Sampark May 2009: Strength to face tomorrow...?

There is a story told in the Sufi sect that a king asked his wise men for an advice which will come in handy in a time of trouble. An ascetic wrote few words on a piece of paper, folded it and sent it to the king with the instruction to open and read when required. The king put the paper in a locket and hung it around his neck. Years passed and the locket with its message remained around the king’s neck. There came a time when the king went to a battle and unexpectedly had to suffer defeat. As he ran for his life with the enemy in hot pursuit, his trustworthy lieutenants deserted him. He tried to make it to safety all by himself, after a strenuous run his exhausted horse also finally gave up. The king left the horse and ran for his life on foot, whilehis enemy continued to draw near. He persevered to push himself, but became too tired take it any more. All of a sudden he found himself on the edge of a deep ravine with no way out on either side. His pursuers were continually drawing nearer; he could hear the galloping sounds of their horses, approaching. With this the kinglost his courage too. He was exhausted and dejected; and collapsed face down into the grass at the edge of the ravine. Contemplating imprisonment as being inevitable, he thought it better to end his life than to live a life disgrace. As he raised himself up on his arms, to jump into the ravine and end his life, the locket around his neck with the ascetic’s advice dangled in front of him. He quickly opened it, brought out the piece of paper and read it. There, written on it was “Don’t fear, this time will not last either.” The words gave him hope and he lay down as before into the grass. The sound of his pursuer’s came somewhere near, stopped and then started receding, gradually fading away in the air. After some time the king got up and made his way back to his kingdom. Having reached his palace, he sent for the ascetic, gave him a grand welcome and said “in my most difficult time when I was ready to jump into the ravine and kill myself, it was your advice that saved me.”

What does this story teach you and me? If God’s Word dwells in our heart then, according to the situation and our needs, it will guide us. In difficult times, the only way to face all trials effectively is through this Word, it is a wonderful guide and support, therefore “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16). If we store it in our hearts, it will give us the strength and capability to face all adverse situations.

History tells us that Jesus Christ died but God’s Word tells us that Jesus Christ died for my sins (1 Corinthians 15:3). History tells us that three days after His death, His body could not be found but God’s Word tells us that He rose again in the same body. The truth of God’s Word is not so cheap that merely by putting on spectacles and reading it, it can be comprehended. For understanding it, it has to be believed upon from the heart and confessed with the mouth. Faith comes by hearing and increases by allowing it dwell in our hearts (Romans 10:9, 10, 17). God’s Word never returns void (Isaiah 55:11); if it is in your heart then it will accomplish its work in your life.

He who brings a message from heaven is called a prophet, but the message that God brought personally and with no of human wisdom in it, the eternal truth is known as God’s Word. Hence this Word is as true and as worthy of honor, as God Himself. Today God’s Word has come to you “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me” (John 14:21); “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15); “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).

Have you paid heed to what God’s Word has said to you today?

Sampark May 2009: Love – Unrecognized

In a home, a mother does not throw away the last morsels of a child’s un-eaten food but eats them herself, because she put in her labor and resources to prepare it. The same mother, in a wedding feast, has no qualms about the plateful of food that the same child is unable to eat, she very casually asks the child to simply throw that food in the garbage. That which we get without charge is used very casually, with scant concern regarding its worth. This is the nature of man.

The Lord has loved us so much with such a magnificent love, a love beyond human words & expressions; but because He gave us this love freely, you & I neither value this love nor care for it. He gave us a wonderful life, gave it freely; we do not care for its worth. He gave us His wonderful Word, gave it freely; but we did not distinguish how invaluable it is.

Worry paralyzes a man; it fills his heart with uncertainty, causing him to think what will happen? How will it happen? A wavering heart is tossed too & fro with every wave of doubts. When we put on worry, it clearly shows on our countenance and is evident in our behavior. I stop seeing my dear wife’s loveliness, the best food becomes tasteless and ordinary, appetite goes, sleep is lost and the thoughts of ‘what will happen now’ take away the confidence in life. But “the just shall live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38). Because of our worrying we can in no way lessen the troubles of tomorrow, but we certainly erode our strength to face those sorrows.

If God had given the ability to worry to birds, they would have committed suicide long ago. They lack both strength & ability; they scrounge for each crumb of food and with the same crumbs they feed and bring up their offspring. For a place of living they put together bits of grass and twigs to build a nest that has little strength to withstand a storm or an enemy’s attack. But the Lord uses a small bird as an example to illustrate His care, He says “look at the birds of the air ... are you not of more value than they?” “Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 6:26, 10:31). Therefore just consider, how can I ever leave you?

Jesus was given a physical body in this world, only to be sacrificed for this world because He loved this world. He did not just love the good and righteous of the world but He loved even a thief. He gave His life for the thief who takes the life of others. There is no one in this world whom the Lord does not love. No matter what kind of a person you may be, the Lord still loves you all the same.

The day that Lord Jesus was put to death was the darkest day of this creation. But God has made it a day of light for eternity. On the cross where man exhibited his worst, God showed His greatest love and His best. The most man could do is take life and he did it. The most Jesus could do was give His life and He did that to demonstrate His love for you and me.

When I accepted His sacrifice and handed myself over to Him, He then gave me the assurance that He will bring to completion the good work that He is starting in me, i.e. to change me into His likeness. He will not sit back till He makes me free from all fault, stigma, spot or wrinkle; for one day, as a citizen of heaven, He will have me stay with Him for all eternity.

Once, a servant of God had to bury 40 people, one of whom was his dear wife too. That evening as he sat at the table for the evening meal with his children, he prayed and thanked God saying “Lord, with-out rages war and death and with-in profuse sorrow, but I am grateful that even these travails you have enabled me to be thankful to you.”

Many-a-times we accept gifts and enjoy them too and conveniently forget the giver of the gifts. We are very vocal and demanding when asking in our prayers but very low key when we worship, we are often left searching for words to express our adoration. Is it because within us there is hardly any cognizance left for all His favors towards us? “... Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 106:1).

Sampark May 2009: Editorial

Once again ‘Sampark’ is with you, in your hands. This was made possible only through your prayers.

At times a 9 year child may meet death; on the other hand even at 90 years of age people are still waiting for their life to be over. Though life remains uncertain, death is a certainty. This world is now in its last breaths.

For the past two thousand years the congregations of God’s people have been preaching to the world that the kingdom of God is at hand therefore repent; now in these last times the Lord is compelled to tell these congregations that now even you need to repent. In Revelation 3:15 the Lord says “I know your works.” In John 5:42 the Lord says “I know that you do not have the love of God in you.” Then in 2 Corinthians 5:10 He says that it is fixed that mine & yours, everybody’s works will one day be laid open before all. Yes, on that day, if the sins have not been washed away, they will be evident before everybody for sure.

Somebody raised a question “what is the world’s biggest lie?” The answer came, to say that “I never speak any lies.” Lord’s Word says that “If we say that we have no sin in us…then we make God a liar” (1 John1:8, 10). In Revelation 2:5 He asks “Remember therefore from where you have fallen” then He says that I have given you an opportunity to repent that you may gain back all that you have lost. It is wise to make ready the lamp to be used in the approaching night, before the day ends “for the night is coming in which no one can do any work” (John 9:4).

As soon as the eyes of God’s people stray from Him, some catastrophe occurs in their lives. As soon as creation’s first Adam’s attention deviated from God’s commandments, the world’s worst ever catastrophe happened. God had made him the steward of His garden that he may tend and take care of it (Genesis 2:15). But Satan deceived him into dreaming to be the possessor of that garden (“you shall be as gods” – Genesis 3:5) and caused him to go astray from God. The Lord Jesus too told a story where some caretakers of a vineyard in their desire to be its possessors, murder the inheritor of that vineyard. He was teaching the religious leaders of that time the consequences of their dishonest and unlawful deeds (Matthew 21:23-46). In these end-times too a vineyard has been made and its responsibility has been entrusted to some servants. Unfortunately, these servants have started to believe themselves as the owners and have pushed the real owner out of his possession. But today that owner is standing outside at the door and knocking on it, He wants to come in and fellowship with those servants again – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). He has made you and me a steward of the life He has given us, so that we may bring fruit for Him (John 15:8, 16). We have cast out God’s desires and expectations from our lives so that we may fulfill our own desires. But the loving Lord still has hopes from us and He stands at the door of our hearts, knocking and waiting for us to open for Him.

Life is an opportunity to win or to loose. Many a times I too have lived a defeated life. There were times when I had lost all hopes. But my friends did not ridicule my weaknesses in such times. Instead, through their prayers and support through God’s Word, by the great love of God, they restored me back. I am doing the same for you today. How is your relationship with God? Are you harboring any resentment against Him? If so, then rectify the shortcomings while you yet have time. Wake up before it is too late. It is my duty to call out, whether or not people respond to the call is beyond my control. Sin living in life never dies; rather, it kills our blessings. It is beyond human capabilities to eliminate sin from our lives. This is only made possible by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross; and this happens in the lives of those who make the death of Christ the way to eternal life for themselves.

Now is the time to cry out for the Lord’s mercy, His forgiveness is yet available for you. Just one prayer coming from a truly penitent heart – “ O Lord Jesus forgive my sins; change me and restore me again” has the power and capability to not only just change your present, but also your eternity.

It is through your prayers and cooperation that Sampark has been able to reach this milestone. All the love, letters, phone calls and suggestions that you have given have been my source of encouragement. I pray and request that please continue to provide this love and maintain this contact. Only the trust in God’s provisions and your prayers will enable Sampark to achieve its purpose.

Yours in the Lord,

“Sampark Family”