These were the years of the life of Abarham, 175 years. Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.(Genesis 25:7-8)
With this verse, the life Abraham comes to an end. He left UR of the Chaldees when he was 75 years old and he died at the age of 175. That means he done God’s bidding and obeyed God for 100 years in obedience to God’s call. He had been through all the troubles from the days when Lot quarreled with him then later the issue of Hagar and Ishmael and finally his peace treaty with Abemelech. Abraham had completed the journey by faith but he did not journey in complete peace. Some Christian seem to believe that as soon as they accept Jesus as their Savior every problem just evaporates. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Abrahams life was filled with battles, domestic quarrels with Sarah, business quarrels with Lot and turf wars with Abimelech. And above all the supreme test when God told Abraham to sacrifice his son and he passed with flying colours.
So accept what the journey brings along the way. And if it is possible- avoid the pitfalls rather than go through it- and if you cannot than may the God of Abraham be with you until his purpose is fulfilled in you.
The Christian journey too for every believer, is fraught with seemingly numerous trials and tribulations in this journey of life-nobody can escape the trials and tribulations that come alongside with it. Everybody has their story to tell. Some troubles come from outside I suspect that most of the troubles for Christians today from their own fellowship. For many, the bruises, scars and wound had their origin from other believers. Indeed one of the first questions every believer has to ask when going through a difficult time is this “ What can I learn from this trouble or misunderstanding?”
Abraham overcame all his trials with his faith in God and with the wisdom that God gave him. Wherever he went, he pitched his tent and build an altar so when Abraham left that place he only left behind an altar as a reminder that somebody had worshipped God there. There were already many other altars in the wilderness in Abraham’s day. Why did he not use those altars? Because those altars were used for Baal worship which were decorated with foul objects. Only Abraham’s altar bore witness to the worship of the one true God but he only pitched his tent signifying that he was only a plilgrim in this earth.
All Christians need to be reminded of Abrahmam’s testimony because we are also pilgrims just as he was and the one thing Christians should leave behind are reminders of God’s faithfulness. If we start building our faith on materials things we will be building on shallow sand. It all right to renovate your property or move into a bigger home. May you be blessed in everything. But remember in the long run, we are just mere pilgrims.
May I ask you a personal question? If you lost all your money and possessions today, how much will you still be worth? Or if you knew that you only had 24 hours left to live how would you feel about he life you have lived! Life is incredibily short, the grey hairs appears even before we know it. Jesus once remarked lay out your treasures in heaven where moth and rust does not corrupt and thieves do not break in to steal for where your treasure is there will be your heart also and in another place he said “Take heed and beware of coveteousness for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things that he possesses.”
Abraham died full of years which means a life well spent. How many remorseful people have you seen in their old days who feel that life have cheated them. It started out with so many promises, so many expectations and yet none of those dreams came true. Only this morning I had a short Bible study in the Sungai Buluh prison. About 50 or so had gathered there – both the young and the old. But they had made mistakes.
In all aspects, it is better to heed the divine voice and let God be our Shepherd. In this way, wherever the journey of life leads us, we can be assured of God’s guidance and protection and our eventual departure. May it be said of us one day- “ It was a life well spent “!!!!
“ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:13)
Saturday, September 6, 2008
CURTAINS DOWN ON THE OLD LIFE
Now the Lord said to Abraham “Go from your country and your kindred and your fathers house to the land I will show you…and Lot went with him… Abraham was seventy five years old when he departed from Haran.” Genesis 12: 1-4
It must have been a very nostalgic moment for Abraham when he started packing his bags to begin his journey into the unknown wilderness. Looking around his living room for one last time, the kitchen where he had shared many wonderful meals, going upstairs to see his bedroom, the table at his window with the morning sunlight streaming in. One last look through his window to see the familiar neighbourhood and the vast wilderness in the distance. Everything seemed so silent that day and there was a sinking feeling in his heart.
To leave the place where he had grown up and never to return. That must have been a very tough decision. Until today I have not seen a single individual who have forgotten their hometown. The last funeral I attended was in New York City, my hosts father an elderly Chinese gentleman who had succumbed to old age. His last instruction was to take his ashes back to his little hometown back in China.
We have all had the experiences of packing our bags to go on journeys here and there. But we always found our way back home. But Abraham would have to go on a journey and not return. He would be seeing his hometown and his kindred for the very last time. Painful though it must have been, the divine voice had to be heeded. The curtain had to be brought down on the past life. God had called him from a life of routines, monotony and certainty to a life of faith in Him!!
It seems whenever God appears on the scene in the Bible –its curtains down on the old life. Exodus is a classic example. And they left their nets and followed him was said of the early apostles.
If Abraham had said, “God, I am not going anywhere!! Why can’t you bless me here in my own hometown?” If Abraham had said we would never have heard about Abraham.
Perhaps life has taken a twist for you too. Suddenly the signboards pointed to a new and different direction and the roads do not look familiar at all. Nevertheless, the road must be travelled and the journey must be accepted. Somebody has once said, the will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot keep you. And that’s a profound truth in that statement. Simon Peter the apostle stated, “For you were going astray like sheep, but now have returned to the Shepherd and guardian of your souls.” Now that’s a promise to every believer. No matter where the journey leads, God is the Shepherd and Guardian of every believer’s soul.
So take heart, it may be the end of the old life of routines, the merry go round and the familiar And God brings you into a new life where nothing seems to be certain or a merry go around where we get off at the very place we got on! No- the life of faith leads you further and further in your trust in Him- as you move from one trial to the next and to the next level of God dealing with you. And the life of faith matures you as a believer. It is when the storms hit that the roots strike deep. And when the storm has passed, we hear the divine voice again, “Behold I make all things new!”
Are you feeling nostalgic and yearning for the old relationships and comforts with its predictable routine? When we felt secure in the knowledge that everything was under our control? To bring you forward God has to change the times and the seasons. Now is not the time for regrets. It’s the dawn of a new season for you. Take courage and move on. You will be glad you heeded the divine voice. Because it’s the only voice that does not deceive. Although He hides in the shadows and does not show His face, yet He is your Eternal lover. Discard your uncertainty and do not grieve at the memories of yesterday! It’s the beginning of a new season.
It must have been a very nostalgic moment for Abraham when he started packing his bags to begin his journey into the unknown wilderness. Looking around his living room for one last time, the kitchen where he had shared many wonderful meals, going upstairs to see his bedroom, the table at his window with the morning sunlight streaming in. One last look through his window to see the familiar neighbourhood and the vast wilderness in the distance. Everything seemed so silent that day and there was a sinking feeling in his heart.
To leave the place where he had grown up and never to return. That must have been a very tough decision. Until today I have not seen a single individual who have forgotten their hometown. The last funeral I attended was in New York City, my hosts father an elderly Chinese gentleman who had succumbed to old age. His last instruction was to take his ashes back to his little hometown back in China.
We have all had the experiences of packing our bags to go on journeys here and there. But we always found our way back home. But Abraham would have to go on a journey and not return. He would be seeing his hometown and his kindred for the very last time. Painful though it must have been, the divine voice had to be heeded. The curtain had to be brought down on the past life. God had called him from a life of routines, monotony and certainty to a life of faith in Him!!
It seems whenever God appears on the scene in the Bible –its curtains down on the old life. Exodus is a classic example. And they left their nets and followed him was said of the early apostles.
If Abraham had said, “God, I am not going anywhere!! Why can’t you bless me here in my own hometown?” If Abraham had said we would never have heard about Abraham.
Perhaps life has taken a twist for you too. Suddenly the signboards pointed to a new and different direction and the roads do not look familiar at all. Nevertheless, the road must be travelled and the journey must be accepted. Somebody has once said, the will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot keep you. And that’s a profound truth in that statement. Simon Peter the apostle stated, “For you were going astray like sheep, but now have returned to the Shepherd and guardian of your souls.” Now that’s a promise to every believer. No matter where the journey leads, God is the Shepherd and Guardian of every believer’s soul.
So take heart, it may be the end of the old life of routines, the merry go round and the familiar And God brings you into a new life where nothing seems to be certain or a merry go around where we get off at the very place we got on! No- the life of faith leads you further and further in your trust in Him- as you move from one trial to the next and to the next level of God dealing with you. And the life of faith matures you as a believer. It is when the storms hit that the roots strike deep. And when the storm has passed, we hear the divine voice again, “Behold I make all things new!”
Are you feeling nostalgic and yearning for the old relationships and comforts with its predictable routine? When we felt secure in the knowledge that everything was under our control? To bring you forward God has to change the times and the seasons. Now is not the time for regrets. It’s the dawn of a new season for you. Take courage and move on. You will be glad you heeded the divine voice. Because it’s the only voice that does not deceive. Although He hides in the shadows and does not show His face, yet He is your Eternal lover. Discard your uncertainty and do not grieve at the memories of yesterday! It’s the beginning of a new season.
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