Life in Christ

https://odb.org/2025/07/11/life-in-christ

Amos 5:4-6: 4 This is what the Lord says to Israel: “Seek me and live; 5 do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal, will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing.” 6 Seek the Lord and live, or he will sweep through the tribes of Joseph like a fire it will devour them, and Bethel will have no one to quench it.

Just a few days ago this week, I attended the wake of the youngest brother on my mother’s side of my family. My maternal uncle was 67 and was diagnosed with stage 3 urethra cancer in early August 2024 and passed away in less than a year. He underwent chemotherapy immediately after diagnosis and surgery, and by around the end of October last year, the cancer had receded after 3 rounds of chemotherapy. However, later, we heard it came back and spread in February this year, and a few weeks back, he was admitted to hospital and then hospice as he was not eating much. Just two and half years ago, I lost a cousin on my father’s side to colon cancer about a year after diagnosis.

The thing is, although there are cancer survivors, cancer patients can leave us within a year of them finding out about their condition. Chemotherapy is a difficult process and makes recipients susceptible to other illnesses. Yet there are cancer patients who survived through divine healing even at stage 4. But generally, the prognosis is poor at stage 4 and even at stage 3.

I wish we could say to those afflicted with cancer to choose God and live or “seek me and live” as in Amos 5:4. If God has a continued plan and purpose for that person’s life, there is a good likelihood he or she will survive. Indeed, God can heal!

Having seen the fragility of life, I just like to remind us this morning to treasure the time we still have. Spend more time with our loved ones as we or they will not live forever. Marina Mahathir was overjoyed to celebrate Tun Dr Mahathir’s 100th birthday yesterday, and yet she admitted that she must brace herself for the inevitable. We will all die and leave this world one day. While here, do our best to fulfil His plans and purposes for our lives. Serve the Lord in the Kingdom of Heaven. Live in the centre of His will. When the inevitable comes, we have no fear or regrets. We have done our best for God. We have fought the good fight and have finished the race (2 Timothy 4:7).

With that, I like to take this opportunity to wish my eldest son, Ivan, a blessed and happy 25th birthday! May the LORD our God bless the work of your hands even as you pursue your dreams in a foreign far away land! We do miss you here at home even though you call almost daily. Do your best in all that you do, and always remember Jesus and act on the prompting of the Holy Spirit. God bless and take care. Pa and Mi love you dearly and always.