My dear readers,

1. "The unsearchable riches of Christ" Ephesians 3:8
(Daily Remembrancer, August 26 MORNING)

JESUS IS OUR SOVEREIGN LORD. He has devoted all His riches to us, so that the riches of Jesus are ours. "Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich." He gave His all for our redemption, sanctification, and salvation; and now, at the right hand of the majesty on high, He continues to give liberally, and upbraideth not. He has riches of grace, riches of mercy, and riches of glory. The gift of the Spirit is with Him. He has promised freely; He has proved His readiness to bestow in the most wonderful way. Let us therefore expect great things from Him, for He has unsearchable riches. O believer, look not at your poverty, at your wants, or your circumstances, but look to Jesus; all things are under His feet, all blessings are at His disposal, and His heart is set upon you to do thee good! He will supply all your needs now, and afterwards receive you to glory. My soul, your Jesus has all you need: therefore look only to Him, and Him alone!

Possessing Christ, I all possess,
Strength, wisdom, sanctifying grace,
And righteousness complete:
Bold, in His name, I dare draw nigh,
Before the Ruler of the sky,
And all His justice meet.

2. Reflections at Eventide
(Dr Tow Siang Hwa, Reformation Banner Mar/Apr 1978)
AT THE CLOSING MOMENTS of this day, I bid you welcome to a few moments of quiet reflection, and let us consider things which perhaps you have not often thought about — things of deeper meaning than mere gracious living, things of more lasting value than dollars and cents.

What would you think of a young lady, if her young man should send her a diamond ring costing $10,000 in a plastic box which the jeweller threw in for nothing, and on meeting him a few days later, she exclaims "Darling, that was a lovely box you sent me. It’s the most precious thing I have and I promise to take special care of it every day so that no harm shall come to it."

Such a story is too ridiculous to imagine. Yet isn’t it just as foolish for men and women to be spending all their time and thought on their bodies which are but perishable boxes containing the real treasure, the soul?

This point is driven home in these words of Jesus: "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:35-36)

The poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow expressed it this way:

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is concerned with the reality of life, the life now as well as the life hereafter. Its promise is eternal life, and this is the most ardent desire of every one of us. And truly, if the grave is the end of all things, then this present life is the greatest disappointment and frustration imaginable. The Apostle Paul says: If in this life only we have hope in Christ, then we are of all men most miserable.

Eternal life is not something imaginary or wishful thinking. It is a glorious prospect and reality clearly described in God’s Word, a place prepared for those who love Him. In the holy city "there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away … And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie" (Rev 21:4, 27). Only those whose names have been written in God’s book of life shall enter in.

Some of us know the song "Calvary," (Rev WMK Darwood)

‘O Calvary! blest Calvary!
’Twas there my Saviour died for me.’

’Twas there he bore my sins in his own body on the cross. Only one thing separates me from God and the eternal inheritance of the holy city. That thing is sin. Calvary was where Jesus took the burden of my sin on Himself, so that I may go free. There was a time in my life when I came to Jesus and received Him as my Saviour. How about you? He loves you too.

Before we say goodnight, I’d like to leave with you the words of Jesus which mean so much to me. Jesus said "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else" (Isa 45:22). Truly, none can help you, but Jesus. None can lift your burden and write your name in the Book of Life. Only He who is the way, the truth and the life. My friend, why not come to Him tonight and receive Him as your Saviour. He gives peace and lasting joy to all who believe. He can change you and give you a new life — everlasting life. Amen and may God bless you.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,
Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor