We all love to chill out in the happening places in town on
a Friday night. But giving it a miss sometimes has its advantages.
At a wake service, I shared with the audience that we have made a wise choice by foregoing “Friday night fever” for “it is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart” (Ecclesiastes 7:2).
It’s
strange that this week I have had the opportunity to attend two such services. I noticed it was the same
guy from the same funeral parlour who served food at both these services. What
is God trying to tell me? Have I been insensitive to His leading, living only for
myself that He has to shout that I may hear?
The
busyness and perplexities of life sometimes make us forget that we are here on
earth only for a finite period. Once in a while as we gaze at a lifeless
body within a casket, we get a much-needed reminder of our mortality.
We need such
wake up calls on and off so that we learn how to number our days and gain a
heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12).
“All flesh is like grass and all its glory
like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls but the word
of the Lord remains forever” (1 Peter 1: 24-25).
Though we
will never know beforehand when our earthly sojourn is over, Christians are the most blessed
people on earth for we have hope even amid grief.
We can rest
in God's promises of eternal life and comfort during the last lap of life:
- Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25).
- “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
So, while
we still have breath, let us continually praise God for His abundant blessings.
Let us
serve Him, utilising all the gifts, talents and resources that He has entrusted
us with.
Let us echo
the wisdom of the apostle Paul: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is
gain” (Philippians 1:21).
Let us
live intentionally and circumspectly:
“Look
carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making
the best use of the time, because the days
are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will
of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled
with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:15-18).
For more:
For more:
SETTING OUR HOUSE IN ORDER
How many of us prepare ourselves to meet our Maker?
http://bit.ly/1iiRhQT
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AWAKENED
by ANDREW LIM KEE BOON (unedited):
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AWAKENED
by ANDREW LIM KEE BOON (unedited):
It
seemed like I was waking up to just another boring Saturday in 2001.
As I stumbled out of my bed, my eyes were searching for the mobile phone.
After getting that Nokia 3310 into my hands,
As I stumbled out of my bed, my eyes were searching for the mobile phone.
After getting that Nokia 3310 into my hands,
I
noticed that there were some unread messages.
One
of those text messages quaked my mind.
A
leader from the Youth Fellowship informed me that Abigail had passed away and
that there will be a wake service.
I
was at the age of 15 when I received the invitation on a Saturday morning to
attend a Sunday School classmate’s wake service.
It
wasn’t just the passing away of yet another member of the usual Sunday
congregation.
On
Sundays, my parents made it a religious obligation to attend the services of
a Bible-Presbyterian institution at Marsiling, in Singapore.
The religious system there involved encouraging teens to attend the Sunday School which had lessons for children of all ages to learn about the Scriptures.
a Bible-Presbyterian institution at Marsiling, in Singapore.
The religious system there involved encouraging teens to attend the Sunday School which had lessons for children of all ages to learn about the Scriptures.
The
class for 15-year-olds
consisted of
Abigail, Shaun, Timothy, Jonathan, Daniel, and me.
Some of these students had shared the same classes as me, since our days in primary schools. We had passionate and committed teachers who were diligently presenting weekly lessons to us in creative and interactive ways. Frequently, the lessons provided us with questions that tested our knowledge of the Scriptures.
Abigail, Shaun, Timothy, Jonathan, Daniel, and me.
Some of these students had shared the same classes as me, since our days in primary schools. We had passionate and committed teachers who were diligently presenting weekly lessons to us in creative and interactive ways. Frequently, the lessons provided us with questions that tested our knowledge of the Scriptures.
There
was one student who almost always had the answers to those questions.
Abigail.
She
is the daughter of one of the church’s elders.
She
was studying in an exclusive girls’ school for students who have exceptional
academic performances.
She
has piano skills.
She
is the eldest sibling to her two younger brothers.
She
was born with heart complications.
The
medical operations failed. She passed away at the age of 15.
Numerous
questions flooded my mind. One of those questions altered my perceptions about
what it means for you and me to be here on this planet.
What
is “Time”?
At
first, the conclusion was, “Time is Life. Life is Time.”
Since
that season of my youth, I have continued to ask many more questions.
Those
questions brought me into many adventures.
By
the age of 19, I had visited over 30 different congregations of Believers to
observe and learn from pastors, elders and small-group leaders;
in Singapore and Malaysia.
in Singapore and Malaysia.
Then,
marking the milestone of a quarter-century, our Designer gave my friends and I
an opportunity to initiate manhood courses with a drug-rehab in
Petaling Jaya. For two years, four of us coordinated lessons about roles and responsibilities of sons, husbands and fathers. With collaborative assistance from the centre’s senior pastor and his committee, we had on average 25 men meeting with us weekly, at 6 o’clock, for over 36 morning sessions.
Petaling Jaya. For two years, four of us coordinated lessons about roles and responsibilities of sons, husbands and fathers. With collaborative assistance from the centre’s senior pastor and his committee, we had on average 25 men meeting with us weekly, at 6 o’clock, for over 36 morning sessions.
Serving
with many other ministry platforms and sabbatical venues, there
have been priceless blessings of
shalom, euphoria, and
relationships
as
I encountered criminals, gamblers, alcoholics, refugees, orphans and addicts.
Money
means nothing to me. Time isn’t money.
At
this moment of writing in 2013, I have 3 more years to reach my 3rd
decade
of experiencing humanity with you.
We
have limited physical lifespans as people who are now sharing this planet.
That
means you and I are writing our stories.
Every
great story
starts
to
conclude.
Our
birthdays are integrated with wake services.
Your
narrative has
commenced.
My
documentary has
begun.
begun.
Will
we finish our stories well?
With
greater coherence
now
I believe
my
Time is my Lifespan.
My
Designer has given
Lifespan
for
me to write collaborative stories with Him.
Clarity
comes from
interactions
with our Designer.
May
we be awakened before our wake services.
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