Monday, October 10, 2011
Open Mind-death
Yesterday was a roller coaster of emotions for me. I received news about the death of my churchmate's father and the death of a former colleague. First news was very heart breaking as I know how this sister in Christ of mine truly trust and praise God. The acceptance wasn't easy but it was comforting to know that his father accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and saviour. Still, the thought of losing someone isn't easy and needs more time for the healing of the heart. The second news was a shocking one, this cool, hippie Indian friend and was a teammate from BarCap was so young and has a lot of potentials. But these things happen for a reason. Death isn't the end at all for them as I believe that an everlasting peace will be with them, same to my sister who left the Malbas clan eight years ago. They are now in a world where no pain will be felt, no problems need to rectify and will embrace the freedom from suffering and sins.
Jesus has prepared a place for us in that kingdom as stated in John 14:1-4 (Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.). There is place that awaits for us after our purpose here on earth so we shouldn't worry at all about our relatives and friends who have passed away. If you will notice, description about the heave is very brief. Infact, if you will read the bible, only few details were given about the real atmosphere of heaven and what happens in the afterlife. Maybe God's reason is to keep us excited and for us to wonder about the mysteries of heaven, it's for us to imagine and it's for us to believe.
In Christianity, the assurance that you will reach that world is that you have received Jesus Christ as personal Lord and saviour and by declaration of faith. We should acknowledge Him will full trust, faith and love (Matthew 10:32-33 "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heave"). Should we be afraid about death? I don't think so. We are assured that He will always be with us thru that journey which reflected in Psalm 23:4 (Eventhough I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me). So, should I say, death isn't bad at all? We have our own opinions and beliefs but whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord in heaven. (Romans 14:8 - If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord).
Jesus has prepared a place for us in that kingdom as stated in John 14:1-4 (Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.). There is place that awaits for us after our purpose here on earth so we shouldn't worry at all about our relatives and friends who have passed away. If you will notice, description about the heave is very brief. Infact, if you will read the bible, only few details were given about the real atmosphere of heaven and what happens in the afterlife. Maybe God's reason is to keep us excited and for us to wonder about the mysteries of heaven, it's for us to imagine and it's for us to believe.
In Christianity, the assurance that you will reach that world is that you have received Jesus Christ as personal Lord and saviour and by declaration of faith. We should acknowledge Him will full trust, faith and love (Matthew 10:32-33 "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heave"). Should we be afraid about death? I don't think so. We are assured that He will always be with us thru that journey which reflected in Psalm 23:4 (Eventhough I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me). So, should I say, death isn't bad at all? We have our own opinions and beliefs but whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord in heaven. (Romans 14:8 - If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord).
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Why Lie?
It's always a question to myself... is it okay if you know that your motives are pure and clean? This issue tackled me again as I recently made an exit to Johor Bahru to assist friends and all the lies in front of the immigration officer is magnificent. Such as, "just here to go shopping", "I'm going back to Philippines afterwards", "nah, I just need 4 more days"... The result of those movie-like lines were good, the exit was a success and a new hope and beginning started to motivate these people... but why lie?
I believe that we are living in this fast pacing world that conditions us to lie because sometimes, it is not easy to say the truth. Admit it, we sometimes fall in committing a lie such as reasons on why we can't come to the office, why we are late in our appointment, selling yourself in an interview, etc. It is always wrong to lie because the bible says so. But the argument on "what if it results to a better situation?", "what if my purpose is just to protect a person?", "what if it will benefit to all?". If you will read John 7:2-10, Jesus initially stated that He won't coming to the festival but in the end still left for the occasion not publicly but secretly. Can we categorize it as a lie? If you read Exodus 20:16 (You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor), it is directly commanded not to give a wrong information or basically to lie.
In Webster's definition, lie is making an untrue statement, briefly just like that. But in my opinion on the Christian definition, lie is something that you said falsely that results into hurt and negative to other people. I believe that God looks to us thru our heart, if the movites are clear, will hurt nobody and can provide us a better future and long time peace. Being honest is not always easy but the most important thing is that we keep our faith strong and unshakable. Honesty is also not just how you speak to others, but also how you speak to yourself. While it is apparent that God requires His people to be honest and truthful in their heart toward God and his people, it is also clear that there can be situations where faithfulness and loyalty to God and His people is more important in the eyes of God than satisfying our own law of self-righteous honesty.
I believe that we are living in this fast pacing world that conditions us to lie because sometimes, it is not easy to say the truth. Admit it, we sometimes fall in committing a lie such as reasons on why we can't come to the office, why we are late in our appointment, selling yourself in an interview, etc. It is always wrong to lie because the bible says so. But the argument on "what if it results to a better situation?", "what if my purpose is just to protect a person?", "what if it will benefit to all?". If you will read John 7:2-10, Jesus initially stated that He won't coming to the festival but in the end still left for the occasion not publicly but secretly. Can we categorize it as a lie? If you read Exodus 20:16 (You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor), it is directly commanded not to give a wrong information or basically to lie.
In Webster's definition, lie is making an untrue statement, briefly just like that. But in my opinion on the Christian definition, lie is something that you said falsely that results into hurt and negative to other people. I believe that God looks to us thru our heart, if the movites are clear, will hurt nobody and can provide us a better future and long time peace. Being honest is not always easy but the most important thing is that we keep our faith strong and unshakable. Honesty is also not just how you speak to others, but also how you speak to yourself. While it is apparent that God requires His people to be honest and truthful in their heart toward God and his people, it is also clear that there can be situations where faithfulness and loyalty to God and His people is more important in the eyes of God than satisfying our own law of self-righteous honesty.
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