Since March 2020, I saw people posted a lot of their current situation on social media. Sadly, most of them are their anger towards the country’s leaders, the political leaders, the governments and some, their bosses. Anger was sparked off because many are worried about their livelihood and their future. Future that they actually have no guarantee with actually. Just that because of the pandemic, people finally feeling it closely. The business bosses are angry that the government leaders implemented lockdown because that’s mean their ‘promising’ future profits has now become unpromising. Worse still, some of them were greatly affected that they now have to take up loans and borrowings to sustain their businesses and also the livelihood of their family and the family of those who work under them. The middle-class business owners are not here nor there because, with so much commitment in their hands as their struggle day after day before the pandemic, things got worse as they might as well end it and try to find a job, which might not come by at all. Employees are less angry with the government and they say, “all depends on what bosses and government is saying” because they are still getting pay, even though some are pay lesser and the government also giving them some incentive now and then.
For people who have children who are planning to enter their tertiary education, parents are worried now that because of the financial constrain, they are unable to provide the best education to their children. Those who are not going to tertiary education, their parents are worry now that their children will not get a job that will not expose them to covid19. It’s been 1 ½ year now and if they have been waiting, they are still waiting now for the next step to come along, safely. For those who have graduated and graduating from their tertiary education, some are facing the choices of whether to return to Malaysia to work because the situation seems more dangerous and because many businesses are closing, their opportunity to get a job seems slim. For parents who have put all their investment into their children and wishing that their children will not find a good job and contribute to the family financial burden, the situation now becoming a bit bleak.
Most people in this country are toss between lockdown and earning opportunity. Everyone now hopes they can be in a position where they can work, earn and at the same time, shield themselves from being infected with a virus and died. But then again, the reality is that there’s no guarantee.
Some people are trying to be smart, even though they are not. Some non-medical trained people think they are smarter than scientists and doctors and they even believe in social media and all these reports (instead of research papers) and tried on all sorts of measures trying to combat the virus. Some are even so good (they think they are) that they think the virus is a hoax and they can just don’t do anything about it. These people are in denial of the difficult and broken world, that they have put so much trust in it, thinking it belongs to them and that they can do everything they want to combat it and win it because they have their rights to. These people are so brave about their lives, their choices, for their life and their afterlife. They exercised their rights (Human rights they call them) and they think they are winning over God in this, in controlling the world and life.
Is there a guarantee and complete control over the world and life in this world? There’s no guarantee anyway, even prior to the pandemic, but people did not see it because people only manage to focus on their own ability, how much they can earn, how much they can do and how much they can plan for their future prior to the pandemic. The measure was done through own self-measurement and standard. That’s a human being and that’s why we often hear people commented that “You do not earn enough because you are lacking ability”.
Since the beginning of this pandemic, people did not realize that the smartest persons are put to do all these important jobs trying to win over covid19. The smartest scientists, the medical practitioners, etc. but if they are not lacking the ability and intelligence, why are we still not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel yet? Where’s the future that these smartest people can assure us? Unfortunately, there’s none.
Is our ability and intelligence that can determine our future? Can we rely just on our own ability and intelligence? Let’s talk about climate changes around the world, which we all realized now, in every corner of the world because it has somehow affected us very much these days, i.e. we need to on the aircon more often than we used it, people in the UK needs to get a fan or an aircon now compare to 20 years ago where we only need a heater, even during summer. Summer in the US and Australia no longer involves beaches and swimming, but also ready baggage to run away from bush fires. Bicycle no longer one of the major transport in Europe, but a boat in recent years. Don’t we have all these scientists and smartest people at the top of the world who know this day will come? So, why are we still facing the problem today?
We talked about our worries almost every minute if not seconds, even though we know that it is part of life. The amount of worries that one get is different from person to person. Some people know things are going to happen and they will take measure to tackle it. Some people know things are going to happen, they will do something about it, but not wholeheartedly. Some, just don’t bother at all. That’s just so human, you say. That’s right. It is. That’s us. We worry about everything, not just major issues. But we always forget the major issue and the way to tackle it.
People forget the core saving in John 3:16 even though this is probably the only bible verse they can recite. They only focus that God loves us and full stop. Most people disregarded the fact stated at the end of this verse, that those who do not believe, will perish. This verse also lied the truth of our guaranteed future and the only way to make our future certain. It is not how successful you are. It is not what society position you are at. It is not how well you did to feed your family. It is not how much achievement you achieved in life. It is not how much you respect your parents. It is not how much you read the Bible. It is not how many people you shared the gospel with. It is not how much wealth you accumulated. It is not how much possession you have in this world. It is not how well you preach. It is not how well you trained missionaries. It is not how much time you spend with God. It is not how much good deed you did to help people during this pandemic. No. It is not.
There’s only one thing you need to do and that not only your future is guaranteed, but also that your worry will be lifted because that’s the ONLY future you should focus on, that is to believe in His only Son and, you will not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16 NIV
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For those who do not believe, the future is that they will perish. Our God loved the world, and our God is also the integrated and just God. He has given us a choice, which we all need to make it.
There’s no guaranteed future in this world. No one can guarantee anything for you. No one can even guarantee that this pandemic will be over by end of this year. No one. But there’s only one guarantee that we know is sure for our future, that believes in Him, and we will not perish but have eternal life.
To have the ultimate faith in believing Him, we do not dictate how God is to run this world and our lives. We do not come to Him and tell Him, “come on God, I believe in you, now, do your part and give me a bright future and bless me”. If I am not wrong, there’s so much provision in the whole Bible that says we can bribe or negotiate with God. God has given us the privilege to pray to Him and submit our petition to Him and see how things work out, not to bring what we asked for to ourselves, but to bring out an outcome that His name is glorified.
Too bad, the existence of this world, your existence, the existence of the covid, it is not about you or me. Yes. It is not. It is about God and His glory. I wonder how long until people realise this.
During my CLP exam, everyone is praying because there’s only 30% of candidates will pass the exam and I wonder, if everyone is praying, does God allowed all the prayers or how is He going to decide who is going to pass and who is not? I realised afterwards that, it is not about whether you prayed or not or whether you get your prayers answered or not. Sometimes we do, sometimes we don’t. It is how you pray and it’s what kind of attitudes you have when you pray that is more important than the outcome. The situation may or may not be better for you in the next couple of months time. It doesn’t matter to God. What matter is, what kind of attitudes you have when you pray and whether what you are praying for will glorify His name.
The best thing about our eternal future is that the passing rate is 100% guarantee, as long as you believe. So, don’t believe half-heartedly or a little. It has to be 100% belief. If you are doubting at this moment, as long as Jesus has not returned yet, you still have time to find out more about Him and believe in Him.
My challenge to you today is to focus 100% on Him, prayed with the right attitudes and make His name be glorified.
- Guaranteed future -
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