Time To Get Ready

Many are talking about the end of the world.

Many are talking about the Second Coming of Christ.

But no one knows the day or hour.

Not even the angels of heaven.

But only God the Father.

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It will be as the days of Noah before the Flood.

They were eating and drinking.

Marrying and giving in marriage.

Until the day that Noah entered the ark.

They did not know until the flood came and took them all away.

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So will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.

Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.

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We must keep watch.

We don't know what hour our Lord is coming.

We must be ready.

For the Son of Man is coming at an hour we don't expect.

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Let us be like the faithful and wise servant.

Let us be faithful with all that we have been entrusted.

And always ready to wait on Him.

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Many are still talking about the end of the world.

Many are still talking about the Second Coming of Christ.

But it is time to get ready.

And be ready all the time.

Know The Word

The Lord Jesus silenced those who questioned Him by reasoning with them. But no one was able to answer Him back.

To the Pharisees who questioned Him whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, He had this answer for them: "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

Christians are law abiding people. We submit to all government authorities.

Christians are God fearing people. We submit ourselves to the Heavenly Father.

To the Sadducees who questioned Him about the resurrection, He had this answer for them: "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God... God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."

Christianity is alive and vibrant. We read the Bible regularly and know the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. We know the Word of God is alive and powerful, and in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead.

To another who questioned Him about the great commandment in the law, He had this answer for him: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

We are to love God, totally and completely.

And we are to love fellow human beings just as we love ourselves.

Salvation is faith working through love.

When the multitudes heard all these, they were astonished at His teaching.

And from that day on no one dare question Him anymore.

Have faith in God.

Submit to all authorities.

Believe in the power of God unto salvation.

Worship God with undivided hearts and minds, willingly surrendering all to Him.

And love everyone as we love ourselves.

Eternal Life

Many of us are wondering whether there is life after death; many of us seek for eternal life.

A man came to the Lord Jesus and asked Him what good thing he must do to have eternal life.

The Lord Jesus reminded Him of the Ten Commandments: "you shall not murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother." In short, the Lord Jesus was reminding the man to love his neighbor as himself.

The young man claimed that he had kept all these things from his youth. Then he asked Him again about the other things he had to do.

The Lord Jesus asked him to go, sell what he had and give to the poor, and come, follow Him.

The young man went away sorrowful.

It was too much for Him, for he had great possessions.

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Many wants eternal life.

But not many keep the Ten Commandments to the fullest.

And not many can give all they have to the poor.

It is indeed difficult to have eternal life if we want this life so much.

It is easier for the camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

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The disciples of the Lord Jesus had left everything and followed Him.

The Lord Jesus promised them that in the regeneration, when He sits on the throne of His glory, they will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

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The Lord Jesus also promised that everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for His name's sake, shall received a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.

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Many of us want eternal life.

Many of us are willing to forsake everything and follow the Lord Jesus.

We will not be poorer; we will be blessed with hundred fold blessings...

And eternal life.

Take A Break

Everyone of us takes a break after some time.

There is a time to study. Students need to be attentive in the classroom and do their homeworks. Then come holidays, when they can take their well deserved rest.

There is a time to work and a time to play or relax. We can't and shouldn't work nonstop for 24 hours without a break; it is not our role to do that and not healthy either.

A short break, like a day or two, is just great to unwind, refresh, and restore. A longer holiday may be needed to relax and enjoy our favorite past time or leisure activity.

Some take up gardening and grow vegetables; some enjoy planting flowers and tending to them; some prefer fruit trees and other marketable products.

Some enjoy cooking and baking, and eating with family and friends. The ability to taste the difference, to appreciate and enjoy good food, is regarded by many to be very important in life.

Some would go window shopping and buying all they want. It is time to spend, after earning so much and so long.

How about taking a trip to a beach or a local swimming pool?

How about going to a bookstore and wander around finding books about any subject you can think of?

Or just sitting somewhere quiet and alone, doing the thing you want without being disturbed?

I enjoy my holiday and I would take my well deserved rest.

Everyone needs a break. So do I.

I pack up, and go to the beach.

Small But Significant Happenings

It was thundering loud and long. The sky was growing dark and the wind was rising. The trees were shaking and the leaves were flying up in the air. There were not so many traffics and most of the shops and offices were closed. It was a Friday late afternoon when I was there with my family, buying some food before we rushed to the airport to pick our son up.

There were a few modern youngsters playing music really loud at a corner of a supermarket. I saw them selling pirated DVDs, CDs and many other imitation products. Few customers were around slowly choosing what they wanted, though the sound of the thunders were so loud and strong as if they were crashing and tumbling down to earth.

Some city residents were shopping for grocery items, and they brought their family along. Some children were seen happily playing and running, the women busy buying, while the men were at the wheels of their vehicles, smoking, reading and listening to music.

The strong wind blew the leaves, plastic bags, old newspapers and other garbage all over the place. The city air smelled terrible; a mixture of burnt rubber, exhaust fumes, burning trash and frying food. Few men were puffing away on cigarettes.

Right them, I saw a man in his 40s holding his mother's hand and walking passed me. They were without umbrellas, and they were moving fast because of the imminent rain storm.

The man was retarded and a foot taller than his mother. It looked like he was leading the way, walking very determinedly in front. But occasionally, when there was traffic approaching, the old woman would take the lead and pull the son; the son would just smile away happily.

The son was carrying vegetables, and the mother some plastics of goods. I was surprised that they could walk so fast and was at the other side of the road, and the neighboring buildings and housing estate in so short a time.

It must have been 40 years since his mother first brought him around. 40 years? It was a long time. I could see the love and care in her eyes; she really loved her child and would try to lead him and protect him.

She might have been in her mid 60s. Just how long could she take care of her beloved grown up child? Another 20 years? She would be in her 80s and her son 60s. Could they possibly be walking together at that time?

Many things happen around us without us taking much notice. They are there to teach us and give us some important lessons.

I was at the wheel of my car when I noticed all these things happened. Just then, my wife and my children walked very fast to me, carrying bags of things...

The rain came down heavily and the thunder rumbled, washing away many things...

It would be a new beginning again, but always with many small but significant happenings.