Sunday, January 29, 2006

on faith of being a child of God...


argh, haven't been writing as much these days. First was caught up in the video madness of following "Jewel in the Palace"';  then now am caught up the Chinese New Year festivities & watching all kinds of crazy videos at Youtube (www.youtube.com) . Still, had to write something down about Sunday's sermon. Personal take la.


Pastor Kai was speaking last Sunday to us about spiritual training; how we must recognize the necessity of it, reap the promise of it and resolve to get into spiritual training.  One of the points he brought up was on the novel "the Da Vinci code". The book has already caused quite an uproar when it first came out a couple of years back, with the claims it make about Jesus being a man only, is mortal, had a wife and had children etc etc. I read the book quite some time ago, and can only remember snatches of it. To me it was a very good piece of fiction, expertly written and well-crafted. And there it ends, as a piece of fictitious work only. When I read the claims of Jesus, I laughed my head off and thought to myself: "Mr. Brown has some serious accounting to do on Judgment day."


Pastor was saying if the furor caused by the book can be likened to that of a storm's, then when the film adaptation of "the Da Vinci Code" comes out in May this year, the impact will be like that of a tsunami's. Faiths will be shaken, and unprepared Christians will not be ready for the questions levied at them about the person of Jesus. Therefore, as believers and disciples of Christ, we must be ready to give an account of who our God is.


At the same time as I hear this, I realize at once this is the easiest and hardest thing to do, for myself. For I do not have the eloquence and wisdom of pastors or great men like the apostle Paul, Martin Luther or C.S. Lewis. I am just a regular guy trying to mae his way in this world; who am I to stand up to my peers of more worth?  And how do you explain something as abstract as faith itself?


But to believe in that indefinitely is to belittle God of my faith, who is Elohim, Adonai, and El-Shaddai*. Through the ages, great men and women of faith arise, not because they are talented in themselves - rather, they have allowed themselves to be used by the sovereign Lord for His purpose and glory. For me to say "cannot be done" when the Lord says "can be done", is to make myself god of my own life, refusing to trust and believe in God's fullness and ability to do great things in my life. If the Maker of the world, Creator and Shaper of my life says His will be done, who am I to argue against Him? While to some, this sounds like God being a cosmic bully of infinite resources, to those who knows Him, this is God at His best, with His infinite patience and infinite love, He calls us to return to Him, all who are hard of heart and hearing.


Back to the book of "the Da Vinci Code", it's a good book of fiction, mixed in with truths and make believe. Yet do be aware that the devil loves these kind of works best, to further his schemes for the unwary. Afterall, it concerns the person of Jesus, who is "the capstone the builders have rejected".** Many people have stumbled over who Jesus is to them; yet to all those who believes, we are given the wonderful gift of knowing God. Before we start fighting over with people over the authenticity of "the Da Vinci Code", let us first get back to the Holy Word, and get the authenticity of Jesus aright.


And hey, if your faith is ever shaken about who Jesus is, my brother and sister, don't despair! Instead, rejoice and pray to the Holy Spirit for wisdom and revelation. Ask Him to move you out of that position, and pray for divine intercession and meeting with God through Word, prayer and fellow brother and sisters.  Peace out, my fellow sojourners...


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* Jewish names of "Greatness and Glory", and "Lord and Master" and "All-bountiful in the fullness and fruitfullness". For more information, please read "Names of God" by Nathan Stone. 


** See the Gospel of Mathew Chapter 21 verse 41-43.


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"...But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5:20b-21.


P.S. lost the rhythm of writing, cause was called out suddenly to meet some of my friends. Will continue this in another of my blog entries...


 

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