A word from heaven.

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Change takes more then a Choice, it takes Courage

Let me share with you a story today. Its about this man called Ah Long.

Ah Long was born in the 1940s and when he was in his 20s, the underworld in Singapore was still very much dominant. Ah long become one of the bosses of the underworld and ran loan shark ring, secret society, drug trafficking.

Ah Long's times...

The law soon caught up with him and he because of the limited evidence, he was sentence to a 7 years term.

Changi Prison

When he was in prison, he got to know Pastor Tong. Initially he was very much resistant and suspicious of the Pastor Tong. But through years of perseverance, he started to attend the prison worship service and finally received Christ during his 3rd year. He became determined to change and away from his old ways. He started to read the bible and the conviction to turn away from sin and lead a Christ like life became stronger by the day. It was one of the most awesome change the pastor has ever experienced. Ah Long even quite smoking, started to devote his time in the cell to pray and seek God. Eventually Ah Long received news that because of his good behaviour, he was allowed to go after serving 5.5 years of his 7 years jail term.

Finally, on the 5th of September 1969, Ah Long changed into his polo shirt and brown pants. Finally he was a free man. As he stepped out of prison, the sun rays glared into his eyes and once he got used to the intense sunlight, he was greeted with a scene that he never thought he would have to face.

Where Ah Long had to make a decision...

On the left of the street was Pastor Tong and his wife. Pastor Tong had came to receive him. On the right of the street, was Ah Nan, the person who was his right hand man when Ah Long ruled the underworld. Together with Ah Nan was 11 other brothers who still addressed Ah Long as "Lau Da Long"

Ah Long had to choose now. He had to choose either leave with the Pastor and lead a new life or leave with Ah Nan and go back to the underworld.

In the end, Ah long left with Ah Nan and went back to the underworld.

Ah Long was killed 3 years later when the police raided his drug warehouse and was shot dead at the scene in the fire fight.

Does the story of Ah Long reminds you of yourself?

To us, the prison is like a church, a sanctuary or when we meet up with our mentors. Time and again we make the decision to change and to repent of our old ways only. We walk away from the altar (prison in Ah Long's case) convicted to change. But when we are faced with the real choice of changing (Pastor Tong vs Ah Nan) we don't have the courage to stand up on our decision.

Have you ever made a decision to change at the altar and when you go back to your friends or family, you have no courage to show your change? Let's say, you were a smoker and you decided to quit smoking. When faced with colleagues or friends giving you a cigarette expecting you to join them at the smoking point, do you have enough courage to say no?

Courage to say no even when others laugh at you or mock you? when others are skeptical of the new you? Courage to build a new image of yourself? The initial stages will be hard but let me encourage you, people around you will see your determination to change and allow you to change and adjust to the new you.

Don't let others' image of you determine who you are. Let who you are determine others' image of you.

Change takes more then just a choice at the altar, it requires you to have the courage to pull it off.

I have a few question for you today and meditate on the verses after them and seek God in that area.

1) Have you made a decision to want to change but is afraid of how others will receive the new you? (you fear other's skepticism, mocking or even rejection)

Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD;
may your love and your truth always protect me.

For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.
~ Psalm 40:11-12 ~

2) Do you need more courage to pull off your decisions at the altar?

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
~ Galatians 5:16-18 ~

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
~ Galatians 5:24-25 ~

Tomorrow I'll talk about how we are our own stumbling block to change.

Regards,

Jie Hui

Labels: Christian Living

The kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.

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Monday, July 14, 2008