Dear...
'Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath, there is no other.'
Deuteronomy 4:39
The tour guide shared the fact that only 4% of the population of the Czech Republic attends church. Understandable given that for more than 4 decades since Soviet forces occupied the land after World War 2, communism was the only known religion.
What about the 'free world?' as the rest of us outside the "Iron curtain" of USSR and it's satellite nations used to term our right to political freedom and worship. The "Bamboo curtain" of the once more repressive China has loosened somewhat and we are witnessing a surge in spirituality as materialism amplifies the sense of emptiness in many thirsting souls.
Sadly attendance in churches in the West are declining, and while it might be better in Asia, truth is how many are believers only in name, and jostling for a place in their hearts are the many idols of the world.
'You shall therefore keep His statutes and His commandments which I commanded you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord your God is giving you for all time.'
Deuteronomy 4:40
After a week on the road in Europe, I finally have proper access to the internet. How disconnected one can become to our wired world when access is not freely available.
What about our depth of communion with God our Heavenly Father?
It is perhaps apt that I finally have the opportunity to pen my reflections as prayerfully imbued by the leading of the Holy Spirit in the lovely setting of a monastery turned into a lodging for weary travelers.
'And Moses said to the people, "Do not fear, for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin."
Exodus 20:20
The wonderful thing about traveling in a foreign land across time zones is that one will spent an inordinate amount of time ensconced in the varied forms of transportation. It does provide ample opportunities for some soul searching. And indeed like the Psalmist who ask God to search his heart and make right what has erred, God will if we are willing.
'...for it is God Who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.'
Philippians 2:13
Like all, much as we will spent a finite time in the same bowels of Mother Earth, the tapestry of our journey in life will be as varied and personal to us as the wonderful unique pattern of each snowflake. Question is, must each of our journey be full of troubles?
'Do all things without complaining and disputing..... Holding fast the Word of life...'
Philippians 2:14, 16
Beautiful pieces of art often have to undergo a tedious process of refinement by the master craftsman. The inanimate block of very hard jade has to be put through the grinder's stone to be shaped into the desired manner. The lovely lacquer boxes you see in my book had to go through a time consuming multi layering of coats of the poisonous lacquer even before the gold dust is sprinkled on it to create wonderful motifs.
'That Your way may be known on earth. Your salvation among all nations.'
Psalm 67:2
God our Father is doing the same for us. To make perfect the sinful us. All of us who call ourselves Christians ought to know that. Communism not just deprived the masses of the truth of God's love, but systematically seek to indoctrinate man's delusions as truth.
In capitalistic societies, the devil uses more persuasion than direct force. Distractions for the heart buffets us in multi varied directions. It is only in times of enforced solitude be it in the travels that one take between destinations, or often then not, in the abyss of our continued troubles that one will consider taking time to ponder upon Who is truly our Maker? Man or God?
'The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.'
Psalm 145:18
As I complete these thoughts, having just returned home, my journey in foreign lands might have ended for now, but till God takes us home, we are all travelers on the rock strewn road of finite life. It will be good to consider the truths of theses two verses in the light of the intensified delusions that humanity is increasingly subjected to, as the times are fast approaching.
'..certainly every man at his best state is vapor.... Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up riches. And he does not know who will gather them.'
Psalm 39:5-6
'Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it...'
Psalm 127:1
The US foreign secretary, Mrs Hilary Clinton recently made a policy announcement, which while new for the States, is already in practice by some of the Western governments. The Obama administration, be it for political expediency or otherwise deem it necessary to place sexual deviancy as a human right worth taking up the cudgels for, even if it means ignoring the right of others to have a different view. This paradox of human deceit is not new, but it does herald the increase in human sinfulness, and year 2012 will be one of contrasting fortunes as the faithful and the faithless will experience in greater clarity the truth of God's promise in Psalm 127:1
God blesses
Eng Hieang
7th Dec 2011
Singapore
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