My dear readers,

1. "It will be worth it all …"

These words come to me as my thoughts began to fill with our Lord’s expected return. I wrote out the verse but which hymn? Where did it come from? Following my "line of least resistance," I asked Jean (my "walking encyclopedia") and instantly back came the answer. "Chorus of RHC No. 221: When We See Christ." Amazing!

The "pastoral" took shape rapidly, as RHC 221 is reprinted hereat:

When We See Christ

Esther Kerr Rusthoi

1. Ofttimes the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,
We’re tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;
But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,
All tears forever over in God’s eternal day.

Chorus:

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,

Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ;

One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,

So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

2. Sometimes the sky looks dark with not a ray of light,

We're tossed and driven on, no humna help in sight;

But there is one in heav'n who knows our deepest care,

Let Jesus solve your problem -- just go to Him in pray'r.

3. Life’s day will soon be o’er, all storms forever past,

We’ll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;

We’ll share the joys of heav’n -- a harp, a home, a crown,

The tempter will be banished, we’ll lay our burden down.

2. The "Second Coming" has amazing power

Ever since I was a child, hymns or even mention of our Lord’s coming again have exceptional spiritual stirring over me. There was the Holy Spirit empowered preaching of Evangelist Miss Dora Yu, a household name in our home. And of course, in later years, the preaching of Dr John Sung in the 1930s.

Dr Sung’s preaching aroused Spirit-filled, soul-searching questions. "What if it were today that our Lord should return?" Lives unchanged, repentance put "on hold" and many other spiritual questions were simply "forgotten." Then, such questions suddenly came "into focus."

Yes, the thought and expectation of the Lord’s coming to reckon with each of us became urgent and pressing.

Dr Sung spoke simply but with Spirit-filled urgency. The reality of divine reckoning created real and urgent remorse in hearts. Repentance and the need for restitution became real and pressing. The pressure and regret of unconfessed sin suddenly became intolerable.

Repenting men and women, by the dozen, "came forward and openly confessed their sins." Restitution was made "on the spot;" long "forgotten sins" were confessed, unpaid debts were settled, and lives were changed!

Open and public admission of sins was something unseen and unheard before, but when the Spirit worked, all shame and reluctance "flew out of the window." Amazing results of Dr Sung’s preaching caused hundreds to openly change their lives, as long-standing sins were confessed. Everywhere, grown men and women made right with God, publicly and unashamed! Such was the working of God’s Spirit.

3. "When the Lord called"

Dr Sung’s "Singapore Campaign" ended in August 1938. "Out of the blue" there was a "last meeting" in Muar, August 1938. That morning, Mother asked me: "Siang Hwa, today we are going to Dr John Sung’s farewell meeting in Muar (32 miles from Batu Pahat). Would you like to come along?" Straightway I agreed to go. This was when the Lord called me.

At the meeting in the Presbyterian Church (Muar), Dr Sung gave the invitation to serve. He said, "Which of you, especially younger people,would like to offer your lives to serve the Lord ‘full time’ – for life?" Without hesitation, I raised my hand.

Dr Sung called the dozen-or-so of us young people to a "Prayer Room" and "one by one" he laid hands on our heads, praying, "Lord, take this young man and use him …"

4. The consecration vow took effect in 1968

It was some thirty years later, in 1968, that my consecration vow took effect.

The years have flown by. We are now in 2014. My time is nearly over. Before long, we must appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ!

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,

Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor