A RESPONSIBLE DECISION TO MAKE

Dear Members in Christ, 

A Responsible Decision to Make

Today marks the last Lord’s Day of the year. It feels as though we started 2024 just a few weeks ago—how time flies! Time waits for no one; it moves forward, whether we like it or not.

Having crossed the biblical age of "threescore years and ten" (cf. Psalm 90:10) two years ago, I can now echo the Psalmist: "I have been young, and now am old" (cf. Psalm 37:25a). There were challenges and sweet moments alike, memories I cherish and others I wish I could forget. Yet, we cannot turn back the clock. Some memories bring joy, others sorrow and regret—but all of them shape our lives. Whatever they are, we will not be able to turn the clock back to the past.

The renowned English playwright and poet, William Shakespeare, who lived from 1564 to 1616, used a metaphor to describe “the world is like a stage”. He famously likened the world to a stage, depicting life as a journey from birth to the grave. We each have different roles to play, and when the play ends, the curtain falls. Unlike the stage, life offers no rehearsals; mistakes linger, and there is no retake. Our only recourse is to repent, learn, and strive not to repeat past missteps.

In a few days, we will welcome 2025. The old year will pass, and new resolutions will be made, prayerfully guiding us toward love, joy, peace, health, and prosperity. This clean slate offers a fresh start, an opportunity to realign with our values and beliefs.

Life on Earth and Beyond: Man is bound by the space-time continuum. Man’s life on earth is finite. As Psalm 90:10 says, “…  yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” Death is as certain as birth, yet beliefs about the soul's fate differ. Some view consciousness as mere brain activity that ceases at death—a belief contradicted by Genesis 2:7 "… the LORD God formed man of the dust…and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Regardless of one’s beliefs, man has a living soul and the soul lives on after death.

Where does the soul go to after man’s time on earth is done? For the believer, the soul will immediately return to God. “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 12:7. The soul of man will continue to live on. The believer will be in the presence of God with all the saints who have gone before him. “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Revelations 21:3.

For unbelievers, the Bible warns of eternal separation from God in hell, and later, the lake of fire—a place of "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (cf. Matthew 8:12) and "unquenchable fire" (cf. Mark 9:43-46,48). A place of excruciating torture and misery where “their worm dieth not” (cf. Mark 9:48). A place of agonizing thirst that can never be quenched (cf. Luke 16:22-24). This reality is stark but true.

A time for Awakening and Decision-Making: As we approach 2025, it is time to make right with the soul! It is time to re-evaluate your belief in “life after death”. It is either an eternity in heaven or otherwise. A deliberate conscious effort will have to be made. This is a personal decision.

We can learn from the rich man in hell when he requested father Abraham to send Lazarus back to earth to evangelise to his five siblings (cf. Luke 16:19-31) to save them from ending up in hell. Once the time passes, it cannot be undone.

The depraved human mind has an earth-bound and vain imagination of God. Thus, to man, God must fit into man’s vain imagination. Man refuses to understand that God is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscience, all mighty and infinite, whereas man has a finite mind – limited by time, space, understanding and intelligence. How then can man, created by God, comprehend and understand God? How can the created creature understand God the Creator unless man readily submits himself to God? Man must do away with his ego and pride. The Bible teaches man to “… avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.” (Titus 3:9) and “… shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” (2 Timothy 2:16).

Humility and Faith:  Salvation faith is not “seeing is believing” BUT “believing (having faith) is seeing”. Our finite minds cannot fully comprehend an infinite God; we are encouraged to avoid "profane and vain babblings" (2 Timothy 2:16) and focus instead on humility and faith. Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Salvation begins with faith, not proof; believe first, and understanding will follow.

So, do not hesitate. Seek God with sincerity, trusting that once you know Him, many of the questions that once troubled you will fall away: “The secret things belong unto the LORD … but those things which are revealed belong unto us…” Deuteronomy 29:29.

Who is to make the decision? Those who had heard the gospel and are hesitating. Come to God and repent. May you seek God and ask Him to come into your heart. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10.

A Plea and Prayer: Why wait? May you make a new resolution to seek an eternal gift that can never perish nor be taken away (cf. John 10:28). The Lord Jesus says “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3. Come to the Lord Jesus Christ and be assured of a place in Heaven for your soul. Amen. 

In Christ,
Eld. Choe Tong Seng