Category Archives: For the Soul

Good Friday – the day Death Died.

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On the first Good Friday, Jesus died on the cross in yours and my place – He assumed (took) and paid the FULL PENALTY of our sin.

Good Friday is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death on the Cross at Calvary.

We can celebrate on Good Friday because Christ’s death was a sacrifice so that we could receive the gift of eternal life. Jesus bore our sins, shame, and burden on the cross. The results changed the course of humanity!

“It’s Good Friday. Good because 2000 years ago the events of that day proved that we matter to God.  “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son.” John 3:16

“On this Good Friday may we never forget the true meaning of Easter – ‘For when He was on the cross, I was on His mind.”

“..Behold, I make all things new…” Rev 21:5b

2017

Let this be a new beginning in 2017.
May we make a commitment to plan and act on priority and  grow daily. A New Year that gives us the strength and courage to change for the better.  A Desire changes nothing.  A Decision and Determination changes Everything… positively with God’s help.

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.”   Revelation 21:5-6

 

Right choices and actions are the antidote to fears generated whilst not taking actions. ~ Cheong Kok Weng

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We need to remind ourselves that the way to get things done is to BEGIN doing. DO not let the inaction of yesterday take hold of today – it need not be a yesterday of inaction all over again. Let yesterday’s failure be a building block for success today. Knowing the aforesaid and wishing is not enough, we must

DO.

We must remind our selves to do all we can, with what we have, wherever we are. Let our heart soar as high as it will.

May we make our live a masterpiece as God  has intended us to be.

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 “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” Ecclesiastes 9:10

 “Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.” 2 Corinthians 8:7 **abound (excel)

“The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.” Proverbs 13:4

“And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.” Psalm 90:17

The choice we take each day matters, each moment’s choice is ‘a stroke of a hammer, as a stone is broken by the last strike’ ~ Cheong Kok Weng

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Success is the result of sustained efforts – as the last blow of the hammer breaks the stone, it does not mean that the first couple of stokes were useless.

Choices. Every day, we’re faced with a seemingly perpetual array of choices that ultimately determine the course we travel. Life is made up of choices and depending on our choice, we must live with the result of that decision.

Making the correct choices are important aspect in our lives and the consequences of those choices span a wide amplitude and range of prospective impact in our lives.

If you were given only one choice: To choose or not to choose, which would you choose?

Choosing to live one’s life by one’s own choice is the greatest freedom one will ever have.  It is only when we exercise our right to choose that we can also exercise our right to change.

Ultimately the important choices in our daily live involves our lifestyle choices that underline the core belief we have concerning our real faith in God.

Faith is not believing in things for which there is no evidence, Believing in such things is not faith but wishful thinking at best. Christian faith, on the other hand, is believing in things for which there is evidence. The testimony of history in Luke 1: 1-4 for instance; the evidence of God and His handiwork in nature  as in Romans 1: 18-32 and more, give us reason to believe in God’s promises.

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.” Luke 1: 1-4

Romans 1:18-32

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

How to be saved, click -> rainbowwonderchoices.com/…hts/salvation-3

Choose to live in the PRESENT and .. let go of the past. ~ Cheong Kok Weng

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In the present, we can choose to grow, to improve, to achieve and be fulfilled by immersing in the present, daily … to reach the great potential that God has endowed us with … and with His help.

Remember to catch the beauty of the moments, daily too.

… and in anticipation of an endless great future with God.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,” Psalm 19:1-4

“I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4

Choices is one of the great constants of life. Everyone is given a choice by God … ~ Cheong Kok Weng

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Every one is responsible for one’s own choices and actions and one will live by the results or consequences of the choices. Life is filled with continual choices, a succession of choices if you like, one after another: choices are a “constant” in our lives.

Choices are before us and It is our call, but we need to remember this ..we either make good or poor choices …AND the choice that we make may change our lives forever.

It depends on each of us to make favourable and better choices out of life. Retrogressive or progressive choices ..our call – as per the mandate given by our Creator who gave us the free – will to choose.

May God help us to wisely choose – our lives depend on this.

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God has also given man the power to make an eternal choice regarding his ultimate destiny.

As a free moral agent, man has the awesome responsibility, to choose between, being with God in Heaven or reject Him and live without Him, joining the devil and his angels in the Lake of Fire – a choice with eternal consequences.

“See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;” Deuteronomy 30:15

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, ..” Deuteronomy 30:19

 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:16-22

To miss the doughnut by looking through the hole is ok, but to miss the CREATOR by looking through Creation is Eternal Regret.. ~Cheong Kok Weng

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When we look at the mountains, waterfalls, skies above, and all of creation, we can see the unmistakable evidence of God’s power and glory.

God alone created the heavens and earth so that all living things would rejoice in His effulgence and refulgence of creation.

But many of us almost never take time to give attention, to pause and marvel at the immeasurably expansiveness and loveliness of His creation.

“O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.” Psalm 8:1

“And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.” Psalm 72:19

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge”  Psalm 19:1-2

What we choose to do today will be our harvest ..today ..in future & for eternity. ~Cheong Kok Weng

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We are each the CEO of our own life, as per the mandate given by our Creator. Our lives are a concatenation of choices, and actions bring aftereffects – for better or otherwise. The choices we each make when compiled together make up who we are. It is the principle of the harvest – reaping what we sow.

Choices become habits. Habits become character. Character becomes destiny. It goes back to individual choices we make and what we choose to sow.

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7

Why does God give humans free will? Isn’t Hell cruel and how to reconcile that with the loving God?

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Would you want to have a Free Will or rather not to have one? 

Isn’t Hell Cruel and how to reconcile that with the Loving God?  Why does God give humans free will?

Isn’t Hell Cruel? How to reconcile that with the Loving God?

Many people had said and are saying: “God, with His being omniscient, should NOT have given men free will because He knows that they will use it to rebel against Him that will result in them going to Hell eternally. He must  be a God who enjoys seeing people going to Hell?”

Click here –> What is Hell Like?

First of all, GOD has no pleasure of seeing wicked people going to Hell. God repudiated the slander upon Him – that of taking pleasure in a sinner’s death.

Say unto them, “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live:” Ezekiel 33:11a

“Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?” Ezekiel 18:23

“For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” Ezekiel 18:32

God says to each sinner, “Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die?

The aforesaid implied that God is grieved that anyone should die, and also that his own turning is the only means of preventing so dreadful a doom. God saves men only with their concurrence; and will not force His ways to men.

You yourself will bear witness and take responsibility for your own death, as you act as if you believed yourself to have sound reasons for choosing death. If you have reasons they must be your own, and God asks you what they are.

He tells you most earnestly that you need not die because He wants to have you live, and because He has no pleasure at all in your death.

Do press home to your own heart this matter – put to you by your Maker – Why will you die?

Click here –> What is Heaven like?

Would you rather have free will or not to have free will now?

A holy God may not tolerate sin. The attributes of HOLINESS, LOVE, JUSTICE, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND MERCY of GOD may not be separated. At the Cross of Calvary, where JESUS PAID the PENALTY of SIN, all the above attributes of GOD met.

14 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:14 – 18

Note on verse 16, God says “WHOSOEVER”, that means ANYone.

 Click here –> Why did Jesus die on the cross?

Know that God is good; and a good God is, and will be terrifying to the wicked.

But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;” Romans 2:8-9

GOD will have the eternal consciousness of having Himself done right, and of not being in any sense or degree to blame for the death of the wicked – when the smoke of their torments shall go up forever and ever, God will forevermore affirm that “no blood of the wicked”, is on His hand.

 Click here –> How to be saved?

Why does God give humans free will?

He created man for His glory and for His pleasure.

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelations 4:11. 

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” Colossians 1:16 

God is a creative Being, and it gives Him pleasure to create. God is a personal Being, and it gives Him pleasure to have other beings He can have a genuine relationship with.

We are created to have a relationship with God.

Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever. ~ Westminster Shorter Catechism

Quote: No person, no experience, no drug, no success, no things, no possessions ..nothing is going to fill that aching hole in your heart that God created for himself. ~ Rick Warren Unquote.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:27

Being made in the image and likeness of God, human beings have the capacity to know God and consequently love Him, worship Him, serve Him, and fellowship with Him. God did not create human beings because He needed them. As God, He needs nothing. In all eternity past, He felt no loneliness, so He was not looking for a “friend.” He loves us, but this is not the same as needing us. If we had never existed, God would still be God, the unchanging One.

“For I am the LORD, I change not;” Malachi 3:6a

God was never dissatisfied with His own eternal existence. When He made the universe, He did what pleased Himself, and since God is perfect, His actions are always perfect. God does not make any errors and is at all times, fully in control.

God is Omnipotent – INFINITELY POWERFUL and able to do ALL things, Omnipresent – is EVERYWHERE present, and Omniscient – is ALL KNOWING – fully aware of ALL knowledge.

He wanted man to love Him willingly.  Free will, allows man to love God voluntarily. That’s why God gave us a free will, and not doing so, goes against reason, and is irrational.  God is perfectly logical and that’s why He saw it right to give man the freedom to choose for himself and He hoped that we would use it to give Him pleasure.

God gave man free will even if He knew it will cause problems through man’s wrong use of it because He has the solution to it … Jesus.

Jesus was the solution, God turned evil to good, by transferring all of man’s evil onto His beloved Son so He could pay for them. The chains of sin on us were broken because Jesus paid the full penalty of the sins of men.

RESULT or OUTCOME of free will!

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Romans 5:12

“Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” Romans 5:18

That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:21

But God in His mercy prepared a way out, the only way out, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the death penalty of sins, offered his blood for atonement of sins and became the one and only way to God. He is now the antidote or remedy from death.

This is NOW, a free will exercise. IF you chose to receive Jesus Christ, you will get eternal life, ELSE, IF you prefer to continue to reject Him, you will remain in your sins and never receive the remedy from death.

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:17

Recognising the complete sovereignty and holiness of God, we are astounded that He would take man and crown him “with glory and honour”

“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.” Psalms 8:4-5

Why did God create us and gives us Free Will? God created us for His pleasure and so that we, as His creation, would have the pleasure of knowing Him for eternity.

  • He made the universe – you may reign and share with Him.
  • He created you for Him.

Enjoy God, our CREATOR, the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords for ever and ever. Amen