By bro Marc Wee
It has been about 3 years since I became a Christian and the journey has been filled with many ups and downs. Spiritually, I have grown so much and this growth has helped me in my family life and career. I have learned that being consistent is the best way forward. We do not need to behave differently in front of our friends, family and colleagues.
Throughout this time, I have been tempted to go back to the old ways. I guess some of us may have felt this way too, but I am certain that with true commitment to Christ, we will be able to overcome temptations.
Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
When I was growing up as a Catholic, I was taught that it is okay to sin, and all I needed to do was to confess my sins, do my penance and go back to sin no more. Being lazy and having a weak Bible knowledge made myself a perfect Catholic. I was one who followed what the priest said. I was given the impression that the Bible was a difficult book to understand and interpret, and if we were to do it we would fall away. My limited understanding caused me to follow what I was being told then. On this note, we should always be careful and search the Bible to confirm what others tell us.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
When I was confronted with the truth, my first reaction was to be angry with myself and to those who wanted to share the good news because of my embarrassment at the lack of knowledge.
I used to think that as long as we don't do bad things then we are ok. But what are bad things? How do we know? Who or what is the standard?
Alas we can find out through the scriptures. The defining moment was when I was studying the Bible with uncle Tian Seng and bro Benjamin Tan. We were going though the reasons as to why there was a need for biblical truth. It came to a point when I realised that if we continued to make man-made ideas and rules, who would benefit? And if we follow traditions and rules, do we not bring glory to man?
God knows how man is powerless to save himself. Knowing we will fail and sin, he leaves it in writing so we can follow it to the letter.
Col 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
If we were to think our knowledge and understanding is better than our Creator and start changing his words, we are just pleasing ourselves. Over the years, through the reading of the bible, I have learnt to appreciate the certainty that it brings, and that it is not difficult for man to understand God's word.
It took many years of nudging to be able to accept God's word, but I’m glad I did. We need to realise that without Christ and his truth revealed in the Bible, we are still “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Rev 3:17). If we truly understand how insignificant we are and how God has allowed us to be partakers of his Kingdom in heaven, then we will understand that we need be grateful to Him.