! One of which we reach out is the
place we call "Cubabeng". It's a 2-hour drive away from home. And my
father goes there only once a month. It's a great encouragement and joy hearing
that the people in that place, even kids, are very eager to learn of the Word
of God... Very eager... and that's one sad thing about it. How that we can't fully
take advantage of that? Because we simply depend on the few? Where are those
helping hand? For a truth, these are attacking questions, but I think it's one
thing needed these days to wake up the church, the Christians. What are we
indeed living for? for ourselves? for our love ones? We Christians are bought
with a price! And that price was through the blood of Christ! We are no longer
of our own. This understanding or thought or principle seem to have been lost
in the minds and heart of those called Christians. At some point, many may be
angry at me writing these things, nevertheless, I place myself on the side of
which these questions are also given. These questions, even in the changes of
time shouldn't change just because many things change. Because Christ's suffering
& death and the reason of being through it never changed. He came to seek
and to save that which was lost! That reason never changed. Therefore if we
lose focus, lose ground of these things on which we're supposed to stand for, "What
profits or reason for us being so called Christians?" Why call ourselves the followers of Christ, when
we do not follow Him?
There are many heartbreaking realities of Christianity
today, but may this simple reminders challenge us or even wake us up if we are "sleeping
Christians" in doing the will of our Father in Heaven.
"And they all wept sore, and
fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words
which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him
unto the ship."
--
Excerpt from the Scripture Reference