Almost there!

“Almost there!” is an optimistic cry, triumphant even. It celebrates the fact that we are about to complete a job, solve a problem, or reach a destination.  

After decades on earth, we know that there is a destination—a place where grace is strewn around for the picking, a place more beautiful than a garden full of fragrant flowers, and a place more refreshing than the first rain after a drought.  

We read of numerous promises in the Bible, many of which have already been fulfilled. We know that the rest of what we are waiting for will soon be fulfilled as well. Believers  know that the greatest of these promises is coming soon. 

“. . . the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.” (Thessalonians 4:16-17)  

Almost there! The signs are everywhere. “We will be with the Lord forever.” 

 

We also find this promise in Mark 9:9 when Jesus said, “‘I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!”

In John 14:3, Jesus said it succinctly, “When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”  

Although we have not been told of the exact day and time, we know we’re almost there. Let’s encourage each other as we await that glorious day! 

Challenge to self:  Be ready, be all set to go!  

Metaphor

Among all the figures of speech available to writers, the metaphor is used most to infuse written text with graphic descriptions, making them more vibrant and delightful to read. (A metaphor makes a comparison between two things that are not at all alike but with common characteristics.) 

Jesus used metaphors familiar in ancient times so people could relate to His teachings. Most important, metaphors are used in God’s book to make us better grasp the varied qualities of God.  

Many of the metaphors used in Scripture are alluded to and referenced in many verses, so it is a good idea for Bible readers to be familiar with them. Here’s a list of some metaphors that describe the Lord: 

    1.    Shepherd 

    2.    Potter 

    3.    Bread of Life 

    4.    Fortress

    5.    Light

    6.    Lamb 

    7.    Vine 

    8.    Prince of Peace 

There are many more. But the above shows us that each has specific qualities describing facets of the Lord’s inimitable character. Let’s take the metaphor “shepherd” for instance: 

“Please listen, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph’s descendants like a flock.” (Psalm 80:1 NLT)

“You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people, and I am your God. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” (Ezekiel 34:31)

When Jacob, blind and dying, blessed his son, Joseph, he said, “May the God before whom my grandfather Abraham and my father, Isaac, walked—the God who has been my shepherd all my life, to this very day . . .” (Genesis 48:15  )

Although technology-driven methods have made raising sheep easier today, the faithful Shepherd continues to tend His flock—us.     

Like a sheep, I totally depend on my Shepherd for grace and guidance especially in what I have chosen to spend most of my time on in my sunset years: writing and teaching. 

Night Thoughts

“I can’t sleep well at night,” Anatalia, who just turned 62, complained to her doctor. “I try to sleep early, but I wake up at 2 AM and could not go back to sleep anymore.” 

“Have you tried reading?”asked her doctor. 

“I read my Bible before going to bed and at 2 AM, I read some more.” 

The doctor wrote on his prescription pad, “Take one pill of anti-histamine before going to bed.” 

“What?!” Anatalia worried. “What if I get addicted to it? Then it might not work anymore.” 

Her doctor, patience personified, said slowly, “My mother is 95 years old and I prescribed the same pill. She has been talking it for the last five years and she has been sleeping soundly at night, every single night.” 

“Oh.” 

Without telling her doctor, Anatalia did not buy the pill. But every morning, between one and three AM, she would read her Bible and talk to God in prayer—telling Him about her day, her worries and anything that came to her mind. 

“Even if I only had five hours sleep,” she happily shared with her friends, “I felt as though I had eight—my daily grace.”  

Our days are filled with too many activities and concerns. But alone, at night, we have all the hours to talk to God, which we normally do hurriedly in our busy lives. 

From Anatalia, I learned this lesson for those nights when sleep also eludes me. It’s beautifully worded in Psalm 63:6-7, “I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.”  

Loving Your Work

Confucius said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” 

The problem is, there aren’t enough jobs to choose from. So parents/adults advice new graduates, “Don’t be picky. Take whatever job is available to get started.” 

As a result, we have a number of young people employed in businesses doing something they have no passion for, and so they produce mediocre work.  

Marion is an exception. He has a degree in engineering, but when he couldn’t find a job along his line, he accepted a job in a food joint as a waiter. From day one, he committed himself to excel in his job. And he did. So he began to enjoy his chores. 

In a few months, he was promoted to the next rank. And after a year, he was named manager of the food shop. All along, Marion has been sending two indigent relatives to school.  

"My job was first offered to me on a tray of grace," Marion said, reminiscing.  

In Eden, the Lord gave Adam and Eve work.  “. . . God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.’” (Genesis 1:28 NLT) 

Genesis 2:15 says, “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.” 

There is an addendum to the edict for man to work, “If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.” (Ephesians 4:28)  

Marion knows this Biblical principle by heart. And so must we. 

Photo credit 

Look It Up!

This enlightening grace story was told to me by my friend, Shiela, a Sunday school teacher for tweens.

She asked her class, “If you want to know the correct meaning and spelling of words, what would you do?” 

“Look it up in the dictionary,” Jolo, the smartest student, answered.  

“Good. And if you want to know the right way to act and behave, what would you do?” 

Answers were varied: “Ask my Mom.” “Ask Lolo!” “Ask Kuya!” 

Jolo stood up again and said, “Look it up in the Bible.” 

Children as young as tweens or even younger need to learn that the “manual” for good behavior is the Bible. 

Shiela took the opportunity to read to them a simple verse that specifies how to act and behave: “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” (1 John 3:18 NLT)  She then gave examples of loving by action.  

God’s Word is carved in stone—it cannot be changed or erased. As we go through verses upon verses, we read all the age-old principles that should guide our acts in both private and public. 

On justice: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.” (Proverbs 31:8-9) 

On debts, taxes, and attitude toward government: “Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.” (Romans 13:7) 

When in doubt or unsure about how to handle things, we can take a cue from young Jolo, “Look it up in the Bible!” 

One Grace Too Many

This piece has nothing to do with alcohol, which the phrase “one too many” refers to: an advanced state of inebriation. It has everything to do with Grace, my first name. 

Some of my friends (those new on socmed) complained that they could not find my page. They couldn’t guess who among the many Grace Chongs was moi. That was when I decided to include my middle name to, at least, make me distinct from the others with the same moniker. 

After counting those who share my name—more than a hundred—I almost passed out. How can I be so common? 

But that was before I discovered that there are over 79,000 John Smiths! 

“One grace too many” is the perfect phrase for the grace, not Grace Chong, that is dropped from the generous Giver from above.  His grace is unending and unstoppable; it falls and falls and spreads and spreads, like perpetual rain and flood. 

Let’s hold our breath for one second.  

Our continued breathing is grace. And that is just a teeny part of us. Medicine divides our psysiological system into: skeletal, nervous, muscular, respiratory, endocrine, immune, cardiovascular/circulatory, urinary, integumentary, reproductive, and digestive systems. Whew! 

What’s all this grace for? 

One of my favorite verses in the Bible, which I relish, answers this:  

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NKJV) 

Three-story House

After Miguel was promoted to a high-paying managerial job, he immediately proposed to his fiancee. Now he could afford to build his three-story dream house. 

Why three stories? He wanted to lord it over everyone’s house in the small village where he grew up—to show that he, the once-poor boy, had arrived. 

The beautiful house became the neighborhood’s landmark. Miguel reveled in all the compliments he received for his “tower,” which he felt symbolized his success, how lofty he had become.   

Fast forward to 30 years later. Miguel started suffering from knee arthritis, and had a hard time going up and down the stairs. Because it was a struggle to go up, he converted his first-floor den into the master’s bedroom. And after his two children had gotten married, the two upper floors had become uninhabited and useless. 

Those of us who are in our senior years feel the “wear and tear” of time. Painful joints, reduced mobility and faculties are part of the natural cycle of life. 

Miguel’s symbol of success had become a monument to his pride. In another two years, he sold the house to pay for his expensive medical expenses. He and his wife moved to a one-bedroom townhouse. 

“There’s nothing wrong with having a three-story house,” his neighbors would talk behind his back. “But to build one because you want to be exalted is another story.”   

Scripture has a message to the proud, “For the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has a day of reckoning. He will punish the proud and mighty and bring down everything that is exalted.” (Isaiah 2:12)  

Thoughts to reflect on:  

My past glories do not define who I am. But my relationship with the Lord does. Pride must be shunned under all circumstances.  

Photo credit: unsplash.com 

Keeping an Open Mind

There is a fierce, divisive debate going on in the world, which has recently escalated when the US courts handed down a controversial decision that has sparked both protests or celebrations, depending on whether you are pro or con.   

One side is pro-choice: abortion should be legalized because it is a fundamental right of a woman and should not be limited by laws or religion. Pregnant women opt for unsafe illegal abortions because there is no legal option. 

The other side is pro-life: individual human life begins at fertilization, and therefore abortion is the immoral killing of an innocent human being. It is unfair to allow abortion when couples who cannot biologically conceive are waiting to adopt. 

Some Christians have stayed neutral, “We are keeping an open mind, studying all the arguments before saying it is right or wrong.” 

“Keeping an open mind . . .” in this sense means: tolerance, reserving judgment.   

What does the Bible say about being open-minded (Luke 24:45-47 NLT)? “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” 

From Jesus’ own mouth, these words came, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’”   

He opened the disciples’ mind to everything that He fulfilled as written by Moses and the prophets. 

The world does not see Scripture the way believers, who live by grace, do. They look at it based on logic; we look at it based on faith. The opening of our mind is guided by the Holy Spirit. 

Keeping an open mind is not about “studying all the arguments before saying it is right or wrong.” It is about seeing issues in light of how Jesus sees them. 

Ask and reflect: Am I keeping an open mind in this debate on abortion?