(May 30, 2010) A Weekly Meditation of Pastor Chang

<Ways to Receive Blessings> (7)

Few weeks ago, when Yi-Pai and her husband, Bruce Lots, joined me together we went to Flushing attended our evening Sunday worship there; on the way, we had very good conversations. They shared with me one episode of Pastor John Pipper’s message when he preached to a very large crowd of youth retreat. Later on, Bruce emailed me the detail. I was very touched. I remembered I shared with our church people in my Sunday message. Now that message is still ringing in my mind. I would like to share with you while I still remember some of them and add some of my comments in this article.

John Pipper kept challenging young people to never waste their lives in pursuing the so called, “American Dream” – to live in a beautiful huge house, to drive a fancy car, to hold a beautiful woman, to have a high degree, to possess a dreamed position, to have extravagant places to enjoy life always, or even plan to take early retirement because of having unlimited financial support for retirement to spend. This is a kind of “American Dream,” yet, it is a kind of waste of life in the sight of God.

Rev. Pipper kept saying, not long ago, at his church there were two sisters in Christ. They were all retired. One was 70, another was 68; one was a medical doctor, another was a professional nurse. Both of them actually could spend their lives in relaxation and enjoying their retirements. Yet they picked up their lives again and spent in Cameron, Africa, drove their car around many remote areas, visited many forgotten villages, they distributed medicines, took care of the sick, and more importantly shared the gospel of Jesus Christ among the disadvantaged places.

A few weeks ago, one bad news came. Both of them were driving around the villages. When they were driving through a curve, we did not know why, the car was suddenly flying out of the way. Both of them were killed immediately. When people heard of this bad news, some wondered: why God did not protect them? And why did they keep working after their retirements? Isn’t it a kind of waste of their lives? The answer is not. They never wasted their time and lives on the earth. We did not know why God did not protect them. Yet we do know, when both of them went back to heaven, they could tell our Lord Jesus Christ, “Lord, we have fully used the earthly lives that you have given to us.” That is a wonderful moment for them to enter into the eternality with glory. Praise the Lord!

What is the real waste? Rev. Pipper asked? He took one copy of Readers’ Digest and read an article about one couple: The husband took early retirement and both moved to live in Florida. They bought a boat and always enjoyed the beauty of the ocean. This couple built up a habit: to collect beautiful shells. This life seems better than those who do gambles. Yet, when the life ends, they meet their Creator, are they going to show Jesus Christ: How beautiful the shells they collected. Or are they going to tell the Lord, how beautiful their swings were when they played golf? That is a real waste of life!

Dear brothers and sister: How is your life now? Do you waste? Furthermore, our daily lives, our ways of thinking, our value systems, and our behaviors will mold the lives of our children. No matter they are good or bad, they all will pour into the blood of our next generations. Please remember: The way to receive blessings is to do whatever the Lord wants us to do! And the result is: It is not only meaningful in this life; it will also carry over to the eternality. When we go home to heaven, we can provide a beautiful account to our Lord Jesus Christ. That is the most important issue we need to think about now. May the Lord bless us forever more!