Searching for Absolute Certainty
25 September 2008
On September 11, 2001 the global headquarters of Lehman Brothers in Three World Financial Center was severely damaged and rendered unuseable by falling debris, displacing over 6,500 employees. The bank recovered quickly from the disaster and was able to rebuild its presence. Having been around for more than 150 years and having survived one of the world's most shocking disasters, its ability to survive seems almost a certainty until its collapse in recent weeks. Perhaps the signs of its impending demise were already showing but few noticed. It is said that life's one certainty is its sheer uncertainty, yet many still live with confidence by relying on the security of their material well-being, many still live in pursuit of a material well-being.
Confidence was greatly shaken also by what happened to AIG and overnight many people in Singapore who bought AIA insurance began queueing up at the AIA office wanting to close their accounts despite assurances given by the company. I was commenting to my wife that I hope nothing happens to our house during this time as we are covered by AIG home insurance. If not for the bail-out by the US government who knows what the repercussions will be? It certainly was a wakeup call when even the insurance that we have cannot provide the absolute assurance of security.
In the book of James the author wrote, "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.' Yet you do know what you life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapour that appears for a little while than vanishes away" (James 4:13-14).
You may be the richest person in the world, you may be the smartest person in the world, or you may be the most powerful person in the world but the word of God says to all, regardless of who you are, "You are just a vapour (we are just a vapour) that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." Our lifespan compared to eternity is but a mere tiny little drop in the ocean hardly causing any ripple at all. It certainly is not the most encouraging words that one would hope to find but that is the reality of our life, it is just like a vapour: "poof!" and it's gone! Perhaps one may ask: "So what if my life is but a vapour?" All the more, then, we should seize the day and make the most out of our time here on earth. The question I ask is, "What are you doing in seizing the day and what are you are doing to make the most out of your limited time on earth?" Your answer is dependent on what your perspective of life and your view of eternity are. If you believe in the hope of eternal glory then you will put your trust in the God of eternity and submit your life to His eternal will.
We who trust in our tomorrows with the wealth we build today, can our wealth truly guarantee our tomorrows and stretch it through eternity? We who invest in our tomorrows by trading our limited time here on this earth in pursuit of the things of this world, can the treasures of the world last for eternity? Is there absolute certainty? I believe there is and it's not death or taxes. The only absolute certainty in life is God. Someone offered this word of advice, "Write your plans in pencil, then give God the eraser."
"Instead you ought to say, if the Lord wills we will do this or that" (James 4:15).
Andrew Goh
Pastor (English Congregation)
.......................................................................................................................
25 September 2008
On September 11, 2001 the global headquarters of Lehman Brothers in Three World Financial Center was severely damaged and rendered unuseable by falling debris, displacing over 6,500 employees. The bank recovered quickly from the disaster and was able to rebuild its presence. Having been around for more than 150 years and having survived one of the world's most shocking disasters, its ability to survive seems almost a certainty until its collapse in recent weeks. Perhaps the signs of its impending demise were already showing but few noticed. It is said that life's one certainty is its sheer uncertainty, yet many still live with confidence by relying on the security of their material well-being, many still live in pursuit of a material well-being.
Confidence was greatly shaken also by what happened to AIG and overnight many people in Singapore who bought AIA insurance began queueing up at the AIA office wanting to close their accounts despite assurances given by the company. I was commenting to my wife that I hope nothing happens to our house during this time as we are covered by AIG home insurance. If not for the bail-out by the US government who knows what the repercussions will be? It certainly was a wakeup call when even the insurance that we have cannot provide the absolute assurance of security.
In the book of James the author wrote, "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.' Yet you do know what you life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapour that appears for a little while than vanishes away" (James 4:13-14).
You may be the richest person in the world, you may be the smartest person in the world, or you may be the most powerful person in the world but the word of God says to all, regardless of who you are, "You are just a vapour (we are just a vapour) that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." Our lifespan compared to eternity is but a mere tiny little drop in the ocean hardly causing any ripple at all. It certainly is not the most encouraging words that one would hope to find but that is the reality of our life, it is just like a vapour: "poof!" and it's gone! Perhaps one may ask: "So what if my life is but a vapour?" All the more, then, we should seize the day and make the most out of our time here on earth. The question I ask is, "What are you doing in seizing the day and what are you are doing to make the most out of your limited time on earth?" Your answer is dependent on what your perspective of life and your view of eternity are. If you believe in the hope of eternal glory then you will put your trust in the God of eternity and submit your life to His eternal will.
We who trust in our tomorrows with the wealth we build today, can our wealth truly guarantee our tomorrows and stretch it through eternity? We who invest in our tomorrows by trading our limited time here on this earth in pursuit of the things of this world, can the treasures of the world last for eternity? Is there absolute certainty? I believe there is and it's not death or taxes. The only absolute certainty in life is God. Someone offered this word of advice, "Write your plans in pencil, then give God the eraser."
"Instead you ought to say, if the Lord wills we will do this or that" (James 4:15).
Andrew Goh
Pastor (English Congregation)
.......................................................................................................................
