Lessons from the California Fire 2018

The California Fire (now, November 2018) is a big thing.  Whole town is on fire.  31 fatalities and the count is rising.

Of course God knows about the raging fire. But since God is merciful, and Christians are praying, so why God is not acting?

The simple answer, gleaned from all the Israelite-events (except one**) recorded in the Old Testament, is that the omni-present God has turned His face away, waiting for the people to come back to Him.  I do hope the Californian people will respond positively and seek God again.

The only exception** in the Old Testament where the godly suffered immensely, is JOB.  JOB suffered beyond what he could bear, all because God trusted his godliness, and permitted satan to test him.

God has kind words for all who turn to Him.

"Behold the Lord's hand is not so short that it cannot save;
Neither is His ear so dull that it cannot hear."
"...If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Isaiah 59:1, 2 Chronicles 7:14.

There is Hope.

GRACE - A new era

Dake's Annotated Bible mentions that after the birth of Christ, this era is the 'Dispensation of Grace'.

Now, as I read the Old Testament this week, I encountered my favorite verse 2 Chron 7:14 again:
If my people who are called by My name
- humble themselves
- and pray,
- and seek My face
- and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will 
- hear from heaven,
- will forgive their sin,
- and heal their land.
So in the Old Testament era, we need to do 4 things, then God will do 3 things.

Now, in the New Testament, my favorite verse is John 3:16:

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
So in the New Testament era, we do not have to do anything.  We just believe in Him.

This is Grace.  We are saved NOT because we deserve it, NOT because we work for it.  

It sounds funny and too simple.  But the LORD is near to all who call upon Him. (Ps 145:16).  Dispensation of Grace.

Judaism and Reincarnation

The attached article is from THE CATHOLIC NEWS dated 28 October 2018, Singapore.

I find it very interesting that Judaism believes in reincarnation, just like other eastern religions.  When I read the Bible, there were some references where the Jewish people asked whether Elijah had come again,  or whether Moses had come again.

However, eastern religions go one step further and included the principle of Karma. And base on the  combined concepts of reincarnation and karma, the eastern religions could answer any question relating to death, life and suffering.

The power of self-suggestion

Let's say you dislike eating papaya. Then try this: Repeat "I like eating papaya" 30 times a day. Do that for 5 years.  Would you manage to convince yourself to like eating papaya?  Most likely you can, less likely you can't.

Some people call this psycho-yourself, or auto-suggestion, or simply manipulating the mind. It is powerful.  WhatsApp viral messages can use this technique to change the way a person thinks. Advertisers use this technique to sell their products.

Awareness is our best defence.

Why did God want to kill Moses ?

I have been puzzled by this for a long time:

Exodus 4:21-26 reads (NIV version):

²¹ The LORD said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. ²² Then say to Pharaoh, 'This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, ²³ and I told you, "Let my son go, so he may worship me." But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.'"
²⁴ At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him. ²⁵ But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it. "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me," she said. ²⁶ So the LORD let him alone. (At that time she said "bridegroom of blood," referring to circumcision.) (Exodus 4:21-26)

In Exodus 3, God asked Moses to take on the task of confronting Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses retorted that he was neither suitable and nor up to the task. God provided Moses with power, and the assurance that Moses could accomplish this.  And so finally, Moses packed his bags and brought his family to travel to Egypt to carry out his assignment.

Then out of nowhere, Exodus 4:24 says God met Moses along the way and was about to kill him.  I was puzzled why God suddenly wanted Moses dead.

I searched the internet and read a few commentaries.  Experts tried to speculate that Moses had sinned and now God had to remove him.  But it doesn't make sense because God had just patiently convinced him to take on the most mammoth job.

I find the following explanation logical:  The verses in the NIV, NASB, TEV bibles have been inaccurately translated. God did not meet Moses and 'was about to kill him'. The King James Bible was easier to understand.  Please click on the link

http://www.kjvtoday.com/home/is-the-kjv-confusing-in-exodus-424-26
and find out for yourself.

Sometimes words and translations cannot convey the truth accurately.

Happy searching to know God better.

They didn't recognise Jesus

John the Baptist asked Jesus why He came to him to be baptized. Jesus answered him "Permit it at this time, for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" John the Baptist recognized Jesus.   Matt 3:14-15.
But when John the Baptist was in prison, he entertained some doubts. So he sent someone to ask Jesus "Are you the Coming One, or shall we look for someone else?"  He doubted.  Matt 11:2-3.

The apostles (excluding Thomas) gathered in the Upper Room. Jesus appeared but they did not recognize Him. Jesus had to deliberately show them His hands and His sides. John 20:19.

After 8 days, the apostles (including Thomas) were in the Upper Room again.  Jesus showed Himself to all and to Thomas in particular. "...See My hands...My side, and be NOT unbelieving, but believe."  John 20:26.

Christ's disciples did not recognize Him after He was raised from the dead. The reason is due to 'unbelieve'.  A Rev Dr Hand also suggested that it was not because the resurrected Jesus did something to veil their eyes from recognizing Him.  Instead it was the rational minds of the disciples that kept them from believing what their own eyes beheld.

Is your rational mind also hindering you from believing in the resurrection, and from recognizing Jesus?

Sinners and Habitual Sinners

We all know the story of David and Bathsheba.  David sinned.  In fact he committed the vilest sin.

But read more about David.  He was not a regular sinner.  He was not a habitual sinner.  He did many things right with God, and did not fail God on many occasions.

Life is like that.  At times, we all fail to be good.  We have good husbands who went astray and attempted to be unfaithful.  We have good teachers who, in moments of weakness, committed sin on their students.  We have godly priests who sinned against God.  We have honorable leaders and politicians who failed to uphold our trust.

The story of David is the reality of life.  We all fall short, and succumb to temptations sometimes.  But we must bounce back.  We must not be habitual in our failures and sins.

And for those of us who have been hurt and let down by our loved ones, we must also forgive their wrongdoings no matter how hurting.  Are they habitual sinners or are they like King David?

Soon it will be Easter.  Lets remember God more this Holy Week.

Wish you peace.

The heart must be right

How did the 3 wise men from the East follow the stars to reach Infant Jesus ??

When I was a young Platoon Commander in the military school, I would choose a starry night to teach new recruits how to 'see stars'.  So on a hilltop, I would point out to them the Big Dipper and North Star, and the Southern Cross.  (On most night, could only see 1 out of 2.)  The North Star shows the direction of the North, and the Southern Cross, the South.

The stars can show the general direction only. Stars do not pin-point a location. On a starry night, while standing at Toa Payoh, a star could be directly over my head.  If I move 10 kilometres away and stand at Yishun, that same star is still directly over my head.

And so, the 'star' could only guide the 3 wise men to the broad vicinity where Infant Jesus was. How did the wise men pin-point that particular stable where the Jesus lied in the manger.

That was where the heart took over.  When their hearts were right, when they seek God sincerely and truthfully, God would lead them to the exact place.

When the heart is right, seek and you will find.