What Will You Be Remembered For?

I am repeatedly asked the question, ‘If today was your last day on earth, what would you do?’ My customary response consists of a nonchalant trail of meaningless, self-gratifying activities, which I suppose would make my last moments of mortal existence that little bit more enjoyable. However, upon a deeper reflection, the real query that needs to be posed is, ‘If today was your last day on earth, what would you be remembered for?’ What will I be remembered for and who will remember me? Gazing back through time at my forefathers and predecessors, I notice that many were only remembered by their spouses and offspring. No stories are told of their heroism, intrepidness or society changing achievements. No mention is made of their philanthropic deeds or supernatural talents. They fade into the never-ending blur of forgettables that make up history’s obituaries.

I now proceed to ask myself, who am I that mankind should remember me? What am I doing that history should recognize my efforts? Is there any difference I am making in my community, in my country or in this desolate world? To be one of the many or one of the few – that remains my mystery. Nothing can ensue on this earth that is outside of God’s providence. Those who are great among men, it is God’s hand that makes them so. History cannot be written without the quill in the hand of God. So, does God recognize my presence here? Is my destiny written in stone or is it open for discussion?

My reflections took me back to the beginning of 2008, where a prophecy was relayed from Prophet T.B. Joshua concerning ‘a young man who would go on a journey of no return’. The subsequent fulfillment was the untimely death of the young actor Heath Ledger. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmCCIyoyN04 In the following weeks, the world mournfully cried out begging to know why such a life should be taken at such a time. A man in the prime of life; at the beginning of a stunning career; at the start of an incredible journey. Yet the God-given prophecy revealed that God was aware. His birth, his life, his death - predestined? I don’t know, but God was aware. As T.B. Joshua so eloquently puts it, ‘Like a bird suddenly caught in a trap; like a fish suddenly caught in a net, no man can tell when his time is coming.’ James said, ‘What is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.’

If today were your last day on earth, what would the word remember you for? With this in mind, we should be forced to live every day as if it were our last, knowing that no man can know when his time is coming.

Happy Birthday Jesus

After a short discussion with an Indonesian tele-evangelist at a unique birthday fête, the thought provoking and elementary question was posed, ‘If Jesus were on earth today, how would he celebrate His birthday?’ It prompted me to search the Scriptures to see if there was any record in the Holy Chronicle of any kind of birthday celebration even slightly reminiscent of the annual festivity we enjoy in the modern day. The only records I could find referred to the Jewish traditions surrounding a boy’s passing into manhood and other celebrations relevant to various events in a person’s life. But throughout my entire search I located no Biblical record of a birthday observance held in honor of our Lord Jesus Christ, neither in his youth or adulthood. Does this mean that we, as His followers today, should not celebrate the traditional birthday?

My next port of call in my search for the truth were the ministers of God throughout the globe; Christ’s representatives the world over, who each, in their own particular, individual and unique ministries are called to do as Christ would do. I saw those who lavished themselves with exclusive parties inviting national dignitaries and people of influence to celebrate with public exuberance, followed by colorful magazine spreads showing the ‘minister of God’ to be a celebrity of sort. I saw those who seemed to make little or no mention of their birthday, preferring to keep a low profile and keeping celebrations completely private, if at all. Maybe they too have seen that Christ did not celebrate His birthday and believe it to be a requisite of spirituality. I then saw the way in which the man of God, TB Joshua chose to celebrate his own. Knowing it to be an event that attracts international attention and response, the service prior to his big day, he made an announcement publicly, not only to the present congregation but to the thousands of viewers joining him from around the world, that no gifts should be given to him, but rather they should be given to the poor. He joyfully told those who were willing to hear that this was a time to rededicate one’s self to the act of giving, seeing one’s life as a solution to others in need. He himself personally sent a delegation to a local destitute camp where he fed and clothed the thousands housed there. Once again, I saw an example of Christ’s ministry that is a challenge to believer everywhere. Is this how Jesus would have celebrated His own special day?

The Power Of One

“What if it all depended on me to change the world?

What if my only responsibility was to change the world?

What kind of love can conquer disease and change the world?

What I can do to make poverty history and change the world?

Let me be the ONE to start a revolution.

Let me sing my song to the people of the world. It all begins with one.

The Power of one - joining the hundreds of millions of people believing in one.

Don’t hang around, stand up or sit down – it all begins with one. “

Israel Houghton – The Power Of One

 Inspiring lyrics that talk of unity of purpose and oneness of vision. The power to change the world is in our hands, in our community and unanimity. The Body of Christ is the only unified whole with a divine power behind it for the accomplishment of its intentions. Why then do we fail to achieve that for which we are called to realize? A thorn in the side of the body of Christ today is the division among our leaders, decreeing one doctrine or denomination to be more correct, spiritual or divine than another. We are one another’s strength; we are one body and we depend on each other to reach our goal.

(1 Corinthians 12:12-26)

 “Two believers are better than one, if only they are one.” T.B. Joshua