How Are You?

Photo by Scott Webb from Pexels

2 July 2017

Last week, during coffee hour at the annexe,  Jean asked me a question:  “How are you, dear, health-wise?”

I looked at her and answered, “That is a loaded question.”

I mean, at our age, answering that type of question is like answering with a multiple choice answer:

A  Got eye problem

B  Got back problem

C  Got prostate problem

D  Got blood pressure problem

E  Got cholesterol problem

F  Got knee problem

G  Dan lain-lain

H  All of the above.

As I have shared two Sundays ago, life can sometimes be hard even for Christians.  We are not exempted from health problems, work problems or family problems, that can keep us up awake at night.

What will tomorrow bring?

Will we have a heart attack or a sudden stroke?

Will we end up in a nursing home?

What about our children?  Will they serve the Lord?  What if something happens to them?

Who will take care of us in our old age?

Will we live to see our grandchildren?

What about our jobs and our careers?  Where will we be in ten years’ time?

We live in a sinful and imperfect world. We do not have any control over the things that come to us in life.    But we can have control over how we respond to these things.

In John 14, we read of Jesus’ last words to His disciples just before His impending death on the cross.

He had washed their feet earlier on,

eaten supper with them,

told them that he was going to be betrayed by one of them,

and even Peter was going to deny Him.

Jesus has earlier told them that He was the good Shepherd who knows the names of each one of his sheep,

Who protects and provides for each one of His sheep,

And now He says He is going to leave them…

So, it was understandable that the disciples were upset and confused.

Jesus knew what was going to happen to His disciples.  He knew they will be scared and hunted and hiding.  His first words in John chapter 14 were, “Let not your hearts be troubled.  You believe in God, believe also in Me.”

He didn’t say that He will make all their troubles go away.  No, He reassured them that despite the troubles that will come upon the disciples, “Don’t worry.  Trust God, and trust Me.”

Don’t worry about your tomorrow, He says.

I already know what is going to happen, and I am in full control of everything.

And I am going to prepare a place for you.

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.

In the meantime, there is still work to be done.

And if you need anything, ask of the Father in my Name, that the Father may be glorified in Me.

You have not, because you ask not.

You just seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

You take care of my business, and I will take care of your business.

I will give you a Comforter.

I will never leave you nor forsake you.

I will bring to your remembrance all that I have spoken to you, all my great and precious promises.

I will give you peace that the world cannot give.

So, don’t worry.  

Trust God, and trust Me.

Later on, Paul would encourage the Christians not to neglect the meeting together but to encourage each other and pray for each other.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God," he says.

We Christians are not like those who have no hope.  We have a great God, who is also our heavenly Father.

When my daughter, WW, took her first trip to school on the Bas Sekolah (school bus), I actually followed the bus all the way, without her knowledge, and watched her from a distance, just to make sure everything was alright.  If even an earthly, imperfect father like me can care so much for his daughter, how much more would our heavenly father care for us?  In fact, our heavenly Father is able to do exceedingly more than we can ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20)

So, learn to count our blessings.  However small the blessing, celebrate each one with an attitude of gratitude.  As we become more sensitive to the things of God, each time He answers our prayer, our faith will strengthen and grow.

So, chin up, brothers and sisters.  Stop staring into the soup.  Pull those shoulders back.  Put a smile on your face.  Put a skip into your steps.  Our God is a great God.  He may not be pleased with the things that are happening in our lives, but He is not perplexed.  He is in control.

Jeremiah 33:3

Proverbs 3:5,6

Psalm 127:1,2

Unless the Lord builds the house,

Its builders labour in vain

Unless the Lord watches over the city

The watchman stand guard in vain

In vain you rise early and stay up late

Toiling for food to eat

For (it is) He (who) grants sleep to those he loves.