20/20 Vision

 

20/20 Vision is a terminology used when testing the vision of eyes. 20/20 Vision is considered a normal vision in medical terms. Half way through this year this thought came to my mind and I wanted to pen down my thoughts but it never materialised. Today I decided to write it up as 2020 is officially getting over in a matter of few hours though what I am sharing is not just about 2020 but the 20/20 vision.

Every single year we start with new visions, hopes, dreams and plans and when we reflect towards the end of the year there will be wins and fails but most of us persevere and keep pushing forward but few of them give up. This year was different in a way that our visions, hopes, dreams and plans were severely altered by one common factor which was the virus and the management of this virus outbreak.

As I reflect on what I have read, pondered and watched, the virus itself did very little damage compared to the related issues it created which included extended lockdowns, rising mental health issues, suicides, domestic violence, financial hardships and the list keeps going. Even before the year ended, too many people gave up on their dreams, visions, hopes and plans as they couldn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel but majority of the people I know didn’t lose much in these terms. Just like me they had the privilege to work from home, get a new job or financial assistance. Sadly, majority of these people were the ones supportive of the lockdown and did very less to support or bother to care of those who lost everything. But the best part was that it separated the wheat and the chaff and exposed people to who they actually are compared to who they portray themselves to be.

2020 was all over the place personally for me just like it was for most of us but the best part was the completion of my Diploma of Counselling from Australian Institute of Family Counselling. This course widened my perspective and gave me great insight into the intricacies of relationships and how little we understand each other whether it be parents, siblings, co-workers, partners, community groups, relatives, friends and even best pals. The important lesson that I learned was we generally tend to listen to respond than to actually listen. What a world of difference it makes to actually listen to a person to understand than to respond. When I did more of that I was able to understand more clearly what they were saying beyond the words and I was able to set healthy and safe boundaries in a way that I am accountable for my actions and ensure that the other party is held accountable for theirs too. I learned a whole lot but I just want to focus on these two now which helped me reset my vision back to normal.

Setting healthy and safe boundaries would mean different things to different people but whenever we don’t have an absolute moral standard to go by, we will be overdoing or underdoing things. For me it is the Word of God that sets the standard. I wouldn’t say that I am upholding the standard 100% but I know when I fail and I know where I have to reach and what I have to do to reach to that standard. Gladly as a Christian when I fail, I have the help of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God but it is never an excuse to continue in my ways and expecting things to change but to rise up and move forward and persevere even more with the help of the Holy Spirit.

As this year is coming to an end, as usual we love to have renewed hopes, plans, dreams and visions. What I have learned is to come to the normal 20/20 vision first so that I can start to see things clearly before I can see what is beyond.

In Matthew 6:22,23 Jesus says this

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

There was a quote I read recently

“In our rush to get back to normal, we should ask ourselves ‘what parts of normal are worth rushing back to?’

The answer for me is a normal 20/20 vision which got me more focused on the realities of life, the intricacies of relationships, listening to understand and not to respond and to be accountable and hold others accountable for their actions. In short to live up the standards set by God and not stoop low or go high to the expectations of others.

The Bible clearly says about the nature of people in the last days in I Timothy 3:1-5 and it is a good checklist to see if we relate to any of these. If we relate to one or more of this, it is time to change our behaviour and get back to the right standard.

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 

Several lives have been ebbed out this year due to the virus and issues related to the way this outbreak was handled on top of other deaths. The fact is, we don’t get to live for eternity in this earth but we get to prepare for eternity with our loving Heavenly Father. Our death may precede or succeed His second coming and we all have to stand before that judge. He is a righteous judge and His standards are already set. Just like all other prophecies about Him has been fulfilled and nation of Israel is the very proof of that He will come.

Acts 17:24 - 31

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

Let the new year be a year of renewed hope and renewed passion to seek after things that really matter. Invest time in relationships while at the same time set safe and healthy boundaries, listen more and talk less, be doers and not just preachers and let it reflect in the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual areas of our lives.

“God has not promised skies always blue, flower-strewn pathways all our lives through; God has not promised sun without rain, joy without sorrow, peace without pain. But God has promised strength for the day, rest for the labour, light for the way, grace for the trials, help from above, unfailing sympathy, undying love”. - Annie Johnson Flint

The Lord Will Provide

Today after nearly 2 months of working from home, I had to go to the office just for the day to pick something. As I got into an almost empty train and was thinking about what has happened in the last few months and how the lives of many have been impacted in various ways God reminded me of the passage in Leviticus on how He promised provision for the Israelites. 

The Sabbath of the Seventh Year

“And the Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a sabbath to the Lord. Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather its fruit; but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath to the Lord. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard. What grows of its own accord of your harvest you shall not reap, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine, for it is a year of rest for the land. And the sabbath produce of the land shall be food for you: for you, your male and female servants, your hired man, and the stranger who dwells with you, for your livestock and the beasts that are in your land—all its produce shall be for food. Take no usury or interest from him; but fear your God, that your brother may live with you”.

Leviticus 25:1-7

Provisions for the Seventh Year

“So you shall observe My statutes and keep My judgments, and perform them; and you will dwell in the land in safety. Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill, and dwell there in safety. ‘And if you say, “What shall we eat in the seventh year, since we shall not sow nor gather in our produce?” Then I will command My blessing on you in the sixth year, and it will bring forth produce enough for three years. And you shall sow in the eighth year, and eat old produce until the ninth year; until its produce comes in, you shall eat of the old harvest”.

Leviticus 25:18-22

There may be some of you who have lost your job and living on the little savings you have, some of you might have borrowed money and living with it, some of you might have exhausted all your avenues and are unsure how you will face the next day, some others may be in uncertainty as there are rumours of jobs being axed in the near future, some of you are worried about the ministry and people God has given under your care who are being affected due to this unprecedented circumstance and some of you didn’t have much to start with and you might be already in poverty. 

Today if you find yourself in any of the above, turn to the provider God than to men. Just like God provided for the Israelites, He is able to provide for you. 

“Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness”

2 Corinthians 9:10

“The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing”

Psalm 34:10

God provides through various means and at times You will be the one whom God has called to provide to someone else. Don’t say you have very little because God is able to multiply it until this passes away just like the widow in Zarephath who provided for Elijah. 

Elijah and the Widow

“Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” So she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’ ” So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah”.

1 Kings 17:8-16

The Cheerful Giver

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift”!

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

In conclusion, let us open our eyes to see the needs around us. Check on your families, extended families and friends to see how they are doing. If you find a need and if you are able to provide meet that need. No amount of government help can provide for all the lack unless each of us step in and do our part. 

“Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it, ” When you have it with you”.

Proverbs 3:28

I pray that God provides for all our needs and we become sensitive to the needs of others just like Jesus did so that we can overcome this crisis together!! 

Reflecting on Eternity during lock-down

The whole world is in lock down fearing a virus and hopes of several people are dwindling hearing the news coming from all over the world. Most of them are optimistic that a vaccine will be found and things will get back to normal meaning how it was before. However, the fact is, things are not going back to normal at least for a few years. Many have started to understand the reality that shutting down the economy completely for several days comes with a bigger price: recession, mental health issues, domestic violence, financial collapse and many others.

On this Saturday as I am reflecting on the message of Good Friday, I would appreciate anyone reading this would take time to reflect on your response to your own mortality in this time of crisis.

A Message from the life of my son Gladson Robin

I had previously shared this video of Pas. Robin Xavier and his wife Sis. Jessy Robin sharing their hope in Christ to this world just days after death separated their dear son Gladson (7 years) on 30 March 2020. For the sake of those who cannot understand Malayalam I would like to provide a gist of this message. If you can understand Malayalam but haven’t watched this video, please spend some time to see this as none of you have an excuse that you don’t have time.

Gladson was down with fever on March 15th and his mum had taken him to the hospital. Pas. Robin who was ministering in Malaysia returned on March 17th but due to the Covid 19 quarantine requirements, he was advised to go through the government isolation process for 14 days. During this time period, Gladson had 5 x blood tests done, 4 x Xrays, Sonography, cough test, urine test, Echo and 2 x Covid 19 tests just to find out the reason for his sickness in 4 x different hospitals. He tested negative for Malaria, Pneumonia, Typhoid, Dengue, Covid 19 and Tuberculosis but developed a chest pain on March 30, and within matter of minutes he went to be with the Lord. The doctors never knew the reason for his sudden demise and they didn’t get a chance to put him in ventilator either.

This sudden loss obviously shook the Pastor and his family. He mentions how there were continuous prayer offered when Gladson was sick and even after he died asking God to raise him up. There were too many questions as to why God would allow this to happen and not raise this child up and the pastor shares his heart on how this on how it makes sense amidst their grieving process.

Firstly, he had a vision as he was praying for Gladson to be raised from the dead where Gladson was walking with angels and turned back to his dad said that he is going to be with Jesus and he doesn’t want to come back and to take care of his mum and his baby brother. God spoke to him and said that if Gladson wanted to come back, I would have let him back. It made sense to him as to why anyone who have experienced the joy, peace and safety of heaven wanted to come back. God reminded him of how the prophecy on his wife that was told to her even before she was married as to how God will use her mightily from her 34th year.

God then took him back to reflect on the series of messages he had been sharing since December 2019 about ‘Seasons in life’. Jesus had to go through certain seasons in life from being in the wilderness for 40 days and being tempted by Satan who left him for a season and came back several times after that. Even before going to the cross Jesus who is God incarnate but lived a 100% human life grieved before he went to the cross but with assurance confessed that He came to this world for that particular reason.

John 12:23-33

With the story of Jonah, God was bringing redemption to the nation of Nineveh. God reminded how this lock-down is equivalent to Jonah’s prayer from inside of the fish 3 days and 3 nights and how it was important for children of God to surrender themselves, pray and preach the gospel to the dying world that is locked down in fear.

God comforted him through the messages that he had already spoken to him about and through many other confirmations he reminded how Gladson has been used as a seed and how his life would touch the hearts of many.

John 12:23-24

24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much [a]grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

He shares how Gladson was a charming boy who brought so much joy to everyone around him. He was intelligent and could grasp things easily but wasn’t interested in writing. He didn’t want to go to school but as all parents, how they wanted him to fit into the standard of this world.

All that the parents want for their children is to give them a good life, good education that will help them get good job, find a good partner and have blessed children. However, if the very life of that child is cut short, what hope is there beyond that? After this separation God has changed his perspective on how not to be bound by the standards and systems of this world but to live and raise kids in God’s way which is more important. Gladson has gone to be with the Lord and our aim has to join him eternally. Not only our family but all our near and dear ones.

With so many uncertainties at present and much more ahead of us, we can be rest assured that our Lord is going to come very soon and the primary reason for our living is to live a life worthy of Christ and be with Him eternally. Whatever we earn or seek in this world have to be left in this world when that happens so let us be vigilant and prepared.

As I pray for Pas. Robin and family, I would invite you to pray for them and to reflect on your life and answer these questions honestly in your hearts.

Origin - Where did I come from?
Meaning - What is the purpose of my life?
Morality – How do I differentiate between good and bad?
Destiny - What happens when I die?

If you don’t know the answer, seek for it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqs4-rz63AE

As @RaviZacharias points out
We live with deep hungers within the human heart:

The hunger for truth, as lies proliferate.
The hunger for love, as we see hate ruling the day.
The hunger for justice, as we see injustice mocking the law.
The hunger for forgiveness, when we ourselves fail and stumble.

There is only one place in the world where these hungers converge: it is in the Cross of Christ, where perfect love and perfect justice became united in one death on a Friday afternoon. #GoodFriday

This might be a long post, but it is a timely post and I believe at least a few of you will take time to reflect on your own mortality in these testing times and start your life with a living hope beyond this world and death from this day.

Hebrews 12 : 1 -2 - The Race of Faith

12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

God bless you all!