Thursday, January 15, 2009
Just finished reading the ninth chapter of the book "Driven by Eternity" by Rev John Bevere. This book talks about, like what the title speaks of, eternity in essence. Throughout the book, I find that the emphasis on the judgement of God quite heavy, but yet the love element of God described balances it up appropriately. Nonetheless, this book is an interesting and worthwhile book to read as it reminds us to live our lives not for the now, but for the eternity. As we stand before God one day, all that is not in line with the will of God will be burned up. It may be a majority or it may be a minority of our time and effort on this earth depending on how we live our lives. God will also want us to give an account of the souls He has entrusted us to take care of.
This book sets me thinking about eternity and the things that I am doing now on earth. Personally, I did not lead alot of people to Christ even though I may have sown some seeds along the paths of some. There is one brother whom I remember vividly three years back when I led him to Christ while doing door to door knocking and sharing the four spiritual laws, one of the reaching out events through a camp by Campus Crusade for Christ. He responded after a simple sharing of a small booklet concerning basic spiritual truths and I led him in the sinners' prayer. However, after that, I just submitted his name to the committee people but never really did a close followup on him thereafter. Although I have been trying hard to invite him to church on several occasions, but due to the delay in time, we grew distant from each other and he became quite reluctant in meeting me up since then. I have tried to invite him for Christmas services last year and the year before but yet, he would have something on and in the end couldnt make it. But I thank God that at least he is still keeping in touch with me and there is still a chance in which I can really follow up on him and bring him back to discipleship. I guess through this book, the issue of being responsible for the souls that God has entrusted into my hands surfaced. Even though I was still quite a new believer that time, it still is my responsibility to guide him and lead him properly after getting him saved. Imagine if this was accounted for and I wasnt able to give a proper account of his life before God. I will be found guilty of being irresponsible and negligent in God's entrustment to me!!
As such it is very important that the things we do now reflect the heartbeat of God.
True enough, like what the book mentioned, there may be 1000 good things that we do externally. But God not only judges our words and actions, He judges our minds, hearts, motives, everything! All those that are done in secret shall be exposed under His scrutiny and everything shall be reviewed. As I think back, it may be the time when I stole $10 from my brother just to donate to charity in front of my friends during primary school days to make myself look good, or it may be the time I helped my juniors in army cheat in their tests just so that credit can be given to me as being a good and hardworking instructor. All these although, seemingly appear good on the outside, shall be burnt away under God's light as it reveals all the wrong motives and intentions that I had in "doing good".
Eternity is a difficult thing. The bible says that it is hard for men to understand eternity but He still chose to put eternity in our hearts. Although our minds and senses cannot fully comprehend eternity, but the eternal depths of HIs love and mercy shall always exist and endures with us forever and ever.
God bless~