a call to faith

The service started at 11a.m. Sang a few songs and this time around; there wasn't the usual 'funeral songs' like Because He Lives, What A Friend We Have In Jesus, There's A Land That Is Fairer Than Day... Instead, we sang Jesus, God's Righteousness Revealed, In Your Presence, Lord I Lift Your Name On High and the last song was Find Us Faithful.

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey

Never heard of the song before this day, but it surely meant much.

Uncle Sonny, an elder then spoke. About how he met Pastor Roger and has known him all these years. He was a good and more importantly faithful servant of God. He had a gentle and quiet spirit and though he had his imperfections; he always served Him faithfully. Even though he suffered much; he didn't complain. I still remember seeing how peaceful he was when we visited; it was really uplifting for me. I only hear about how much he had to go through; but I cannot imagine. 14 screws attached to his back for the past months; it was literally like knives cutting into his flesh. The church never gave up hope; never stopped praying. But God had something else in mind and took him home...

He also mentioned how the church took a few slow-learners in for years now; and have been teaching and taking care of them. Many asked why they took on such a burden; but they knew God had a purpose for them there. Then one day, uncle Sonny was wondering why Ps. Roger didn't react to those who did something; and God told him he was God's slow-learner... Indeed; we are all God's slow-learners...

Then Aunty Sally; Ps. Roger's wife came to speak.. A strong woman of God; always admired her. But my heart moved as she spoke... And I knew He was trying to tell me something too. She said she has learnt two things about pain...

1. Pain is a great teacher. It teaches us lessons we would never learn unless we go through it.

2. Pain enables us to release what we cling on to. She mentioned how if not for the suffering her husband had to go through, she and her daughter would never be able to release him back to God... Watching him in pain, they were able to let go of him.

Isn't that true? Without pain; sometimes we fail to see what He wants to; we fail to hear what He's trying to say... And more than that; we cling on to so many things, not willing to let go.. Pain is never without purpose.

Pastor Kim Swee; another family friend, spoke last. He asked us to observe the 1 minute of silence and ponder; not just on the man of God who had been faithful but also the God of who the man served... And he even asked us to applaud after that; it wasn't something usually done during funerals.. But he said that all of heaven applauds the homecoming of a faithful servant and we should rejoice together with the angels in heaven. And so we did.

But mainly; what I've really learned today is that all of us have been called to be faithful. At the end of the day; nothing we've done for Him really matters when compared to the faith we have had.. We were not made to live for ourselves; but to serve Him.

Matthew 25: 37-40 - Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

He's given us life and He's given us an example to follow. Before our time runs out, would we then live to faithfully serve Him; no matter what it takes? Time to ponder...