Christmas Day Thoughts
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” – Jesus, from John 10:9-11
This is where I think C.S. Lewis draws his inspiration from for the “Wardrobe”, the magical portal into Narnia. But Jesus is not just Aslan; he is the Gate itself through which we enter – to find pasture.
As yet another very rich and full year draws to an end, it is apt to give thanks to how God sustains us. I would characterize this year, in terms of events, as The Year Daniel Joined the Lau Family @ Spottiswoode. The first eight months of pregnancy, followed by his delivery on 16 Aug 05, and four exciting and trying months of learning more about him. It’s been a ride!
In terms of spiritual growth, I learnt many lessons. First and foremost is the importance of having peace and joy in our lives no matter what happens. I have actually borne much disappointment and bitterness at work (for the heavy workload that is often frustrating and stressful) and at home (for the lack of personal freedom and space now that Daniel needs me (and Ruth) more than I have ever been felt “needed” before). Through all these struggles, God’s voice is clear – Bim, you have been saved to do good works; out of utter darkness I’ve saved you for a rich and full life you don’t deserve. It is during these moments when I understand who I am, where I am, that the sweetness of knowing Christ and having secured salvation through Him that peace and joy flows. Bitterness (or Christian sourness as one writer puts it), is the root of fruitless living, and a smack in God’s face for all that He has done for us. How can we not be grateful?
The other thing that I’ve really gained this year, is a better perspective of heaven. In John Chapman’s “A Sinner’s Guide to Holiness”, he hit home when he observed that some Christians don’t want “holiness” to spoil the fun. “oh god, let me be naughty a little while longer… I’ll repent in due time.” I’ve also found that many Christians don’t look forward to heaven. In the land of plenty and comfort, we often mistake the pleasures of this World as more enticing than whatever heaven can be. We often lament that we’re going to miss this or that when we go to heaven and that it would be so “boring” just singing praises all day long. Not true!!! That is the beginning of the seed of unbelief. The proud among us will echo the words of Victor Hugo “an intelligent hell will be better than a stupid paradise.” We characterize hell as fun and full of intelligent company. How hideously sinful are those thoughts! What Hell is, we should not be uncertain at all. And neither should we be uncertain about Heaven. I think it is one of the saddest thing of modern day Christianity that we’re so occupied with God’s help for our present living, that we forget that he has already prepared a wonderful place for us – NOT in this world, but in heaven. So we are called to persevere and press on, to run the good race, so we can receive our reward in heaven.
I’ve also been thinking a good deal about praying. Often, I find myself praying, but not believing that God will either bother about my trivial requests, or is even listening. A few things became clear to me this year:
The Christian walk is a difficult one, which is doomed to failure by own strength; but it aided and sustained by God himself. What comfort that is!
So as I look back this year, and wonder at how rich and full it has been, I am truly thankful this Christmas that we live on this side of eternity – Christ’s advent is the turning point for human history – collectively, and as individuals. Without Christ, we’re merely bacteria living on the surface of a planet spun from dust – and indeed, to dust we will return.
This is where I think C.S. Lewis draws his inspiration from for the “Wardrobe”, the magical portal into Narnia. But Jesus is not just Aslan; he is the Gate itself through which we enter – to find pasture.
As yet another very rich and full year draws to an end, it is apt to give thanks to how God sustains us. I would characterize this year, in terms of events, as The Year Daniel Joined the Lau Family @ Spottiswoode. The first eight months of pregnancy, followed by his delivery on 16 Aug 05, and four exciting and trying months of learning more about him. It’s been a ride!
In terms of spiritual growth, I learnt many lessons. First and foremost is the importance of having peace and joy in our lives no matter what happens. I have actually borne much disappointment and bitterness at work (for the heavy workload that is often frustrating and stressful) and at home (for the lack of personal freedom and space now that Daniel needs me (and Ruth) more than I have ever been felt “needed” before). Through all these struggles, God’s voice is clear – Bim, you have been saved to do good works; out of utter darkness I’ve saved you for a rich and full life you don’t deserve. It is during these moments when I understand who I am, where I am, that the sweetness of knowing Christ and having secured salvation through Him that peace and joy flows. Bitterness (or Christian sourness as one writer puts it), is the root of fruitless living, and a smack in God’s face for all that He has done for us. How can we not be grateful?
The other thing that I’ve really gained this year, is a better perspective of heaven. In John Chapman’s “A Sinner’s Guide to Holiness”, he hit home when he observed that some Christians don’t want “holiness” to spoil the fun. “oh god, let me be naughty a little while longer… I’ll repent in due time.” I’ve also found that many Christians don’t look forward to heaven. In the land of plenty and comfort, we often mistake the pleasures of this World as more enticing than whatever heaven can be. We often lament that we’re going to miss this or that when we go to heaven and that it would be so “boring” just singing praises all day long. Not true!!! That is the beginning of the seed of unbelief. The proud among us will echo the words of Victor Hugo “an intelligent hell will be better than a stupid paradise.” We characterize hell as fun and full of intelligent company. How hideously sinful are those thoughts! What Hell is, we should not be uncertain at all. And neither should we be uncertain about Heaven. I think it is one of the saddest thing of modern day Christianity that we’re so occupied with God’s help for our present living, that we forget that he has already prepared a wonderful place for us – NOT in this world, but in heaven. So we are called to persevere and press on, to run the good race, so we can receive our reward in heaven.
I’ve also been thinking a good deal about praying. Often, I find myself praying, but not believing that God will either bother about my trivial requests, or is even listening. A few things became clear to me this year:
- God wants us to pray – just as communication is the lifeblood of any relationship; he craves to hear us, and so we him
- We must believe God listens to our prayers; unbelieving prayer is an insult to God and a waste of time
- We should pray for all things and for all the people in our lives
The Christian walk is a difficult one, which is doomed to failure by own strength; but it aided and sustained by God himself. What comfort that is!
So as I look back this year, and wonder at how rich and full it has been, I am truly thankful this Christmas that we live on this side of eternity – Christ’s advent is the turning point for human history – collectively, and as individuals. Without Christ, we’re merely bacteria living on the surface of a planet spun from dust – and indeed, to dust we will return.
1 Comments:
More than just a few Christians -- did not St Augustine say "da mihi castitatem et continentam, sed noli modo"? Or rather, give to me chastity and celibacy -- but not now?
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