God has made a creation of superabundance

The God who created this earth this universe, this world , is a God of super abundance

The reason he’s a God of super abundance is if you look around this world, this world is full of green trees, fresh air, beautiful blue sea, oceans and brown river and if you live in the four season world like I do in the northeast of America, we see the leaves turned brown, orange, red, yellow over fall time or autumn. Where can you get all this from? There is no coincidence! There can be no diminishing of the greatness and the abundance of God by saying there we come from some kind of atoms that evolve around the centuries! That is so diminishing and so insulting to the God of superabundance and glory.

Supremely the God of abundance was manifested on the cross in Palestine 2000 years ago

And God of super abundance is not just reflected on the way he created the world created Adam and Eve, created all the animals the birds that fly in the sky and the fish that swim in the sea, but supremely the God of abundance was manifested on the cross in Palestine 2000 years ago. To imagine that the God who created the whole universe could possibly or conceivably hang himself because of the Roman soldiers and the Jewish Pharisees priests, dripping in blood and anguish and shame and pain, it’s not only insane and it’s unthinkable and scandalous! Now that is super abundance. The reason he hangs or he allows himself to be hung on the cross bleeding for what? He allowed himself to be hung there so that he can be a redemption substitute for the sins of mankind. Because we have violated the commandment of God, our covenant with God, we pay the price of dying and be eternally condemned. However Jesus Christ the son of God and our Father in heaven love us so much that God gave his only son Jesus Christ to this world to die for us so whoever believe in him shall not perish and shall have eternal life. If that is not super abundance I don’t know what is?

Huge contrast and antithesis to the transactional world and culture we live in

This is a huge contrast and antithesis to the transactional world and culture we live in and a calculative mindset that we deal with one another. There’s a sense of which we do things so that we can get things back from others. In itself it’s not the strangest thing, because basically you reap what you sow. However God is expecting us to show more than that.

That’s why we hear of this Samaritan parable in which a Samaritan helped a bleeding Jewish man beaten up on the road. When all the Jewish brethren who passed by that helpless Jewish man bleeding on the road, this Samaritan man who is supposed to be at enmity with the Jewish people, stopped and paused to quickly lift him up, cleaned him up, nursed him and gave him food to eat before bringing him to a local hotel. And he then paid the price of the of the stay of that wounded man for a few days to the hotel in advance and he before he took his journey on his way. He even told the hotel that the expense of the doctor or stay be upon him when he comes back. This may sound super abundance and excessively generous to the world we live in, because in reality we also face economic hardship and the challenges ourselves. However Jesus is teaching us who is our neighbor? Our neighbor are those people who look different from us, whom we usually dislike associating with due to socioeconomic reasons, as in this case this Samaritan man helping a Jewish wounded man on the roadside, while all the other Jewish men who passed by ignored him. This is a startling story illustrating the Super abundance of God.

The first greatest commandment is love the Lord your God with all your heart mind and soul

The first greatest commandment is love the Lord your God with all your heart mind and soul, the second greatest commandment is love your neighbor as yourself. And when the disciples asked Jesus who is my disciple or who is my neighbor? Jesus told them this Samaritan man’s story.

What Jesus is saying is even the most unlikely people in your neighborhood who needs help go  help them. This is an incredible story of selfless living because of the love of God. Because of the Super abundance of God. Because God rewards those who love thy neighbors.

 There is another place where Jesus said when I’m sick, you came and visited me, and when I’m hungry you fed me, when I’m thirsty you gave me drinks, when I’m in jail you visited me. The disciples then ask when did we do that? Jesus answered when you do this to the least of you among us, you’ve done that for me. Jesus also said to some others while I was hungry you did not feed me while I when I was what I was call you did not call for me etcetera, and Jesus said to them truly I don’t know you.

God did not tell us to love our neighbors out of own strength, but he has done it himself through the cross showing the Super abundant love and empowering, and also giving us strength through the Holy Spirit to carry out his commands. And he promised to reward us greatly including the reward being entering the Kingdom of God the eternal life in the paradise with him.

Our orientation to this world would drastically change if we grasp the superabundance of God and not holding on to our riches and money in our in our bank account only, but stand up to fight for justice and feed the poor and help the hungry.

Amen.

Finding our authentic self and dignity and the Image of God

I want to talk about the image of God in this world. Scott who wrote Issues facing Christians today brought some powerful thing about the image of God. He wrote that the biblical revelation reminds us that human beings are not self-explanatory.

We derive the meaning from outside themselves, from God in whose image they are made

Now this is very significant essentially, that really just puts human beings into the right pedestal so that we don’t exalt ourselves as if we are god in this world living in self-denial that there’s a higher power we call the sacred power in this cosmos, caused by the enlightenment. During which Reiff and Freud and the Rousseau and all these folks abandoned the sacred order, and put ourselves in charge all the universe. (Jean-Jacques Rousseau was one of the most influential thinkers during the Enlightenment in eighteenth century Europe). They have forgotten completely that we derive our meaning from outside ourselves, not from within ourselves. That’s when exactly the modern contemporary cultures teaching that we just need to be authentic to restore our dignity to find our dignity by looking inwards to find our authentic self. They forgot that we did not derive our image, our meaning of who we, from within but we got it from God in whose image we were made. Like Scott said we are not autonomous individuals, creating ourselves constantly by the decisions and choices we make.

No, we are images, we are reflections

Now we are mere images we are not the thing we are not god! Can you imagine we images trying to say to the creator God that “we find our authentic self within ourselves not in your image?” That is completely laughable, in fact it’s not even funny anymore, because this is precisely what the world is doing heading towards ,causing millions and millions of millennial generations totally alienated from the image of God. They can’t find themselves anymore.

The dignity of a human humanity is derivative

That’s the important word. We derive our dignity from our created God in whose image we were made in. In other words our dignity is derived from God. Our dignity did not come from our authentic self deep within, it comes from him whose image we bear. We are dependent beings.

The Frailty of Life & the meaning of Life

Al Ngu          February 9, 2023

The frailty of life in this world should make everyone think hard and long for the long term that goes beyond just the 401K for retirement. Looking at what happened to thousands of people died in the massive earthquakes that just hit Turkey and Syria, our hearts break and grieve for them. And when I saw the TikTok videos on pulling out 6 year-old kid from the concrete blocks after 3 days in the cold weather freezing with snow and how the crowd cheered moved me to tears. And prior to that, I saw my own 83 year old mom who is getting older and more frail, and struggled to walk well, but thank God otherwise she is generally good. I thank God I have the opportunity to share with her the gospel and the exposition of the whole scriptures when I call her weekly. And I sincerely appreciate and thank my little brother Julian and his wife living with mum and taking care of her. The Lord bless him.

You know the reality is we’re all aging and moving towards closer to the finishing line in our lives. I just read Romans 13.

Romans 13:11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

Paul exhorts us to wake up from our slumber or our sleep, but even closer to the finishing line when Christ comes back. And there’s ultimately complete salvation. The chances is most people are still sleeping in their slumber because they don’t think about what’s going to happen in the end time. People get old, and some are already old. Age is really a relative thing, but the real deal is to know the end is coming and are you ready for it? Many people drift into the old age, and try to enjoy the pleasures of the world as much as possible, without knowing what is ahead. I think this is very sad , uncertain and also being very ignorant, not knowing. Not thinking of the end of life, it’s not going to make it go away.

The other thing grieves is the institution of old folks home or nursing home. I have seen and heard some of our friends who put their senior parents in this retirement home or old folks home, and basically what they do essentially all day long is to sleep, eat, watch TV, take medication, and calling for help. Sometimes worse some of the horror stories we heard, nurses would put the medications on the person’s beside and a little water, without bothering if the persons actually going to take the medication or not. Or worse, hit the old man or woman. The entire old folks home culture in the West seems to be a convenience outlet for the grown kids who want to continue to enjoy their own lives without being bothered with the aged parents. To me as an Asian immigrant to America, when I first saw and heard of this, I was horrified. The idea of children looking after aged parents it’s just naturally the responsibility of the children, as parents had raised them up with love and care and with great sacrifice. The notion that when children are grown up and parents are aged and feeble, old parents are conveniently slotted into some nursing homes which would not cost children’s’ down time and effort to look after them is unheard of and a very foreign in the Asian culture, and also in the biblical culture in the Old Testament and the New Testament. If you look at the Old Testament Jewish families look after their aged parents. With modern amenities, cities like New York of course you have the option of having the Medicare to have the State paid nurse to come and stay in your house even 24/7 to look after your aged parents if they medically require it, which is truly a wonderful gracious generous provision in New York State.

But the principle is this, children should look after their aged parents. There’s nothing hip and cool about living your own lives with your children while dumping your aged parents in their nursing home. Our friends, a married couple, in Long Island with the old 80 plus and 90 plus years old parents and in-laws living with them. They do their best to take care of them while they go to work and show the affection and care to them. Of course when they’re not around, they do have the nursing aides from the State to help look after them. You know psychologically and physiologically the aged parents or grandparents are just much more happier and joyful to be shown affection and care from their own family instead of from the nurses and strangers in their nursing home. In all ways and forms and shapes, their health just get better and live longer. And above all the emotional well-being is far better than staying without children and grandchildren at home. I’ve never seen a single instance in the Bible where parents are left in the nursing homes. Some may argue that there were no nursing homes in the old days, but we do have the same capacity of love as they do.

The Bible talks about love your parents and look after your parents so that:

Ephesians Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”[a]

The Bible says children obey your parents in the Lord, not outside the Lord. Also honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with the promise so that it may go well with you and you may enjoy long life on the earth. I’m thinking most of the grown children today, when they put their parents into the nursing home, have not read this verse or been taught this verse. What’s bigger than this versus is the fact that it shows that we are basically self-centered people. And God has to put a promise right after honor your parents so that you may go well with you and enjoy long life. And it is very encouraging that God will think of this because he already foresees the problems is coming within the families in the future. The promise of God that you may go well with you and if you dishonor your parents do not expect that your life will go well. And do not expect that God will bless you to enjoy long life on the earth. People may be wondering why do they die young or young age because they have not obeyed and honored their parents. You know God takes parents very seriously and he expects us to honor our parents and to love them and obey them. America truly needs to read Ephesians 6 all over again and churches should preach them all over again. The command to honor our parents is even found in the Ten Commandments with a promise of long life!

Exodus 20: 12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Somehow the worldly modern contemporary culture catechizes our children ourselves day and night 24/7 to the point that jettisoned the commands of the Lord from the holy scriptures.

May we take the promises and the warnings of the holy scriptures seriously and let it sink in so we live the life that will honor our parents and honor and obey our God. And the blessing is we may go well in life and enjoy long life! How about that?

The God of Personalness- What does that mean to us?

Al Ngu    February 4, 2023

The Trinitarian God is the bedrock for understanding the ultimate reality in our culture and lives. So what does that mean exactly? Our God is personal, absolute and relational (Chris Watkin). These are the three foundational attributes of our God. That becomes the bedrock for our culture and lives. The fact that the universe was created by God, and because God is personal, therefore the universe has to take on the personality of its creator who is personal. And because the creator God is personal, therefore the universe inherits their personalness. Because humans were created in the image of God.

Now because God’s personalness is irreducible and fundamental in the universe, therefore all people have personalness and dignity that cannot be taken away. We have this dignity not because of our intelligence or ability, but because our God is personal and full of grace.

Now this is truly phenomenal because we do live in a personal universe. We don’t live in an impersonal universe where everything is, like scientific cause and effect, transactional, etcetera. It’s almost like inhuman or inhumane, you can almost even go to a robotic sense of the word to describe this world if the personalness of God is taken away. Therefore, how can anybody live in a universe without the personalness of God? Is it’s like our neighbor comes here, who has known us for a long time, we act like we don’t know one another. How? How you do it, and very formal kind of thing, that completely is so unnatural and unbecoming.

God wants us to have a personal, relational kind of universe, communal kind of world we live in. Now nobody can challenge that because that personalness comes from God. And you can’t challenge God.

Now our God is personal and full of grace.  John 1: 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

That’s such a beautiful word, such encouraging. Things for us to listen and understand. That means when anybody is hurt or downcast, he or she can begin to reach out to God and realize that God actually hears our prayers, actually feels our pain., especially in the person of Jesus Christ, who is the second person of the Trinitarian God. Because Jesus himself suffered in this world, and was tempted in all ways, and yet without sin, therefore he completely understands us where we come from, and he empathizes with us (Heb 4:15).

So this is super, superbly important so that we don’t live in a world devoid of human touch. The fact that some scientist or philosopher in this world, proposing that human beings are really made of ashes earth and we are returning to ashes earth without any living being personalness inside us, we simply vanish when we die, that is the most dehumanizing thing one can never hear.

It is therefore so important to embrace the God of Personalness, which is most beautiful. Beautifully amplified and communicated and expressed in the person Jesus Christ. As the second person of the Trinitarian Godhead, the son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, incarnated into this world and became like one of us. Would you call that personal? There’s nothing else more personal than God who became a human on this earth. And that is the Christmas. We celebrate each year. In the in the manger a child was given birth and his name is Prince of Peace, mighty God, Hallelujah.

With that we should always respect and honor one another should never look down on anyone else. No matter what skin color or economic background or ethnic background. You don’t need to fight for racial equality, by some campaigns, as human hearts are evil and depraved and broken on the first place;  the best way to approach it is to embrace the God of personalness who created us. In his image and being personal and full of grace, we therefore will have the ability to treat one another, one another we honor with compassion and respect and love because of the one who first created us. Amen.

The Law brings us into relationship with God

Al Ngu,  January 27, 2023

Was listening to Tim Keller, exposition of the book of Exodus, some three steps I learnt, which is very very crucial for the understanding of the gospel.

So we do have to understand that there’s no way for us to be saved if it were not by the grace of God. Israel was delivered from the bondage of slavery from Egypt first before God gave them the 10 Commandments the law. The law was not given before the Exodus deliverance. In other words, the requirement to be God’s people comes after the deliverance thru exodus. What does that mean? That means God unconditionally saved them delivered them being the descendants of Abraham by the covenant that God made with Abraham.

So it is the same way for us. We are saved by faith by the grace of God only but that grace, the faith in God will turn into good works. So it’s not blind faith and being passive after being saved. Saved by grace of God must and will automatically turn into action good works or else it’s not authentic! We are not saved by good works however, we are saved by faith in Christ by the grace of God by his grace, only in which will result in good works. Faith in Christ and hence the grace of God in Christ Alone. After Israel was delivered, God gave them law to obey so they will become God’s treasured possession and God’s people. So you see that obedience of God’s word brings us into relationship with God. Without obedience first we can’t get into relationship with God. So the law was given to us so that we can enter into a relationship with God.

So everything is very relational. God gives given us the laws to have a relationship with us. However, without the law, relationship will be meaningless, because there is no directions, laws and requirements of what that relationship looks like. Because that relationship reflects the very personality, the character, the ontology of who God is. For instance, thou shall serve the Lord your God, that you love the Lord, your God with all your heart, all your soul. Because the Son of God himself loved us so much that he died on the cross thousands of years after Moses, to save us. He therefore loved us so much with all his heart of his mind. Would you be able to say that? Would you say that Christ loves us with all his heart and mind and soul ?

I mean to the point of surrender himself, and die and tortured and shamed on the cross? That is such a powerful understanding that the law was given to bring us into relationship with God.

So to conclude and summarize; first we are saved by the grace of God alone and grace of God by faith in him will produce good works. Second, after we got saved, we will have to look at the law of the word of God, the Bible, trying to obey the Bible by his power by his grace so that we can enter into a relationship with him. Relationship is impossible without obedience. Jesus learned obedience through sufferings as his journey to the cross. By the time he suffered, he was made perfect, and he became the source of salvation to all generations of the world today. So the book of the law, the word of God, the Bible shows us how to enter into a relationship, deeply personal, intimate relationship with God. Amen.

Abraham really wanted his son Isaac to marry a woman of his faith, and so should we

The story of Genesis 24 on Abraham making his senior servant in his household to swear that he would not get a wife for his son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom he was living but go to his home country and his own relatives to get a wife for his son Isaac is not only impressive but has a long lasting lesson for us to learn. The fact that our most renowned patriarch from the Old Testament, Abraham, who was much loved by the Lord our God Yahweh, has made this determination and decision, surely has something for us to learn today. Abraham was very old at that time and the Lord has blessed him in every way, v 1. So the question is why did Abraham insist on his senior servant to not get a wife from the land he was living at that time which is the Canaanites but go to his own country and his own relatives to get away for his son Isaac? This is a very significant point.

We need to understand that to have your children marry someone of the same faith is of paramount importance. What Abraham did was exactly that. He didn’t want his son to marry a Canaanite woman at that time who do not worship the Lord our God Yahweh. Even though Abraham was living in that land he was not going to allow his son to be corrupt and morally spiritually above all by marrying a woman of another faith. He insisted that his son shall get a wife from his home country and not only that , but also his relatives. And as it turned out God opened the door in the most miraculous way when his servant went to his home country and guess what? The first woman he met by the well was Rebecca, the very daughter of Abrahams brother. She is a very beautiful woman apparently. Rebecca was all set to marry Isaac almost on a divine matchmaking. You know this is a huge lesson for us.

First of all in our modern society even among the Christian faith families, Christian parents struggled to even tell their children to marry someone of the same faith in Christ let alone trying to arrange or to introduce woman or men to their children. So what has changed so drastically? The reality is that in today’s society we have gone so individualistic, and the post modernism in our modernity now exalts individual right, individual desire whatever makes ‘you’ you is the way to go. There is a huge loss of the sense of community communal respect etcetera. Father used to be able to decide to reject or receive marriage proposal from a man to his daughter in the old days. Modernity regards that as totally old fashion and not acceptable in the name of freedom and liberty of individual. There is there’s definitely a lot of ground to that and I agree. The worst thing like we have seen in movies and read books etcetera that parents have arranged marriage of a guy to their daughter, a guy who has hardly any compatibility to their daughter, the only reason being the guy’s rich. So this has to change and I agreed and we have changed.

However the change has gone too far to the sense of eroding any paternal right and respect in the family. Parents almost have no say or input. This is such a vast change to modernities liking that the biblical narrative has been all pushed aside and jettisoned. The day must come when this good biblical cultural aspect of it to be restored so that we can have a decent conversation and planning and honor respect with parents. Of course that’s granted parents are walking with the Lord and not some non-believers themselves.

You can also see how much the Lord blessed Abraham. Because Abraham was a walking with the Lord and he was called by the Lord too to be the father of a huge nation coming out of it and the whole world would be blessed through Abraham’s offspring, Jesus Christ himself. Because of that whatever Abraham does he was basically very prosperous and successful. And when he got very old his son Isaac was of marriageable age in a foreign country where none of the women believed in the Lord Yahweh, it was a very difficult situation. It’s been like in modern days there are more women in the local church than men. Oftentimes you’ll find believing women in the church not able to find a compatible man who may be interested in her because the pool is so little. By this I would say that by the actions that Abraham to look for eligible woman from another country for his son, I would argue that it is totally correct and legitimate and right for all Christians single women to look for potential husband from another church if needed. It’s not the church that matters what really matters is if the man or woman is in Christ Jesus. That’s what matters, that’s what counts. We need to move into a Christian community where there can be intermarriage between churches so as to honor the name of our Lord. We are not here to honor the name of our church, but the name of the Lord is to be exalted Amen!

The success God gave to Abraham is astounding. When the servant went to Abraham’s home country he met Rebecca drawing water by the well with other ladies. The servant prayer “ Oh Lord may that be the first woman that I asked for water that she would offer me water and also to feed my camels be the woman that you have call to be my masters sons wife”. And guess what? This is exactly what happened he saw Rebecca with a group of ladies and he approached her and said “can I have some water?” to which Rebecca answered sure “I’ll give you water.” Not only that she offered to water feed his camels too. By then the servant was watching very closely this Rebecca whether she is the one God has called and prepared for his master’s son. Immediately the servant really recognized that this is it and he bowed down to give thanks to the Lord for answering Abraham’s prayers and when the camels had finished drinking the men took out a gold nose ring and two bracelets were intense shackles for Rebecca. And he asked Rebecca please tell me is there room in your father’s house for spend the night? She answered him I’m the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah bore to Nahor. And she said “ We have plenty of straw and fodder as well as room for you to spend the night.” Then the man bowed down and worshipped the Lord, and praised that the “ God of his master Abraham has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to his master. As for me the Lord has led me on the journey to the House of my master’s relatives”. And then the rest of the story is Rebecca agree to leave her parents’ house and go with the man to meet with her future husband.

The conclusion is Isaac came from Lehigh Roy where he was living. He went out to the field one evening to meditate and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. Rebecca also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from a camel and asked the servant who is this man in the field coming to meet us? “Here’s my master” the servant answered.  So she took her veil and covered herself. Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. I said brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah and he married Rebecca so she became his wife and he loved her and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death. Just like that they are married.

I just want to say in conclusion that how much God will answer our prayers if we want to walk to honor his name especially with regards to our children to marry someone of the same faith in Christ Jesus. The way the expediency and the speed in which God confirmed and opened the door and the way for Isaacs and to marry Rebecca is truly heavenly divine matchmaker job. We must continue to pray for our children to marry someone who loves the Lord and not to marry someone from the non-believers faith in Christ Jesus.

The Lord our God will provide. Amen.

為什麼我們不考慮永恆的家園?

今晚在寒冷的天氣裡,我們在 1 月份的 Costco 步行去我們的車。 天又黑又冷,我可以看到從好市多出來的購物者都試圖回到車裡,帶著所有的購物回家。 在這寒冷的天氣裡,沒有比回家更溫暖舒適的了。

然後我想到了永恆之家。 我們人類真的渴望回到一個溫暖的家,為我們準備好休息、放鬆、聽音樂和吃晚飯等嗎?你看到我們注定要回到的永恆家園了嗎? 是永恆的; 不是那種我們真的把所有積蓄都投入的房子,我們每個月的積蓄都用於房屋抵押貸款,特別是在紐約市這樣的地方。 生活中完全具有諷刺意味的是,我們將所有積蓄都投入到一個非常臨時的家中,而我們幾乎沒有將任何東西投入到我們永恆的家中。 如果你知道有一種叫做永恆家園的東西,這個問題會讓我或任何人感到困惑。 走過這寒冷的夜晚,走到Costco停放的車前,讓我想,有多少人嚮往、渴望、希望能到達那個溫暖舒適、永遠永恆的家?

如果我們不去想永恆的家園,我們將是世界上最可悲的人。 所以問題是,我們要怎麼做呢? 認為事情太多是理所當然的。 目光短淺,我的意思是完全短視,將是未來人生中最遺憾的事情。 如果您從耶穌所說的關於與燃燒的硫磺一起被扔進火湖的故事中閱讀聖經。 這可不是鬧著玩的。 就像在啟示錄 21 中一樣。耶穌在許多地方也談到了地獄。 現實是人們不想談論地獄。 並且不想去想。 這是一件非常可怕的事情。 而人們寧願認為這只是模糊的人類想像。 很多人也質疑為什麼一個充滿愛、憐憫和仁慈的上帝會把人送到永恆燃燒的火中? 對此,答案是為什麼慈愛、關懷的上帝會派他的兒子耶穌基督公開地死在十字架上? 被羅馬人羞辱。 和猶太法利賽人。 為什麼? 答案是:

上帝的公義和公義要求如此。 人類所有的罪惡都要被償還。 否則所有人都將面臨永恆地獄之火的前景。 如果有人開始質疑上帝將任何人送入地獄之火,永遠被焚燒的智慧和正當性,他需要看看十字架。 為什麼? 上帝榮耀的兒子會被公開折磨嗎? 2000年前死在十字架上。 原因是。 為了拯救世界,他必須為世界的罪孽付出代價。

所以這是一個非常簡短的解釋。 而這些地獄火的正當性? 來自聖經。 問題是,人們相信嗎? 人們願意認真對待它嗎? 問題是,人們忽略了它。 人們會忽略它。 埋葬地獄火的概念。 人們認為。 不去想它,它就會消失。 但事實並非如此。 任何有理智的人,我們都同意這一點,只是因為你不想去想它,地獄之火不會消失。

現在如果是這樣的話,這不應該成為每個電視和新聞媒體上最大的新聞嗎? 今天? 當然應該! 所以對於那些相信這一點的人來說,當我們對永恆的前景、天堂的幸福和地獄之火的永恆譴責感到緊張時,保持沉默是生命中最艱難的事情。

首先,如果你與人們分享這個天堂和地獄,他們會把你拒之門外。 有趣的是,這個世界的王子的力量如何強大地控制了這個千年的哲學宣傳和人類思想。 任何人質疑或談論永恆都將被視為落伍甚至站在歷史的錯誤一邊。 這必須要處理。 嚴重地。 然而,如果你不與任何人分享,這個問題將在你的靈魂中燃燒,因為看到你的朋友和親人在地獄中永遠燃燒的前景,不是一個月,也不是。 兩年。 不是 50 年,而是永恆是可怕和令人生畏的。

我們正處於社會的這個關頭,任何關於永恆、長期的想法都被認為是過時的,因為我們應該有科學的頭腦。 事實上,有科學頭腦的人其實對永恆沒有任何答案; 為了這個世界上生命的創造和開始。 我們要開始承認缺點了! 這個世界上傑出的科學頭腦是軟弱的,對此根本沒有任何答案。 說死去的人最終會變成肥料是完全愚蠢的想法,在最高級別上是最不人道的。

擁有耶穌基督永生信息的基督徒:我們必須屈膝。 定期向豐收之主大聲疾呼。 差派收割莊稼的工人收割莊稼,正如耶穌所說。 今天。 我們確實站在精神救贖的最前沿,站在這個世界從未見過的永恆規模的最前沿。 我們必須迅速採取行動。 並充滿激情地行動。

“Go to the land I will show you”

Genesis 12:1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.

When God told Abraham to go to the land he would show him, God did not tell him anything about the address or direction or the name of the country or the name of the land. However, Abraham is expected to obey. Because God promised him to make him into a great name, a great nation and be blessed to be a blessing to all the families of the earth.

However I want to bring up the aspect of “Go to the land I will show you”  in Genesis chapter 12, verse one. You know the land that God wants us to go to is  our promised land. When God spoke to Abraham go to the land, he would show him, God means that’s the promised land for Abraham and his offspring.

Essentially God is calling us to go to our promised land. And now this is far bigger than anything that’s what we’ve seen and heard.

Now what is the promised land? Promised land is the land where God wants us to flourish, raise our families, and enjoy God’s Shalom. Now that Shalom is not only expressed in material, physical term, but its really first and foremost in the spiritual flourishing  life.  Because we are in this world, but not of this world, the land we enter in must be the land we can enter into rest. Just like in Hebrews. We enter into our Sabbath.

Now when we say the promised land is ours in this world, it means we’re entering into a land of tension between the earthly city and the City of God. That’s why we are in the world, which is the city of the world. However, we’re in the world, but not of the world, if we are not of the world, then who are we of, or where are we of? The answer is that we are of the City of God. As Augustine has powerfully written about this. City of God, we can see.

The biggest thing that Augustine brought out in the City of God and also in Confessions is the word “love”. When God says “I will show you., go to the land I will show you”. He is equipping us, changing us, and molding us so that we have the love for him and his Kingdom, to be actually possessing the promised land. The land that God wants us to enter in. It’s a land full of people who are full of love for God. Just like Abraham. In this world, while he was still alive, he never saw the promised land. They just saw from a distance by faith. And they never gave up. They held on to the promises of God in their faith. And that’s what God has called us, even though we may not see the promises fulfilled in this life, perhaps. We will see in the next life the promised land that God has called us. It’s really in a state of mind and a state of the spirit.

For God wants us to really pursue the City of God in this world. That city of God is full of the glory and righteousness and love of God. And the love relationship between God and his people. I would never say the City of God is a city full of law and order, and punishment and righteousness, etcetera which may be true. However the overriding picture is of one that is of relational, intimacy with God, our creator in Christ Jesus. And that’s what God has called us to exhibit. To exhibit that intimacy with God in our walk, with God, in our relationship with one another, in our conversations, and also in our writings, in our readings and our job and our career and everything of the every sense of the word. The land of God.

The land that God will show to us is the land promised by God. It’s the city of God. We are sojourners, aliens. We are strangers in this world. The promised land is the new heaven and new Earth and now we are in the journey towards that goal. We’ll be on this new heaven and new Earth. And now we got to build that land. The land that shows the glory of God and the love of God. The power of God in our lives. God is calling us to the land, the land that will show forth the city of God, where everyone will love to come in to the city of God. Or they will hate the city of God because of Christ. There will be no in between. And there will be no City of this world. influences. It’s a tough call to go. And that’s why we need the voice of God calling us towards that. God is calling. Are you ready? Would you be willing?

In fact, the question would be more like: “Jump into it. When you’re ready, it is going to be so phenomenal”.  Every one of us needs to have a dream. To have a vision. To have a hope. The hope of entering the promised land keeps us going and pumps us every day. Amen.

Gospel is the antithesis to our culture and also the fulfillment of our longings

Al Ngu.    New York.    January 7, 2023

1 Corinthians 1: 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

The antithesis and fulfillment of the cross to the culture of the world is astounding. That’s why Paul in first Corinthians chapter one says that to the Jews the cross it’s a stumbling block, whereas to the Greeks the cross is foolishness, but to the believers Christ is the power of God for salvation. When Jesus hangs on the cross, people scoffed at him saying he said “destroy this temple and I will raise it in three days”, now he can’t even save himself. Our culture today doesn’t understand the power of the cross, in fact mocks at the person hung it on the cross as foolishness and weakness. And that’s why culture today never gets it. Which is why Christianity it’s constantly baffling to them, even as it continuous to pose a threat and challenge to their worldliness and sensual desires. Thinking that they would do it their own way, to achieve personal fulfillment, satisfaction and in fact gratification, they missed the glory and power of the cross of Jesus Christ. This is self exertion, self will power and self ascension to the throne of life, completely pushed God out of his throne in our lives. It’s always a tension between God’s way or my way. Looking at the tower of Babel, they intended to make a name for themselves, and they ended up completely dispersed and in disaster. Why? Because they do it for their own glory and not for God.

A chapter later, God called Abraham to greatness. God called Abraham to leave his country his homeland and go to a land he will show him. God will bless him and promised to make his name great and make him to a great nation. The greatness from yourselves will lead to destruction but the greatness given by the grace of God will lead to true greatness and fame in the name of Christ, for the sake of Christ. It would not be our own endeavor, so to speak, but it will be empowering from the Lord himself to achieve the purpose he has called us. And that’s what God did with Abraham. It was a complete reversal of the tower of Babel when they wanted to make a name for themselves, they ended up in total dispersion and destruction. That shows the man’s greed and self actualization as in our modern society today and see where that leads them. That’s why the call of God is so powerful. We need to realize that true success comes from God and God alone. True blessing comes from the Lord and him alone. And if its from where else, it will just bring us to complete disappointment and discouragement.

Abraham was not exactly seeking for fame or greatness (Gen 12), he was a mere immigrant migrating with his clan his father from or to Haran and that’s all we know about him. And out of the blue God called him to greatness in total contrast to the Tower of Babel where the people wanted to make a name for themselves (Gen 11). This is also in contrast to Eve who wanted to make a name for herself. All of them ended in disasters breaking the covenant with God.

This is the same for us today as believers in Christ, our only channel and way to success and glory is one that comes from God in Christ Jesus. And not from anywhere else or anybody else. Especially not from ourselves the self ego the self ambition the self gratification and actualization is truly a dangerous path to go.

So the gospel actualizes, and realizes the dreams of the world. By the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. And by his resurrection, he destroyed the devil who hath the power of death. All effort to self-glorification, self-achievement, self actualization, is simply going into a  path of darkness. That is led by the Evil One. And that’s exactly what happened to Eve. Who was tempted? By the devil. So if we continue the path of self-desire, self-planning and self-ambition, we will end up to be like the Tower of Babel. Or like Eve, who was cast out from the Paradise.

Therefore the cross. is the fulfillment of the very thing that the world longs for. And fights for. And can never get. Because the cross made peace with God between. God and man. The peace that can only come from God by the reconciliation brought by the blood of Christ. Jesus reconciled mankind to God through the offerings of his blood on the cross. Therefore the cross or the death of Jesus Christ on the cross is the absolute power of God. To bring salvation to anyone who believes in Christ. And the cross is a fulfillment of the deepest longing and desire of every sane human being. Only human being who is so out of the right thinking reject Christ. Who died on the cross for us all.

Therefore, anyone who thinks the death of Christ on the cross is irrelevant to us is completely blind sighted to total darkness and judgment of God’s coming.

And that’s why Gospel is the antithesis or opposite to our culture. Our culture’s longing is self gratification. Self ambition. Self ego. Without any reverence to who God is, and his love and his glory. Therefore Gospel is constantly a threat to the culture because it is the antithesis of the culture today. But at the same time Gospel can fulfill human’s deepest longings. Whereby. Culture can only watch with helplessness. And in fact going the way of culture will bring us down the path of destruction.

That’s why the cross is so powerful. It is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Why aren’t we thinking of the eternal home?

Al Ngu, New York        January 7, 2023

We were walking to our car tonight by Costco on on the month of January in the deep cold weather tonight. It’s dark and cold and I could see shoppers getting out of Costco are all trying to get back to the cars and go back home with all the shopping. There is nothing better to come home to the warmth and coziness in this cold weather.

Then I thought of the of the eternity home. Do we human beings actually long for coming home to a home that is warm and well prepared for us to crash,  to relax,  to listen to music and have dinner etc. Do you see the eternal home that we are destined to return to that will be eternal; not the kind of home that we’ve put in all our savings literally with all our monthly savings going to the mortgage of the home specially in places like New York city. Totally so ironic in life that we put in all our savings into a very temporary home, while we put hardly anything into our eternal home. That’s a question befuddles me or anyone if you know there is such a thing called the eternal home. Walking through this cold night to the car parked by Costco makes me think how many how many people long and wish and hope to get to the eternal home that is warm and comfortable and eternal?

If we don’t think about the eternity home., we will be the saddest people in the world. So the question is, what are we going do about it? Taking things too much for granted. And being shortsighted, and I mean totally shortsighted, will be the  most regrettable thing in life ever in the future. If you read the Bible from what Jesus said about being thrown into the lake of fire with burning sulfur. This is no laughing matter. As like in the Book of Revelations 21. And also numerous places Jesus talked about hell. The reality is that people don’t want to talk about hell. And don’t want to think about it. It is something that is so dreadful. And people would rather think it is just vague human imagination. And a lot of people also question why would a God of love and mercy and kindness send people to the eternal burning fire? To that, the answer is that why would the loving, caring God sent his son Jesus Christ to die on a ghastly death on the cross publicly? To be shamed by the Romans. And by the Jewish Pharisees. Why? The answer is:

The justice and the righteousness of God demands so. All sins of mankind are to be paid for. Otherwise all will be facing the prospect of eternal Hellfire. If anybody’s beginning to question the wisdom and the justification of the action of God, of sending anybody to hell fire, to be burned for all eternity, he needs to look at the cross. Why? Would the glorious Son of God be tortured publicly. To die on the cross 2000 years ago. And the reason is. He has to pay for the sins of the world in order to save the world.

So this is sort of a very brief explanation. And the justification of these Hellfire? From the Bible. Question is, are people convinced? Are people willing to take it seriously. The problem is,  people ignore it. People would  just ignore it. To bury the concept of Hellfire. People think that. by not thinking about it, it will go away. But that’s not true. And anybody with any sense, we agree with that just because you don’t want to think about it, hell fire will NOT go away.

Now if that’s the case, shouldn’t this be the biggest news on every television and news media. Today? Of course it should be! So for so for those who believe in this, while we are holding the tension of the prospect of eternity, bliss in heaven, and the eternal condemnation in the Hellfire., and remaining silent is the hardest thing in life.

First, if you share with folks about this heaven and hell, they will write you off. It is interesting how powerful the powers of the Prince of this world has taken  control on the philosophical propaganda and human thoughts for this Millennium. That any one questioning or talking about the eternity will be deemed as out of date and even on the wrong side of history. This has to be dealt with. Seriously. However, if you don’t share with anybody, this issue will burn in your soul, because the prospect of seeing your friends and loved ones burning in hell for eternity, not for one month, nor for. Two years. Not for 50 years, but for eternity is frightening and dauting.

We are at this juncture in our society when any thought about eternity, long term is deemed out of fashion, because we are supposed to be scientifically minded. In reality, the scientific minded people actually do not have any answer for the eternity; for the creation and the beginning of life in this world. We have to begin to acknowledge the shortcomings! Brilliant scientific minds in this world are weak, simply do not have any answer for that. To say that humans who die were eventually become fertilizer is the complete moronic thought that is the most dehumanizing at the highest order.

Christians who have the message of eternal life in Jesus Christ: we have to come to the knees. Regularly praying and crying out to the Lord of Harvest. To send out harvests laborers to bring in the harvest., as Jesus said. Today. We literally stand at the forefront of spiritual redemption, of the scale of eternity that this world has never seen ever before. And we must act and act fast. And act with passion.