Dear....
And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”
Acts 21:14
Apostle Paul was forewarned in all clarity to avoid Jerusalem, for there he will be incarcerated.
But he chose to go where God sent him.
With the unexpected death of a dear brother in Christ, I do feel perplexed. It's hard to accept that the chap that you meet regularly is now gone, much as we know he is now with our Lord, and we will meet again in a much better place.
Did our good Lord prepare my late brother before He took him home?
Was he given time to sort out his earthly affairs, and have had time with his loved ones?
Was he ready to meet God our Maker?
Why take him home now when there is still plenty that God could use him in His service on earth?
What is it like now that one's soul has left our earthly body?
I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
Philippians 3:23-25
I am a trifle troubled. Unlike Apostle Paul, I don't feel ready to leave this world, to leave my loved ones. God did impress upon my heart "75" when His Spirit ministered to my fears upon discovering the blockage in my main artery. Can I now take age 75 as my timeline or will our good Lord change His mind?
“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
Job 42:2-3
Like Job, I will trust in our Lord with my all, and not lean on my own understanding.
What truly matters is not whether or when He takes us home. But rather what is the state of my heart in my relationship with our Abba Father? Have I truly seek Him always, rest and abide in His presence and allow His Spirit to not just reside in me, but work upon and through me?
Have I lived today well His way and not mine?
As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he said to the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe
Mark 5:34
God blesses
Eng Hieang
15 June 2016
An afterthought
For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 9:4-6
As I look upon the deceased my dear brother in Christ, I cannot help but tear on the loss of a dear friend. Indeed imperfect as we all are, he in his own way has seek the Lord more than most, and has been a willing lamp for His Light.
His task is over. But for us the still breathing, live the moment well while our Lord allows.
A wake up call for many, for the day will come when you can no longer be awoken, for God our Maker has ordained it.
