Apabila Bencana Berlaku...

‘Allah mengajar manusia melalui penderitaan
dan menginsafkan mereka melalui kesusahan’ (Ayub 36:15)

Atas sebab hanya Tuhan sahaja yang tahu, Dia mengizinkan bencana berlaku, bukan sahaja kepada orang yang mentaati-Nya tetapi juga kepada orang yang tidak mentaati-Nya. Kepada orang yang baik dan yang jahat. Tuhan Allah mungkin mengizinkan sesuatu bencana buruk berlaku di dalam kehidupan kamu supaya Dia dapat ‘mengajar... dan menginsafkan’ kamu melalui pengalaman itu. Dia mahu supaya kamu mengalihkan pandangan kamu kepada-Nya –sumber keselamatan kita.

Kadang-kadang bencana berlaku kepada kita disebabkan oleh dosa. Ia mungkin disebabkan oleh dosa kita sendiri atau disebabkan oleh dosa orang lain yang tidak mentaati Tuhan. Kadang-kadang ia juga disebabkan oleh perbuatan kita manusia sendiri, seperti peperangan, dan kadang-kadang ia berlaku disebabkan oleh kejadian alam dalam bentuk banjir kilat, kebakaran, kemarau atau ribut petir (saya tiba-tiba teringat tentang kejadian ribut teruk yang berlaku di Miri, Sarawak baru-baru ini).

Walau apa pun yang berlaku kepada kita, iman yang benar percaya bahawa Tuhan Yesus tetap mengasihi kita dan Dia mempunyai rencana-Nya yang baik bagi kita. Roma 8:28 mengatakan bahawa: ‘Kita tahu bahawa Allah mengendalikan segala hal sehingga menghasilkan yang baik bagi orang yang mengasihi Dia dan sudah dipanggil-Nya sesuai dengan rancangan-Nya’. Ini Dia lakukan bagi orang yang mengasihi dan percaya kepada Yesus Kristus Tuhan Allah dan Juruselamat manusia.

Kata-kata akhir...

Saya tahu... saya mungkin memahami... bahawa bencana yang berlaku kepada kamu pada masa ini ialah yang paling mencabar, teramat sedih dan sungguh dahsyat berbanding dengan orang lain (apabila kita ditimpa masalah kita sering berpendapat bahawa masalah kitalah yang paling teruk). Kamu juga mungkin berfikir bahawa semua yang saya kongsikan di artikel ini pernah kamu dengar sebelum ini (malah kamu mungkin juga tahu lebih lagi daripada saya). Pun begitu, izinkan saya berkongsi kebenaran kepada kamu untuk kali yang terakhir di artikel ini: kawan, ingat – hadirat Tuhan akan sentiasa disamping kita, tiada suatu pun yang dapat menggoncangkan kita (baca Mazmur 16:8). Oleh itu, hiduplah dengan tabah dan penuh dengan pengharapan. Tuhan Yesus ada bersama kamu.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Lazy Richard, Wise Solomon, Hardworking Ant and God's Word

“You lazy fool, look at an ant.
Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two”
(Proverbs 6:6 The Message)

Today as I looked up at the blue-wanna-turn-to-dark sky, I saw an eagle.  The eagle looked strong and majesty. But then went I looked down, I saw an ant. There was this little ant that crawls busily about beneath my feet. It wanted to say something to me. I bend down and asked the little ant, “What is it, little thing?” Mr. Ant says… nothing.

After I went back home – a thought comes to mind: Yes! There are some wonderful lessons the ant want to teach me. I looked through the Bible and found out that the wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon, said something about this little insect, “Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise!” (Proverbs 6:6NLT) or in case you might don’t get it, The Message made it simple and straightforward: “You lazy fool, look at an ant. Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two”.

If we want to be wise, God says we must “look at an ant”. Look at God’s lowly little creation. God made them all, and He tells us to “watch it closely”. Maurice Meaterlinck writes, “Today it is accepted as proven that the ant is incontestably one of the noblest, most outrageous, most charitable, most devoted, most generous creatures on earth.”

What lessons did I learned from the ant?

1.      The ant looks ahead and prepares for the future (remember reading Belalang dan Semut children story?)

2.      The ant is always busy.

3.      The ant uses what God provides.

4.      The ant carries burdens many times his own weight (check your Science textbook),

5.      The ant is unselfish (Did you know that “some ants carry on their bodies a little sac they keep filled with honey-like substance which they generously share with the other ants”. I get this from National Geography website).

6.      The ants all work together to build their nests and gather their food.

7.      The ant is cared by God.

Aren’t you glad that God made the animals such as an ant to teach us lessons about life? When I remember back about the little ant that crawls busily about beneath my feet – I remember God’s Word: “Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise!” I thank God for His reminder (“Richard, be wise”) and grateful for His loving-rebuke (‘Richard, don’t be lazy!) – As you finished reading this may you get the same ‘treatment’ as I do. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.
Also read: The Ant Philosophy [CLICK HERE TO READ]

Teologi tentang Iman

“Beriman bererti yakin sungguh-sungguh akan perkara-perkara yang diharapkan, dan mempunyai kepastian akan perkara-perkara yang tidak dapat kita lihat” (Ibrani 11:1).

“Percayalah kepada Tuhan Yesus, lalu kamu akan diselamatkan” (Kisah Rasul-Rasul 16:31).

‘Iman’ yang dinyatakan di dalam Alkitab adalah lebih daripada hanya mempercayai akan sesuatu; ia ialah keyakinan yang kamu sanggup percaya dengan seluruh hidup kamu. Kamu boleh percaya secara teori bahawa ada orang tempatan yang gagah yang boleh membawa kamu menyeberangi Sungai Rajang (atau Batang Rajang di Sarawak) tanpa dimakan oleh buaya; namun adakah kamu betul-betul secara realiti sanggup mempercayai dia untuk membawa kamu menyeberangi sungai itu dengan selamat?

‘Iman’ akan menjawab: ‘Saya sanggup!’

Iman di dalam Kristus bermaksud kamu sanggup mempercayai Dia untuk membawa hidup kamu dengan selamat. Kamu sanggup mentaati Firman-Nya untuk membimbing seluruh kehidupan kamu seperti yang tertulis di dalam Alkitab kerana kamu yakin bahawa ini ialah cara yang terbaik untuk hidup di dalam dan seperti umat Tuhan di Kerajaan Allah [“Engkau memerintah di bumi, dan seperti di syurga” (Matius 6:10)]. Kamu juga sanggup mempertahankan iman kamu kepada Yesus dan tabah apabila diperolok-olokkan dan sanggup bertahan apabila diperlakukan dengan kejam atau diseksa – kerana kamu tahu dan pasti bahawa Tuhan Yesus ialah seperti apa yang Dia katakan: “Sesiapa yang mendengar kata-kata-Ku dan percaya kepada Dia yang mengutus Aku, beroleh hidup sejati dan kekal” (Yohanes 5:24). Kamu juga sanggup mempercayai setiap janji-Nya tentang keselamatan dan hidup kekal bersama Tuhan Allah di syurga.

Ini ialah iman di dalam Kristus!

Adakah definasi ‘iman’ kamu seperti itu?

Adakah iman kamu berpusat, berfokus hanya kepada Yesus?
Jika ya, berbahagialah kamu.
Jika tidak atau tidak pasti... berdoa
dan mintalah ‘iman’ seperti itu dari Bapamu di Syurga.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

'Faith - What It Is and What It Leads To' by C.H. Spurgeon (Free Books Inside!)

Book Review

Since I take John Piper’s advice seriously on reading old books by death-faithful Christian writers for spiritual reading and to absorb their wits and godly insights on the Word of God (in which John Piper took that advice from C.S. Lewis’s writings) – I take my baby-steps to study C.H. Spurgeon’s books. It was so enriching to my soul. Ever since, I have set aside about half of my reading time to read classic books such as Spurgeon’s… This book I offer to you, is one of his best effort to introduce his readers (which mostly laypeople like you and me) about the saving faith in Jesus Christ in a language that we can or able to understand. It is simple enough to read and yet very Bible-based as we want it to be – as every Christian books supposed to be. Here I highly recommended C.H. Spurgeon to guide you to understand what does the Bible really says about ‘Faith’.
Skip your expensive meal today and buy this book!

About C. H. Spurgeon and Book Description
[from Christian Focus Publication Website]

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the great Victorian preacher, was a leading campaigner against Liberal Theology and one of the most influential people of the 2nd half of the 19th Century. He is known as the 'Prince of Preachers'. His sermons drew thousands to his church. Yet, at the heart of his desire to preach was a fierce love of people, a desire that meant that he did not neglect his pastoral ministry.

"God has not put the treasure into the earthen vessel merely for the vessel's own sake, but that the treasure may afterwards be poured out from it, that others may thereby be enriched."

Spurgeon's remark well illustrates his strong belief in passing on to others what he had received from the Lord. He was concerned that faith, essentially a simple thing, was often portrayed in a manner unlikely to be of help to the genuine enquirer. Faith: What It Is and What It Leads to gathers together Spurgeon's thoughts on the subject, presenting a clear view of the exact nature of Christian faith and affording a glimpse of his great concern for those who had not yet put their trust in Christ.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

……………………………

November 2012 Free Books

I’m giving away ONLY 3 copies of Faith: What It Is and What It Leads To by C.H. Spurgeon. You are welcome to get a copy of this book for yourself. I believe and pray that this book will help you to understand Biblically about the faith in Christ – on what it is and what it leads to – as you grow into maturity and into Christ-likeness by God’s grace.

Do these 2 things:

1.     Comment below “Rich, give me one copy___(Your name). I want to understand what the Bible really says about having faith in Christ.”

2.     And E-mail me at Motivates4life@hotmail.com or send message to my Facebook your real name, phone no. and your postal address. Thank you.

Can God Forgive an Ex-Prostitute? (Or Whoever You thought You are)

[Title is mine, but the story I quoted from The Speaker’s Quote Book by Roy B. Zuck (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1997, 2009.  pg. 199)]

One night in a church service a young woman responded to the gospel and accepted Jesus as her Savior. She had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. But the change in her was evident.

As time went on she became a faithful member of the church. She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching the young children. It was not long before this faithful young woman caught the eye and heart of the pastor’s son. Their relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans. This is when the problems began. The church members began to argue about the matter. About half of the church members did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor’s son.

At a meeting, as the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the situation got completely out of hand. The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought about her past. As she began to cry, the pastor’s son could not bear that pain it was causing his wife-to-be. He stood to speak:

“My fiancée’s past is not what on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?”

The whole church began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the blood of Jesus Christ. Forgiveness is foundational to the gospel.

My note:

Forgiveness is not about the magnitude of the sin (in the story above are – alcohol, drugs, and prostitution), but on the magnitude of the Forgiver’s love (Jesus Christ’s love. He died on the cross for you and me). Nothing you’ve done is so bad that God’s complete and unconditional love can’t forgive it (unless you consciously deny His forgiveness on the cross). Hey, no matter how seriously you’ve messed up, it will never be enough for God to turn His back on you. He is offering forgiveness – ask Him for it. The Scripture confirmed it: “’Come now let’s settle this,’ says the LORD. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them white as wool’” (Isaiah 1:18NLT). How? By the blood of Jesus Christ.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Selepas Menonton Televisyen, saya pun Menulis...

 “Kristus Yesus, harapan kita” (1 Timotius 1:1)

Hampir semua berita di surat khabar, setiap laporan di televisyen and setiap buletin di radio hari ini secara tidak langsung mengisytiharkan satu hakikat kebenaran yang mutlak: dunia kita sekarang berada dalam keadaan huru-hara... dan tiada seorang pun yang mempunyai penyelesaiannya. Ini ialah masalah utama kita manusia.

Seluruh dunia sedang menyeru siang dan malam untuk mendapatkan ‘pengharapan’ (hope), tetapi apa yang kedengaran ialah hanya bisikkan tipu muslihat belaka dan omong-omong kosong sahaja (‘omong-omong’, betul ka ayat tu?). Ahli-ahli falsafah, para-para pengajar, pakar-pakar ramalan dan media-media tempatan dan luar negara sering kali memberikan idea-idea penyelesaian mereka. Namun begitu, idea-idea terbaik yang ditawaran kelihatan sangat bodoh apabila diteliti dengan lebih dekat lagi. Buat masa sekarang, tidak ada petunjuk-petunjuk yang positif yang dapat memberikan jawapan untuk permasalahan ini... dunia kita masih lagi menyeru untuk mendapatkan ‘pengharapan’. Ya, malah lebih kuat lagi daripada sebelumnya.

Sebenarnya, kita masih lagi ada harapan. Kita masih lagi ada masa. Disebabkan kegagalan kita untuk menjawab permasalahan ini, kita ada peluang untuk bertaubat dan terus mencari pembaharuan yang baru dalam hidup kita. Sekiranya kita menyedari akan kegagalan kita untuk cuba hidup tanpa Tuhan dan berpaling daripada kebodohan dan ketidaktaatan kita kepada-Nya, kita mungkin beroleh belas-kasihan dan pengampunan daripada Tuhan Yesus.

Berita-berita disekeliling kita ialah ‘amaran’ dari Tuhan kepada dunia yang berdosa masakini. Berita-berita yang ditayangkan di kaca televisyen ialah seakan-akan ‘pembayang’ kepada pekerjaan Tuhan yang memanggil kita kepada –Nya. Berita-berita yang diudarakan di radio pula seperti sebuah ‘peringatan’ kepada kita bahawa Tuhan masih lagi terus menyeru supaya kita akan datang kepada-Nya untuk pengharapan yang sempurna melalui Yesus Kristus. Sehingga sekarang, Tuhan masih lagi memanjangkan kedatangan-Nya untuk kali kedua supaya kita masih lagi berpeluang untuk menerima Yesus Kristus sebagai Tuhan dan Juruselamat kita dan mendapatkan kehidupan yang kekal dan abadi bersama-Nya.

Masa sudah semakin suntik, namun kita masih lagi ada harapan – Kamu masih lagi ada masa. Firman Tuhan berkata, “Allah sangat mengasihi orang di dunia ini sehingga Dia memberikan Anak-Nya [Yesus Kristus] yang tunggal, supaya setiap orang yang percaya kepada Anak itu tidak binasa tetapi beroleh kehidupan sejati dan kekal” (Yohanes 3:16). Inilah pengharapan yang paling agung sekali yang kita harus miliki. Kita tidak boleh menyelamatkan diri kita daripada belenggu dosa – bukan dengan pekerjaan kita, bukan dengan kebaikan kita – tetapi oleh pekerjaan Tuhan sendiri dan kebaikan-Nya yang besar kepada kita. Sebab itu Firman mengatakan Tuhan ‘memberikan’; ini kasih kurnia-Nya, tapi kamu mesti percaya.

Ini ialah pengharapan yang teragung dan yang terakhir kepada manusia. Inilah pengharapan yang dunia perlukan. Kawan, ini ialah satu-satunya pengharapan bagi kita dan seluruh umat manusia.

Sudahkah kamu memiliki pengharapan ini?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Forget about the Box, Let Me taste the Chocolate First

“Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right” (Proverbs 20:11NLT)

During lunch break at Cameron Highland, I went to a shop to buy a strawberry chocolate. When I opened it, I was surprised by how small is the amount of chocolate compare to its box! The box is nicely-design and the image is watery-delicious. But not it’s contain; the taste is just plain and less-chocolaty. All other chocolate is fine thus far, but I promise I won’t buy this particular brand next time!

This experience remind me of a proverb, “Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right” (Proverbs 20:11). I learned that the quality of the chocolate is not to be judge by its cover (pious look), but must be back-up by it content (character). If someone says he or she is a godly person, his or her words can only be proven by consistent actions. Appearances (nicely-design boxes) and words (its brand) are deceiving; behavior (the chocolate taste) is the best judge of character.  This illustration and Bible truth is applies to all of us: what we do or our deed is the best proof of our true character.

As follower of Jesus Christ, we demonstrate our love for Him by ‘the way [we] act’, not just by what we say (or in my case, not just by the words I use). May you and I, as we confess our devotion and love to God, as God had love us first, let us revealed that love in our actions – daily.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.