"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord"
Someone said: "even his stops". I like to add that even his end is ordered by the Lord. I realize the truth of it from my father's life.
No one knew that the 16th of March 1960 was the day appointed for my father's departure to the glory land. Not even he. Yet the Holy Spirit, Who guided him, helped prepare him during his devotion that morning! The Lord was at work elsewhere too.
Several miles away, lived a servant of God. He too was a Hindu convert. He gave up his lucrative post to serve the Lord full time, as an independent evangelist. In those days, such a thing was unheard of although now, it is common. He was called 'Sadu' by the people and the children thought he was Jesus Christ from his looks, dress and gentle ways. He used to visit my father, as my father believed in his ministry and supported him financially too.
This servant of God arrived just at the time my father felt uncomfortable. For him to arrive at that early hour, he would have had to leave his house at 6 AM or so. He was older than my father and he cycled all the way! It was a surprise to me to see Sadu coming at that time when we were in a hurry getting ready for school and work. Normally he comes on a Saturday and never on a weekday like this. Now I know that it was the Lord who sent him. How careful we should be to listen to God's promptings and obey His commands. Sadu, by his obedience, was able to help my father and be a comfort to us.
Just a few minutes before, my father who was resting, sat up and said "I think I am going to die. What are you all going to do?" His human love and concern said those words. Yet quickly he added "There is nothing to fear.". God gave him hope and confidence and it was a strength to us.
Then things started moving fast. Sadu came and without a word he went to my fathers bed, placed his head on his lap and started praying silently. By this time my father went unconscious. "There is nothing to fear", were his last words to us. Sadu told us to pray quietly. Thus my father's spirit left his body. Then the doctor arrived and pronounced him dead.
It is really a blessed thing to know the Lord and have fellowship with Him. It is a life of peace amid the storms. Our hope in the Lord becomes the anchor of our souls. We will arrive at our destination at the appointed time.
I am reminded of two verses: "It is appointed unto man once to die and there after the judgment" [Heb. 9:27] and "God has not appointed us, unto wrath but unto salvation" [1Thes. 1:7] In my fathers case, he availed himself of the salvation offered to him and on the judgment day, he will receive his reward. Judgment is for the ones whose sins are not forgiven.
What about you and me? Will that day be a day of reward?
Showing posts with label Death. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Death. Show all posts
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
The Greatest Gain
"For me to live is Christ, to die is gain."
Philippians 1:21
My father's death anniversary was on the 16th of March. I thought of his life and how it helped me in my journey.
My father hailed from a small village. He belonged to a Hindu family and lived true to his convictions. His parents were not well off. My father was able to make his way to Singapore, educated himself and held a high position in the government.
Though he married my mother who was a Christian, he remained a Hindu, till one day in his distress [he lost his son suddenly and his wife was sick in the hospital] his eyes fell on my mom's Bible. As he opened it, the Lord spoke to his heart from Isaiah 1:3: "The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner's manger, my... people do not understand.". He went on to read and to search the scriptures and was convinced of the truth. By the time my mother came home from the hospital with the new baby, the Lord had worked in his heart and he was ready to accept the Lord and obey in the water baptism. The Lord always has His way and His time.
More than his conversion, the change in life, his upright living, his integrity and obedience to every truth from the Bible, set an example for my family and me. He retired early at 55 years to stay with his family in Sri Lanka. We were wealthy and lacked nothing. Yet, his lifestyle was that of a true Christian. He was up as early as 4am, sang praises to the Lord and read and meditated on the Bible before he started the day. His favorite verse was: "We live and move and have our being in the Lord ... We are His offspring."
He was a healthy person and was never sick. The day he died, as usual, I heard him having his daily devotions. In the hymn he sang the last stanza says: "Lord if your coming happens to be today, keep me prepared to meet you with delight.". He sang this more than three times and as usual went to do some work in the fields, which was how he exercised. At about 7 am he had a slight discomfort and with in 20 minutes he was gone even before the doctor came. He was gone to be with his father at the age of 57.
People thought it was not fair. Why did God take him away when the family needed him most? I didn't know why either. But I knew that God never makes a mistake. We were very sure that he had gone to be with the Lord and one day we will meet him. Though physically he was dead, as the righteous have hope in his death, so did he. His death was precious in God's sight [Pro. 14:32; Ps. 116:15] All these verses gave us comfort.
Ever since my father's death, the Lord took the place of my father and proved "... a father of the fatherless and a judge of the widows, is God in his heavenly place. [Ps. 68:5]" to be true.
It has been 47 years since my father died. All his five children are doing well, continuing in the faith and serving the Lord in some way. God is faithful. The children of the righteous are never forsaken. All praise to God for what He did in my fathers life and for us.
Philippians 1:21
My father's death anniversary was on the 16th of March. I thought of his life and how it helped me in my journey.
My father hailed from a small village. He belonged to a Hindu family and lived true to his convictions. His parents were not well off. My father was able to make his way to Singapore, educated himself and held a high position in the government.
Though he married my mother who was a Christian, he remained a Hindu, till one day in his distress [he lost his son suddenly and his wife was sick in the hospital] his eyes fell on my mom's Bible. As he opened it, the Lord spoke to his heart from Isaiah 1:3: "The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner's manger, my... people do not understand.". He went on to read and to search the scriptures and was convinced of the truth. By the time my mother came home from the hospital with the new baby, the Lord had worked in his heart and he was ready to accept the Lord and obey in the water baptism. The Lord always has His way and His time.
More than his conversion, the change in life, his upright living, his integrity and obedience to every truth from the Bible, set an example for my family and me. He retired early at 55 years to stay with his family in Sri Lanka. We were wealthy and lacked nothing. Yet, his lifestyle was that of a true Christian. He was up as early as 4am, sang praises to the Lord and read and meditated on the Bible before he started the day. His favorite verse was: "We live and move and have our being in the Lord ... We are His offspring."
He was a healthy person and was never sick. The day he died, as usual, I heard him having his daily devotions. In the hymn he sang the last stanza says: "Lord if your coming happens to be today, keep me prepared to meet you with delight.". He sang this more than three times and as usual went to do some work in the fields, which was how he exercised. At about 7 am he had a slight discomfort and with in 20 minutes he was gone even before the doctor came. He was gone to be with his father at the age of 57.
People thought it was not fair. Why did God take him away when the family needed him most? I didn't know why either. But I knew that God never makes a mistake. We were very sure that he had gone to be with the Lord and one day we will meet him. Though physically he was dead, as the righteous have hope in his death, so did he. His death was precious in God's sight [Pro. 14:32; Ps. 116:15] All these verses gave us comfort.
Ever since my father's death, the Lord took the place of my father and proved "... a father of the fatherless and a judge of the widows, is God in his heavenly place. [Ps. 68:5]" to be true.
It has been 47 years since my father died. All his five children are doing well, continuing in the faith and serving the Lord in some way. God is faithful. The children of the righteous are never forsaken. All praise to God for what He did in my fathers life and for us.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
When the Actors Leave the Stage...
"Let me die the death of the righteous and the last end be like theirs."
Numbers 23:10 [ Balaam said referring to Israel]
How often do we give thought to the hour of death? It is the only sure experience that every one has, with out an exception. One day the drama of life will be over. I, one of the actors will have to exit the stage. How I do it and what happens after that, are vital questions to consider.
The death of the righteous will be fearless [Ps.23:4]; precious [Ps116:15]; hopeful [Pr.14:22] and triumphant [Lk.16:22]. If we are sure of our final destination, we will look forward to it! Whom we trust and how we live, decides where we go.
The biblical span of life is seventy or eighty years [Ps. 90:10]. Due to the advancement of medical science and nourishing food, people now live even up to hundred and twenty years! Yet death is sure. Death comes unannounced to the young and old. We've got to be prepared at all times.
The Bible gives a clear picture of life after death. It is called eternity. Two places to be in that eternity: heaven or hell. If our sins are forgiven, washed by the blood of Jesus Christ and we lead a clean and righteous life, we go to heaven, where the holy God is. If we surrender ourselves to Jesus, He will make us fit to live or die and to be with Him.
As we go though the day, let us give some thought to this inevitable event of our lives...
Numbers 23:10 [ Balaam said referring to Israel]
How often do we give thought to the hour of death? It is the only sure experience that every one has, with out an exception. One day the drama of life will be over. I, one of the actors will have to exit the stage. How I do it and what happens after that, are vital questions to consider.
The death of the righteous will be fearless [Ps.23:4]; precious [Ps116:15]; hopeful [Pr.14:22] and triumphant [Lk.16:22]. If we are sure of our final destination, we will look forward to it! Whom we trust and how we live, decides where we go.
The biblical span of life is seventy or eighty years [Ps. 90:10]. Due to the advancement of medical science and nourishing food, people now live even up to hundred and twenty years! Yet death is sure. Death comes unannounced to the young and old. We've got to be prepared at all times.
The Bible gives a clear picture of life after death. It is called eternity. Two places to be in that eternity: heaven or hell. If our sins are forgiven, washed by the blood of Jesus Christ and we lead a clean and righteous life, we go to heaven, where the holy God is. If we surrender ourselves to Jesus, He will make us fit to live or die and to be with Him.
As we go though the day, let us give some thought to this inevitable event of our lives...
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