Maranatha

'For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God and the the dead in Christ will rise  first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them to meet the lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.' 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Maranatha, מרנאתא is an Aramaic word which means Our Lord, Come. It is occurs in the Bible only once in the closing chapters of the book of 1 Corinthians, 1 Cor 16:22. It is understood to be an early prayer for the early return, otherwise known as the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Many people use this word as a mantra in their meditation in the tradition of John Main. John Douglas Main, OSB (1926 - 1982) was a Benedictine monk and Roman Catholic Priest who taught a way of meditation which used a simple prayer-phase or mantra repetitively. He taught, "Not only is this one of the most ancient Christian prayers, in the language Jesus spoke, but it also has a harmonic quality that helps to bring the mind to silence." (Ref 1). This practice lives on in the ecumenical network of Christian meditation groups known as the World Community for Christian Meditation led by another Benedictine monk, Father Laurence Freeman, OSB. 

The prayer-phrase, Maranatha, expresses the longing for the second coming of Jesus Christ. The closing verses of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, reveals this expectation,

'He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.' Revelation 22:20  

Today, the second coming of Jesus Christ, is not often taught in the churches but in the early days of Christianity, the church expected an imminent return; a relief to the severe persecutions they faced from the Jews and the Romans. Since then at times of depravity, hardships, crisis and persecutions, Christian circles have often prayed this prayer, Maranatha!

One of the best sermons on the topic was given by Billy Graham. This was a no-holds-barred sermon on the second coming of Christ given in 1990 in Albany, New York. This is a sermon worth listening to, it's thorough and given with the passion and honesty that was Billy Graham's. 

When we pray 'Come Lord Jesus' and when we meditate 'Maranatha' we should, just as Billy Graham warned, be ready at all times for His coming again. The Bible says

'But the day of the Lord will come like a thief...what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.' 2 Peter 3:10a, 11b and 12. 

Jesus spoke of His second coming warning us to be on our guard, that is, to be ready. Many will be oblivious towards God and living in debauchery as in the days of Noah. We are told to be different.

'But about that day or hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, not the Son but only the Father. As in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.'  Matthew 24:36-39 

Jesus' warning that many will not be ready in Matthew 24:40-41 was put into a song written by Larry Norman, 'I Wish We'd All Been Ready' 

Life was filled with guns and war

And everyone got trampled on the floor

I wish we'd all been ready

Children died the days grew cold

A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold

I wish we'd all been ready

There's no time to change your mind

The Son has come and you've been left behind

A man and wife asleep in bed

She hears a noise and turns her head, he's gone

I wish we'd all been ready

Two men walking up a hill

One disappears and one's left standing still

I wish we'd all been ready

There's no time to change your mind

How could you have been so blind

The father spoke the demons dined

The Son has come and you've been left behind

You've been left behind

We are told to keep watch,

'Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.' Matthew 24:42

Saint Paul interpreted this readiness as keeping the faith, practicing love and keeping hope in God. Instead of debauchery St Paul urged us all to be sober,

'Let us be sober, putting on faith and love as breastplate, and the hope of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our lord Jesus Christ.' I Thessalonians 5:8-9

Do not be left behind! Be sure of your salvation!

Lionel

Ref 1: John Main, Biography, theschoolofmeditation.org.

The Beauty of Holiness

Wakatipu Lake South Island New Zealand

'Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.' Psalms 29:2

Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan in a sermon given on the 27 May 2007 at Charis Methodist posited that a person who is Spirit-filled will manifest the Beauty of Holiness. 

This is a distinctive thought or lesson so different from the usual ones we would associate with sermons on the Holy Spirit. Often ‘Holy Spirit’ sermons will emphasize the external display of spectacular gifts; such gifts can then be utilized for evangelism and mission e.g. the gifts of miracles and healing. But  Rev Yeo expounded on an inner gift, an inner beauty, arguing that such a gift will attract others to Jesus. 

Rev Yeo told the story of a Christian businessman who ran a holiday centre, a ranch, for tourists. He also wanted to witness and evangelize the gospel to his tourist guests without being too direct and intrusive. His method was to recruit the hospitality staff at his centre by asking 3 questions: Do you like work? Do you like life? Do you love Jesus? Depending on their answers he would engage the staff for this enterprise.  

Soon his guests began asking him how he managed to get so many attractive staff. The guests noted certain qualities in the attitude of the staff; the way they carried out their work, their zest for life. These became evidence of a rich Christian witness at the centre. The guests became so attracted by the life-style Christianity of the staff that they were eager to know about Jesus

The Bishop of Winchester in a sermon 16 Jul 2006 stated, 'There is a fundamental beauty of holiness; which is the holy life, obedient to the truth of God in Jesus, humbly and penitently expectant of his changing us into his likeness from glory to glory so that we embody and express the love of Jesus in every aspect of our lives.' 

It is thus not surprising that Rev Yeo should preach that the key to a Spirit-filled Life lies in the transformation from within and not the display of the external. This transformation occurs as we bear the fruit of the Spirit in our character

'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance. kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.' Galatian 5:22-23a

The Spirit-filled person receives the beauty of holiness not by acquiring, as in religious practices or religious education, but by gazing upon the beauty of the Lord, that is, by seeking God.

“One thing I asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and seek Him in His temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in His dwelling: He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.”  Psalms 27:4-5

What does it mean to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and seek His presence? To gaze at the Lord, is to become contemplative, to spend time in God's presence and to meditate. 

I wrote in my journal in May 2004 after reading Psalms 27,

 

'If you dwell in His shelter which is staying faithful in the Lord and within His protection; and gaze upon his beauty thus being able to is appreciate worship and the beauty of God’s holiness; then you should realise how fortunate you are to have gained this gift of insight. Seek after Him, yearn for this meaningful relationship with God. He will do three things for you. 

• He will keep you safe - He will be with you in times of trouble and keep you from harm and danger. 
• He will shelter you – not only your physical self but also your thoughts and feelings, from the emotional storms that may beset you in this world. 
• You will be set upon a rock - that is He shall lift you high so that you can see far ahead and have a good perspective of life - a personal spiritual vision. 

However, it will be very tragic, having received our blessings and realising our fortune, that we stay still within our safe comfort zones. Instead girded by such promises of security and safety we should go out, reach out and touch somebody.'

When we possess the Spirit-filled qualities, we become attractive people, not by external physical attraction but by the winsomeness of an inner character. We become influential people. 

Should we desire to have that winsomeness, the beauty of holiness? Man has the ability to discern beauty when it is really there. Beauty attracts us like bees to honey. 

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you!

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me

All His wonderful passion and purity

O, Thou, Spirit divine, all my nature refine

Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me

 

Let my wonderful Saviour be seen in me

His amazing compassion and constancy

His great love is my goal, by His Spirit’s control

Till my wonderful Saviour be seen in me

 

Let the fruit of the Spirit be seen in me

Grant me grace all sufficient that I may be

True and faithful each day, ev’ry step of the way

Pointing souls to the Saviour on Calvary

Psalms 29:2. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness does not just mean in the settings of nature or in churches and cathedrals but also in the beauty of our characters.

Lionel

Updated 1st Published 27 May 2007

There Is A Higher Throne

'At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.' Rev 4:2-3

There are two stories of hope during dismal times, to tell.

It was at the height of the the Thirty Years War in Europe, 1618 to 1648, which took an estimated 6-8 million lives and Martin Rinkart, a German Lutheran pastor served in the walled German town of Eillenburg. The town became a refuge from the ravages of war in the surrounding countryside and soon it became overcrowded with the people living in unhygienic squalid conditions. A epidemic of Bubonic plague raged through the city and many died. At the beginning there were four ministers in the town but soon Rinkart was the only one left when two died and the other fled the city. It was said that Rinkart had to conduct more than 4000 funerals as many as 40-50 per day. His wife was also a victim.  

Thirty Years War Sebastiaan Vranc, Plunder of Wommelgem, Dusseldorf Museum

Yet despite the many years of suffering Martin Rinkart experienced, he was able to pen one of the most famous Protestant hymn, 'Now Thank We All Our God'. It was translated to English by Catherine Winkworth.

Now thank we all our God,
with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done,
in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms
has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace,
and guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills,
in this world and the next!

All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given;
The Son and Him Who reigns
with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God,
whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.

Patmos is a small Greek Island in the Aegean Sea to which John the Apostle was exiled at the height of persecution believed to be instigated by the Roman Emperor Domitian. This was the second persecution of Christians undertaken by the Roman Emperors. Among the numerous martyrs was Simeon, Bishop of Jerusalem and the Apostle John. St John was said to be boiled in oil and afterwards banished to Patmos. The book of Revelation in 1:9 recorded, 

'I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word and testimony of Jesus.'

Jean Leon Jerome, Christian Martyrs' Last Prayer 

At Patmos, St John received the vision that led to the writing of Revelation. There was a celestial worship service described in Revelation 4. 

'After this I looked and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and i will show you what must take place after this." Rev 4:1

'Day and night, they never stop saying: "Holy, Holy Holy is the Lord Almighty, who was and is and is to come." Rev 4:8b

'They lay with crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for You created all things and by your will they were created and have their being."

Just like Martin Rinkart, Keith and Kristyn Getty put this heavenly worship service to song, 'There Is A Higher Throne' to song. 

There is a higher throne

Than all this world has known

Where faithful ones from every tongue

Will one day come

Before the Son we'll stand

Made faultless through the Lamb

Believing hearts find promised grace

Salvation comes

Hear heaven's voices sing

Their thunderous anthem rings

Through emerald courts and sapphire skies

Their praises rise

All glory, wisdom, power

Strength, thanks and honour are

To God our King who reigns on high

For evermore

And there we'll find our home

Our life before the throne

We'll honour Him in perfect song

Where we belong

He'll wipe each tear-stained eye

As thirst and hunger die

The Lamb comes as our Shepherd King

We'll reign with him. 

Why, in the face of hardship, persecution and suffering would St John the Apostle and Martin Rinkart think of worshipping God? Jesus said,

'In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.' John 16:33b

The future is securely in God's control. He is on the throne.

Lionel

Inspired by a sermon given by Preacher Aphichai Chenrungrotsakun (a.k.a Loong) on the 26 Dec 2021 at Charis Methodist Church

A Decade Of Challenge, A Decade of Courage

Sunrise at Mount Sinai, Egypt

'Be strong and take Courage.' Joshua 1:6

We have just entered the year 2022. Looking back at the past two years, we have had a load of bad news, the pandemic, climate change, regime changes and oppression of people. The decade of 2020 will most likely be remembered as the decade of challenges. Facing the pandemic and the speed of coronavirus mutations, we should brace ourselves for the challenges ahead

• Coronavirus. The world fights for world health in an unprecedented manner. Every country in the world faced their up and down battles against this virus. Just as the vaccination and immunity rates improve and the spread attenuated, the virus changes character and a new variant appears. The health care systems and the health workers of every country work fearlessly and tirelessly. Perhaps, the virus, to survive in nature will eventually mutate into a less virulent albeit more contagious to become  commensal in the environment and people. Then, our healthcare systems will be able to manage the disease and prevail. 

• Commerce. World trade took a hit as countries, even states within a large country shut down their borders in attempts to minimise the spread of the disease. Many countries dipped into their reserves or incurred debts. The rich lose some of their wealth but the poor suffered the most. Eventually new ways of commerce such as online shopping will be the way for buying and selling in the future. The world will eventually come up with new or updated trade to find new ways for doing business.

• Communication. World travel became almost non-existent and is taking quite a long while to recover. Passenger traffic now requires vaccination lanes. Although some world tourists have taken few small steps to go overseas, the tourism industry is largely curtailed. Communications have gone on a virtual mode and soon 3-D virtual reality technology will allow us to 'travel the world' while remaining at home.

• Community. Social restrictions and distancing have curtailed face to face communications and group camaraderie. Perhaps the social mores of building community will take on a different mode. International community by ways of Zoom, WhatsApp, Telegram and other technological platform become possible with multinational chatgroups. But the physical endearments such as hugs & kisses may be lost.

In his New Year Message, the Prime Minister of Singapore said that the Covid-19 pandemic has been a crucible of fire for this generation of Singaporeans.  The country has had to take drastic measures to protect lives and livelihood. (Straits Times 1 Jan 2022). This is not unique to Singapore, every country in the world faced waves after waves of the Corona virus in its myriad forms and variants. 

It will be a brave new world to face for 2022 and beyond. One can imagine the same trepidation the Israelites faced as they left Goshen in Egypt, to step onto the soil of the Sinai Desert. There were many uncertainties in the harsh and arid desert, drought, hunger, pestilences and unfriendly tribes. As they began the journey, Moses and the Israelites sang,  

'The Lord is my strength and my defence; He has become my salvation. He is my God and I will praise Him, my father's God and I will exalt Him. The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name."  Exodus 15:2-3 

Uncertainties for the decade of 2020 cause fear, a natural response. Similarly after a trying 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites were poised for the conquest of Canaan. They had heard of the Canaanite walled cities and the strength of their armies. On top of that there was a leadership change, Moses died and the baton passed on to Joshua. Confronted with these fears, they must remain courageous. There were battles to be fought. What fueled their courage? Faith in the promises of God. 

'You will not fear the terror by night, nor the arrow by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.' Psalms 91:5-6

Understandably we all feel nervous as we anticipate the rest of the 2020 decade. The same fear gripped Joshua when he took over command from Moses as he stood poised to cross over the Jordan river. The Lord was mindful of Joshua's fears, in the opening chapter of the Book of Joshua, God reassured him four times, 'Be Strong and Courageous.'  

'Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.' Joshua 1:9

Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong also rallied Singaporeans in his New Year message. (Straits Times 1 Jan 2022). He said, "We can confidently say that we have measured up as one people. Looking ahead, confronted with longer term challenges, we must maintain the same unity of purpose, fortitude of spirit and willingness to accept difficult measures in order to overcome them decisively and overcome them together."

That is the rallying cry of an able secular leader. God's people standing at the edge of the Jordan river also needed a stirring speech to secure their nationhood and future. But there is a difference in the message of Joshua, a spiritual leader; Joshua added the certainty of the presence of God. The assurance of God's presence will allow us to face the uncertain decade.

'Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge.' Psalms 91:1-4

Another year is dawning and we brace ourselves for what will come; always knowing that the presence of the Lord is with us.

1. Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
   In working or in waiting, another year with Thee;
   Another year of progress, another year of praise,
   Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.
2. Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
   Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
   Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
   Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.
3. Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
   Another year of training for holier work above;
   Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
   On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.

Happy New Year!

Lionel

I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day

Church Bells, Corfu

'You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills will burst forth into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.' Isaiah 55:12

This will be the second Christmas we will have under Covid-19 restrictions. The shops bravely open and Orchard Road is lighted up. But I doubt that there will be much festivities this Christmas. The number of tourists will be almost negligible, there will be no singing of carols in the churches nor in the shops.

It will be quite a dismal celebration of Christmas. But these two years are not without precedence. Christmas was hardly celebrated in the two World Wars and during world crises throughout history.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, America's celebrated poet lived through a tragic Christmas season during the American Civil War, when he wrote the Christmas carol, 'I heard the Bells on Christmas Day.' in 1863. Bishop Gordon Wong introduced me to this carol in a recent sermon. 

I heard the bells on Christmas day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men

I thought how, as the day had come

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along th' unbroken song

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:

"There is no peace on earth," I said,

"For hate is strong, and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; 

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, goodwill to men."

Till ringing, singing on its way,

The world revolved from night to day

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men

When we peruse the lyrics of the carol, we will probably conclude that this carol is most appropriate for this Covid-19 Christmas, although we are not sure how many church bells will be pealing on the 25 Dec 2021. The carol started with despair but ended in hope. 

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Longfellow had fallen into a depression in 1861 when his wife Frances died in a fire. She had been sealing envelopes with hot wax when her clothes caught fire. The death marked a low point in Longfellow’s life. His physical appearance changed dramatically as he began growing his beard because the burns disfigured his face.

In 1863, Longfellow suffered another blow. His son Charley ran off to enlist in the 1st Massachusetts Artillery. In November, Charley was wounded in battle. Henry Longfellow was full of grief and started questioning the promise of peace announced at the first and every Christmas. In despair he wrote, 'There is no peace on earth, for hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on earth good will to men. 

But in the pealing of the bells, he found a message that peace would come to the troubled nation as well as to Longfellow's troubled mind. He started a follow on stanza with the conclusion, 'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail. With peace on earth, the right prevail.' 

Longfellow's message was penned in the poem Christmas Bells. The Christian group Casting Crowns provided an updated version of the old carol.  

   

Christmas cards featuring the manger scene, with angels, shepherds and barn animals well positioned around the Holy Family give us the wrong impression that at the time of Jesus' birth it was a peaceful. In reality, Jesus lived through a time that was a powder keg for rebellion and terrorist activities. The Romans occupied Israel and with it came oppressive rule. The Judeans were subjected to tyrannical governors and puppet kings such as Pontius Pilate and Herod. Those times were anything but peaceful. Nevertheless Jesus' birth brought the hope for peace,

'For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be on His shoulders. And He shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end.' Isaiah 9:6-7 

How can we find peace despite dismal circumstances with every Christmas? Peace during turmoil? Perhaps it should first be found in a person. After having inner peace, we can be at peace with others. Father John Main (Ref 1) stated, 'Peace is a noble objective and a unifying one. In many of the sacred scriptures of both the eastern and western traditions this goal is described as the state of blessedness, of glory, of salvation or simply of life. The sense of being fully, humanly alive.' 

It takes courage to express a time for peace in the midst turmoil, crisis, disaster and war. Even so, every Christmas before, during and after wars and pandemics continues to express the message: Peace on earth, goodwill towards men. The Christmas bells rang out in the last stanza of the carol,

 

Till ringing, singing on its way,

The world revolved from night to day

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men

Shalom!

Lionel

Ref 1. Paul Tharris and Laurence Freeman (editors), Silence and Stillness in Every Season, Daily Readings with John Main.