Counterfeit God?

We are on the 3rd phrase of the Movement Control Order (MCO).  I have to say that I am much blessed by this MCO instead of feeling constrained, isolated and socially distanced.  In fact, what I hope things that would happen, it happened and I hope this will last forever, that includes, the church services, the daily devotion and reflection, the resources online, the e-services, etc. etc.  Well, at least, I have been living in such isolation and socially distancing life for a while now, just that more services are now available online so, I guess life gets BETTER.  

I have seen and heard people complaining about not having a proper church service PHYSICALLY; not having the work to occupy themselves and therefore they are feeling they are useless these days;  not having been able to socially/physically communicated with their loves one such as yum cha, tea sessions, chat sessions, wasting of time sessions and/or interact with people through sports; mentally they are challenged to be confined in a small space (with or without others around); not having their private time; not having their usual routines, and the list goes down so much about how much to make themselves feel GOOD.  

Is attending church and go to work is all about making us feel GOOD? I am afraid I have the opinion that when people started to complain about the lack of all the above, it is because they have made all these as their counterfeit God - something/people that they cannot lives without.  So much so that we thought money, power and sex are usually those elements and things that we will make them as counterfeit God, but unfortunately, that doesn't just about it.  There are more than that, that includes ourselves.  Do we make ourselves and our needs/desire our counterfeit God?

I probably told some that I love being alone.  Yes.  I do get out of my 'loneliness' and went to work, walk around the streets or shops to get things, or to meet up with friends to have a meal or two, but I don't make staying alone and being alone all that I need.  In summary, I love being alone but I don't make it the only thing I need in order for me to be happy or lives my life.  I don't make it my counterfeit God.  Isn't money or making money important? Yes.  It is, but I don't devote myself to just make money and lives for it.  Is attending church services important? Yes.  It is.  Just that I am fine with virtue Sunday services too if that's necessary (due to sickness, inability to move, circumstances like MCO, etc).  I don't make attending Sunday service physically a must and if not, it's a sin. 

Furthermore, it is entirely something different between feeling social distancing, isolation and loneliness.  I can go to church to attend Sunday service but I feel more lonely being there than being at home and have Sunday service virtually and had a Zoom discussion after that.  My Sunday service in KK has been mundane.  I attended Sunday Service physically every Sunday still but I always feel lonely.  Never a time I feel welcomed or belonged.  It's just going and go home, just like getting business sorted due to obligation.  

During this MCO, I am so glad that the church in the UK has now having their Sunday services virtually and that I am not only able to attend the services once, but for both the services and have been following on their series without fail.  Additional to that, they have come up with daily reflection, posted questions for you to discuss among your group of friends/group members, and since more and more of my friends are on Zoom and Skype or whatever virtue platform, I have been somehow more 'socially active' than ever. Do I feel less lonely? I do.  But I am also happier because I have more 'connection' and resources that can help me to know and be with God better.  I love this the most during the MCO.  I really wish it will forever be like this, but no.  I don't want this to be my counterfeit God.  But for now, I am not complaining.  I am using this time and circumstances to develop a better and different relationship with God.  

I hope you are too.  Don't keep complaining.  See the good in all these and enjoy while you can. 

- Counterfeit God? - 

His love, our faith

Today is the 24th day since the Movement Control Order (MCO) was ordered (18.03.2020).  I have seen many posts on fb and instagram that people lost their ‘sanity’ over inactivities.  Some grumbles about not being able to go to office to work, some lost their excitement about attending church services, serving God, preaching, gathering, etc. In gist, many are not used to life when their daily routine is interrupted.  This, however, has been my routine and what I deemed blessed is that, without the need to go out to meet people and to attend church services, I gets to do the usual with additional church services to attend (online).  I find joy in all that of course.  

Covid19 might bring a lot of changes to many people’s lives, but not to me.  It has given me revelations and more insight on the special relationship I have with our Lord.  We are in the middle of the holy weekend, with me, totally down with 0 ability to deal with myself and/or to function as human yesterday (Good Friday) and so, I opened my eyes from my bed, check the time, and on the tv and Youtube and straight to worship God and meditate on God and what Jesus did in bed.  Amazingly, with the experience in mission trip last year, and with the sermon preached, it really took me a while when the preacher asked, “are you willing to be served?”.  To be served by God? By Jesus? To allow Him to wash my feet?  I drew me to close in wonder what I have been doing when I keep saying, “I am not worthy for His love and His sacrifices”.  If i am not willing, I will have no parts in His Kingdom.  My heart sank the moment I thought about this and wonder, it’s not Him who did not give me what I want.  It is how much I am willing to be served in order to be part in His kingdom. Lord, forgive my stupidity and have mercy on Him.  Yes, I am willing to be served and You can wash my feet. 

It’s so weird that no one seems to have problem washing others’ feet, but there’s always embarrassment and unwillingness when someone wants to wash our feet.  I am not sure if that’s happening to you, but that’s certainly means we can serve human better than letting God serves us.  Are people also the counterfeit God I have created to focus on these days? 

Well, one of the challenge I realise during this MCO is that, people can easily focus in Him, putting Him first when they have a group of people to support them, they have the church to support them, letting them to praise and worship and to involves in ministries, some even be able to preach and to minister to others.  But where is He and how much can you focus on when you are all alone by yourself, not for one day, but for weeks and years?  Will you still be able to praise Him, focus on Him and grow in Him spiritually? I am glad I am an introvert and it’s these period of time, I manage to focus on Him much better than those days where I have the works, mom and others to worry about.  I certainly enjoying this MCO so much that I wish I have time with Him than other things in the world.  

Having said that, I am glad I am feeling much alive today and so I praised and worshipped Him this morning while waiting for my meal to be cooked.  It’s Easter tomorrow and I am preparing myself for the moment to celebrate Him even if I am all alone.  That excitement and joy.... I guess, only He and I know, and that’s our current relationship at the moment and I am looking forward to much more to come. 

Are you finding His love and establishing and/or founding your faith in Him this MCO and this Easter too?

Well, blessed Easter.  

I love you, Jesus.  I do.. and thank You for loving me first.  I won’t forget from now on that you have suffered the loneliness and rejection for me on the Cross so that I won’t suffer the same anymore.  Thank you for the sacrifices just because You love me.  

- His love, our faith -