Heart to heart #49 What comes after Christmas ?? (25th Dec 2012)

Dear...

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
            Luke 21:34

This is the time of the year when many are spirit filled, unfortunately of the alcoholic type rather than that of the Holy Spirit. But Christmas is more than feasting and material gifting, it is remembrance of God's gift of salvation to all, an exercise that still needs a continued, diligent and determined response from us.

Dec 21st has come and gone, just like the Mayans,  but Mother Gaia remains. The end of the world is not a function of the speculation of men. The world will end when Christ returns, but only God can determine when.

For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
            Luke 21:35-36

Hellbent many are in their near obsession to max out their finite time in this temporal world, but for the Heaven bound, being ready today, should God calls now must be our focus.. Forgiveness of sins and salvation come by the grace of God. But the "clean slate," has to be transformed unto the likeness of Christ, and that requires a preparation of our hearts, that must be responsive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Two separate surveys provided some interesting food for thought.
- "Secularism" is the ranked third as the "religion of choice" globally.
- Singaporeans are not just emotionless, but unhappy.

The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.
                Proverbs 16:33

Should we lay the blame for this sorry state of affairs squarely upon the omnipresent but seemingly impotent  God, Who is not fulfilling His promise of peace and joy? If this thought did cross your mind, you are in good company with the American Jewish Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, who raised this gripe below with the silent God with regards to the recent Newtown massacre.
"How can we take comfort that God is taking care of the children in heaven when he didn't stop the massacre in the first place?"

For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
                Genesis 3:5

Could one excuse God because man chose to exercise their ill gotten free will? In this case, the residents of Newtown voted down a recent proposal to curb high intensity firearms, like those used in the massacre.

The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
                Proverbs 16:31

It is gratifying to know that my powdery hair is a testament of God's glory upon my life. A life that seeks Him with my all, much as I am imperfect. And incidentally, my once light brown hair truly started on the road to powdery white at about the time His Spirit convicted me a decade back in Bangkok.

Are there lessons I have culled from walking closely in His presence that will help us disentangle our perplexity with the seemingly unfathomable Sovereign God? That will allow us to trust in Him, much as there are  times we might have good reasons to be doubtful?

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them
              Luke 2:20

Man looks at the temporal, God is preparing us for eternity.
Our perfect God is master of the Universe, but us the imperfect man deem ourselves a close alternative.
Christmas is a reminder of God's grace, in the face of man's folly. The crucification of Christ on Good Friday and His resurrection on Easter Sunday  is a testimony of God's seemingly "foolishness" being far superior to man's wisdom.

Much as it is difficult for any of us to want to thank God for a difficult experience, the truth is God is Sovereign and He will make a "wrong" more than right. Question is, will we be willing to remain steadfast in His presence, to wait upon Him till His ways are brought to fruition?
And do we truly believe eternity not just matters but is a reality?

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel
            Luke 2:30-32

God blesses

Eng hieang
25th  Dec 2012