Parable of the Rich Young Ruler

This parable was taken from Luke 18. The parable starts off with the ruler asking Jesus for the checklist of eternal life. Jesus in reply recites to him the commandments. The ruler then claims to have kept all those commandments. Here comes the interesting bit, Jesus then asks him to sell all he has, give to the poor and follow him.

Was not keeping the commandments enough? Was not the ruler a “good and faithful” Christian by doing so? Those were tough commandments that we all struggle to keep and he has kept them. What does eternal life have to do with wealth? Does that mean if I am abundant in wealth, I will not have eternal life?

Carrying on, the ruler was sorrowful at Jesus’ command, for he was very rich. Why was he sorrowful? He knew what he wanted. He knew how to get there. He had direct instructions from Jesus.

Just to share one of my experiences, and I am quite sure many of you have heard this before, of people wanting a sign from God or to hear the voice of God. You know how they always say, “if I had a sign/hear (from) God, I will definitely change my ways or take my relationship with God more seriously. All I need is a sign”. Well, if only it were that simple.

This ruler heard from Jesus and even had really clear and specific instructions but still he was sorrowful. He knew he could not give up that which he loved, wealth, for Jesus.

Now moving to us, have you ever had or have something that you know you have to give up as it is coming between you and God? Maybe it is a habit, maybe it is a hobby, maybe it is a relationship, maybe it is a material wealth, maybe it is a social status, maybe it is your career?  You know how that idol is affecting your walk with God and you still cannot give it up. You sort of want to give it up and you genuinely try, but time after time you fail again and again. Well, be not defeated.

The parable ends with the disciples asking who then can be saved, which Jesus’ then states the purpose of His death. Jesus replies, “Things which are impossible with men and possible with God’.

Your struggle in getting rid of your idol may seem impossible in your own effort, but what is impossible with men is possible with God. Jesus died on the cross to redeem us. He has cloth us in his righteousness, making us holy and acceptable before God. The fact of the matter is that no matter how hard you try, you will fall back to your idol eventually unless you rely on God. Commit it to Him, take it a day at a time and walk with God. Take the necessary steps to avoid all temptations of falling back to your idol. He will carry you.

“If He carry the weight of the world upon His shoulders, I know my brother that He will carry you”

Don’t make the mistake of the rich young ruler, who was sorrowful, but instead of turning to God, he turned away

- Alex Tan

Images taken from:
http://jonathanmerritt.com/blogs/news/ifjesuswereheretoday.html
http://www.dontwasteyourhomemaking.com/2012/01/exposing-our-idols.html

Remember the Lord

Another year has come and gone so quickly and now its 2012. We are getting older, moving up the ladder of life. Primary school to secondary school to college to uni to work. Things are changing.

The emergence of technology especially social network, political turmoil, economical shifts and ideas of new bills. Our world is changing and moving along at a rather, face pace. It is easy to get caught in the motion of things and just “go with the flow”. Before you know it, life has come and gone and you ask yourself, where has God been?

In Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the Israelites that man does NOT live on bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. True that the bread meant food to them during that time when they were starving in the desert, but let me interpret it slightly differently - since most of us NEVER have to starve, it is things that "keep us going". Such as Facebook, friends, clothes, family, education, money, twitter, partner etc etc etc.

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not like on “bread” alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD Deuteronomy 8:3

God sent them to wander in the desert. Why? They rebelled and sinned against God. They forgot Him. They lived their own lives and complained how they wanted to go back into Egypt. They lost sight of God and His power. God took away their “bread”, causing them to hunger and turn to Him for hope. When they came back to God, He gave them His “bread” instead.

Often when going through life, it becomes easy to lose sight of God. “Yeaaa I'm a Christian, I go to church, but I think I'm going to do my own thing for now”, sounds familiar right? God loves us so much. So much that He sent His son to die on the cross so that you may live. That is how much He loves us. So much so that He would not let us stray away, and thus He would bring us back.

Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you Deuteronomy 8:5

Do not wait until your desert experience takes place and to be broken down only to come back to Him. Live your eternal life NOW. So think about the state of your life now and all that has happened, is God the center of it or are you just wandering in the desert of life?

- Alex Tan

Images taken from:
http://www.mylot.com/w/photokeywords/busy+traffic.aspx?googleimgr=&kw=busy%20traffic
http://www.cv.nrao.edu/course/astr534/Introradastro.html

The Living Word of God

I'm sure somewhat in your Christian faith, you've heard countless times how important it is to do your quiet time - I couldn't agree better! For some, they call it devotion, for others, daily bread. But it all basically means the same. If you don't receive the daily nourishment from God to your spiritual life, how do expect to mature and constantly fix your aim to the hope of the cross?

Hebrews 4:12-

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Do you find yourself dreading or "rolling your eyes" when Bible passages or verses being read aloud during the sharing of others or youth sessions? Well if that's the case, perhaps you might want to have a talk with God our Father!

Don't get this wrong! This is not a "spot-check" or pointing fingers at one another session - It's a self reflection session. At one point of time in my walk with God, it did occur that the Word of God wasn't the most attractive piece of work I want to have my eyes reading on but everything else under the sky seem to be better.

Perhaps, I was afraid to compare of where I stand to where Jesus is. Perhaps I was feeling that life was worth the risk exploring without the guidance of God. Perhaps, I'm not really such a "baddie" so, what's the problem not listening closely to what God has to tell me?

All that was mentioned would had been the case if we're not aiming to impact others and tell them that "Jesus loves you". It would be about during the "bad times" we pray for solutions and every other comfortable time, we just tell God to sit back and relax and probably tell Him - "Why so serious lah?"

Wherever you are, whoever you are, whatever age you're in, God stays true to His Word. Don't seek a "comfortable life", seek an "eternal life"!

Deuteronomy 4:29-

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me.

The power of the Cross did not give us strength to go for shopping, play computer games or hit on a hot chick at your classroom! It gives us this:

Hebrews 10:32-36-

Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Do you feel your mind, heart and soul penetrated yet?

God bless,
daryl 's u n d a e' heng

Images taken from:

http://jonathanblankenship.com/page/2/
http://www.timbarcz.com/blog/CategoryView,category,Software.aspx
http://www.cheerfulhearts.org/faith.html

Embarking on a Journey

“You think too much”

Raising my eyebrows and I thought to myself “Did I?”

It was just another one of those comments my friend made to me when I start talking about life philosophies by so called famous people and how I thought it didn’t make sense back in secondary school.

Here are a few :

“You reap what you sow.”

Do I? I found myself reaping nothing from what I sow. I wasn’t the brightest student back then and I studied really hard, I would even say harder than some of the top class students. What did I reap? A mere pass. What did they reap? Flying colours.

“The destiny of your life is in your hands”

Is it? Then why can’t I tell what’s going to happen tomorrow or the day after? If it’s in my hands, that means I’m in full control from the point of my birth to my death and that would mean I do know exactly what’s going to happen tomorrow, next month and even next year. Only then I can plan with full optimum capacity with all my capabilities and then executing them 100% perfection. That would be in my hands.

“Be positive in everything and anything”

If the person you love most dies, do you honestly think you can be positive about it? Or if you can only think of whether you will survive the next meal because the starvation is so bad in your home ground, can you be positive about it? Maybe you would say be thankful you’re alive still, I think for these people, they rather just die.

And the quotes and life “philosophies” go on but none of them answer life in totality. They only answer to certain individual’s life that matches their unique obstacles and goals in life. Some might ask, “What’s wrong with that?” Well, there’s nothing really “wrong” about it technically. But if you can settle with the fact that your conscience is horribly struck when you’re called selfish then I guess that’s your choice of your life with the principles and philosophies you want to live with.

Because all these philosophies only gives hope and motivation to unique circumstances or events but it ignore the real dire issues in life. And how these people answer to those issues and questions?

“It’s life, face it.”
“Their just unlucky.”
“Not my problem”!
“I never really gave a good thought about it”

What was I holding onto then? Nothing, just like most, I just chose to live life selfishly and my only goal is just to be with a girl I love most. In fact at that point of time, I was also challenging my friends who were Christians but none of them gave me answers that satisfy my curiosity. What was my curiosity that can never be quenched towards Christianity back then?
They mostly revolve around salvation, free will and soon after predestination.

But God so loving, despite of all the insulting, demanding and selfish remarks made towards Him helped me realize this that I only said and asked whatever I asked because I was too proud, selfish and unloved.

My journey embarked when He showed me love this year.

That the John 3:16 that I heard for a million times from so many Christians came to life, in my life.

How?

That I’ve chose to disobey, spat on Him, trampled over the cross and told Him off that I know how to live my life better. I don’t need Him to be telling me what to do with my life and whoever this God is that I don’t feel related to at all no matter how much I “prayed”, read His word and asked.

But that led me to tripped so hard over a sharp rock, fell flat on my face to the solid ground and then I asked myself, did I really know how to live life? I became a burden to everyone, I hurt the person I loved most, I don’t even know where exactly I’m heading with whatever I’m doing. If I really knew how to live my life, then why do I feel this tremendous pain in this huge hole in my heart seeking so hard for redemption? That cries out for repentance so badly? But everytime I try, I just fell even harder?

Then sin made complete sense and so did redemption. That the ultimate manifestation of love which is grace, which is the cross , was made reality in my life. While I was so unworthy of His love, He died for all my sins and then ask me this :

“Would you now finally follow me? Take My hands and I’ll show you eternal life.”

I was so ashamed, so humbled and so loved.

Questions that were meant only for Him to be understood and to be done by His will just didn’t matter to me anymore.

Who am I to question the Almighty God that He doesn’t know what is He doing? If He choose to reveal His mysterious will, He will reveal in due time. If He doesn’t answer them, then so be it. Why should a Father bow down to His child’s demand just because the child demands to know? Even if He did explain, would a child understand?

Up till today, God has truly showed me what life is all about and where do I stand in it and still is showing me step by step each and every day.

(Back to the earlier quotes at the top) I do reap what I sow not necessarily with human expectation but definitely with spiritual nourishment.

The destiny of my life is definitely not in my hands but in an Almightly Loving Hands of God!

There is no positivity and negativity in life, it is what it is. The bigger question is, what are you going to do about it? Or are you going to continue “being” positive and realize you’re in deep denial?

To my friends then who told me back then that I think too much, well can I just say “I think you guys think too little”? ;P
Because life is all it’s worth to all the thinking needed, to figure out whom you are and where do you stand in it. Remember, life, not YOUR life. It makes a huge difference ;)

I wrote this because recently I “re-watched” one of the episodes of samurai-X where Kenshin (main character) vs Soujiro (the younger man). For those who already watched this show, you can ignore this paragraph. Samurai-X is basically based during the samurai era in Japan where killing is very normal. This young man “Soujiro” was taught with the philosophy of “the weak shall perish and the strong shall live” but his philosophy was proven wrong when his conscience struck him real deep inside as he meets Kenshin (because he has taken away a lot of lives himself in order to “survive”). Kenshin was formerly a cruel man slayer but has repented and ever since then, taking the sword to protect and no longer to kill. To Soujiro, that philosophy not only baffled him but helped him realize that there is more meaning to life than just surviving and killing others just to strive as the strongest.



At the end, Soujiro was defeated and as expected, Kenshin refuse to take his life away as how any samurai would have done. Soujiro wanted to follow Kenshin’s way of life but he refuted him that a person’s direction of life is not decided over a battle rather, it is a personal meaning that can only be found as one journeys throughout life.

I’ve already embarked my journey, have you? ;)

Proverbs 8:17

“I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.”

Take care and God bless!

- Gary Heng

Images taken from : -

http://www.panhala.net/Archive/The_Journey.html
http://theappleobserver.com/mostrecentposts/must-have-apps-for-iphone-to-help-fight-poverty/
http://www.freeandgreenliving.com/Contact.htm
http://www.counterfeitchic.com/
http://www.calefactory.org/lit-stationsofthecross.htm
www.sodahead.com