Dear Brothers and Sisters, Shalom.
Time flies! Half a year flies by, the 8 treatments are complete. Praise the Lord! I may get tired half the time during the day and my hair is growing back. I sincerely thank all the comrades who have interceded. It is difficult to individually thank all but my familyand I will treasure all support in our hearts! My previous letter shared about the three learning from this trial. Last time was on ‘why’, this time on ‘what to wait’ and next time on ‘what to learn’.
In the past 7 months, what really hurts me is not my illness but the fact that a few saints and God’s servants have similar sufferings from sickness. One late night, worrying for them, I pleaded to the Lord and He gave me 2 ‘knows’: One is Job saying “I know that my Redeemer lives…” (Job 19:25); Second is Paul saying “…because I know whom I have believed…” (2 Timothy 1:12).
The former seems like a dead end but in fact overcoming all after suffering; the latter did not fail the Lord in what He commissions us with and the ending is good.
Looking back on the experience I had in speaking at the many gospel meetings, especially in memorial services, where through God’s mercy, I had the courage to speak on topics like: “From This Life to Eternal Life (Psalms 23)”, “Cry in the Night, Joy in the Morning (Resurrection in the Morning vs Sufferings throughout the Life), “God is not the God of the dead”, “God of Creation, God of Resurrection, God of Salvation”, “A Better Country”, “Reunion Sequel “, “Live with a Mission, Die with a Hope”, “Come to the City of the Living God (Hebrews 12:22-25)”… The Lord asked me: If all these are true, with the Lord by your side, what’s there to be sorry for! What in this world is worth lingering? Job in v26 revealed his thought – after my physical body perished, I would see God outside the realm of my body… The second part would be ever brighter. Paul knew he was coming to the end of his journey and he was not ashamed of the sufferings because he knew who he believed and was convinced all about ‘that day’ will be ‘better by far’!
The core of their faith and hope has passed the test. The core of the Christian faith is not about being cured or not. What we believe, what we gain, what we hope for – Abba Father, Savior, Resurrection, Heavenly Home, Eternal Life, A Better Home…None of these can be comprehended by the human mind according to the standard of the world in this life. Let’s trust that all worldly affairs are will be with me rest of my life. Now, what am I waiting for? Oh Lord, Our hope is in thee alone!
All the good, evil, good times, bad times, dreams and love are just dots and lines, in this life’s journey. They are not the end of the story.
These happenings form a gorgeous picture woven by the Spirit. Let us all be vessels broken and reshaped, together we are edified to form the great feat of God.
I sincerely thank God for giving you all to be my companion in this heavenly journey, for this great and solemn calling, to follow the everlasting God till today. I pray that my encounter and warfare inspire you, constantly remind you of the question to the Lord as to ‘for what am I living?’ Let us be concerned of things of heaven. Let us all rejoice and strive to live every day to its full. The world is changeful and will pass away one day. It is only obeying and doing the will of God that can last forever!
When the kids are preparing to leave home for a trip, they count the days eagerly, packing their things and waiting anxiously for the day to come. Shouldn’t Christians be like that too? With the compassion of a steward, let us do our dues and wait with eagerness the day to move into a better home and meeting the Lord face to face, partaking the great wonder in the kingdom of God.
Last be not least, if you think that I could be a benefit to the church if the Lord permits me to live. I ask that you come before the Lord without fear, raise your hands to ask the Lord for His mercy to keep me and my family and allow us the privilege to serve in His ministry.
– Sam KONG瑞榮, March 21, 2012
II Corinthians 1:21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,
II Thessalonians 3: 3,5 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one…. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.
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* I will be having my second report card out of a whole body PET SCAN on March 22 in the hospital.
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