EDante, AIT Home, January 2021
2020 is an extraordinary year that may be remembered as the most traumatic year of our generation. As early as January, Taal volcano overwhelmed the sky in Metro Manila and nearby provinces with ashes and lava causing suspension of flights, schools, and businesses. Moonyeen and I were just stepping out of the campus of the St Paul College, Pasig City where a Couples for Christ leaders conference was held when the news about the eruption broke out. The following day our scheduled flight to Mindanao was cancelled forcing us to look for alternative mode of travel. We took a 24-hour journey via a ship from Manila to Cebu. In February, news about the corona virus outbreak in China came out and travel restrictions were introduced in many countries especially travelers from China, Japan, Republic of Korea and Singapore. In March, the UN office in Bangkok was closed and staff were asked to work from home initially for three weeks. Within a few weeks, cases of corona virus surged in many parts of the world, particularly in Europe and North America. Our son Kent just managed to return home to Bangkok from Vancouver the day when Thailand shut down its borders. But God forewarned us that the pandemic was not short term. Through a message from True Life in God received by Vassula on 13 March, God said: “summon the people and tell them: without repenting and truthfulness in your prayer this evil will last longer than you think, turn to Me, your God and repent; a sincere and universal prayer will reach Me.” Indeed, at that time, nobody anticipated that the pandemic would continue. Despite all measures, the virus has spread in all corners of the world and the number of infections surged exponentially. By year end, 12,000 people were dying each day. The Lord asked us to repent and pray. Repentance demands a complete change of heart and a change in one’s way of life. To change is difficult; but not to change is fatal. In His goodness, the Lord permitted the pandemic to happen. He has stopped the world. He has ceased our travel, sports, gambling, entertainment, businesses, shopping, holidays, and many other activities. He has removed our busyness and forced us to stay home. He has given us more time for family and ourselves. He allowed trials and suffering. He has done all these out of love and for one sole purpose, to save us from eternal death. Listen to the words of the Lord to one of His followers: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered and anxious about so many things, but only one thing is necessary.” (Luke 10:42). That one thing is to know, love and serve God. We were made for that purpose. To love God with all our hearts, all our minds and all our strength is the greatest of all the commandments. If we no longer fulfil that purpose, we will no longer reach our destination, which is heaven with God. Therefore, we repent by giving God his rightful place in our hearts. We must therefore bravely free our hearts from all matters that deprive the presence of God. We should not be afraid to knock down those that are unnecessary but keep only those that are essentials. We should examine each affection, desire and passion against the word of God. We should assess our actions and how we spend our time and use our resources against the justice of God. We need to demolish many things unnecessary and give more space for God to reign in our hearts. About 2000 years ago, God sounded a call for repentance through his prophet John the Baptist. That call preceded the beginning of the mission of Jesus. It was a signal of Jesus great coming into the world. John the Baptist proclaimed: “The time has come, the Kingdom of God is at hand, Repent and believe the Good News”. Once again, God sounded a call for repentance amid the present pandemic. He signaled the time of the second coming of Jesus. The bible warns us to be ready because the exact timing of his second coming is not known by men (Luke 12:40; Matthew 25:13). It also tells us that there will be many signs. This current pandemic is one of these signs. Jesus sends this message for us through True Life in God: "...now the time is near, the time of My Return, that is ever so imminent; little do you know generation, that soon, very soon, My Light will be seen in the sky; trembling with fear will grip those who disdained Me; cheers of joy will rise from all those who never stopped loving Me... after that Sign the world will never be the same". The Lord is indeed coming again. Just as in the old days, we must prepare to meet Him with our repentance and prayers. Comments are closed.
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