My dear readers,

Today we continue from 19 April:

1. "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy" (Exod 20:8)

"Day of all the week the best, Emblem of eternal rest."

The preparation: How should we prepare? It is a matter of devotion: How much do you care? Do you truly love God?

"Preparation of the heart"should be a prevailing engagement of the mind. My Lord means so much to me."As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?" (Ps 42:1-2).

Saturday evening/night should be marked out "holy unto the Lord." To let the world or some temporal business strain and drain our energy and resources will not leave us in a fit state for holy worship the next day.

As for Lord’s Day morning preparation, let God’s people rise up early (except those on essential/shift duty) to prepare to worship the Lord with heart and soul and mind and strength.

To arrive early for worship is to honour the Lord. Therefore leave home early, and aim to be seated in the sanctuary ten minutes before time for heart preparation. To habitually and consistently arrive late in God’s house is dishonouring the Lord. The same latecomers dare not insult the world’s VVIPs.

To worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24), the place of worship must be sanctified, meaning, "set apart for God’s use." Anything dishonouring to God must not be permitted.

The building, Sanctuary, architecture, furniture, decoration, "sights and sounds," must not be worldly. Be reminded, therefore, that "friendship of the world is enmity with God" (James 4:4). To bring into God’s house the"sights and sounds" of the world is "enmity with God." God cannot be worshipped "in Spirit and in truth" if there are those things which detract from God’s holiness. (Beware: handphones! Ipads!) Consider then worldly music and instruments, worldly decorations, lighting effects, activities and performances, etc. What about worldly attire? Never let into the Sanctuary unholy fashions. Honour the Lord by your appearance!

A glimpse of worship in Heaven (Rev 5:6-14):"And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever."

2. Treading the outskirts of heaven

By God’s unspeakable love and kindness, Grandfather was called to salvation at the age of nineteen. Often I have wondered, thinking of Grandfather through the years long after his departure, what it was that kept him so resolute and steadfast in his walk with God. Now I know, and am fully persuaded that like Abraham, Grandfather had by faith seen the City of God afar off (Heb 11:13). That turned his life direction from earth to Heaven. Lovingly, God had shown him the Heavenly City. Once seen, Grandfather was fully persuaded and confessed that he was but a stranger and a pilgrim on earth (Heb 11:13). Such godly persuasion never dies, but had enduring power which carried him through sixty-four blessed years until the final call of God came when he was eighty-three. This desire and longing for the City of God so gripped him that his entire lifestyle and conduct were transformed. Allow me to express in words what I observed in his way of life.

"If my home is in Heaven, where my God and Maker awaits my arrival, should not each day of this life be lived as in His presence? After all, we believers all know that our God sees us afar off, and observes our every action and movement, and He is very interested, nay, intimately concerned with all that we do, even as a caring Father watches over each and every child. How then should I walk, but to bring honour and glory to His name?"

With Holy Spirit illumination, what the believer’s response ought to be becomes crystal clear. Yes, I am a child of God, a follower of the Lamb. He died for me, saved me and purchased me, and gave me new life — His life. I am no more my own, but I belong to Him. Should I not, even now, walk as in His presence? Praise God, His love constrains me to show my gratitude by giving Him my body, a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him. With joy then I walk with my Lord, as in His presence, on earth as in Heaven. Yet,not yet! I tread each day just the outskirts, awaiting His call. Before then, "Lord, order my life accordingly, in Thy righteous pathways. Let me burn and shine for Thee each day," just as what Grandfather did in his day. If he had a motto for life, it would have been "Holiness unto the Lord."

God filled his thinking: each day Grandfather spoke only words of edifying and godly concern. God filled his lips with prayer and praise. In moments of ecstatic longing, he would cry out in the night watches, "Lord, receive the soul of Thy unworthy servant unto Thyself." God filled his eyes with holy discernment, to see only the things approved of God and to guard the eye gate from lustful sights. "O be careful little eyes what you see! Lord, keep my eyes from beholding what may become a temptation." God took his hands and feet, and kept them busy with holy activities, for His own glory. God filled his entire being — his desires, aspirations, longings — with all godliness and holiness. Grandfather was truly a man wholly given to God. Not once did a careless or hurtful word escape his lips. He cultivated no worldly friendships, visited no place of entertainment, wasted no time in unprofitable employment.

We sing oftentimes the hymn by Mary James, "All for Jesus, all for Jesus, all my being’s ransomed powers." But how many of us truly mean "all"? For Grandfather, his life expressed it all. I thank God for the years with this man of God. Not what he said, but how he lived left an unforgettable impact on my own thinking and way of life. May God help me also, like Grandfather, to tread each day the earthly pathway as it were the outskirts of Heaven.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,

Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor