A remnant will take root...

Why do good people, God's children, have to endure persecution and suffering? There are plenty of preachers preaching prosperity, name it and claim it, preaching that if you are a child of God, you will have all that you want in your life. They preach all pain and sickness is from the devil or you are suffering because of some past sins that you are not even aware of.

The Bible does not teach you that once you become a believer, accept Christ as your savior, your life in this world will be a life of comfort and smooth sailing. In fact, my experience has been that as you desire to walk with God, he takes you through a process of causing a transformation in your life, the way you think, your desires, your wants, and how you go about achieving a means to an end.  He takes you on a path allowing for your faith to grow.  Only when our faith grows, matures, can we see the true glory of God, the LORD of LORDS, the KING of Kings, a Master over all circumstances !

King Hezekiah was a god fearing king of Israel. Though his father was the evil King Ahaz who turned Israel to idolatry, under Hezekiah's rule he undertook many religious reforms to bring Israel back to worship Jehovah, the God of their ancestor David.  Yet we read in the Bible, this god fearing king went through many difficulties in life. We read in Isaiah 37 about a siege by King Senacherib of Assyria around the kingdom of King Hezekiah.  In the beginning of the siege Hezekiah prayed to God for deliverance and God's promise of deliverance came through his prophet.  In Verse 29, we read that God said through Isaiah regarding King Senacherib, "And because of your arrogance against me, which I have heard for myself, I will put my hook in your nose and my bridle in your mouth.  I will make you return by the road on which you came.' "

Yet, God allowed the siege to continue for two years. Isaiah 37:30, "Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, 'Here is the proof that the LORD will protect this city from Assyria's king.  This year you will eat only what grows up by itself, and next year you will eat what springs up from that.  But in the third year you will plant crops and harvest them; you will tend vineyards and eat their fruit.' "  The people of Judah suffered as a result of the siege.  During those two years of the siege, the Israelites suffered starvation as there were no merchants trafficking in and out of the city walls due to the siege; agriculture must have become a second thought as I would presume all hands were on deck to defend the city from an imminent attack from Senacherib's mighty army.  As we read further down in the chapter, we see that God forced Senacherib to withdraw from his siege by sending an angel who annihilated Senacheribs army in one night. 185,000 troops died in one night at the hand of God's angel.  A God who was able to destroy Senacherib's troop in one night with one of his angel causing him to withdraw let the siege go on for a couple of years. Why?

Following the withdrawal of the siege, we read in Isaiah, chapter 38, that King Hezekiah came down with a very grave illness and was going to die.  We read in Isaiah 38:1:3, "About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him.  He gave the king this message: "This is what the LORD says:  Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die.  You will not recover from this illness." When Hezekiah heard this, he turned  his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, "Remember, O LORD, how I have always tried to be faithful to you and do what is pleasing in your sight." Then he broke down and wept bitterly.  One could feel the pathos of that prayer, the depth of sorrow, grief, in Hezekiah  plea to God.

And, God heard his prayer and healed him for He is a God who hears his child's prayer, sees his/her every tear, feels your pain, understands your doubts and though he, the omniscient God, knows what's good for you, sometimes grants you your heart's desire.  Isaiah 38:4-7,  "Then this message came to Isaiah from the LORD: "Go back to Hezekiah and tell him, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, says:  I have heard your prayer and seen your tears.  I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. Yes, I will defend this city."  An emphatic declaration of healing and protection from God. To underscore His promise, God performed one of the most remarkable miracles of the Old Testament:  Isaiah 38:7-8, " 'And this is the sign that the LORD will give you to prove he will do as he promised:  I will cause the sun's shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundial of Ahaz!' "  So the shadow on the sundial moved backward ten steps.

Why would a god fearing man have to go through these trials in life, with continuous threats on his life? Why would God delay the deliverance He had promised to Hezekiah as the kingdom of Judah lay under a siege?  Isaiah 37:31 says, "And you who are left in Judah, who have escaped the ravages of the siege, will take root again in your own soil, and you will flourish and multiply.  For a remnant of my people will spread out from Jerusalem, a group of survivors from Mount Zion.  The passion of the LORD Almighty will make this happen!"  The trials in our lives are the refining process that molds our faith, create a group of survivors who will withstand anything life can throw at them for they have seen the glory of God.  His promise of deliverance had come through following the two years of the siege. During that time God did not allow Senacherib's army to enter Jerusalem. (Isaiah 37:33-35) The experience allowed for the Israelites faith to mature.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.  They are like trees planted along  a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.  Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.  Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit."

In the New Testament of the Bible, Apostle Paul who understood trials and hardships very well in his life writes, "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us - they help us learn to endure.  And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation.  And this expectation will not disappoint us.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."  (Romans 5:3-5)

As you get through your problems, struggles, and trials, may God's grace strengthen you and allow a remnant of you to take root on your own soil, flourish and multiply, and  produce delicious fruits, as Jeremiah wrote, for others to see the glory of God.

Draw me close to you

The Fig Tree

One day while reading the following scripture a thought occurred and I want to share this with you...

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree (Mark 11:12-14, 20-21)

12. The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13. He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. 14. Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.

20. The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. 21. Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!”

Here Jesus demonstrated to his disciples that he had the power of death in his word if he found something to his disliking. A God who had the power of destruction at the tip of his tongue, never exercised this power with such haste at any man. All through the Bible we read of how Jesus healed the sick, freed those under the bondage of sin and Satan, raised up the dead to comfort the grieving families, accepted those who had been rejected by others. He had full authority over the elements of nature - wind and waves obeyed his command, demons pleaded for mercy and fled from his presence. Yet, he showed only mercy, compassion and love towards man. He showed utmost patience at man's disobedience and insolence.

Couldn't Jesus have crushed his enemies like you would crush a tiny ant under your fingers - those who harmed him, the temple high priests and their henchmen, the roman soldiers who mocked him, hurled insults at him, slapped him, tore his robes off of him, put a crown of thorns on his head, whipped him raw until his flesh tore from his body and bled, paraded him through the streets carrying his cross, all the while mocking him, hurting him, hurling insults at him, spitting in his face,  led him to Golgotha where they nailed his hands and feet to the wooden cross, hung him up like a common thief to die.

If at his word demons fled, sicknesses were cured, the lame walked, the deaf heard, the blind saw, healing of all kinds occurred, the dead rose up, waves and wind calmed down at his command, walked on water, five loaves and two fish was found to be enough to feed thousands upon thousands (at his will creation occurred!),  He did not have to even lift a finger to crush his enemies.  He could just have wished harm on his enemies and it would have happened just as he would have wished.  Yet he did not use his power to harm another man!!  He endured all sufferings like a common man without exercising his godliness.  Isaiah had prophesied, "he was oppresssed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth." (Isaiah 53:7).

Jesus scolded Peter when he drew his sword and struck the servant of the High Priest and cut his ear off as the posse sent by the High Priest closed in to arrest Jesus, "Put away your sword. Those who use the sword will be killed by the sword.  Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? (Mathew 26:53). Twelve (12) legions, that's 72,000 angels!

Do you know what the Bible says an angel of the LORD could do? In Isaiah we read that one angel of God killed in one night a 185,000 trained, battle hardened Assyrian troops.  For Isaiah 38:36 says, "That night the angel of the LORD went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian troops." Similarly, in 1Chronicles 20:14, we read that one angel of the LORD destroyed 70,000 Israelites as a punishment for David having foolishly believed in his heart that his victories were a result of the strength of his army.

If one angel could bring about destruction of this magnitude, what could the entire population of Israel and the Roman army do against 72,000 angels?  Think for a moment, Jesus could have relied on his own power, he could have called upon his Father, yet on Calvary's cross as he hung there dying rejected by all including the Father, Jesus prayed to his Father, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 26:34).

How many of us fruitless fig trees live from one day to the next not realizing that there is nothing we deserve, there is nothing that God owes us.  We go through life oblivious that the life giving breathe in our nostrils is a gift from God.  It is the result of that grace from Christ, his prayer to Father God as he hung on that wooden cross dying still resonating in the Father's ears, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing?"

Why does Father God- Jehovah - put up with our disobedient, insolent and callous attitudes and actions? The Bible says in Isaiah 53:11, "...And because of what he (Jesus) has experienced, my righteous servant (Jesus) will make it possible for many to be counted righteous for he will bear all their sins." 

I pray that you will find this God in your lifetime, for when our breathing stops, all will be lost.

Hillsongs - Lead me to the cross

A grandson's recollection...

I am blessed with a wonderful, loving, and caring family, whether it's my immediate family or my extended family. Today, I want to write about my grandparents, especially grandpa, who in life has been my spiritual role model.  The years I grew up with him have greatly influenced my christian faith. His relationship with God, I have always thought of as amongst friends, from the way I've heard him pray.  He was born and grew up in a era when the world as we know was much different technologically. My grandfather lived up to a ripe old age of 103 and passed away in 1994. His life spanned over some quite amazing discoveries and advances for mankind.

I grew up with my grandparents from age 10 through 17.  Though I was in a boarding school, as they were my local guardians, most of my vacations and holidays were spent with them. Grandma and I were very close. Grandpa, I kept a little bit of distance from as he was a no non-sense type of guy, but I knew he had a heart of gold for his grand kids because of the things he used to do for us when we were home with him.  Grandma had on occasions mentioned of grandpa's hot temper that could flare up pretty quickly if he was wronged.  As a young man, I've heard that he was tough. Though, he was of a small physical stature, he made up for it with his determination and fearlessness.  He would never back down from a challenge, man or life's circumstances. People knew him as a no non-sense guy and someone not to be messed with.  They respected him.

He came from a family of farmers.  As a young man, one day on the way back from the market, he had a divine experience that transformed his life. That experience cemented his mission in life. He became an evangelist travelling places (on foot I may add in his early days) spreading the gospel until his old age. But, then he would spread the gospel from his bed to anyone who visited him. He was also a herbal medicine man who knew the treatment for many tropical diseases.  He was well known for his expertise - treating jaundice (yellow fever).  I remember people travelling from near and far to our family home for his treatments, prayer and blessing.

He was a praying man. Reading and studying the bible scriptures and prayer was a big part of his life.  Every morning and evening there were family prayers.  He was up at 4am everyday, no matter what, and I would hear him pray through his bedroom door that was adjacent to mine.  Anytime, we (my brother, sister and i) were sick, grandpa would put his hands on our head and pray, and we would get healed.  I remember relatives and locals used to come to him for prayers for healing, for favorable weather during important occasions, and also for casting out spirits. Sometimes during the monsoon seasons when I was about to go back to my boarding, it would be raining hard making travelling quite hard and dangerous. Before setting out on my trip, Grandpa would pray and go up to the front door, look up to the sky and ask the LORD, "My LORD please stop the rain  as my child is travelling, I need you to make the weather favorable as he travels and reaches school."  I know, you may think I am making this up as I am going, but it is the truth that I know.  This truth - his relationship with God is what made God real for me as a child.  It had always stayed in the back of my mind as I was growing up and traveled the pathways of life taking in all that this world had to offer.  This truth is what made me kneel on my wooden cot in my high school dorm and pray to the God of my grandparents and parents, when I was deep in debt, lost without hope.

As I grew in to a young man, I again strayed away from God.  Yet, I would read the bible and pray whenever  I remembered or there was a need.  While my grandfather was alive, I knew that he was always praying for his children and grandchildren.  Following his death in 1994, as time went by, there were some very unexpected traumatic events and deaths in our families that broke apart families and caused me to wonder if it would have happened should my grandpa be alive.   It seemed with the passing of my grandfather misfortune started visiting our families. These events bothered me much many a nights as I lay in my bed to sleep.

With my grandpa no longer in the picture, the events that took place in our lives started making me think of God again.  I thought of my children and wondered who would pray for them as my grandpa did for us, to keep a hedge around them. It caused much concern for me.  Though we would have family prayers, it was just a routine.  My personal life was not something that would qualify for any privileges in God's view.  One night  as I lay in bed, it occurred to me that who else but I should pray for my children and family. Following our nightly family prayer as I lay in bed I would lift up my hands towards heaven and worship God as I had seen folks in our church do, just that they would do this standing.  I guess, it would be as David said, "I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night" (Psalms 63:6).  I would sit by the bed of my children as they slept and put my hands on their head and pray to God for their blessing and well being.  As a little child I remember going and kneeling in front of my grandpa and asking that he would lay his hands on my head and bless me.  I would keep doing this until grandpa would get tired and say that he had run out of blessings. I loved getting his blessings!

My desire to have a real relationship with God continued to grow. On February 25, 2007 for the first time I experienced the power of the Holy Spirit during a Sunday worship service in our church which was a watershed moment in my christian faith life. That was the beginning of a transformation in my life. Sometimes when you pray for your loved ones, you may not see the results right away, but I will say for sure Jehovah, our God is one who honors his children's prayers and ensures that their generations will not be lost.  None of your prayers for your children will ever be lost.  It may seem so sometimes, but your prayer life will have left an impression unbeknownst  to you on your children and grandchildren.  God's favor will have passed on to the next generation...

That was my grandpa's legacy to his grandson. What will yours be to your children and grand children...?

Find us Faithful

A night of great mercy that I cannot forget...

The year was 1985. I believe it was early May. My college was off for study leave.  Back in the days, colleges would close for a month or so before finals.  I was 17 years old, senior in a high school.  Kids had an option to attend a regular high school or attend high school equivalent program in a college - called Pre-Degree Course. My dad and mom were very particular that their children have the best education they could afford. I was sent to a catholic boarding school/college, one of the tops in the state.  Dad used to send me money for the college room and board, and tuition fees, and then some extra as pocket money.  Many kids in the boarding were from affluent families, and then there was myself and some others from middle class families who lived the high life off of the sweat of our parents.

You see, I wouldn't pay my tuition and boarding fees, I just blew it all on anything but education. There came a point in my senior year that I was going to be barred from taking my finals if I was not going to pay the debt I owed to the college. I believe it was about 15,000-18,000 Rupees.  The hostel warden called me to his office and warned me that within a time period of two or so weeks before the finals were to commence, I better pay all the room & board and tuition fees or else I would be kicked out of the hostel campus and barred from appearing at the finals.  I want to put this amount in context for you, just so that you would understand what I had gotten myself into...

Back in 1985,

1. 10 Rupees was enough to pay bus fare to and from from hostel to a movie theater in the city, plus movie ticket for balcony seats (the top choice), plus some snacks.
2. 5 Rupees was enough for a good lunch
3. a laborer after a full days work made about 50-70 Rupees a day
4. I think, a civil servant made 1,500 - 2,500 Rupees a month

Go figure, how a seventeen year old high school student, unemployed, was going to get out of this hole...15,000 big ones deep.  I was scared out of my wits that my dad was going to find out and I was going to face his wrath. On top of it, the shame if I was not going to make the senior year exams. The embarrassment to my family would be unimaginable.  I couldn't face my family!  I started selling my belongings, anything that would fetch me some money: my Levi's and Lee jeans, T-shirts with foreign logos, jewelry, watch and anything else of value that my parents had given me.  Locals would pay top money for foreign stuff.  I was able to pay of some of the fees.  Then, I approached two college mates who came from wealthy families for loans.  After some pleading, they were kind enough to loan me the rest to pay off the remaining fees with assurances from me that I will pay them back one way or another before finals were over and every one went their different ways. (I still don't know what made them have faith in me to loan me approximately 10,000 - 15,000 bucks.)

I was so broke, but couldn't risk asking dad.  I would have to own up to everything and then didn't know what I would gain in the end.  It was the time of study leave  leading up to the final exams. The hostel mess was closed and kids had to pay for food on the outside.  I remember days/weeks of starving or eating just to get by, because I couldn't afford to pay for food as I had to save every bit of money I could to pay off my debts.  My friends who were there when money was good, all but disappeared.  There were sleepless nights thinking of what I was going to do.  I remember everything culminating in this three day stretch where I had not slept.  I had been so stressed from thinking about the finals and all the money that I owed, not knowing what I was going to do. There were times that I wished I could end it all. It was the third night of my sleepless stretch, I remember having run out of options, kneeling down on my wooden cot in my college hostel.  I was at my wits end, and I prayed to God. I cried out to God for help. What I asked that night was that He would give me five minutes of restful sleep as I couldn't take it any more.  I don't remember finishing that prayer. Next morning I recall waking up in the same fetal position on my knees on top of my cot. I couldn't believe that I had slept through the night on my knees and I remembered my prayer from the previous night... Lord give me five minutes of restful sleep!

That morning I woke up a new person, feeling very calm. I remember feeling totally calm - my situation didn't worry me anymore; my worries were gone, didn't know how or why.  Though my situation was the same, I had this new confidence in me that I couldn't explain, but for the grace of God, that everything was going to be fine. I wasn't afraid of approaching my dad anymore. I was ready to face the consequences and I went to the phone booth in the hostel and placed a call to my dad.  He was an expat living and working in another country with the rest of our family.  I confessed to my dad of the predicament I had gotten myself into.  My dad couldn't believe his ears that he was speaking to his "innocent little son" that he knew, who apparently grew up a lot in the ways of the world in two years span.  He asked if I was addicted to any drugs and if I had blown all the money on drugs.  I could sense the pain and concern in his voice for me.  I told him that I was embarrassed and I apologized to him.  There are enough stories of children of well intentioned parents, whose lives have been ruined by the hostel culture surrounding them.  After our chat, once he was convinced that I wasn't going to blow any more of the money, he sent enough money to pay off all the debts and get some good meals.  I was allowed to take my final exams and passed all courses! Later, after the finals when I visited my parents, my dad came within inches of whooping me raw. Don't know how he held himself together!!! I love you dad and I love you mom!!!!

I have often wondered of God's tremendous mercy that night in 1985 and where my life would have been if I didn't get to sleep that night.  I could not, at the time, explain the different mood and the new attitude that I woke up the next morning while still on my knees as I had bent in prayer the night before with no where to turn and no hope.  Today, it reminds me of the story of the prodigal son from the Bible in Luke 15:11-32. My heavenly father forgave me and took me back.  Jehovah, our God, is a forgiving God. No matter what your sins, when you cry out to him, he answers your cry for help! He has laid out all the punishment for our sins upon his only son, Jesus Christ! There is a new beginning for us in him, a new chapter, a new book, eternal life!