imakelar

The Candles Of Forgiveness

Alexander the Great was a king of the ancient Greek Kingdom of Macedonia. He was unbeaten in battle and is widely known as one of the most successful military commanders in history. Often before Alexander the Great was about to attack a city, he would light a candle in front of the city gate.

He said that the candle symbolized his mercy — in other words, it represented the time available for the city to surrender into his hands. If the city did not surrender until the candle ran out, Alexander the Great and his army would enter and destroy the city. And this is what Alexander the Great often did from city to city — he showed no mercy to anyone who stood against him.

In fact, when we are born, a candle is lit. The length of time a candle burns varies from person to person — some candles last 80 years, some last 50 years, 30 years, and even 20 years. No one knows how long the candle will burn. However, all these candles will eventually die; we all will one day leave this world. The candle symbolizes the mercy that God provides.

We are given the opportunity to surrender ourselves to Him and His kingdom. But most of us think and say, “The candle still has a long time to die, let’s feast on the drunkenness and lust of the world. When the candle is about to go out, then we go out and give up.” But in fact so many are too late to make peace with the Creator before the candle goes out.

If we are still there today, it means that our candle has not died, and we still have a chance to make peace with the Creator. We never know when our candle will go out, so don’t waste any more time, make peace with Him, and submit your life to His plans.

“For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, there is no more reward for them, even the memory of them is gone.”

There Is A Time For Everything

For Americans, the Mississippi Bridge plays a vital role in connecting the state’s agriculture-based economy. The 27.6 kilometer long bridge connects the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The bridge was built by the Minnesota Department of Transportation in 1967 with a height of 64 feet or about 20 meters.

However, the eight-lane bridge collapsed on August 1, 2007, during rush hour and many vehicles were passing on it, killing 13 people and injuring 145 people. It is suspected that the bridge collapsed not because of an act of terror, but because the construction of the bridge has become brittle with age. The bridge, which was forty years old, finally collapsed.

“… for everything there is a time, for everything under heaven there is a time.” Time passes so quickly. No one could stand it. Throughout the process with time, one can enjoy the dynamics of life. There are happy times, there are also sad times. However, God always makes everything beautiful in its time.

While the breath is in the body, using time responsibly is a must. Is not everything will continue to change Philosopher Heraclitus gave a wise expression, “Nothing remains in this world except change.”

Today we are still breathing, tomorrow not necessarily. Today we are still working valiantly, tomorrow we don’t know. Therefore, let us submit ourselves to Him before it collapses like a Mississippi bridge.

Be Bright

“Arise, be light, for your light is coming, and the glory of the LORD is rising on you.”

Light is needed by humans to be able to move freely to carry out activities. If the lighting is good — bright enough, at night people can read and do activities freely.

The call to be bright is a call to carry out life activities freely because it does not violate any boundaries. To be a light is to reveal the grace of God that rises above this life; instead of taking that glory and using it haughtily and arrogantly.

The reason or basis for being light is when your light comes, that is, God has power over this life. A bright life is a life in which all aspects are controlled by God and all activities are for the glory of God.

The call to be light is a call to “rise up” means to build the spirit to leave the darkness. Laziness is replaced by diligence, from indifference to being proactive, from humble to humble to do the best for the glory of God.

Not To Exceed The Load Limit

“The temptations you experience are ordinary trials, which do not exceed human strength. For God is faithful and because of that he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. When you are tempted he will give you a way out, so you can endure it.”

We have all seen the load limit signs that are widely installed on roads, bridges, and elevators. Engineers know that too much pressure can cause serious damage or collapse, so they determine the exact pressure limit, and which the various tools can safely withstand. For this reason various warnings are installed to warn us not to exceed the maximum load.

Humans also have load limits that vary from person to person. Some people, for example, are able to withstand the pressure of tests and trials better than others; but everyone has their own endurance limit and can only endure that much. Sometimes circumstances and people seem to push us beyond what we can bear.

However, God knows the limits of our strength and He never allows adversity that exceeds our strength and ability to enter into our lives. So, when trials and tribulations press us down, be brave enough to face them. Remember, our heavenly Father knows the limits of our ability to withstand the pressures of life. Surrender to the power of God; no trial will exceed our strength.

The Story Of Two Sailors

One day, two sailors were sailing in the middle of the sea. Several days of sailing, sunny and shady weather always accompanied them on the voyage. But one night, a storm raged and the waves threw one of them into the sea.

Surprisingly, the drowned sailors were in the sheltered space of the ship, while the survivors were the sailors who were in open space and closer to the sea. Why? It turns out that the drowning person was not holding on.

That’s a picture of people’s attitudes when experiencing trials in their lives. When life is going well, they feel like they don’t need help. But when things got tough, his leg slipped and fell. Because they refused God’s help and did not want to hold on, they drowned very easily. On the other hand, those who hold fast to God will be able to get through the heavy misfortune that befalls them. They know that their heavenly Father is always with them to strengthen, guard, and protect them.

God didn’t promise a life without storms, but He did promise to help us through them. “He who sits in the shelter of the Most High and spends the night in the shade of the Almighty will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my stronghold, my God, in which I trust.'”

Win The Battle

Everyone wants a good life without problems, pleasant situations, calm, happy, successful, safe, peaceful, without anything bitter, without any trials, without any problems, without any war. Is there such a life?

This is a very unrealistic life. As long as we are still alive in this world we all will not be able to escape from it all. A life without the slightest problem will only be found in fairy tales.

Believers will not have a life without waves, waves, and storms. Instead, the life of a believer is to live in war and struggle every day. Believers are soldiers who must be ready to fight every day. Fight against who?

First, the Devil. “…not against flesh and blood, but against governments, against rulers, against the rulers of this dark world, against the evil spirits of the air.” The devil is the main enemy that we must fight.

Second, the world. It speaks of a way of life that goes against or goes against God’s will. For all that is in the world, namely the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not from God, but is from the world. And this world is passing away with its desires, but those who do God’s will live on forever.”

Third, self (the flesh). This is the closest enemy. “But each person is tempted by his own desires, because he is dragged away and enticed. by him. And when that desire is fertilized, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is ripe, it gives birth to death.” With God’s help we will be able to fight our flesh. We will never achieve victory without our willingness to fight.

Want To Be Participant Or Just A Spectator?

“Don’t you know that in the arena all the competitors run, but only one person gets the prize. So run in such a way that you get it”

Our life in this world is described as a running competition arena. There is also the distance that we have to travel is quite far with a variety of terrain. Sometimes the road we take is flat, uphill through hills, and sometimes we have to go down a steep valley.

In this game God invites all mankind to be participants, but not everyone responds to the invitation. In fact, most people ignore it with various excuses or reasons: busy, tired, I’m old let alone young people, later when I’m rich, and so on.

There is a verse that says, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Indeed, for those of us who respond to God’s call, we must also be aware of all the risks: there are many trials, challenges, and obstacles. As a result, there were some participants who ended up stopping in the middle of the road because they felt they could not continue the race, some continued to carry heavy loads so that they could no longer run. While the other participants were able to run and keep running until they reached the finish line and became winners.

And only those who compete according to the rules of the competition and manage to reach the finish line are entitled to a medal or prize, as it is written: “An athlete can only get a crown as a champion, if he competes according to the rules of the sport.” God calls us to be participants in the competition, not just spectators, because there is an essential difference between a participant and a spectator.

Generally, a spectator will be easier to comment and criticize because he is only watching, not competing. Spectators rarely get injured or drenched in sweat, or gasp with exhaustion because they’re just sitting around watching. It is natural that even the best spectator is not entitled to any medal or prize in the competition.

Those who are entitled to get medals or prizes are participants who have worked hard and won the competition. Becoming a competitor requires a price to be paid. Are we ready?

“Son, Your Axe Is Dull.”

A young man was chopping wood with an axe. From morning until noon he continued to work. There is no time to stop. He had to hit the target. That’s why, he was constantly swinging his axe.

Once an old man came to him. “Son, your axe is dull. Stop for a moment to sharpen it,” said the old man. “Well, there’s no time, Grandpa. I have to catch up with the target,” said the young man.

Life in this world is getting more and more frenzied; the demands and challenges of the times are getting bigger. We are unavoidable from busyness and the shackles of routine. In fact, like a machine, we certainly need rest.

Living in a routine without even a moment’s “rest” is the same as the young man in the story above, who continues to chop wood without any time to sharpen his axe, so that his axe becomes dull.

This is the meaning of the importance of quiet time: take a break from the busy routine to build a personal relationship with God. In your daily routine, there should always be time for a moment of silence. Close your eyes and ears from all the hustle and bustle of daily routine activities.

Prepare yourself and open your heart to God, letting Him greet you in His way. Always finds time to be alone for a moment, to calm down in quiet time. “Come to a solitary place, so that we may be alone, and rest for a while!”

Loyal Guide Dog

Stephen Kuusisto is an American poet best known for his work depicting disability. Stephen grew up feeling inferior because he was blind. For him, vision consists of a kaleidoscope of shapes, colors, and shadows. When he’s alone, he likes to stick his face to the pages of a book and try hard to memorize street names so he looks like someone who can see clearly, not like he really is.

When he was 39 years old, his life changed after he got a trained and loyal guide dog named Corky. While learning to use Corky as a guide, Stephen reflects on the trust that has grown in their relationship. He said, “Confidence grows from trust which develops into belief, then into certainty. We are both a great team!” When Stephen admits that he needs the help of a friend who can see, a new world opens up that gives him freedom of movement he’s never experienced before.

Many believers stumble like blind people while living the life because they rely on their own strength. They seem unaware that God has provided a supernatural Guide to guide their path. God said that He would send a Comforter who would lead us into all truth.

Wise Man

“When a wise man sees calamity, he hides, but the inexperienced man walks on and is afflicted.”

A person who is able to see and respond to things appropriately so that he knows how to act is a wise person. Wisdom in a person is not obtained through formal education, science, philosophy, or human ideas, but through perseverance in meditating on God’s words: “The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the LORD, and knowing the Holy One is understanding.”

Etymologically speaking, wise people are people who have the right attitude in dealing with every situation, situation, and event. This happens because he has trained senses so that he is able to distinguish what is God’s will and what is pleasing to Him, so that he puts an attitude of respect for God in every word and deed.

Many people are not sensitive to seeing things that are not good or evil around them, so sooner or later they will fall and be carried away by the current. God’s Word warns, “Come out from among them, and separate yourselves from them, saith the Lord, and touch not what is unclean, and I will receive you.”

The inability to see evil or sinful things is spiritual blindness. This is because people do not stay (rooted) in God’s word or do not build a strong foundation of life. A wise person when he sees things that are contrary to God’s will, swiftly avoids and leaves them.