How do we know that Christianity is right? How can we be sure that out of all the religions in the world, Christianity is the right one? This is one of the most common questions that non-Christians ask, and Christians find hardest to answer. But it is a question that cannot be neglected, and must be answered.

Religion is man's search for the supernatural, or for God, or for a higher purpose or meaning in life. From what I see, it is basically man's quest to find something intangible, beyond this world, which he can believe in. From the very dawn of the time man has had an obsession with the supernatural. The ancient Egyptian and Greek empires all had their gods and myths. Man has always had the sense that there was something greater out there than what they could see with their mortal eyes, a higher power in control. They sought to discover more about that world. But the point is, it is man who is doing the searching. Which explains why there are so many world religions today, in addition to the numerous New Age and cult groups. Just go to the Religion section in Kinokuniya and you will be stunned at the sheer volume of New Age stuff there is. Different people have different values, characters and inclinations, which would very naturally drive them to believe in very different things. Just like a person with an adventurous spirit would find great fulfillment in living as a mountain climber, or a person with an inquisitive mind would find fulfillment as a scholar or philosopher. Man searches, and finds many different ways. But not all roads lead to Rome.

Christianity is fundamentally different, because it is not based upon man's search or efforts, but God's search for man. Think about it. Islam talks about man's devotion to an "unknowable" God. Buddhism is about attaining a higher spiritual level, or nirvana, and earning a better reincarnation. But Christianity is about a loving God who searches and pursues a wicked man who has rebelled against Him. From the point of Creation Adam and Eve let God down. When God chose a people for Himself, the Israelites, they let him down again and again. No sooner had he blessed and forgiven them did they rebel and disobey him again. But He never gave up on them. Time and again He forgave them out of pure love. The entire Old Testament story is one of God's love for His people, bringing them out of captivity and establishing them "I have loved thee with an everlasting love" Jeremiah 31:3.

But if you are still not convinced, look no further than Christ. Before we see Jesus in too small a light, remember that Jesus is God. Through Jesus the world was created. He was not just a man, He was God Himself. "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Forget all the hypocrisy of Christians in this world. Forget all the man-made divisions and strife that exist in the Church itself. Forget formal religion, forget the mistakes Christians have made in sharing their faith. Forget all the terrible things man, and Christians, have done in this world, because this is not about man, but about God, who through it all has never changed. Christianity is about God, and what God did for man. Jesus forsook the glory of His Father and heaven to come down to earth as a humble carpenter, a mere man. Can you imagine the President becoming a toilet cleaner? Jesus washed His disciples' feet! Can you imagine God, the creator of heaven and earth, stooping down at your feet and scrubbing away the dirt and grime from between your toes? That is what He did! And most of all, Jesus suffered a most painful and excruciating death. Crucifixion in ancient times was reserved only for the worst criminals. It was a slow, torturous process of not just physical pain of being nailed to a cross, but slow, gradual suffocation, lasting hours, sometimes even days. Even the strongest of men were broken. Not to mention of course the intense whipping with whips studded with bits of metal bone, designed to tear muscle and skin, and carrying the splinter-filled cross up the hill. But I believe the worst part for Jesus was not the physical pain, it was the alienation he felt from God. At that point, God laid on His Son the wrath due on man for his sin. It's like a father standing by and watching while his son is tortured and hung for some offense, only a lot worse. Remember that Jesus was not just a man, He was God. To the point that He cried on the cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

Why did God do all this? Why did Jesus bear all this? One simple word: love. Perhaps this is what we as Christians have failed to convey- the magnitude of God's love. And I believe much of the modern disillusionment with Christianity is because the Church has in history focused on many other matters, but missed the central point. Where else can we find a God so loving? Where else can we find a love so strong, so persistent, so undying? Such love, such love! Of all the gods in this world, there is only one God who loves man like this. Some people think that Christianity is just an easy way out. But if people really read and understood the Bible, they would see that God's moral standards are no less strict than any of the other religions out there. It is not a free ticket to sin. And God is not unfair; it is because He is just that there must be punishment for man's sins, and that punishment was laid on Christ. God knows how helpless we are, and because He so desperately loves us and desires us to be reconciled to Him, that He paid the ultimate price - His own Son. Can we ever find a love so strong, so true? I cannot find the words to describe the magnitude of such a love.

This is what Christianity is about. All I have written in this blog would count for nothing, if not for this. All that has been done in the name of Christianity would be in vain if not for this. This is the one thing that sets Christianity apart from the other religions. A lot of people can't stand the way Christians claim that there is only one way to heaven. But we do not say that there is no other way to God because we are proud or stubborn or narrow-minded, or because it is the right thing to say. To make such an audacious claim we would need justification, and it comes in the form of the enormous price that God has paid for us to have eternal life. If there had been easier ways to end World War II then millions and millions of lives need not have been lost. If there are easier ways to heaven such a sacrifice would not have been needed. No, there is only one way, the costliest way, and that is why Jesus had to die. And He rose again. The way is open.

What is it that stops modern people from coming to God? People nowadays are the exact opposite of those in ancient civilisations- many don't care a trifle about God. I think the main problem is that people don't like to be under control. They don't like to think that there is a higher power above them, they like to think that they are in full control to do whatever they want, achieve whatever they want to achieve, and believe whatever they want to believe. Some don't like the idea that they are so helpless that Someone had to go so far as to die for them. Some just don't like the idea that they have to be helped by Someone else, that they cannot make it on their own. I myself don't like being controlled; I certainly do not like being pushed around and regimented in the army. I think I would not be mistaken in saying that everyone likes to be free. But I believe there must come a point where we realise that there is truly Someone in control. We may question an authority who abuses us, punishes us unnecessarily, or neglects us. But why should we question the God who created us and loves us so, so much? Why should we question the God who holds the universe in His hand and at the same time longs to guide our individual lives in the paths that are best for us? Furthermore, with God we are not submitting to an earthly kind of control; we are entering into a relationship with Him. And God longs to give us everything.

If you are reading this and do not know Jesus, but God's love has touched your heart, come to Him. He waits with open arms.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
Save in the death of Christ, my God
All the vain things that charm me most
I sacrifice them to His blood

See, from His head, His hands, His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were a present far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

To one and all, Happy Good Friday.

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1
"He hath made everything beautiful in his time." Ecclesiastes 3:11

These are famous verses; in between them are the well-known lines "A time to be born, and a time to die..." Often read at funerals. But I don't think these verses were meant to be grim or sorrowful at all. I think they are among the most beautiful and more joyful in the whole Bible, if we can come to see it in a different light.

Ups and downs in life are inevitable; we can avoid them as much as we can avoid falling asleep in a lecture theatre- they will come, no matter what we try. For my dear friends in army, I can think of no better example than being pulled out of our comfortable school environments and thrown straight into the burner, so to speak (That was what they called the gas chamber in which we were exposed to tear gas this morning during our chemical defense exercise). Some of us find it harder to adjust than others. But of course everybody experiences ups and downs in their own lives. One moment everything seems to be smooth sailing, but then again we all know and have seen, both literally and figuratively, how quickly a dark cloud can form over the horizon.

Why does God set aside "a time to weep", and "a time to laugh"? In the seven "time" verses of Ecclesiastes He goes to great lengths to show that there are specific times for everything, segregated from each other and not mixed. The verses sound good and profound, but what is the meaning behind them? I would like to propose one. God wants us to experience each of these times, whether good or bad, in its undiluted entirety, because in each "time" or "season" there is always a lesson, or lessons, to be learnt, specific to those times. He wants us to have the full effect so that we can have nothing less than the full lesson.

We have little trouble thanking God and serving God in times of bliss and peace, and through that we learn gratitude and humility to the God from whom all blessings flow. In times of suffering and struggle, it's not easy to keep trusting God, especially when our emotions get the better of us. But let's not try to evade or dilute the pain. There's a little story I want to share. I have been assigned to clean the drying yard in the bunks where all the wet clothes are hung, and there was this big smear of birdshit on the floor when we arrived. I saw it and knew that it had to be cleaned, but of course I procrastinated. Ignoring it on my daily cleaning rounds didn't help- it still stuck out like a sore thumb. And somehow when I remembered it I was always drawn to go and look at it- I guess it's like when you know there's something wrong you pay special attention to it because you want it changed. I tried one day to tidy up the furniture around the birdshit, hoping that it would make it look less disgusting- how foolish, in retrospect- didn't work. The birdshit was still there. So one day, I just had to go down on my knees and scrub every bit of the floor. And now I can clean the yard in peace.

God intends for us to have "a time to weep", a time when we will face sorrows and difficulties. And when those times come, it's no good trying to run away, or trying to lessen the pain. A bruise will heal faster if you rub it as hard as you can, despite the pain. I believe we were meant to stare our sorrows straight in the face and take the full brunt of it. Much like facing a six foot wave with fists clenched and chest up as it crashes down on you. It will hurt, it will hurt like mad. But when we face it with God at our side, we take one step closer to him, and one step away from the world. And we know that nothing, nothing will ever break us away from the unfailing love of God. "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9.

So to my dear army mates, and whoever else this may relate to, let's face our trials and suffer for all it's worth. Satan may break our bodies, but he will never break our souls- they are secure in Christ. Perhaps one day, we may even suffer with a smile- "but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience..." Romans 5:3. The story doesn't end there. When the "time to heal" and the "time to laugh" finally comes, it will be all the more sweet. And we will look back and see that the Lord has been with us every step of the way.


One night I dreamed I was walking
Along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints.
Other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed that
During the low periods of my life when I was
Suffering from anguish, sorrow, or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints,
So I said to the Lord, "You promised me,
Lord, that if I followed You,
You would walk with me always.
But I noticed that during the most trying periods
Of my life there have only been
One set of prints in the sand.
Why, When I have needed You most,
You have not been there for me?"
The Lord replied,
"The times when you have seen only one set of footprints
Is when I carried you."

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

This is an often quoted verse, and it has brought comfort to many. But it can be easily misunderstood, when Christians think that God will always grant them all that their hearts desire. It may not seem very serious, but I believe there is a subtle belief in today's society that Christianity, or perhaps religion in general, is a means to an end. What can Christianity do for me? What can I gain from it? I would like to share what I feel this verse really means.

Imagine a jar that has to be filled with rocks, smaller pebbles, and sand. The logical way would be to put the rocks in first, then the pebbles, and finally fill up all the small spaces with sand. Fill it up with sand first, and you will never be able to get in the rocks.

People often think of Christianity, or religion in general, as just another "compartment" of life. Perhaps as a rock, or a pebble. That is why many people feel that they do not have time for religion, when the pace of life picks up, or that they are bored with it. I used to see it as a pebble in my earlier years as a Christian, a Sunday affair where I could sit quietly in prayer and draw strength and peace from God, as well as pray for others. Later it became more of a rock, when I began to serve in church, and did my quiet time regularly. But there were many areas of my life that remained untouched and segregated from Christ, though I found great joy in my relationship with God. He led me through some real difficult times.

But what I want to share is that I believe, and have tasted that, God has more in store for us. We may be perfectly happy putting God high up on our prioirity list. The more of ourselves we devote to Christ, the more He will touch and change our lives. But there is another step we can take. Why view our faith as a rock, or even a very big rock, when it can be the jar itself? Think of the most beautiful, breathtaking natural setting you can conjure in your mind. Soaring mountains, deep and dark valleys, winding rivers, all teeming with life. We can see our faith as a spectacular peak in that picture, or a rolling valley, or a majestic sunset. But I believe our faith is the whole picture and nothing less, with everything in our lives falling in place to create a masterpiece. A masterpiece that God has painted long before time. It's like a jigsaw puzzle- the individual pieces don't make sense on their own, but when together- voila!

I would not say all this if I have not experienced it, practically in my own life, by the grace of God. An example- all the years that I saw badminton as a means to prove myself, to achieve glory, my efforts always culminated in despair and defeat. For those who are closer to me you would know how much badminton has meant to me in my life. But when God taught me to rely on Him for strength and humbly give Him all the glory, everything finally fell in place. I don't know how God transformed me, only that He did. And I have never been as close to my teammates as I am now. For years I was never close to my family, and I struck mostly to my own interests, God forgive me. Now He has taught me to look beyond my own selfish interests, and now I love and cherish them more than ever. I viewed army as a thorn in my side, something that just had to be endured till the time came to pluck it out for good. But amazingly, God has shown me that even, even army has meaning and purpose in His plan- I have learnt to trust in Him more in the past three months than in my whole life. My faith is still weak. and I pray that the trials that are ahead in the next few months will strengthen me to face the tougher things that will come even later long after I have stripped off the green and brown. As an officer in the army, I have a duty to protect and serve the men under me, and their loved ones- a God-given calling, to all men.

I believe that when we learn to see everything in the light of God, and see them as parts of the abundant lives that He has planned for us, things just start falling in place. Did not God promise that we would be "filled with all the fulness of God"? Ephesians 3:19. "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist...For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." Colossians 1:16-19. Jesus created every bit of us, and he rules over everything in our lives. From the seemingly mundane affairs like our hobbies and leisures, to our current endeavours, our relationships, and our future careers. Leave nothing untouched, submit all to Him. And God will make us all that we can and were meant to be.

"Give up yourself, and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it. Submit to death, death of your ambitions and favourite wishes every day and death of your whole body in the end: submit with every fibre of your being, and you will find eternal life. Nothing that you have not given away will be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in." C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.

"I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things." Author Unknown