Going Through The Storms Of Life

The storms happen once in a while, but sometimes one after another in succession. These real storms are devastating both in the physical and material world and so with spiritual storms. No one wants a storm, but we have no choice, it will come to us one day and in any day. It comes often when we least expect it.

We must remember always that it is written, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble” (Job 14:1 KJV). There is no exception to this Scriptural truth! This is an exception to the adage, “In every rule there is an exception”. If you have not yet experienced any trouble or storm of life, wait till one comes your path. This is what I have learned by experience. “Experience is the best teacher.” The Answer? Christ (God) is the answer. Don’t forsake your faith in God, when spiritual storms will cross your path. Trust in God that behind the clouds the sun is still shining.

The foregoing considerations as background, we have to be prepared always, so that when the storm in our life strikes us, we can endure, come what may, like in the case of Job of Bible times. To recall, Job’s storm caused the loss of his ten children; the loss of his wealth and treasures on earth; caused him indescribable pain and discomfort due to the boils that afflicted him from the crown of his head to the sole of his feet. The situation for Job was terrible and beyond description in words. Yet, the Bible tells us: “This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned (avoided) evil” (Job 1:1).

Why did God allow the sufferings of Job? Simple: To test the faith of Job in God.

The wife of Job was not symphathetic to the deplorable situation of Job. On the contrary, she said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity (faith in God)? Curse God and die!”. How pathetic for Job. His own wife instead of encouraging him, unwittingly expressed her wish for Job to die! (Job 2:9 NIV), rather than see him suffer.

The reaction of Job to the storm of his life and his patience toward his wife’s attitude is worth emulating. He said, “you are talking like a foolish woman, shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:10 NIV). The Bible tells us, “Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.

The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised!”

Imagine the faith of Job in God, that in spite of his misfortune and physical sufferings, he showed patience and still praised the LORD! And the Bible concludes this chapter in the life of Job by saying: “In all this, Job did not sin by charging (or blaming) God with wrongdoing” (Job 1:20-22 NIV). In the end, the Bible tells us, “The LORD blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first; His material wealth doubled. He had also seven sons and three daughters… Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters… After this (tragedy). Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. And so he died, old and full of years” (Job 42:12-16 NIV).

Do we see the picture of Job? Despite his misfortune and physical and emotional sufferings without equal in human experience, he still worshipped God, and his faith in God remained steadfast and the same. This merited the inclusion of his unique story in the Bible for inspiration of, and for all generations to emulate.

Thus, the Bible on the Chapter on faith says: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Heb. 11:6 NIV).

God knows what is happening and what is being done to our life from day to day and moment by moment. He had promised, “I’ll never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5 KJV). So, don’t lose faith or hope, no matter what happens to us during the storms of life. Instead, continue to earnestly seek God, for whatever He promised as reward for the faithful to the end shall be fulfilled in our lives. The best is yet to come!

Children Are Heritage From The Lord God

 This is a sequel to my last article published in our July 19, 2014 issue.

Looking back half a century ago, I worked very hard leaving no stone unturned in my studies, especially in my quest to become a lawyer, hoping that a fulfillment of my dream will make me successful and joyful, as I have observed from my lawyer-boss, the late Atty. Leopoldo M. Abellera, the classmate in the University of the Philippines College of Law of our late President Ferdinand E. Marcos, and who was awarded the accolade “Lawyer of the Year” in Davao City. Pres. Marcos graduated at the top of his class and passed the bar exam in 1939, the year I was born, as number one, obtaining the highest recorded general average up to this day of 98%.

My boss, out of his diligence and industry, toiling day and night, was able to build a lucrative law practice; organize the Rizal Memorial Colleges in Davao City, one of the leading school of learning specially in law education during those yesteryears, and where I graduated my law degree as valedictorian in 1962.

As the Secretary-Stenographer-Typist of my late boss, I observed that he was very diligent in the practice of his profession. He would be in his office usually at 7:30 A.M., will break for lunch at a little past 12:00 noon, back to office again 1:30 P.M., and go home normally beyond office hours in the evening, especially if he had to prepare briefs and other pleadings to be filed in court, as there are deadline for filing of pleadings in his numerous cases. He became my “idol”, so to speak, that when I became a lawyer, I tried to follow his footsteps, believing then, as I did not know the Scriptures, that is the way to be successful in life!

In Psalm 27, authored by King Solomon, the wisest of all men that no one is wiser before and after him, the Bible tells us:

“Psalm 127

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

¹ Unless the Lord builds the house,
    its builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the watchmen stand guard in vain.
² In vain you rise early
    and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
    for he grants sleep to those he loves.

³ Sons are a heritage from the Lord,
    children a reward from him.
⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
    are sons born in one’s youth.
⁵ Blessed is the man
    whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
    when they contend with their enemies in the gate.”

I will focus on what the Bible says, “Sons are a heritage from the LORD, - children a reward from him” (vs. 3 NIV). In the King James version (KJV) which theologians say is a translation nearest to the Hebrew original in which the Old Testament was written, this is how the verse is expressed: “Lo, children are a heritage of the LORD; and the fruit of the womb is his reward”.

In the book of proverbs, authored by Solomon, this is what the wise King said: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (Prov. 22:6 NIV). In KJV it is expressed this way: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

I was privileged to head the Thompson Christian School in Davao City as its President and Chairman of the Board for several years, which was established way back in 1959. All our four children are alumni of this modest Christian School. Susan became a lawyer garnering the 9^th place in the 1991 bar exam; Bienvenido, Jr. garnered the 12^th place in the Mechanical Engineering Board Exam and who also became a lawyer, graduating as cum laude from the Ateneo De Davao Law School; Neil, an Electrical Engineer and who became likewise a lawyer with a grade of 86% in the bar examination; and Vilma a Registered Nurse (R.N.), with postgraduate course in Nursing in the U.S.A., as Nurse Practitioner (NP), who is now working in a hospital at California, U.S.A. The NP is significant because the NPs could prescribe medicines to patients like Doctors of Medicine (MD). In the U.S.A. by the way, unlike in the Philippines, no one can buy even a Cortal (tablet for headache) unless there is a prescription by a physician or NP.

The first one to respond, among our children, during my family’s misfortune of being a fire victim last early dawn of July 6, 2014, was our daughter Susan who occupies the basement of our burned house. Perhaps noticing my agony, physical and emotional suffering at the moment, she brought me without delay to the Davao Doctors Hospital, only a few meters, away from our home. Praise God, after three hours in the emergency room, the medical result was, I did not suffer a heart attack, so I was released. The second to respond was our son Neil. He gave me several underwear. The third one to respond was my Junior who is in Chicago, U.S.A. He promised to bring to the Philippines in August what I lost in the fire which were my usual blood pressure monitor gadget, and much more. The last but not the least was our daughter Vilma who sent immediately $2,000 to meet our immediate needs and who purposely came home to the Philippines from U.S.A. bringing with her two pairs of shoes for me, and my usual vitamins from U.S.A. to keep me healthy and strong.

Lest I be misunderstood, I relate these incidents not to brag, for I have been devastatingly humbled already, but rather to demonstrate the truth of Psalm 127 that children are a heritage and reward from the Lord. “Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them” (Psalm 127:5).

Heritage is likened to an inheritance. When someone inherits something, it is a blessing - from the LORD God. We feel very good and are joyful. In my case except for the sentimental value of the properties that were burned, the immediate response of our children and my associates in the law office, friends in Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship, from the Davao City Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the automatic response of our Pastor in seeing me in the hospital and the short prayer, were more than enough Christian gesture to make me joyful in spite of the misfortune that I suffered.

Though I suffered devastation both material and physical as well as emotional beyond description in words, yet I am joyful because our children responded immediately to our immediate needs. Being trained in the way they should go, they have responded properly in our time of need. Praise God for children, when properly trained in the ways of the Lord, they are God-given and great blessing, help and inspiration to move on in time of our need.

On becoming prosperous and successful

A man with common sense wants to prosper not only physically, materially but more so spiritually. It is God’s will that man will prosper.

But how shall man prosper physically, materially and spiritually?

The wisest of all Kings and all of men, Solomon, said, “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich” (Prov. 10:4 KJV). He reiterated this in Prov. 22:29 in this manner: “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean (or ordinary) men” (KJV).

Diligence is defined this way:

“Careful and persistent work or effort. It is conscientiousness or industriousness and meticulousness in doing ones work or activity.”

It is said that master artist, the genius Michaelangelo would work on his paintings carefully and meticulously until he has done the best he could. It is a persistent and hard work exerted resulting to what the experts call it an “obra maestra” - a master piece. If we do the same in all our endeavors, we shall succeed.

The equally genius Thomas Alva Edison, the inventor of the incandescent lamp which is now our modern fluorescent lamps and light bulbs, had to do numerous experimentations before he succeeded to produce the kind of lighting system that the world over is enjoying now. This has been a conscientious and meticulous hard work by Thomas Alva Edison!

But it is not enough that we prosper physically and materially. More importantly, we must also prosper in our soul or spiritually.

The Bible says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper in health (physical) even as thy soul (spiritual) prospereth” (3^rd John vs. 2 KJV). Even if someone has plenty of money and properties if he is sick or sickly and his soul is not “saved,” he is pitiful above all creation of God. Better to be poor in money and property but in good health and his soul be assured of eternal life by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, the LORD.

For by grace are ye saved through faith (in Jesus Christ) and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9 KJV). Also the Bible says, “therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28 KJV). The law does not save, but faith in God/Jesus Christ in person does!

Grace is unmerited favor. Meaning, man “as is” does not merit the favor from God, but by man’s faith in Jesus Christ, he is justified. Meaning “just-as-if” he has not sinned if he believes in his heart the saving virtue and power of Jesus Christ, and repents of his sins and accepts Jesus as his ONLY savior, no one else. Remember God is a jealous God. He died for our sins (1 Cor. 15:3). Meaning, instead of the believer dying because he is a sinner - and for this matter we are all sinners, and the penalty for sin is death, Jesus Christ died in the sinner-believer’s stead or place.

What is faith? It is a complete trust or confidence in someone or something. The Bible defines spiritual faith in this manner: “it is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV). Meaning, we must have full trust and confidence in the promises and assurances of Jesus Christ. For example, Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Where is God the Father? In heaven. So, one goes to heaven only if he believes in Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God and accepts Him as his only savior. Jesus also said: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die (spiritually). Believeth thou this?” (John 11:25-26 KJV). We will all die physically, as this is already written, but for us believers, our soul and spirit shall live eternally, “For God so loved the word that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall have eternal life” (John 3:16 KJV).

We must believe that there is eternal life promised by Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ gave us a sampling of himself who died physically in the cross of calvary but resurrected and now at the right hand of God interceding for all repentant sinners; that although we have not seen heaven or God the Father nor Jesus Christ, we believe in our heart that God the Father and Jesus Christ and heaven exist; that there is a heaven reserved for all saved sinners, and Jesus Christ lives forevermore and like Him we shall live forever with Him. This is the meaning of Faith in God and in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and only Savior.

Be prosperous and successful. Be Christlike.

God’s Formula for Success

Everyone wants to be successful especially when it involves our way of life. For instance, we want a successful family, or be successful in our relationships, particularly on our marriage relationship, or financially in our chosen career, vocation or profession, and etc.

God has given the formula for success, as follows:

^“8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:8 KJV).

Before giving the above formula for success in life, God said to Joshua who succeeded Moses to carry on the difficult task of conquering the promised land inhabited by giants – Canaan land.

^“5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

⁶ Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I swear unto their fathers to give them.” (vss. 5 & 6)

Significantly, in vs. 7 God repeated His encouraging words in vs. 6 by reminding Joshua once more:

^“7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.” (vs. 7)

Notably, God, this time, inserted the word “very”, and He concluded by guaranteeing His abiding presence in this manner:

^“9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (vs. 9)

When God said, “this book of the law”, he was referring to the “Law of Moses” called the Pentateuch, or the first five books in the Old Testament, namely: Genesis, Exodus, Liviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. However, the law (of God) also includes the canonized books written by the prophets like Isaiah, and the rest of the prophets and other writings like the Psalms, in the Old Testament.

When, theologians say canonized, they refer to the books included in Old and New Testaments (OT 39 + NT 27 = 66 in all). All other writings have been excluded by the canonizing Fathers (priests). In the first to the third century A.D. (After death of Jesus Christ) there were no protestant ministers yet. Martin Luther, the “Father” of protestantinism was not yet born.

What were the standards used by the canonizing Fathers that will qualify a certain writing to be included in the canonized Bible (both Old and New Testaments)? The words must be spoken by God himself, or the writing must be done by God himself or written by the finger of God, like the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:34-28); it must have been written or authored by a man of God like Moses, Joshua, David, etc; or spoken of by the Lord Jesus Christ (like the Gospels as written or recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John); or authored by an apostle of Christ (there are 13 apostles including the Apostle Paul who authored 13 books of the Bible [or Epistles]), or authored by someone very close to the Apostles, like Matthew, Mark or Dr. Luke. In short, any book written or not authored or word not spoken by any of those enumerated above do not qualify to be canonized. Examine carefully, according to the above standards, whether the books included in your Bible are canonized or not.

Going back to the formula for success in life given by God to Joshua, when He said, “this book of the law shall not depart from your mouth”, meaning to say, you must know the law of God. Knowing is hearing or reading it. Thus, the Bible tells us “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17). It did not say “reading” only because not all people can read, but they can have faith by hearing the Word of God.

So, when confronted with any problem of life, we should ask ourselves: “What say the Word of God”? Pray to God that He will bring to your remembrance what you have heard or read. Follow the Word, and you will not be mistaken.

God tells us, “but thou shalt meditate therein (the Word) day and night.” To meditate is to think deeply or focus one’s mind for a period or focus one’s mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes, or to think deeply and carefully about (something). “Day and night” is figurative, not literal, otherwise we can do nothing else. In other words, always contemplate, think, consider, ponder, muse, reflect, deliberate about what the Word of God says or means, with prayer.

In addition, and this is extremely important, it is not enough that we know the Word, we must “observe to do according to what is written therein …” There must be action or implementation, not merely head knowledge.

There will be numerous troubles in life. We cannot escape them, for it is written, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and FULL of trouble” (Job 14:1). A hundred years is but a few days compared to eternity. For example, Jesus Christ was born of a woman, so he suffered and encountered numerous troubles in his human life and existence. The most tragic and most serious was his crucifixion to redeem sinful man (Rom. 3:23). Since everyone of us are born of a woman, we shall have plenty of troubles, but no longer be crucified, because Jesus Christ took our place.

What is the promise of God to all believers (also called righteous or true Christians)? King David, “a man after God’s own heart” in Psalm 34 declared:

^“14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

¹⁵ The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

xxx

¹⁷ The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

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¹⁹ Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” (vss. 14, 15, 17 & 19)

To be successful in whatever undertaking we do, let us remember Joshua 1:8, “OBSERVE TO DO” heartily and with all patience and perseverance what God said in His Word (the Canonized Bible).