Tonight I attended a wake service of one of my dear friends' mother who passed away on New Year's Day. She is Rev Lai Kai Ming's mother-in-law and her name is Madam Ong Ah Suan. It was a touching session for all who attended especially the testimony shared by her son on how Aunty Suan (as she is affectionately known) lived her life since she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Saviour; how she remained cheerful and optimistic even though she was suffering from cancer and was told that she only had six months to live.
I do not really know why I titled today's blog as "In Order To Live, One Must Be Ready To Die." It came to mind when I got a lift home from one of my accountability group members. I will try as much as I can to share the thoughts that ran through my mind during the service and on my way home.
By the way, this statement was put across to me about 8 years ago by a close brother-in-Christ when I was diagnosed to have Acute Renal Failure. I kind of forgot about it till tonight when I heard about the way Aunty Suan lived her life.
I was down and discouraged when I was told that my left kidney was failing me and that the right one was also not doing too well. I was angry with God for letting this happened and the next few weeks after I got the report, I basically fell into depression and I just did not know what to do with my life anymore. Everything, then, seemed hopeless and meaningless.
A dear brother met up with me and one of the few questions he asked was this, "Andy, are you ready to die?" It sounded very insensitive of him to do so but as he explained further, that question was actually very valid.
He asked me whether Jesus is my Lord and Saviour and I told him Jesus is. whether by believing in Him, I have eternal life and I said I have; whether after I die, I will go to heaven and I said yes.
After I gave him all the answers, he told me that I should be ready to die since I am sure of my salvation. "Why then are you so sad and depressed and angry?" he asked. When I was on my own, reflecting on the conversation I had with my dear brother-in-Christ, it finally made sense that if I know where I am going after death which will be a place far better than life on earth, then I should not be discouraged that I am afflicted with a serious illness.
I should instead try to live my life on earth as best as I can because when it finally comes to an end, I would be ready to face a new life in heaven.
I think many times I do not know how to live because I forgot what death means to a Christian like me. "This world is not my home, I am just a passing through" - a song reminding me that my life here on earth is just a transit.
The doctor told Aunty Suan she had only six months left but instead she lived on for another 12 months. In the 18 months before she passed away, she knew clearly where she would be going and having that knowledge, she lived her life to the fullest and as normal as she could (despite of the pain she had to suffer from chemotherapy sessions and also having broken all four of her limbs). That touched many people around her.
Well, I shall end here. I hope I am making sense in sharing the above. Even if I am not, ponder on the statement - does it make sense? Food for thought. :)
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21
I do not really know why I titled today's blog as "In Order To Live, One Must Be Ready To Die." It came to mind when I got a lift home from one of my accountability group members. I will try as much as I can to share the thoughts that ran through my mind during the service and on my way home.
By the way, this statement was put across to me about 8 years ago by a close brother-in-Christ when I was diagnosed to have Acute Renal Failure. I kind of forgot about it till tonight when I heard about the way Aunty Suan lived her life.
I was down and discouraged when I was told that my left kidney was failing me and that the right one was also not doing too well. I was angry with God for letting this happened and the next few weeks after I got the report, I basically fell into depression and I just did not know what to do with my life anymore. Everything, then, seemed hopeless and meaningless.
A dear brother met up with me and one of the few questions he asked was this, "Andy, are you ready to die?" It sounded very insensitive of him to do so but as he explained further, that question was actually very valid.
He asked me whether Jesus is my Lord and Saviour and I told him Jesus is. whether by believing in Him, I have eternal life and I said I have; whether after I die, I will go to heaven and I said yes.
After I gave him all the answers, he told me that I should be ready to die since I am sure of my salvation. "Why then are you so sad and depressed and angry?" he asked. When I was on my own, reflecting on the conversation I had with my dear brother-in-Christ, it finally made sense that if I know where I am going after death which will be a place far better than life on earth, then I should not be discouraged that I am afflicted with a serious illness.
I should instead try to live my life on earth as best as I can because when it finally comes to an end, I would be ready to face a new life in heaven.
I think many times I do not know how to live because I forgot what death means to a Christian like me. "This world is not my home, I am just a passing through" - a song reminding me that my life here on earth is just a transit.
The doctor told Aunty Suan she had only six months left but instead she lived on for another 12 months. In the 18 months before she passed away, she knew clearly where she would be going and having that knowledge, she lived her life to the fullest and as normal as she could (despite of the pain she had to suffer from chemotherapy sessions and also having broken all four of her limbs). That touched many people around her.
Well, I shall end here. I hope I am making sense in sharing the above. Even if I am not, ponder on the statement - does it make sense? Food for thought. :)
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21
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