December 18, 2016

The Shepherd's Corner

THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

On Tuesday we cremated Oom Tek Bien and on Friday, we released his ashes to the Pacific Ocean via Long Beach. We will not see him at church—or anywhere on this side of the heavens—because he is already on the other side of the heavens. Based on John 5:24, we can say with confidence, he “has crossed over from death to life.”

We, Christians, are not perfect; we are only confident—that we became children of God not based on our goodness but on God’s goodness. And, that one day we will live in His Heavenly Home not because we have reserved it but because Jesus has prepared it for us. We are confident because we believe in what God has told us.

Life is a journey. We do not know all the details of the way or what will happen on the way. What we do know is the final destination—God’s eternal home. And, the reason we know is because someone left heaven for the earth 2,000 years ago. The Son of God left the splendor of heaven for the sorrow of the world. It was in and through Him we have been assured of our final destination.

One of the spiritual giants who served the Lord in a mission field was Amy Carmichael, a British woman who went to India and died in India. At the latter part of her life she suffered from severe neuralgia—an intense burning and stabbing pain caused by irritation of or damage to a nerve—in the right shoulder and hand. This condition rendered her fingers almost immovable.

When she learned that in all probability she would never be able to write anymore, this was what she said to her nurse, “I gave that hand to the Lord for Him to use and now He has taken it again.” This is what we also have to say as well as we travel home.

Pastor Paul

More Shepherd's Corner Articles

The Shepherd's Corner - August 12, 2018
[:en]THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER As I write this, many of you are in the church, making final preparation for our brother and sister, Bram’s and Natalie’s wedding....
Read More
Shepherd's Corner - December 28, 2014
Something unusual will take place in the 2015 Tournament of Rose Parade.  The horse that is supposed to carry the Grand Marshal will have no rider on it!  Louis Zamperini, the designated rider, died on July 2 of this year, just weeks after he was named to be the 2015 Grand Marshal.  However in ho...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - May 1, 2022
The other day I met someone who was diagnosed with a serious illness several years ago.  I remember that time; and I remember how relieved he was when he learned the good news that he was now well.  When I met him, he told me that his illness had come back and he’s getting ready [&hellip...
Read More