Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Candle In The Wind
Life is like a candle flame that time will only kill.
The Bible said that our candles were designed to burn for 120 years (Genesis 6:3). But for many reasons we can expect only to live up to 71 years in Malaysia if you are a male, and 74 years of age as a female on the average. I am not going to entertain why the female species are the longer-lasting lot, but there suggestions of men killing themselves with cars, guns and alcohol possibly being the contributing factors. But then who wants to live that long anyway, as our EPF will last 5-10 years after we retire. If we live to 120, we will have to work till 100 years old to ensure we have enough money to see us through :-(.
But seriously, indeed, many die too prematurely, well before their candles were meant to burn out. Some are fortunate to retire and see their children begetting children of their own, while some less fortunate ones can at best leave a legacy without actually spending their twilight years with their grandchildren and loved ones. Then there are tragic cases whereby some do leave us before even seeing their very own children grow up. Life is indeed fragile and like a candle in the wind. Notwithstanding, some candles burn out long before the legend ever did as Elton John has chorused. But is that what we want?
I attended a friend’s dad’s funeral today. He passed away at the age of 84 years. Seeing an aged man in a coffin to most seem rather natural, a sense of consolation that nothing was lost if one were to die at such a ripe age. But that coffin could well have had you or me as its occupant.
I am sure the maker of that particular coffin had placed no age limit on its eventual occupant. Definitely coffins are not age-specific, probably only width and height were the considerations to accommodate the various sizes God has designed us, or perhaps their lifestyles had shaped them to be. In truth the Lord has numbered our days, and we can be called back to be with the Lord anytime.
But, 'when' we are summoned back to the ‘Fairer’ and ‘Better land’ is not important, compared to how we had served the purpose God had for our individual lives during in our brief time here on this corrupted and decaying land. The legends that Elton John describes in his 2 songs – each a dedication to Lady Diana and Marilyn Monroe were tragic in nature. Many legends never fulfilled God’s potential for them – Elvis, Bruce Lee, Theresa Teng and the list is endless. It is not the pursuits of such legendary iconic status that we desire but rather the legacy of the likes of Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, John Wesley, John Soong, Abraham Lincoln and the likes who in their generation fulfilled God’s chartered purpose for them. These men are those that fought the good fight and finished the race (2 Timothy 4:7). Like 2 of the Korean Christian aid-workers who have already been executed by the Talibans, some of these candles burnt out prematurely, but the manner it burn while it did, lighted the world with God’s splendid beauty and made a difference. Many of us today are feel good Christians and are indifferent to the plights and needs of God’s kingdom.
There are many who have left a legacy in the world, but are unheard, unseen and away from the limelight. A missionary told me that some of the church workers in the Middle-East oversee over 500 cell groups. Care group leaders in Lebanon take buses to make sure those entrusted to them constantly have a touch of God, each having more than 500 cells. I can think of a Singaporean gospel singer who has a great voice and writes endlessly his own gospel tracts. He is no less talented than Michael Wong who has risen to stardom with his song Tong Hua (a fairytale), who himself had started as a church singer in Ipoh. But there is no doubt in my mind who had done more for God’s kingdom at this present moment.
In the end, salvation is a gift. Yes as Paul said we are not to fear death whether we are 54, 74 0r 84 years old, for to die is gain but to live is Christ (Phil 1:12). Only what is done for Christ stands for anything. We all have to stand before Jesus in heaven. He will ask you, ”What have you done?” You are rewarded accordingly to what have you done for Christ (Revelations 22:12). That is what counts folks!
I rewrite the quoted verse earlier,
My life is like a candle flame,
Kindled by God’s grace,
To shine in a world that is dark,
Sharing the depths of His love.
The Bible said that our candles were designed to burn for 120 years (Genesis 6:3). But for many reasons we can expect only to live up to 71 years in Malaysia if you are a male, and 74 years of age as a female on the average. I am not going to entertain why the female species are the longer-lasting lot, but there suggestions of men killing themselves with cars, guns and alcohol possibly being the contributing factors. But then who wants to live that long anyway, as our EPF will last 5-10 years after we retire. If we live to 120, we will have to work till 100 years old to ensure we have enough money to see us through :-(.
But seriously, indeed, many die too prematurely, well before their candles were meant to burn out. Some are fortunate to retire and see their children begetting children of their own, while some less fortunate ones can at best leave a legacy without actually spending their twilight years with their grandchildren and loved ones. Then there are tragic cases whereby some do leave us before even seeing their very own children grow up. Life is indeed fragile and like a candle in the wind. Notwithstanding, some candles burn out long before the legend ever did as Elton John has chorused. But is that what we want?
I attended a friend’s dad’s funeral today. He passed away at the age of 84 years. Seeing an aged man in a coffin to most seem rather natural, a sense of consolation that nothing was lost if one were to die at such a ripe age. But that coffin could well have had you or me as its occupant.
I am sure the maker of that particular coffin had placed no age limit on its eventual occupant. Definitely coffins are not age-specific, probably only width and height were the considerations to accommodate the various sizes God has designed us, or perhaps their lifestyles had shaped them to be. In truth the Lord has numbered our days, and we can be called back to be with the Lord anytime.
But, 'when' we are summoned back to the ‘Fairer’ and ‘Better land’ is not important, compared to how we had served the purpose God had for our individual lives during in our brief time here on this corrupted and decaying land. The legends that Elton John describes in his 2 songs – each a dedication to Lady Diana and Marilyn Monroe were tragic in nature. Many legends never fulfilled God’s potential for them – Elvis, Bruce Lee, Theresa Teng and the list is endless. It is not the pursuits of such legendary iconic status that we desire but rather the legacy of the likes of Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, John Wesley, John Soong, Abraham Lincoln and the likes who in their generation fulfilled God’s chartered purpose for them. These men are those that fought the good fight and finished the race (2 Timothy 4:7). Like 2 of the Korean Christian aid-workers who have already been executed by the Talibans, some of these candles burnt out prematurely, but the manner it burn while it did, lighted the world with God’s splendid beauty and made a difference. Many of us today are feel good Christians and are indifferent to the plights and needs of God’s kingdom.
There are many who have left a legacy in the world, but are unheard, unseen and away from the limelight. A missionary told me that some of the church workers in the Middle-East oversee over 500 cell groups. Care group leaders in Lebanon take buses to make sure those entrusted to them constantly have a touch of God, each having more than 500 cells. I can think of a Singaporean gospel singer who has a great voice and writes endlessly his own gospel tracts. He is no less talented than Michael Wong who has risen to stardom with his song Tong Hua (a fairytale), who himself had started as a church singer in Ipoh. But there is no doubt in my mind who had done more for God’s kingdom at this present moment.
In the end, salvation is a gift. Yes as Paul said we are not to fear death whether we are 54, 74 0r 84 years old, for to die is gain but to live is Christ (Phil 1:12). Only what is done for Christ stands for anything. We all have to stand before Jesus in heaven. He will ask you, ”What have you done?” You are rewarded accordingly to what have you done for Christ (Revelations 22:12). That is what counts folks!
I rewrite the quoted verse earlier,
My life is like a candle flame,
Kindled by God’s grace,
To shine in a world that is dark,
Sharing the depths of His love.
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