Love in a World of Anger

We are living in an increasingly angry world. Wars are raging from distant lands to the innards of homes. Violence and vitriol are being acted in more frequent insolence and spurted in boisterous words with greater intensity, and societies in general are becoming more and more desensitized to them. Just look at some of the popular contemporary entertainments through the venues of tv/phone screens and paperbacks – the channels, games, and pages are brimming with hate, revenge, lust for blood, anger, etc. Look at the plethora of newspapers or television news. Look around. The domino effect seems to have no end; anger begets more anger. And all generations – not sparing the young ones – are exposed to them.

Wherever you are in the world, even in the confines of isolation, this evil spirit of anger will accost you, or is already doing so. There is an invisible enemy that seeks to steal, kill, and destroy (Jn 10:10). And there is no other hope in the world apart from Jesus, the Prince of Peace according to God’s Word (Isa 9:6).

It is fascinating to read that at the end of His earthly ministry, when Jesus was betrayed and arrested, one of his disciples came to His defense and cut off the ear of one of the captors. Immediately this disciple (Peter) was rebuked by Jesus, saying, “No more of this! Put your sword back, for all who draw the sword will die by it.” He then touched the man’s ear and healed him. (Mt 26:50-56, Mk 14:44-50, Lk 22:47-53, Jn 18:7-11) This touch of love, peace, and hope continues to work in the lives of many angry men and women today. I’ve witnessed and read so many personal stories and societal histories of how only the power of God’s justice & love exposes the evil of the human heart, washes away the sins of those who ask Him to be their Savior and Lord, and transforms angry & despondent individuals and groups to being the most loving & caring.

Indeed some will say injustices have been or are being committed in the name of Jesus (e.g. Inquisition, Crusades, etc.), but that is clearly not what Jesus exemplified and taught for His followers to do. We cannot judge a philosophy (e.g. Christianity) by its abuse or misuse. (I hope to blog on this some other time). But rather Jesus always showed and spoke truth and love! He uses the sword of truth and not of violence. And through His eye-opening, life-changing Word myriads have been transformed from angry introverts, vulgar talkers, and violent crooks into ambassadors of unquenchable love. Nothing else can arrest that anger but Jesus Christ alone!

Anger points to more deep-seated issues within the human heart, primarily our very own need of God’s forgiveness. When Jesus Himself was arrested, mocked, brutalized, and crucified by the angry world, and while nailed at the cross He said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.“ Do you know what you are doing? God has poured out His love for mankind through the cross (Jn 3:16-21), and only by His mercy & grace can we break free from all bondage and live in peace and love – with God and with the world.

Recommended Books:

Transformed Lives (Thuvan Dang Nguyen)

Tortured for Christ (Richard Wurmbrand)

Secret Believers (Brother Andrew & Al Janssen)

I Am Second (Doug Bender & Dave Sterrett)

Twice Freed (Patricia John)

The list is inexhaustible … but I can lend some of mine if you’re interested.

Friend, I encourage you to get a Bible and start reading from the book of John, and on and on. Read it with an open heart, seek God, and it will surely transform you inside-out.

Share to all that Jesus is the only answer.

 

Before You Stand Again

Men occasionally stumble over the truth (sometimes really hard and painful!), but most would pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened. This failure (or maybe pride) to recognize the fall and to realize the fault is the doom that darts them to a much worse stumbling. It is inevitable, and the backlash is more reprehensible. Nobody wants that, aside from the devil.

I’m not saying that the antidote would be to dwell in the ugliness of the past. By all means forget the past, but don’t forget what the ugly looks like! And on the way back up to your feet, understand what led you to defeat. For no amount of sobbing tears or fleeting words promises that the lesson has been learned. None!! But only time will tell of the fruits of the heart – be it of repentance or of defiance/arrogance/ignorance.

Whether 1 week or 2 months or 3 years ago – learn from [personal] history. NO EXCUSES. Get the message out of the aged mess. Please don’t repeat the mistakes of the past.

Good Evidence vs Unbelief

 

If There is Such Good Evidence for God, Then Why Don’t More People Believe?

by Ronnie Littleton

 

Surgeon General’s Warning: Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, and May Complicate Pregnancy. These alarming words are rarely disputed by normal thinking people. The evidence overwhelmingly proves that smoking leads to cancer and other illnesses. Even cigarette makers acknowledge this. Still, people choose to smoke. They treat the warnings like hoax or are blinded to the facts that they are addicted to nicotine. Some even smoke because they think it makes them look cool. They choose popularity over evidence.

The evidence for God’s existence is strong as well. The cosmological argument tells us that the universe began to exist and must have a cause. The moral argument teaches that there must be a moral Law Giver, or else there would be no moral standards. The teleological argument informs us that the finely tuned universe shows that there is a Designer. Other arguments pose equally convincing evidences for God. So the question remains: Why don’t more people believe?

The basic cause of all unbelief is a sinful heart. The Bible says we are all dead in our trespasses and sins before we come to faith in Christ (Eph 2:1). This means unbelief is our native condition. Belief goes against the grain and happens only when God makes us alive through faith (Eph 2:5). The question remains, with so much evidence for faith, why do so many people remain in unbelief?

One reason may be ignorance of the evidence. This is why it is important for Christians to study the evidence and be prepared to present it in a logical, gracious way. The Bible commands us to “always be ready to give a defense” (1 Pt 3:15) as you “go … and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19).

What about those who have heard the evidence but still don’t believe? Are they somehow smarter than believers, able to see holes in our faith? NOT AT ALL. When told about the gospel, some people realize that a life given to Christ will result in sacrifice and serving others. The idea that they have to give up their sin compels them to reject God no matter how good the evidence is. Still others say they reject God because they’ve seen Christians act sinfully. This amounts to using the sins of others to justify your own sins and unbelief.

Belief is a two-sided coin: on one side is the evidence; the other side is the will. Just as some people continue to smoke despite the evidence, some refuse to believe in God even when they know the evidence. Others remain skeptical, because they are steeped in a worldview that does not allow them to evaluate the evidence properly.

God gives us the freedom to choose or reject Him. It is important for Christians to live lives devoted to the truth of the gospel so unbelievers can see Christ in us. Also, we must study to know the most effective answers for the hope that is in us. There will always be unbelief in the world. Live in such a way that you can be used to overcome unbelief.

Curious or Not, Here the Truth Comes

Before Mt. Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain??

…

…

Some may say Nanga Parbat or Annapurna, or just keep on thinking ‘til the answer is revealed, which is ……………………….. Mt. Everest. Surprise surprise! Then one may punt, ‘It just wasn’t discovered yet.’

Life, in the same way, is a journey full of discoveries. But we can’t ignore the fact that it’s a rough road, because while the truth is beautiful, it has a formidable enemy adequate of counterfeit beauty – Lies. Yet the truth remains true – 100% of it.

To a person who’d been born blind, he may not accept what the seeing majority vigorously say – like the truth of the lavish green trees and natural blue skies, and many more – but though he may not believe, the truth remains that birds cherish the trees and the skies. He himself may even feel it deep within his heart. But genuinely speaking, it will require a miracle for that blind person to believe, whether he sees or not.

There are so many truths we have yet to discover, but we must abstain from the rampant illusion that keeps us from them. What are these illusions that keep us, limitations that bind us, lies that enslave us, great darkness that blind us from receiving the truth, just like the blind person I mentioned earlier??

HONESTLY, this question just came out from nowhere, so it took me some time before I had my answer. TRUTH is never original … it is discovered, not invented. I could have concocted another seemingly good answer using my brain, but it will not be the truth. I had to search myself, deep within my heart, and there the answer was found.

As one of my favorite songs says, “The world lies in darkness, lost in their sin, and they don’t even know the danger they’re in.”

SIN.

Such an ominous word turns us off. We don’t want to talk about it (or them), which is in itself an act of sin where we decide we don’t want to know. But we’ve gone too far! Let’s take heed of the wise saying, “Face the truth now so you don’t suffer the consequence(s) later.” Let’s not undermine the reality that there are dreadful consequences when we go against the truth, such as ignoring the laws of gravity and jumping off from a building. Only a fool will reject the truth!

Sin is a poison, an addiction, a prison. It is a curse, a transgression. It is iniquity, impurity, malignity, enmity. It is misbehavior, whether by commission or omission. It is REBELLION. To what? Or to who?

I cannot tell you of truth without leading you to the one where all truths converge, 100%, absolute … GOD.

Remember the blind person? That’s you and me. And God is the lavish green trees, the bluish heavenly skies, and much more than that. But because we are consumed by darkness, by our sins, we cannot see. And our blindness is leading us off the cliff, towards its horrible and ultimate consequence – death! Yeah, they say the moment you were born, you start dying. It’s not the physical death I’m talking about, but the spiritual death. The word of God says, “For the wages of sin is death, …” and “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Then we’re all doomed! If that’s the truth, then the truth is such bad news!? We’re so used to bad news, but are we just going to give up, especially that it’s a matter of eternity. ETERNITY!

Though we are in a losing end, an impossible situation, there is good news. God made a way. The word of God says, “… but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” and “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but everlasting life.”

The truth never contradicts itself. There is only the truth, and the absence of the truth. Life and death. Light and darkness. Hot and cold. Heaven and Hell. God and sin.

God is a God of justice^[1], and we can say no otherwise because we’re unworthy. And because He is just, there is perdition to those who go against Him. But God is also a God of love^[2], and in believing and accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior from all our sins, and committing our lives to follow Him, we can stand before Him in confidence that we are forgiven and loved. And because He is loving, there is paradise to those who truly go with Him.

Friend, if you’ve gone this far, this message is not accidentally or incidentally for you. It is for you. That’s the truth I want to share, … the absolute truth that God is reaching out to you right now because He loves you so much. We are inherently curious (another word for seeking and longing) for the truth, and you’ve only found the beginning, just as I had. Join me on the way to discovering the top … of Mt. Everest.

God said: “Call to me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.”

Pray with me this prayer, ”Search me, Oh God, and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See and reveal to me if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

You’re not alone now. We’re altogether, hand-and-hand and heart-to-heart, and the Lord is our shepherd. Don’t hesitate to reach me (in any way), or any of your beloved brothers and sisters in Jesus. We can help each other. 🙂

Share the truth of God, for the knowledge of the truth shall set all people free.

A Colorful Reminder

The Rainbow Speaks of God’s Promises, Not of Man’s Pride

 

DO NOT lose heart, brothers and sisters. Day after day, we see our society redo the lifestyles back in the days of Noah, likewise of Sodom and Gomorrah, when people are doing all acts of abomination to God due to man’s corrupted minds.

1. Our wickedness
“The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” (Genesis 6:5)

And we all know that judgement followed. Great waters flooded the earth in Noah’s time. Fire rain down from heaven in Sodom and Gomorrah, turning everything into salt. But finally, destroying sin. But before all these …

2. God’s mercy
“Mercy triumphs over judgement.” (James 2:13)

God is sovereign. He is absolute. In a flick of a second, He can say “I’m done with humanity.” But He has not destroyed us so, not because He is not all-powerful, but because it is not His nature. LOVE is God’s character, and that’s why He sent His only son, Jesus, to be the message of redemption from our wickedness — our sins. And the same message needs to be shared today, but now through me and you.

3. We are to stand in the gap
“I [God] looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, …” (Ezekiel 22:30)

In the brink of destruction, God has specifically birthed/born YOU in this GENERATION, for the purpose of humanity’s salvation.

4. We are to be watchmen
“When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword (destruction) coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own head, … BUT if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.” (Ezekiel 33:2-6)

Seeing blind-folded people walking to the edge of a cliff, forever into the abyss and burning lake of despair and torment, we are to warn them. Don’t think about the negative things they’ll say. Don’t just do nothing. And, don’t hate them for being blind-folded. These are all Satan’s doing, and we’ve been there, too. But a watchman reached out to us, too.

5. Be strong, … be armed
“Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, … ” (Acts 6:10-17)

We cannot stand on our own strength, and there is nothing firm in this world. We need to stand in God, in His word, in His purpose for your life. Everything will be shaken, but …

6. God’s words will remain
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)

Be founded in God’s word. It is our spiritual weapon, for we wrestle not in the things we see with our natural eyes, but with our spiritual.

7. God’s words are true
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,…” (2 Timothy 3:16)

People will always have a sense of conviction — of conscience — especially when wrong is done, because a part of God is breathing in them. And the word of God speaks the truth of man’s fall. But again, it also speaks of His nature that is merciful … loving. However, we also find it true that open rebuke is better than secret love.

8. We are to speak God’s word
Let us not match the world’s darkness with our silence. God is on our side, and He is calling us to proclaim His truth. The world’s actions have paved a way for destruction, and many will be forever lost if, first we don’t align ourselves with God’s calling in our individual life, and second we don’t live and speak the truth of His word. There will be suffering and scrutiny and hatred and persecution towards us when we do so, but also remember …

9. We are blessed
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:11)

LASTLY, I shared a lot from the Bible, because it says in Isaiah 55:10-11 —
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is MY WORD that goes out from my mouth: It will NOT return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

Rain is coming, and the door of the ark is open, just like in the days of Noah. But it will close very soon! So board now, and spread the news. God be with you!

Truth or Consequence, #1

A break time. A circle of friends. A spinning bottle. And a game of Truth or Consequence, a.k.a Truth or Dare.

Growing up in a well-off, smartphone-and-tablet-free environment, I enjoyed and spent lots of my adolescent days among friends. Some of our best times took place in conducive circles, carefully watching a spinning bottle, hoping that it stops with its edge not pointing at us. Arrgg! OK, to be honest, we all hoped in some occasions that the bottle points to us, . . . or to our crush. Then one either chooses “consequence” for a boring task to accomplish, or “truth” which leads to a heart-throbbing moment of truth. It’s make-or-break time. Feel me, homie? And more often, according to research (just kidding), we select the “truth” option and are asked with the inevitable and daunting question: “WHO IS YOUR CRUSH?”

With your hands clasped together, another person squeezes them in increasing magnitude. Adrenaline rushes along with pain. You take a quick, furtive glance to your crush and then back to the squeezer. Your eyes squint in discomfort, while your mind processes if you should spit out the truth. You realize, “The truth shall set you free.” Your mouth let go of the name as the culprit let go of your hands. You experience it. The truth had certainly set you free, because you had just admitted your affection towards your crush, before trustworthy friends. Oh what a liberating feeling! And if you’re lucky, your emotion is repayed/reciprocated, as the two of you live happily ever after.

In recollection of my young memories, I know I enjoyed playing this game. But today, as I reminisce the good times it brought forth to my life, an epiphany — a valuable revelation — dawns at me. I realize Truth or Consequence is not just a GAME anymore, it’s a REALITY.

KNOW THE TRUTH, or SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCE.

We used to say that the truth shall set us free. But the truth, in itself, cannot set us free. Imagine a precinct cell holding a prisoner captive. Furthermore, imagine this prisoner having in his pocket the key to unlock his cell. The key is the secret to his own liberty, but trapped in the contorted space of the oblivious prisoner’s pocket, it cannot set him free. The prisoner has to know the existence of the key. Point being, “Only the truth that we know can set us free.”

Many of us are just like this prisoner, trapped in the confines of this suffocating world. Some have already lost all hope, but deep inside we are all yearning for freedom, whether we admit it or not. We are just not looking in our own pockets, where the knowledge of the truth rests. Instead we dwell in the delusions, deceptions, and distractions available to us inside this prison cell. Money. Fame. Relationships. All other temporal things. Too many people don’t know or don’t want to know what the truth is anymore. We don’t stand for something, so we fall for anything! One day all these temporal things will rust and gather dust. Darkness and emptiness will perpetually fill this prison, and if we do not escape now, it might be too late, and the consequence is inevitable and dreadful, like HELL.

Indeed, the truth can be very inconvenient because for a long time our minds had been conditioned to lies. But there’s no other way out. To escape prison, one must first accept that he is, in fact, in prison. We need the key — the truth. Otherwise, we are helpless and are bound to the insufferable consequence of eternal damnation. What is the consequence? DEATH. (Rom. 6:23) Who is the truth? JESUS. (John 14:6) Your turn … TRUTH or CONSEQUENCE??

If you walk against the Immovable Rock which is the Truth, I have no doubt that you will stumble. Otherwise, a lifetime of slavery will shift into the past tense.

Of course, a significant part of the truth is TRUE LOVE (< – – – Click). Furthermore, knowing the truth is just the initial step. We must also “LIVE and LOVE the TRUTH.” Next blog, hopefully. 🙂