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| I was hanging out last night with a few church friends. We were sitting on a bench outside near Coldstone's just talking for a couple of hours, when all of a sudden, a stranger came and asked if he could sit with us. I think all of us were initially a bit taken aback, but as soon as he started talking, we could tell that something was deeply troubling him. He said that he had been trying to meditate to escape a lot of stress, according to the teachings of Buddhism. But as he continued to explain, it became clear that something else, something more deeply rooted than his own baffled attempts at reaching "nirvana" was troubling him. He claimed to be a Christian, while he also endorsed the teachings of Buddhism. He said he'd been going to a church before, and I think he's still going to one. He said that he believed in many gods, that basically all religions are true and all of them are different paths to the same thing. Nothing new we're haven't heard.
But this guy was clearly confused. We talked about the God of the Bible and his claim to be the only and true God. If, in fact, God is the one and only God, then every other god must be false. If Christ is the only way, then every other way must be false. How can all these different religions lead to the same God when they contradict one another? But this guy kept insisting that we were confused. Clearly, he did not recognize the folly of his reasoning. To him, both the physical realm and the spiritual realm, even heaven, were places of inevitable suffering, and therefore, life (and hereafter) was a constant struggle to attain to an elusive ideal of "enlightenment". The sad thing is though that he was genuinely seeking...and genuinely confused and didn't even know it. And he's just one of millions and millions of people that are lost and confused.
It got pretty late so he left. We invited him to church and gave him our information. After he left, we prayed for him and evaluated our dialogue with him. What more could we have said? Could we have done better? Did we miss anything? We all realized though that ultimately, God is sovereign. Whatever we said would be futile unless the Spirit gave him understanding.
I think we were all humbled that night. We didn't have to go out and look for opportunities to witness; God had brought someone to us. I realized how often we miss those opportunities God brings to our very doorsteps. We don't have to look much further. Even at our church, people are always coming and going. And there are people even within the church who aren't believers. The opportunities are abundant. Sometimes, we're just blind.
A very wise man once said that "Godliness with contentment is great gain." When you're struggling with life's most difficult questions, nothing else really matters anymore until you've found all the answers. If I don't know why I'm here, then what's my reason to live? If my life is whatever I make of it, then who's right and who's wrong? If everyone lives by their own rules, then can we really demand justice? And the world is confused. And confusion breeds discontenment. And discontentment breeds resignation.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. When you know the answer to the one most important question in life, it's all you need. It's the only thing worth living for. It's the only thing worth sacrificing for. And no, I don't know all the answers. I don't even know why God loves me. But the truth of the matter, and the only thing that matters, is that He does. And in such a case, some questions are not worth asking.
I know God and He knows me. Whether I live or die. And this one piece of truth is all I need to be sustained. Whether I live or die.
Thomas, I hope and pray that God will lead you to the truth, that in your quest for enlightenment, you will journey long and hard enough to one day discover that Christ Himself is the light and the answer to your deepest and most grave concerns. God be with you.
Solus Christus.
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| Taking after the great Jonathan Edwards, and by the inspiration of a cherished sister, Olivia Choi, I've decided to write my own set of resolutions. Obviously, the list is not exhaustive of the Bible. Even if I fulfill every one of these resolutions, it doesn't mean that I've obeyed every one of God's commands. So then, you might ask, why write them to begin with?
As I've already said, the list is not exhaustive, but it does cover a lot of the major areas in my life with respect to my walk with God as well as my relationships with others that I want to improve in. I'm not trying to be legalistic and add burden to the Word that I can't even bear, as if His commands aren't good (or hard) enough. But if discipleship requires commitment, then we must develop a sense of commitment. We must be determined to follow Christ. I'm not suggesting that in of my own willpower, I'm going to obey God. I am all too aware of my need of His grace. But as far as it is up to me, I've resolved to obey, not MY own commands, but HIS commands, which I believe these resolutions do consist of. Again, I'm not holding myself to some extra-biblical standard. God's Word is sufficient. But these resolutions are just some of my goals to live a God-glorifying life. In most of them, I've tried to be practical and specific. I ask you to hold me accountable to them. Thank you!
- Resolved, to preach the Gospel to myself at the start of each day and at the end of each day, so as to remind myself of the saving and sustaining grace by which I live and breathe and have my being until the Lord should please to take me with Him.
- Resolved, to preach the Gospel to at least one new person every week, and afterwards, to inquire as to whether or not I delivered the message in its entirety and all truthfulness, and not to leave the conversation until I am certain that the person has heard and understood the gospel, whether or not he/she consents to it.
- Resolved, to start off every prayer with thanksgiving and praise.
- Resolved, to regularly meditate on the holiness of God until I am thoroughly convinced and convicted in my heart of the sinfulness of my sins, so much so that I am dreadful and fearful of it, and fearfully dependent on God.
- Resolved, to persevere in hope against fear of uncertainities and insecurities until I've wholly embraced it.
- Resolved, to forget the past, with all my sins and failures and regrets, and strain toward what is ahead, fixing my eyes on Christ, the author and perfector of my faith.
- Resolved, to weigh the spiritual consequences of every choice, whether big or small, and assess its spiritual benefits and detriments.
- Resolved, to refrain from anything remotely questionable and possibly detrimental, even to the remotest degree, to my faith as well as that of others.
- Resolved, to encourage at least one new person every week via e-mail, notes, meetings, or some other random act of kindness.
- Resolved, to think before I speak.
- Resolved, to be given to and not be ashamed of talking about spiritual things on any occasion with anyone.
- Resolved, to confess every one of my sins as often as I recall them at the moment I do.
- Resolved, to honor my mother and father.
- Resolved, to be satisfied in Christ alone, and should I be lacking or wanting of satisfication in Him, that I would earnestly beseech the Lord and persist in doing so until all things have become a loss to me save Christ, no matter what the circumstance.
- Resolved, to know that I was fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God.
- Resolved, to avoid every situation in which I know I would be tempted.
- Resolved, to meditate on at least one Scripture passage every day.
- Resolved, to pray at least half an hour once a day.
- Resolved, to commit myself to regular memorization of Scripture.
- Resolved, to pray for the Spirit's guidance before every attempt to exposit Scripture.
- Resolved, to serve others even at my worst inconvenience, if it should benefit them.
- Resolved, to let my words be few, simple, and honest.
- Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every week what I could have done better and wherein I've been negligent.
- Resolved, to have a gentle and quiet spirit.
- Resolved, to dedicate one week of prayer to one new person every week, in addition to my regular prayer requests.
- Resolved, to be discerning and cautious as to the kinds of entertainment I enjoy, and refrain from those that suggest even a hint of sin and would remotely displease God.
- Resolved, when I'm in physical pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom and hell (Edwards, #10).
- Resolved, to speak maliciously of no one to somehow damage the person's reputation.
- Resolved, to watch what I eat.
- Resolved, to be alert to answered prayers so that I can thank God.
- Resolved, to attribute every personal commendation to the grace of God.
- Resolved, to be a faithful steward of my money.
- Resolved, to tithe every month.
- Resolved, to think about "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commenable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise."
- Resolved, to recognize God's artistry in all His works of creation.
- Resolved, to always be honest with God and with myself.
- Resolved, to daily and eagerly anticipate the coming of Christ.
- Resolved, to read the news more often to realize the world beyond my OC bubble and the global need of the gospel.
- Resolved, not to allow myself to be sad for too long, lest I deprive myself of the everlasting joy of Christ.
- Resolved, to ponder eternity as far as my mind will allow me to.
- Resolved, to appreciate every moment that I'm still alive, realizing that every moment I am liable to death.
- "Resolved, to examine carefully and constantly what that one thing in me is that causes me in the least to doubt the love of God; and so direct all my forces against it" (Edwards, #25).
- Resolved, never to compromise my convictions nor what I believe to be rational, biblical, and God-honoring, especially under the influence of my affections.
- "Whenever I hear anything spoken in commendation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, resolved to endeavor to imitate it" (Edwards, #54).
- Resolved, to carefully weigh every word I speak to the Lord in prayer.
- Resolved, to recognize God's grace and sovereignty in every good little thing and the smallest answered prayers.
- Resolved, as far as it is possible, to go to bed by midnight at the latest.
- Resolved, never to be content with my spiritual growth as compared to that of others, but always strive to be perfect by biblical standards.
- Resolved, not to compare the sinfulness of my sins with that of others, so as to relieve myself of less guilt, but to consider myself just as vile, if not worse, in the eyes God.
- Resolved, not to let my view to my sins end in guilt, but in appreciation of God's boundless grace.
- Resolved, to treat everyone equally kindly and amiably.
- Resolved, if I should be so tempted or quick to criticize or pass judgment on anyone, that I would instead pray for whatever perceived faults out of concern for his or her reputation and well-being.
- Resolved, to live at peace with everyone as far as it is up to me.
- Resolved, to listen to every sermon as if the speaker were talking to me personally.
- Resolved, to remember that "enough" is never enough, but perfection is always to be sought after, even though I will never attain it in this life.
- Resolved, to maintain personal integrity at all times, in public and in private.
- Resolved, to identify evidences of God's grace in others, no matter how minute.
- Resolved, to rejoice in my salvation, namely, in the forgiveness of my sins, should all else fail or be lost.
- Resolved, also to rejoice in my salvation, though all should be well with me, but that I would count every good thing a loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.
- Resolved, to consider others more worthy of all privileges and benefits, just as Christ emptied Himself of his divine privileges to serve man, not that man was worthy of His service, but in need of it.
- Resolved, to consider it pure joy when I'm met with trials and tribulations of all kinds because God is forever good.
- Resolved, to let myself be humbled and rebuked when necessary by whomever.
- Resolved, to jealously guard my worship of God against anything that might compete with my affection for Christ.
- Resolved, not to underestimate the power of the devil, but humbly recognize my human weakness and vulnerability to his schemes and attacks.
- Resolved, that though personal circumstances should prosper, I will not let myself be selfishly content but be troubled and grieved by others' misfortunes, doing all I can to help to alleviate them.
- Resolved, not to treat these resolutions as the Bible itself or better.
- Resolved, to hold myself accountable to these resolutions on a weekly basis.
- Resolved, to entreat the Lord's help by prayer in all conscious efforts to abide by these resolutions.
- Resolved, to strive to live each day as if it were my last.
- Resolved, to make the glory of God the sum end of all my endeavors.
Solus Christus.
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| "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."
Eph 6:12-13 I think this passage really illustrates for us what the spiritual realm would look like if it were visible. Our war consists of more than a battle against our flesh, but we battle unseen, greater spiritual forces of evil. But how often do we cruise through life and sit back in our complacency when the Word of God warns us of the spiritual war at hand? How prone we are to underestimate the schemes of the devil, and how little are we aware of his very presence in our lives. The enemy is a roaring lion, ready to pounce on anyone the moment he gets the chance to. And if he doesn't rest, why do we? Since when do we take breaks? I find that Paul often preaches with a level of urgency with which many of us cannot identify. We wonder why he's so serious all the time. Well, if we really believed in heaven and hell, then we wouldn't bother to ask. Persecution and death are all too foreign to us. We continue to live half-blind and half-hearted.
Lord, open the eyes of your people to what some of us might refuse to believe or fail to grasp. Give us a reality check. Teach us to pray. Let us not rest.
Solus Christus.
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| What were you happy about today?
Perhaps, a good meal you ate, or a good movie you watched, or good company, or good grades, or a good vacation, or good weather. Or all of the above.
What about forgiveness? What about atonement? For those of us who are Christians, that Christ is going to come, that we're going to spend eternity with our Father in heaven? What about hope? What about eternal bliss?
Pleasure and joy are two vastly different things. Most are satisfied with the first. Few claim the latter.
To the professing Christian: What do you want in life? Do you want it enough? What would you sacrifice to get it?
Most of us can answer the first question. But we'd falter at the second. (And we won't bother to answer the third.)
Let each examine himself.
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| "Again, the reason why gracious affections have their exercise and effect in Christian practice appears from this (which has also been before observed), that "the first objective ground of gracious affections is the transcendently excellent and amiable nature of divine things, as they are in themselves, and not any conceived relation they bear to self or to self-interest." This shows why holy affections will cause men to be holy in their practice universally. What makes men partial in religion is that they seek themselves, and not God, in their religion; and close with religion, not for its own excellent nature, but only to serve a turn. He that closes with religion only to serve a turn, will close with no more of it than he can imagine serves that turn; but he that closes with religion for its own excellent and lovely nature, closes with all that has that nature: he that embraces religion for its own sake embraces the whole of religion. This also shows why gracious affections will cause men to practice religion perseveringly, and at all times. Religion may alter greatly in process of time, as to its consistence with men's private interest, in many respects; and therefore he that complies with it only for selfish views, is liable, in change of times, to forsake it; but the excellent nature of religion, as it is in itself, is invariable; it is always the same, at all times and through all changes; it never alters in any respect."
Jonathan Edwards "Religious Affection"The whole end of the Christian faith: God.
Solus Christus.
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