ORLANDO CHINESE CHURCH MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
NOVEMBER, 2001
The apostle Paul was a man who knew God, and therefore was full of thanksgiving in his life. Although he was disappointed at the Corinthians, he wrote "I thank my God always" (I Cor 1:4). Even during the hardship of ministry in Corinth, he wrote to the church at Thessalonica by saying, "we give thanks to God always" (I Thess 1:2, II Thess 1:3). When he was in the bondage of a Roman prison, his letters started out with "giving thanks to God" (Col 1:3, Phil 1:3). When at his old age, he discovered that he was who he was only by the grace of God. His heart flowed with praises and thanksgiving: "Glory be to our God and Father forever and ever" (Phil 4:20), "to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever, amen" (I Tim 1:17).
When a believer meditates upon the grace of God in Christ Jesus, and sees the greatness of God's salvation, the length, the breadth, the height and the depth of God's love, and the unmeasurable fullness of God's blessing, his heart ought to be filled with thanksgiving and be compelled to offer thanksgiving and praises and glory to God! When the anthem of our praises reaches the heavenly Father, whose grace is already upon us, He "surrounds us with songs of deliverance" (Ps 32:7); He "crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercy" (Ps 103:4). We shall sing praises unto Him, and place the crown of thanksgiving and worship before His throne (Rev 4;10).
No Peace in This World Act 2:40 "Be saved from this perverse generation!" Ezekiel 13:10; II Peter 3:8-13
It has been one month since the tragedy of Sep. 11, and the impact of such an event continues to expand. How difficult it is to face the evil and danger of this world, and no wonder Peter exclaimed in Acts 2:40, "Be saved from this perverse generation!"
In the U.S. we are used to peace and prosperity. The god of this world has deceived us into believing that here is "peace, peace". But as the prophet Ezekiel pointed out, there is in reality no peace. Unexpectedly violence arrived, towers collapsed and thousands were lost. Only when eye-witnessing such a tragedy, we were shaken to realize that death could be very near. In fact, hundreds die everyday around the world because of AIDS, poverty and hunger. Many more will now perish as the war is breaking out in Afghanistan. Is there peace in this world? Indeed nay!
A roommate of mine went to L.A. for a high-pay job after getting his Ph.D. from MIT, and was soon married. It looked as if he had the whole world. One day he went out for lunch from work, but was hit by a car when crossing the street, killed instantly. Another colleague was on travel to London. When he walked to the office one morning, into the elevator he went, then was found dead when the elevator reached his floor. No one knows when something may happen. Because the world is full of evil, events like 9/11 can take place so suddenly that we better be convinced that there is no peace in this world.
Not only death, injury and sorrow came with such an evil deed, it also brought a great economic crisis. Many who rely on the worldly wealth find no security now. A sister is certain of being laid off soon, because the company stock price dropped from 172 to just over one dollar. Another brother was ready to retire shortly at age 55. But his retirement fund is all in the aircraft company stock, which dropped from 70 something to about 20; he cannot retire now! If our dependence is on the brief life of this flesh, or the health and strength of this body or our hope in other perishables, you would find that, like the skyscrapers, they may collapse in a minute. Peter said, "Be saved from this perverse generation!"
People pursue things of this world blindly, most not knowing why whereas many putting their full security in them. Perhaps 9/11 can help us find purpose and meaning of life. A few new students from China asked about the American football the other day, wondering what the strong athletes were doing running around aimlessly to pile upon each other. But once you understand their goal, their direction and their strategy, the game takes on a totally different meaning. If one does not know the purpose of life and the way to its goal, he may pursue the wrong objectives and fall into evil, just as the hijackers did.
The President said this violence shows that freedom is now under attack in America. Indeed, few men misused the freedom offered by this open society and infringed upon the freedom of life and family of others, because they do not know how to choose the right direction of their freedom. This is actually the ancient problem of man, whom God created in His glorious image by giving man the free will and ability of choice. But man made the wrong choice and began to hurt others as well as himself. The suicide-hijackers are a direct reflection of mankind. Man chooses violence, not knowing that God is love. He prefers darkness instead of God as his light. He selects his own way, ignoring God as the Way. We are determined to choose evil, destruction and despair, not knowing that God is good, life and hope. We hurt others, failing God's mercy and forgiveness. When man does not choose God, he falls in this perverse generation, from which we need to be saved, Peter said.
With a world full of evil, man finds no hope and may pick suicide as the only way out, just like the hijackers. Can you imagine children and teenagers consider committing suicide? In New York, one student in a class of 31 children did just that. The teacher wanted the others to know suicide was not right, so she asked the rest of the class to write an essay on "should one commit suicide?" Among the 30 papers turned in, 26 kids said it was alright to die that way! A minister was asked about 9/11 in a TV interview, "why does God not bless us?" The answer was marvelous: "when we ask such a question, we should first remember how over the years we throw God out of our government, our school, our court and our family. Being such a gentleman, God has quietly left. Can we blame Him for not minding our business?"
Are you inviting God to come into your life or throwing Him out? Do you choose your own way or God Himself? Do you have Him as your source of peace? Peter said, "Be save from this perverse generation!" Only in God can we be saved. Second Peter tells us that the last day will soon come with a roar, and all elements be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works be burned up. The horror of 9/11 appears to be a small preview of what is to come in the end. What few hijackers could do with two airplanes show us that it can and will happen quickly, when God's wrath and judgment come upon this earth. God is not slow about His promise, but is patient toward us, wishing for all to come to repentance. He wants us to turn back to Him to find true peace and security. Peter said, "Be save from this perverse generation!"
The Bible exhorts us to be holy and godly, looking and hastening the coming of the day of the Lord. Please do not misunderstand our God, who is not the God of curse but blessing, not to destroy but to save. He desires that all turn back to Him in repentance. However, if man continues to choose evil and darkness over God Himself, He would have no choice but one day deliver this earth to death and destruction, for the earth was cursed. I pray that today you make a choice of the living God. We do not know when the next 9/11 will come, but for sure you can be in the security of God today. The Bible says that He is the solid rock. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one goes to the Father except by Me." Come to repent before the Savior for life, hope and peace. "Be saved from this perverse generation!" We all ought to make that decision today.