Past, Present and Future

Driving to and from office are moments I enjoy as I have a good time reflecting and listening to what God is talking to me. I mull over the scriptures that I read in the morning or a sudden flash of thought that God puts in my mind to ponder, or I say a prayer for someone in need or words of a song triggers a thought etc., and so a lot happens in terms of reflections in that short and sweet twenty minute drive.

This morning I was reminded of the scripture which says that God does not recall our past sins that are forgiven. Isaiah 43:25 (Amplified Version) says, "I, even I, am He Who blots out and cancels your transgressions, for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins". It was such a comforting thought that made me feel so set free. Everyone has a bad side of the past and the enemy's strategy is to keep recalling that and keep us stuck and rooted in the past that we can never move forward. He would also effectively use his messengers - unforgiving and graceless people who would join with him in the condemnation band wagon. If we are not sensitive to his schemes we can easily give in to his thoughts and feel condemned and worthless and in turn start to condemn others. Satan uses people in fulfilling his objective of bringing down those who desire to do God's will. The truth of the matter is that God remembers our sins no more and man has no business to talk about the past. The more we hear the voice of God the less we hear the voice of satan and his messengers.

Perhaps that is why Paul writing to the Philippians mentions this as a success strategy for life. He is a person who had a terrible past. He was a hardcore Jew from the strictest sect of Judaism and went about persecuting the Church, dragging people out of their homes and murdering them. He stood approving the stoning of Stephen, the first martyr. His blind faith in Judaism drove him to go to such extents only to be stopped in his tracks by the Lord Jesus himself after which it was no turning back. Paul says "...but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,..."Phil 3:13.

Do not ruin a beautiful present by thinking about the past. Each day and the here and now is a gift from God which is why it is called "present". We can ruin it by recalling what God has chosen to forgive and forget. The more we think about the past the less we will be able to work towards the future. Getting stuck in our past glories and failures will ruin our present and keep us from achieving what God has kept for our future. Do not give the devil and his messengers room by allowing them to recall the past. Do not be disturbed when the devil and his messengers try to dig up your past. They try to do this cause they know their time is running out and their future is doomed.

Scripture says that God does not keep a record of our sins. Instead He is more concerned about our future. God says in Jer 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." The more we get to know Him the more He reveals it to us. In the past He revealed it to Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He invites us to explore the future with Him in faith just like Abraham did.

If the devil reminds you of your past, just remind him about his future!!! Want to leave you with this all time favourite of mine from the Gaithers!!

Lasting Relationship?

Just happened to have a chat about music with a friend who has a fancy for old Tamil movie songs. We had a great discussion about the styles, content, genres, values conveyed and a whole lot of comparison of today's music with that of yesterday's. In the process of the conversation we stumbled upon a famous Tamil song that talks about human relationships and the lines are as follows:


"Veedu varai uravu
Veedhi varai manaivi
Kaadu varai pillai
Kadaisi varai yaaro?"

The song talks about death and the transience of human relationships. The meaning of the above lines are as follows:

When a man dies....
"Veedu varai uravu = The relatives mourn his death only as long as they are in his house 
Veedhi varai manaivi = The wife follows the corpse till the street corner (in Tamil culture women do not go to the grave yard)
Kaadu varai pillai = The son comes till the grave yard (to perform the last rites)
Kadaisi varai yaaro?" = But who will remain till the end?

Even though I have heard these lines many times, it struck a new chord today. Today I was able to see the song in a different light altogether - I was drawn to thinking in terms of eternity. It talks about the reality of death with no inkling of what lies ahead and about how fleeting life is. It also makes us ponder  about the longevity of all relationships we have. Finally the song ends with a question that portrays hopelessness.

In response to this question in this song, I was reminded of the parting words of Jesus to his disciples. He said, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

Oh what a hope!!! His presence is always with his children, to comfort, guide, help and deliver. His eternal presence with us enables us to face life boldly. It helps us to stand up to any challenge. The Psalmist David stood before the giant and was not shaken by the appearance or the taunting of his adversary. He knew His God and he was able to say in Ps 16:8 - "I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken." In Joshua 1:5 God says, " I will never leave you, nor forsake you." His love is a lasting and enduring love which remains true always!! In Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness."

What a hope to be the child of the living God who rose again from the dead. Death was conquered in sweet victory and that is the reason Jesus' words are so life-giving. Death is such an inescapable part of our life, yet for a child of God, death is the threshold of a life of lasting love, union with God, an endless hope and not a hopeless end as the song says. There is no fear and hopelessness in death for a Christian. That is what makes Christ so special to me.

As I close I am also reminded of the song by PETRA which is called "Grave Robber" which talks about life beyond the grave! 

For my Mom!

As I begin to write this, I am reminded of a famous song by Jimmy Osmond which I'd listened to as a boy on the radio. He had sung sometime way back in the 60's, a song called "Mother of Mine". Mothers are precious and there can be no words to express our gratitude for all they have done. As the world observed the Mother's Day I spent the day thinking of all that my mother means to me.


Difficult childbirth - My birth was difficult and sudden. I was born fourth and the youngest, premature at just over 7 months. My condition was so bad that my father was not allowed to even see me for nearly a week. My parents were not that educated, rich or influential to find out from the doctor, the medical details of my condition. They say that I looked a little larger than a "Barbie doll". I had tiny hands and tiny feet and my mother recalls her first prayer for me. She had prayed, "Lord, I wish you help my child live, and if he lives, help him to live long and well". And so here I am still alive and I owe it to Mom's first prayer.

Bible Stories - As I was growing up she would sit me down as she worked in the kitchen and keep me engaged with her Bible stories that she would narrate so beautifully. All characters starting from Noah, Joseph, Samuel, David, Daniel, Samson from the Old Testament to the prodigal in the New Testament came alive as she narrated. I would make her repeat the stories and she would only be glad to do so 'one more time!'. Whatever little knowledge I have of the Bible now, I owe it to Mom.

Sickness - As difficult as my birth, was my childhood as I would fall sick very frequently. I grew up battling sinusitis and asthma for many years. The asthma attacks occurred mostly in the nights or the wee hours when everyone was fast asleep. Hence I would try to resist my cough for fear of waking someone up. But somehow I would always find Mom always beside me by the time I had coughed thrice. While I sat on a couch propped with cushions, she would sit beside me,  sacrificing her sleep, nursing me through the night. She never slept till I slept. If I can breathe well now I owe it to Mom.

Patience - When I reached adolescence, like every boy, I became rebellious. I did everything my parents disliked; I would play my music loud while Mom would want some silence. In spite of everything she did for me, my efforts to help her were not as much. She patiently put up with me through all my rebellion and disobedience. She would stay awake until I got back home, sometimes very late. To me she is a tower of patience. She never gave up on me. Times changed and when I came to my senses I felt so bad for those moments when I had slighted her. Nevertheless, a mother's heart always goes out for her child and Mom was no different. She has always waited for me patiently. Now with distance separating us, going home has become less frequent, so when I call her she always asks me, "When are you coming home?" She still waits for me. If you found a little patience in me I owe it all to Mom.

Strong hands - Mom grew up in tough circumstances which made her develop a die hard attitude to life in the face of tough times. She is always determined  and never wastes her time. She works hard with her hands and I know she has strong hands. Never have I seen her idling her time away. If ever she took some rest it was a short nap while seated in her chair, after everyone had had their lunch. If I have a little bit of determination to face life in spite of adversity, I owe it all to Mom.

Praying - Most of all she was a praying mother. Before everyone is awake she is up and on her knees. I can say this with confidence that not a day has she failed to pray for me and I know she will always. It started at that difficult moment of my birth and it has continued ever since. I know I can face each day with confidence knowing that Mom has remembered me in her prayers. If you have known me as someone prayerful, I owe it all to Mom.

Mom may not be a perfect person. But, to me she will always be precious and I love her more than I can say. Mother of mine, stay blessed always and there is no way I can repay your love for me which is priceless.

Ma, I love you very dearly and pray that the Lord will grant you long life and good health!!!