Lord, I Stretch My Hands to You

'I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— He who watches over you will not slumber.' Psalms 121:1-3

The “Creation of Adam” is a fresco painted by Michelangelo on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican. Anyone who views this cannot mistake the special relationship of Man and the Creator God. The face of Adam is one of an innocent person who looks toward God as if looking for instruction and and relationship, a look for love. God appears resolute but also shows a fatherly countenance.

Adam’s nakedness indicates a certain vulnerability and helplessness. He stretches his hand as if to turn for refuge and direction; very dependent on God. The hymn ‘Lord I Stretch My Hands to You’ by Jay Althouse with lyrics adapted from Charles Wesley, succinctly described the vulnerability-dependency realities of the man-creator relationship. 

Lord, I stretch my hands to You

No other help I know,

If You should leave me all alone,

Where then shall I go, O Lord.

Lord, I stretch my hands to You

Oh Lord. I give my soul to You

I seek Your care and love.

No other blessings do I need

but those from You above.

Lord I ask You:

Give me faith, and help me understand.

And Lord, when I this life shall leave

Just hold me in Your hand.

In God we will find abundance but unfortunately, many of us fail to recognise this. We want to assert our independence and in so doing, we lose sight of God. What a pity! We withdraw our hands and go our separate ways. In this zealousness to break free, we become blind to our spiritual inheritance and lose the wisdom of God’s counsel. 

God's hand, however, remains outstretched.

In my lifetime, I have never experienced such dark times affecting the whole world as in these days when the Corona virus ravage the world. The old and those with chronic illnesses are the most vulnerable and it is as if, we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death. This is not the time to turn away from God but to keep our hands outstretched towards God to find strength and comfort. 

'I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.' Is 42:16 

Philip Yancey in his book, ‘Finding God in Unexpected Places’ recounted this story, “Theologian John S Dunne tells of a group of early Spanish sailors who reached the continent of South America after an arduous voyage. Their caravels sailed into the headwaters of the Amazon, an expanse of water so wide the sailors presumed it to be a continuation of the Atlantic Ocean. It never occurred to them to drink the water, since the sailors presumed it to be saline, and as a result many of them died of thirst. That scene of men dying of thirst even as their ships floated on the world’s largest source of fresh water has become for me a metaphor of our age. Some people starve to death spiritually while all around them manna rots.”

'The poor and needy search for water but there is none, their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.' Is 41: 17-18

John’s Gospel recorded a gentle conversation between Jesus and a Samaritan woman; a woman looking for meaningful love and relationship.  

'When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:7-13, 

If only we all can recognize our lack of spirituality and wisdom! Then we would stretch our hands to God to establish a relationship that was meant to be from the dawn of time.  

'I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— He who watches over you will not slumber.' Psalms 121:1-3 


Lionel

A Light in the Attic




James at Lighthouse@Kiama

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" Matthew 5:14-16


Malcolm Muggeridge, an English author and satirist, was once asked the question, "What do you most want to do with the rest of your life?" He replied, “I should like my light to shine, even if only very fitfully, like a match struck in a dark, cavernous night and then flickering out.”

When our children were young, they liked to read poems by Shel Silverstein. One of these poems caught my attention

"There’s a light on in the attic

Though the house is dark and shuttered,

I can see a flickerin’ flutter,

And I know what it’s about.

There’s a light on in the attic.

I can see it from the outside,

And I know you’re on the inside . . . lookin’ out."

Uncannily, Muggeridge’s comment on the twilight years of life could well have been a commentary of a poem meant for children. A light no matter how dim or flickering attracts attention. Jesus told us to let our light shine before others

As we grow older we can become increasingly isolated and shut in, like living in dark and shuttered houses. In this final lap, many people hope to have the same aspiration as Muggeridge. If our lives in the past were not very good examples, we hope that however flickering and for whatever time remaining, the light we now have, would shine forth.

Light may be vision. Light may be virtue. Light may be wisdom. Light may be comprehension and light may be truth. Light may be a beacon.

Light must be seen. Why? Because the light we have is the light of Jesus. That light has a force-multiplier effect. It can reach out beyond our wildest expectations. Ephesians 5:8-10, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases God".

There is a hymn, "Brightly Beams our Father's Mercy" which tells of the lights in each of us, as witnesses for Jesus, attracting others to Him. Our lamps no matter how feeble, may be instrumental in rescuing some soul, pull him out of the miry clay of his pathetic existence and put him on paths to salvation.

 
At this time we all are in the dark tunnel of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many cities in the world, including Singapore, are in shutdown mode and people are told to stay home and keep a social distance from each other. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, a light in the attic and beaming light from the lighthouse, the light of Jesus. 

That light will bring us through such difficult times. In the dark days of Apartheid, the Black South Africans had a hymn, 'Siyahamba' or 'We are Marching in the Light of God'. It galvanised them and brought them through the difficult times of protests and violence. The question is are we standing in the light of God? Will we treasure the light of Jesus placed in us? This 'Little Light of Mine' are we gonna let it shine?

St Francis of Assisi, kneeling at a crucifix towards the end stages of his life, prayed, “All highest, glorious God, cast your light into the darkness of my heart. Give me right faith, firm hope, perfect charity and profound humility, with wisdom and perception, O Lord, so that I may do what is truly your holy will. Amen”

Lionel

PS Be inspired click on the song titles for the You-tube videos of the songs

Desolation

“I have destroyed nations;

their strongholds are demolished.

I have left their streets deserted,

with no one passing through.

Their cities are laid waste;

they are deserted and empty.” Zephaniah 3:6

Emeritus Bishop Robert Solomon, concerned with daily images of deserted cities and empty streets during this Covid-19 pandemic around the world, reminds us of the prophecy of Zephaniah. Zephaniah's  prophecy had been realised many times in the past. Today it seems that it is being fulfilled before our very eyes. He suggests that as much as we regret the devastation caused, we should try to discover what is God's purpose in allowing this to happen. 

The words of the prophet are very harsh, speaking of the judgement of God. What are God's purposes? 

• Is this retribution for mankind's lack of conservation efforts of nature?
• Have we been voraciously exhausting Earth's resources?
• Have we been selfish, self-centred, materialistic, uncaring?
• Have we been hedonistic, always self-indulgent?

The  answer could be all of the above and more; there are many reasons why God has allowed a very small microbe to devastate the human race

Bishop Solomon and Zephaniah suggest a purpose; to turn us toward Him with meekness and humility so that we can trust Him (Zephaniah 3:12)

US Vice-President, Mike Pence understood this need for repentance and prayer. He closes all his briefings with 'heal our land'. Devastation require healing; beginning with healing of self followed by healing of communities, healing of countries and finally the healing of the world. However this requires God's people to humble ourselves, to pray and to repent. If we cannot do much to combat the virus, we can pray and return to God.

Then salvation is assured and promised in Zeph 3:17, 

“The Lord your God is in your midst,

    a mighty one who will save;

he will rejoice over you with gladness;

    he will quiet you by his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing”

The Bishop said, "Here is a wonderful picture of God’s love. Like a mother who sings a lullaby over her troubled child, the Lord comforts us when we are afraid or disturbed. In this metaphor, God is not only singing a lullaby but sings loudly over His children. There is a combination of motherly tenderness as well as fatherly exuberance."

We need not fear the Corona virus, the earth will be healed. God's promise concludes Zephaniah Chapter 3 with

"At that time I will gather you;

at that time I will bring you home.

I will give you honour and praise among all the peoples of the earth

when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes.

How fortunate for us! It is very comforting when God tells us that he will bring us home. This song by David Haas gives the same assurance as Zephaniah did so many centuries ago. It is call "You are Mine". At such times, listen to this song and allow the lyrics and melody to echo in the recesses of your mind.

I will come to you in the silence

I will lift you from all your fear

You will hear My voice, I claim you as My choice

Be still, and know I am near

I am hope for all who are hopeless

I am eyes for all who long to see

In the shadows of the night, I will be your light

Come and rest in Me

I am strength for all the despairing

Healing for the ones who dwell in shame

All the blind will see, the lame will all run free

And all will know My name

I am the Word that leads all to freedom

I am the peace the world cannot give

I will call your name, embracing all your pain

Stand up, now, walk, and live

Do not be afraid, I am with you

I have called you each by name

Come and follow Me

I will bring you home

I love you and you are mine

Lionel

The Scream

Edvard Munch: The Scream

"Be not anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" Philippians 4:6

Edvard Munch's painting, 'The Scream' stands out as an icon of modern art. It depicts an anxious and fearful figure letting out a scream. Here is Edvard's commentary on this painting, "I was walking along the road with two friends, the sun went down, I felt a gust of melancholy. Suddenly, the sky turned bloody red. I stopped, leaned against the railing, tired to death as the flaming skies hung like blood and sword over the blue-black fjord and the city. My friends went on. I stood there trembling with anxiety and I felt a vast infinite scream through nature".

Today, the whole world is screaming as the Corona Virus 19 spreads. The COVID-19 virus pandemic started in Dec 2019 and to date it has spread to 173 out of 195 countries. The world tally thus far is 374,822 patients and deaths number 16,379. In Singapore 509 cases have been diagnosed with 2 fatalities. The speed and spread of an infection has not been experienced in recent times and have brought several countries and cities to their knees.

Naturally this caused much panic and anxiety in the world, stock markets plunged threatening a global recession if not a global depression. The enforced stay at home lock-down imposed by many countries and cities threatened many jobs, further aggravating the anxiety

Max Lucado in his book (ref 1) 'Anxious for Nothing' described this panic well, "One day the sky seems sunny and bright and the next, they are dark and foreboding. It is just as if the air has been taken out of your lungs and you are left trying to catch your breath". This describes the symptoms of COVID-19 in severe cases well. These patients have Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and their lungs are filled with inflammatory fluids and debri; breathing become more and more laboured. They literally choke to death. 

Coincidentally, the Latin root word for Anxiety means to choke or to squeeze; it takes your breath away. Certainly the severe patients of the Corona virus infection must suffer the anxiety as they fight for their lives but many others will be just as anxious.

St. Paul encouraged the Philippians not be anxious but he did not mean never to be anxious. There are circumstances for which panic and anxiety are natural reactions just as during the COVID-19 epidemic. In these situations we can by God's grace turn to Him to help dampen those feelings. Max Lucado paraphrased Phil 4:6 as "Don't let anything in life leave you perpetually in angst and breathless". For a season this pandemic may worry us and keep us anxious but we should not allow these circumstances to overcome us. 

Look to God. He promised to heal our land in 2 Chronicle 7:14

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land"

Click on blue letters to hear song

Ref 1 Max Lucado, 'Anxious for Nothing; Finding Calm in a Chaotic World' HarperCollins 2019

Shipwrecked!

"...You may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith". 1 Tim 1:18-19

In Ezekiel 27, there was a graphic description of a shipwreck involving heavily laden ships from Tyre, meeting a storm at sea. Mariners, sailors, merchandise and wealth and everyone on board sank. The prophecy spelled the doom of the mercantile trade of Tyre and broke the back of Tyre, a once prosperous city. It did not survive history and lie in ruins today.

Reflecting on the sudden, unexpected COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the whole world over the last month and threatening a global recession, one wonders how many businesses will be bankrupted. An infection tsunami followed by a sudden economic tornado will leave behind much devastation. Lives, families and businesses will lie in ruins, shipwrecked.

This sudden downturn can also affect the spiritual life. At times of difficulties and even during times of plenty, Paul warned that we must guard our faith, hold on tightly to it or else we may lose it all. The Boys Brigade hymn places a question for us, "Will your anchor hold in the storms of life?" This pandemic requires us to send an affirmative answer, "We have an anchor that keeps our souls, steadfast and sure while the billows roll". Our faith can be fragile and we need to be properly anchored.

Byron Bay Lighthouse

Innumerable shipwrecks have been prevented by lighthouses. The ships were warned to steer clear of the rocky shores. Similarly we have a lighthouse in Jesus Christ warning us to steer clear of the pitfalls of life; of temptations and wrongdoings that can lead us astray.

I have always been fascinated by lighthouses. I have a collection of photographs of different lighthouses that I have visited, all over the world. The latest visit was to the Byron Bay Lighthouse in New South Wales, Australia. When one pictures the strong light that beams from the lighthouse, Jesus' proclamation comes to mind, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of of life". These visits to the lighthouses assure me of the steadfast guidance of God. His light is constantly warning us of hidden dangers which can come so suddenly and unexpectedly.

The suddenness of the COVID-19 pandemic unsettled us. We took extraordinary precautions to guard our health. The Rev Sng Chong Hui observed, "If only we 

• monitor our spiritual temperature as regularly as we do our physical temperature
• wash our souls like we wash our hands
• mask ourselves to stop sin from infecting ourselves and others
• read God's Word like we read daily updates about COVID-19
• fear God like we fear COVID-19". 

When Life is good, it pays to keep in touch with God so that with any downturn we need not become unsettled but can rely on our immutable Saviour. The whole world was enjoying peace and prosperity when suddenly this COVID-19 descended upon us. Like Charlie Brown said, "This world is suddenly crazy".  Will your anchor hold?

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,

when the clouds unfold their wings of strife?

When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,

will your anchor drift or firm remain?

Refrain:

We have an anchor that keeps the soul

steadfast and sure while the billows roll,

fastened to the rock which cannot move,

grounded firm and deep in the Saviour's love!

Will your anchor hold in the straits of fear,

when the breakers roar and the reef is near?

While the surges rave and the wild winds blow,

shall the angry waves then your bark o'er flow?

Will your eyes behold through the morning light

the city of gold and the harbour bright?

Will you anchor safe by the heavenly shore,

when life's storms are past forever more?

Lionel

Written at the start of the Covid-19 epidemic just before the global lockdowns

Out Of Chaos Comes A Calm

'I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber' Psalms 121:1-3

On 11 Mar 2020, the World Health Organisation declared the Corona Virus, COVID-19 infection a pandemic which affected many countries and continents. Many are afraid to contract the virus. Although for the most parts, the disease is quite mild, mortality rate is significant in older people who have underlying health concerns. The death rates among the elderly in China, South Korea, Iran and Italy are extremely high. The virus is highly contagious and some countries resorted to closure of schools, large public events and curtailed travel. It may even derail the Olympic Games to be held in Japan later this year. Several churches in Singapore and other countries are no longer meeting but virtually beam the worship services to parishioners through the Internet.

In times like these, people of all faiths turn to prayer. Christians pray, expectantly, that God will answer just as the Psalmist declared in Psalms 121. This assurance of help from God is the cornerstone for our confidence which allows us to live a full life even in periods of adversity. 

There is a favourite anthem of the Charis Methodist Church Choir. Noel Ong, who helps select songs for the choir wrote, "On Path to Answered Prayer' is a beautiful and touching piece that Heidi Fuller wrote after going through much trial and seeming unanswered prayer, as well as helping a close friend through similar issues. Their specific circumstances were different, but the underlying issues of faith in God, whether he hears and answers prayer, and waiting for God's timing and plan, were underlying both their journeys. Indeed, they underlie the journeys that each one of us Christians would take in our respective life journeys. Indeed, we can be encouraged through the message of this song because God brings amazing things through the trials of life and we need to 'learn to trust Him as you (we) travel on the path to answered prayer."

My favourite phrase in this song is "Out of chaos comes a calm". It assures me that the COVID-19 pandemic will dissipate, this world will return to normal, the economic recession will pass and God will restore the earth.

"Have you ever wondered if your prayers are really heard?

Why is your path so lonely if God listens to each word?

When answers seem so distant through years of faithful pleas.

Still your Guide is right beside you each moment on your knees.

In the wilderness He’s working, in the dark, do not despair.

In the storms, He’s sanctifying, in the thunder He is there!

Out of valleys, He gives vict’ries, out of chaos, comes a calm.

Out of testing, He brings triumph, out of sorrow, comes a song.

There comes a song.

So find power in His promise, though at times not understood,

as you love the God who leads you He will guide your paths to good.

Though there’s weeping in the waiting, in the morning, joy is there.

Learn to trust Him as you travel, learn to trust Him as you travel,

learn to trust Him as you travel on the path to answered prayer.

He answers prayer."

It is this song that the chairperson of our choir, Raymond Chiang clung to as he lived through cancer affecting his health. He prayed for healing of a colon cancer he suffered which had spread to his liver and subsequently he lived a normal and active life through two surgeries and chemotherapy. Click to hear, Raymond's encouraging testimony, how God gave him the faith to overcome his illness. 

Raymond spoke about trusting God and praying for healing. After a colectomy, it was found a year later, that there was a secondary to the liver. He underwent surgery to remove the tumour in the liver. After the surgery, the surgeon asked whether he had undergone chemotherapy prior because 70% of the tumour cells from the liver was found to be not viable on the biopsy. Raymond answered negatively which surprised the surgeon. When informed, the oncologist replied, "A supernatural force is at work here". Today Raymond has completed the post-surgery chemotherapy and he is hale and hearty.

The response to the corona virus pandemic in almost every country, underlies the innate fear and panic in many people, they run to the supermarkets and pharmacies to hoard daily essentials. People were jostling for rice and canned food, masks and alcohol wipes and even toilet paper to the point where nothing was available on the shelves and the national stockpiles were depleted.

Fear and panic are not the ways we should confront the challenge of COVID-19 pandemic; instead of fear there should be faith and instead of panic there should be prayer. There is a light at the end of the tunnel!

Lionel

The Folly of Futile Legacies

Mr S Rajaratnam was a founding father of Singapore, patriot, politician and the former foreign minister. He died at the age of 90 years in Sep 2006. In 1988, soon after he stepped down from the Singapore cabinet, Mr Rajaratnam was asked what he would do during his retirement from politics. He replied: “You know in Alice in Wonderland, there is the Cheshire cat who goes away but leaves his smile behind? I hope I will go that way too.”

A local newspaper, the Straits Times, commented, “The answer was quintessential Raja, unexpected, yet unexpectedly apt, leaving a smile on his listener’s face.” I agree. Many people wish to be remembered as the ones who have made a difference. They want their lives to matter. Like Raja, I prefer a less assertive influence, just a smile.

This same sentiment was expressed when I retired as Executive Vice Dean of the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore's third and newest medical school on the 31 Mar 2019. I had the unique opportunity of starting the School from scratch in 2011 in partnership with the Imperial College London. On retirement, I told colleagues that I think the only lasting legacies are the memories of friendships made. I went on to sing "The Way We Were", a song chosen to celebrate all the friendships made at LKCMedicine and the memories of moments spent with one another. 

How could most of us believe that in our lifetimes we could contribute sufficiently to leave a lasting legacy? Any achievement we make will very quickly, be forgotten. Those who aspire to make a significant mark hardly leave anything behind to amount to anything in the long run.

The desire to leave lasting legacies found expression in ancient history in the Tower of Babel. The tower of Babel was probably the first mega-building project in history. A building that was to be so gigantic it would be an architectural marvel and would have brought fame and posterity to the people who built it. What were the motives of the builders? What vision did they have in their sight? Gen 11: 4 recorded:

"Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

The tower was to be a centre for their identity, their security, an expression of their community. It was to be something of lasting value and significance to pass on to the world. However, they were attempting to do the whole project without a single reference to God. In the end, the Bible recorded that God destroyed the tower and they became separated from each other in confusion and misunderstanding. Now tragic: Lofty Aims - Great Downfalls.

Most of us do not live special lives. We are seldom called to make great contributions or to perform heroic deeds. If we are feeling too ordinary, St Francis of Assisi gave all of us  a chance to build a simple but lasting legacy. This chance is found in his famous prayer:-

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

The key word to this prayer is the word, instrument. If we are willing to be instruments, God’s instruments then we have the chance to leave behind something more lasting than bricks and mortars. The builders of the tower of Babel had got it all wrong while St Francis of Assisi got it all right.

May our aspirations instead be "Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace"

Lionel

Grace is free but not cheap

"I know your deeds, you have a reputation of being alive but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds not complete in the sight of my God." Revelations 3:1

In these days of instant coffee and noodles, we expect gratification to come quickly and cheaply. This instantaneous on-off feel-good emotions have permeated into the Christian experience in entertaining worship services found in some churches. The loud expressions of praise and worship give the impression of lively and vibrant congregations. 

The prosperity gospel teaches that it is a Christian entitlement to good health and wealth. God will always provide happiness and prosperity to be appropriated by faith and prayer. In Matthew 5:45, Jesus said, in relation to loving your enemies, "He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous". This tells us that we should never assume that it will 'not rain on our parade'. Indeed beneath this veneer of worship enthusiasm and prayer guarantees lurks an insidious immaturity that expects rewards without effort and blessings without giving. This is Christianity without depth. 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian spoke out against this pervasive false Christianity and called this 'cheap grace'. He was an exceptional person, a Christian clergyman who challenged Hitler publicly; even returning to Germany to speak out against the regime, after having escaped for a time to England and America. The Nazis arrested him in 1943. Himmler ordered him hanged in April, 1945.

Bonhoeffer wrote an insightful book, "The Cost of Discipleship". For Bonhoeffer, the book became a personal prophetic fulfillment; he paid the ultimate price of his life for his Christian faith and beliefs by exposing the evils when so many of his fellow theologians and churchmen colluded with the Nazi movement. 

He wrote these words, “Cheap Grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ. Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field, for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Costly grace is costly because it calls us to follow. It is costly because it cost God the life of His Son: “You were bought at a price (1 Cor 7:23) and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us."

The Bible has something to say about these churches who expound cheap grace. Such churches received the condemnation of Rev 3:1. In contrast authentic Christianity requires commitment and service, a radical discipleship. In his book, The Radical Disciple, John Stott stated, "Many of us avoid radical discipleship by being selective, choosing rather those areas by which commitment is appealing and steering well clear of areas where it will be costly.  

Lionel

http://www.ushmm.org/bonhoeffer/

The Prodigal Father

"The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand" Psalms 37:23-24

The celebrated Rembrandt painting, 'The Return of the Prodigal Son' has a prominent place at the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. Staring at it, I was quickly drawn to the figure of the father in resplendent red. Rembrandt's portrayal of the father captures the divine act of compassion in a most human person.

This was the moment when the father received his errant son back into the family with unconditional love and forgiveness. The father that Rembrandt chose to paint is that of an aging blind man. The significance is not lost to any repentant sinner; God is 'blind' to our excesses when we return to Him like this prodigal son.

I entitled this post the Prodigal Father to express the largess and magnanimity of this old man. This blind old man in red was not concerned about himself. He loved unconditionally, caring only for son. He gave without expecting anything in return. Seldom will one experience this kind of love.

George Matheson, preacher and theologian, was born on 27th March 1842. After excelling at school he entered Glasgow University where he studied Classics, Logic and Philosophy. He graduated with first class honours when he was only 19 years old but a deep tragedy was being worked out in his life.  He had an incurable condition that would eventually result in total blindness. Whilst at University he had met and fallen in love with a girl who was a fellow student and they were planning to get married. He broke the news of his impending blindness to her, would she still marry him? To his deep sadness her blunt answer came to him with the force of a dagger to his heart, “I do not want to be the wife of a blind man” she said – and with that they parted. George never did marry but he learnt soon enough that there was another love and this love is enduring - the love of Christ for the sinner. He penned these words 

"O Love that wilt not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in thee;

I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be."

When the prodigal son forsook his father and took his inheritance, he expected the father to disown him. There must have been a deep seated grief in the father when this unfaithful son left. That did not prevent an attitude taking shape in the the father towards this wayward son, a willingness to forgive. This forgiving spirit translates to generosity in the extravagant reception and feasting when the son, returning home was restored to his place and wealth.

King David of Israel confidently wrote in Psalms 23:6, "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever". Unlike David, I am not so confident and ever so often, I need a reality check. Like the prodigal son, I feel that from time to time I will digress, stray and leave. Yet somehow there is a Love that will not let me go. Hence I believe, I will always return. There is a love that burns within us, a love that guarantees that although we may stumble, we will not fall for the Lord upholds us with His hand.

Lionel

True Repentance

The Prodigal Son in Repentance

"If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sins and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

In the heyday of the evangelistic crusades, scores of people answered the altar call to find salvation in Jesus. Despite the emotional outpouring and the prayers to receive Christ, many did not receive salvation. The Bible said that they are like seeds that when sown never took roots and did not bear fruits. Their encounters with Jesus were short-lived and no true conversions took place.

One would assume as these people stepped forward they would regret their sinful nature. They would make a U-turn and return to God and find in Jesus, forgiveness of sin and strength to live a new life. That would be true repentance or t'shuva in Hebrew and it means more than to regret or to feel sorry; it means to turn back. Unfortunately many were led by emotional responses instead of truly repudiating their past lives and sins and then, coming by faith to accept Jesus Christ as their saviour.

J I Packer in his book, Rediscovering Holiness (Ref 1) argued that Christians are called to a life of habitual repentance. Packer pointed out that the very first of Luther's ninety-five thesis, nailed to the Wittenberg church door in 1517, declared: "When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, "Repent" He willed that the whole life of believers should be one of repentance".

What is repentance? J I Packer outlined that repentance means:

• Realistic recognition that one has disobeyed and failed God, doing wrong instead of doing right
• Regretful remorse at the dishonour one has done to the God one is learning to love and wanting to serve
• Reverent requesting of God' pardon, cleansing of conscience, and help to not lapse in the same way again
• Resolute renunciation of the sins in question, with deliberate thought as to how to keep clear of them and live right for the future
• Requisite restitution to any who have suffered material loss through one's wrongdoing.

One example of true repentance is found in the return of the Prodigal Son. This man had disgracefully sought after his inheritance from his father and squandered it in riotous living. He left home with pride and money but he was reduced to looking after pigs, losing all his dignity. He was no longer considered a human being. He was down in the dumps. That was exactly where we were at until we made the choice to return to God. The Prodigal finally came to his senses and made the long journey home.

Repentance is not easy. Its effects must be deep, changing our characters, behaviours and lives. John Wesley said that God has forgiven all on the cross, but not all have repented. After we have repented and found the forgiveness of God, like son and father we are reconciled. This is the same place we should all want to be in; our relationship with God being fully restored. Henri Nouwen wrote in the "Return of the Prodigal Son", (ref 2) "The father's embrace of his son told me that I was desperately searching for the that inner place where I too could be held as safely".

Lionel

Ref 1: J I Packer, "Rediscovering Holiness - Know the Fullness of Life with God". Regal 
Ref 2: Henri Nouwen, "The Return of the Prodigal Son - A story of Homecoming." Image books Doubleday


    

When God Ran

Rembrandt - "Prodigal Son"

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

The Parable of the Prodigal Son could also be renamed the Parable of the Prodigal Father. Prodigal means extravagance. Taken in the light of the son, it is a story of an extravagantly wasteful person, who took his inheritance prematurely from his father and squandered it. However, it also told a story of a father's extravagant love for his son, who in spite of the grievous insults done him, was profusely abundant in forgiveness and reconciliation. 

In one of his last paintings, Rembrandt captured this moment of Christian mercy with solemnity. This picture now hangs in the Hermitage Museum at St Petersburg. Bathed in light against a dark background, viewers of the painting are drawn to the two characters and the emotional homecoming. The son has an appearance of an outcast. Ruined and repulsive, he returned after wasting his heritage in foreign lands. His old father, dressed in rich garments hurried to meet him and received this long-lost son with gentle fatherly love. Henri Nouwen said that Rembrandt painted father and son, compassion and misery, God and humanity.

In a more modern rendition of the event, this amazing grace of a prodigal father was put to song by Benny Hester and John Parenti, “When God Ran". 

Almighty God, the Great I Am

Immovable Rock, 

Omnipotent, Powerful Awesome Lord,

Victorious Warrior 

Commanding King of Kings, Mighty Conqueror

And the only time

The only time run I ever saw Him run

Was when He ran to me

Took me in His arms

Held my head to His chest

Said “My son's come home again"

Lifted my face

Wiped the tears from my eyes

With forgiveness in His voice

He said "Son do you know I still love you?"

It caught me by surprise

It brought me to my knees

When God ran

It might sound strange, but God wants to find us as much as we want to find God. God is not the patriarch who stays at home, doesn't move, and expects his children to come to him, apologise for their aberrant behaviour, beg for forgiveness and promise to do better. On the contrary, he leaves the house, ignoring his dignity by running toward them, pays no heed to apologies and promises of change, and brings them to the table richly prepared for them. Nouwen (Ref 1)

How blessed and fortunate we are! When you next read the parable of the prodigal son, think of the image of a repentant sinner leaning against his father's breast and the old father bending with outstretched arms over his son. This is homecoming, the darkness of human existence, weary and sinful, taking refuge in the illuminating shelter of God's mercy. We are like that, we are walking step by step toward God and He awaits us with open arms to embrace us as we step into the light. 

Lionel

Ref 1: Henri J.M. Nouwen The Return of the Prodigal Son, Image Doubleday 1992