Free

I'm back in Singapore after close to a day of travelling from York. One of the movies which I watched onboard my flight back to Singapore was The King of Jail Breakers, a Japanese show about an inmate (Suzuki) who repeatedly breaks out of prison and allows himself to be caught so that he can be transferred to a higher security prison (and break out again). Eventually, he is transferred to the highest security prison in the country, where his father is imprisoned for life.

If this sounds familiar, the American TV series Prison Break is about an engineer who robs a bank so that he can go to prison and break his brother out of it.

What struck me most about The King of Jail Breakers was not the prison setting or even the prison breaks, but what the inmate's first governor (Kanemura) tells Suzuki when he realises that Suzuki is set on going to the highest security prison in the country.

"I had one hope for you... for you to die free. Now that will never happen."

I guess it depends on what you mean by "free".

*****

"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment..." - Hebrews 9:27 (NIV)

"...so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." - Hebrews 9:28 (NIV)

And Can It Be

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light

My chains fell off, my heart was free
I rose, went forth and followed Thee
My chains fell off, my heart was free
I rose, went forth and followed Thee

O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing

He breaks the power of cancelled sin
He sets the prisoner free
He sets the prisoner free

His blood can make the foulest clean
His blood availed for me
His blood availed for me
His blood, His blood availed for me

To God be the Glory

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood
To every believer the promise of God
The vilest offender who truly believes
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the people rejoice!

O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." - John 8:36 (NIV)

"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him." - Acts 2:22-24 (NIV)

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." - Romans 8:1-4 (NIV)

Jul 15 to 21

Jul 15: "A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God." - Romans 2:28-29 (NIV)

Jul 16: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." - Romans 3:23-24 (NIV)

Jul 17: "Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy." - Psalm 86:1 (NIV)

Jul 18: "Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." - Romans 4:20-21 (NIV)

Jul 19: "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ." - Romans 5:17 (NIV)

Jul 20: "I will betroth you to me for ever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD." - Hosea 2:19-20 (NIV)

Jul 21: "I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness." - Romans 6:19 (NIV)

Final Reflections

*This is from my sharing at York Baptist Church last Sun, my last Sun in York.*

5 years ago, in 2005, I applied to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics in the UK. The university which I really wanted an offer from was Oxford. I didn't get it. But God did give me an offer from York. After completing 22 months of national service from Jan 05 to Nov 06, I did an 8-month internship with the Singapore Prison Service (a bit more on this later) and came to York in Oct 07.

Over the past 3 years in York, I have made many friends and been part of two wonderful bodies of believers - the Christian Union on campus and, of course, York Baptist Church. I have also had the opportunity to attend a number of Christian conferences in the UK such as New Word Alive and the Keswick Convention.

In the book of Acts, Paul proclaims that 'from one man [God] made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live' (Acts 17:26, NIV). I thank God for giving me 3 amazing years in York. Just last week, I found out that I got a first for my degree, solely by God's grace. Above all, God is faithful and His hand has provided all I have needed, from funding and housing to food and clothing - especially warm clothing, given the cold weather up North!

9 months ago, I wrote on my blog that

During my national service from Jan 05 to Nov 06, I spent most of my time hoping that I could disrupt from national service and come to York in Oct 05, or at least Oct 06. But looking back, Oct 07 was exactly the right time for me to come to York. Going mysteriously forward, I trust that Jul 10 will be exactly the right time for me to return to Singapore.

I have been studying in York for the past 3 years on a Singapore Government Scholarship and will be bonded to the Singapore Prison Service for the next 6 years after I graduate. I did pray about the possibility of staying in York for another year to do a Masters. While I was unsuccessful in my application for Masters funding last summer, God has gradually given me a peace about returning to Singapore to start work this year, a peace 'which transcends all understanding' (Philippians 4:7, NIV).

I hope to come back and visit York sometime, God willing. Meanwhile, I thank God for His daily mercies and trust that His will is exactly what I would desire if I knew all the facts.

"I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."" - Lamentations 3:19-24 (NIV)

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not; Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning, new mercies I see
All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside

Links: There is a time for everything (11 Aug 10), Rehab, Renew, Restart (13 Sep 10), Proverbs 24:27 (25 Sep 10)

Jul 8 to 14

Jul 8: "Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" Paul replied, "Short time or long - I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."" - Acts 26:28-29 (NIV)

Jul 9: "Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him." - 2 Kings 18:5 (NIV)

Jul 10: And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: "O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth."" - 2 Kings 19:15 (NIV)

Jul 11: "The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart." - Proverbs 17:3 (NIV)

Jul 12: "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God - the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 1:1-4 (NIV)

Jul 13: "For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favour and honour; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless." - Psalm 84:11 (NIV)

Jul 14: "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs." - Jonah 2:8 (NIV)

Luther on Genesis 22

At family devotions one morning, Luther read Genesis 22 and talked about Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac. "I do not believe it!" said Katherine [Luther's wife]. "God would not have treated his son like that!"

"But, Katie," Luther quietly replied, "He did!"

- Warren W. Wiersbe, Heroes of the Faith

"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" - Romans 8:32 (NIV)

Book Aid Warrington

According to Plan (virtually new) for £2.50?!

My (extended) family is in the UK for my graduation this month. After visiting Liverpool with them yesterday, I was supposed to visit Manchester with them today. But God had other plans.

Instead of joining my (extended) family for what would have been my second trip to Old Trafford, on a whim I went to check out Book Aid Warrington, one of the Book Aid bookshops in the UK which I had yet to visit. As with Book Aid London, Book Aid Warrington was not supposed to be open on the day I wanted to visit (ie. today). But again, God opened the door for me to visit, in more ways than one.

Although Book Aid Warrington does not usually open on Tue, the lady who works there happened to be around tidying up the place when I called (more in hope than expectation) this morning, after getting off the train at Manchester Piccadilly. She was extremely accommodating when I mentioned that it was my last month in the UK before returning to Singapore for good. She even made me a cup of coffee! Incidentally, her husband used to work in Singapore (they retired 12 years ago) and they're going to the third week of the Keswick Convention this year.

What's more, Manchester Piccadilly - the last stop on my journey from York - is one of the best stations (if not the best station) to get a train to Warrington Central, the stop for Book Aid Warrington. The journey from Manchester Piccadilly to Warrington Central took only 20 minutes.

Anyway, I bought quite a number of books at an average of less than £1 each. Only God could have orchestrated all this down to the last detail!

Links: The SKS of the UK (19 Mar 10), Book Aid London (29 Mar 10)

What about free will?

The question of God's sovereignty and its relation to human freedom troubles many people. If God directs everything, how can man be a free agent and therefore morally responsible? If God knows in advance what man is going to do, what choice has he in the matter? Admittedly there are profound aspects to this question which are not altogether clear, but it is helpful to keep several things in mind:

First, man's will is always a relatively small part of any given circumstance. Man has no control over where he is born, into what family, or with what abilities or disabilities, advantages or disadvantages. He is subject to many influences beyond his control. He is rather like a baby in a playpen. He has real freedom, but only within certain prescribed bounds. Francis Schaeffer points out that when someone throws a man a ball, he can either catch it or let it fall. Barring some physical defect, he is not so limited that he has no power of decision or choice.

Second, God's foreknowledge (which is not to be confused with His election or with predestination) is not in itself the cause of what happens. For example, God foreknew that Demas would forsake the Apostle Paul for love of this world, but God's foreknowledge did not predispose Demas to turn back, much less compel him to do so. Demas acted in freedom; he made his own personal choice, under no compulsion.

Again, God foreknew that Saul would receive Christ and become Paul the Apostle, but on the Damascus Road Saul exercised his own will in answering the Lord's summons. God foreknows your decisions before you make them - He knows what you will do and where you will go - but this foreknowledge does not interfere in the slightest with your complete freedom to act.

- Paul E. Little, Know What You Believe

Prophecies, Predictions and the Will of God

Paul the Octopus has predicted (prophesied?) that Spain will win the World Cup while Mani the Parakeet has picked Holland. Of course, they can't both be right.

"Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." - 1 Corinthians 1:22-24 (NIV)

We do not know 'the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb' (Ecclesiastes 11:5, NIV). We do not know 'what we ought to pray for' (Romans 8:26, NIV). We do not even know 'what will happen tomorrow' (James 4:14, NIV).

But we know that 'not one [sparrow] will fall to the ground apart from the will of [our] Father' (Matthew 10:29, NIV). Even as 'we see through a glass, darkly' (1 Corinthians 13:12, KJV), we know that

1. "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you." - John 15:7 (NIV)

2. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." - James 1:5 (NIV)

3. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9 (NIV)

Above all, 'we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV).

"Based on what you know, trust God for what you do not know." - Ravi Zacharias

If I knew for sure which team would win the World Cup, I might be tempted to place a "bet" (it would not really be a bet) on that team.

"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law." - Deuteronomy 29:29 (NIV)

How much more then, since we know for sure that Jesus will return to 'judge the living and the dead' (2 Timothy 4:1, NIV), should we put our trust in Him!

The LORD, Not Idols

"This is what the LORD says - Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.

"Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come - yes, let him foretell what will come.

"Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one." - Isaiah 44:6-8 (NIV)

Link: The Knowledge of the Holy (7 Jul 10)

Waiting Quietly

Habakkuk is a compelling example not only of prayer, but also of patience. He says, "I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us" (Habakkuk 3:16). God has promised to discipline His people, He has promised to judge the Babylonians, and He has promised to fill the earth with the knowledge of His glory; therefore, Habakkuk will wait humbly and quietly for the fulfillment of each promise, be it judgment or blessing.

Remember that Habakkuk knew nothing about God's timing on all this. He didn't know the hour or the day, he didn't know the month or even the year - and normally, neither do we. Though we find the promises of God throughout Scripture, they don't come with specific dates and times. Therefore, when our circumstances contradict God's character and promises, we're tempted to supply God with a time frame and demand that He fulfill His promises according to it.

Habakkuk's example is different. He quietly waits - and that takes faith. It takes faith to wait tranquilly for something for which we have a promise from God, but no date.

What promise has gone unfulfilled in your life so far? Marriage? Pregnancy? Healing? A particular promotion or position? Salvation for a loved one? Will you, like Habakkuk, quietly and humbly wait for God's fulfillment of His promise? If Habakkuk can wait quietly for divine action on the grand scale he had in view, then surely you and I can calmly yield to God's timeline in our relatively little lives.

Please don't misunderstand this. Waiting is not resignation; waiting is an active trust in God to provide fulfillment in His perfect timing, according to His ultimate purpose of glorifying His Son.

Yes, the righteous person shall live by faith - and that faith requires waiting.

- C. J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness

Links: Wait Patiently (20 Oct 09), Houseparty 2010 (2 Feb 10)

The Old Testament and the People of God

The law was given to mark Israel as God's people. It is important to remember how it did this: it took the various human institutions of the time, and transformed them so that Israel would reflect the character of her God. Thus Israel could be a nation like the nations around her, but everything about her would show that her God was not like their gods.

All this was, says Paul, temporary: Israel needed this religious framework only until both she and the other nations could be transformed through her Messiah.

- Ida Glaser, The Bible and Other Faiths