Friday, February 17, 2006

The safest place on earth

No, I don't mean the safest place in the world is the Philippines.

Mudslides buried the farming village Guinsaugon of Teyte province in the Philippines, there were 2500 villagers who lived there. Our friends and families might be concerned for us since we are leaving for the Philippines for missions work. However, I want to make it clear that we are not going to a village, rather, the second largest city in the Philippines, Cebu City in the Cebu province. It is the 'second most important metropolitan center in the country', after Manila, the capital.
While I want to stress that natural disasters like the above mentioned is not a direct threat in a metropolitan city like Cebu City, I do have to quote Psalm 90 詩 篇 90 to show how fragile our lives are.
Anything can happen to us anytime, our lives are not in our own hands. Know Jesus Christ and his salvation is the only way to live in this world without being overwhelmed by the incredible frailty of life. Being in the center of God's will is the safest place on earth.

(A prayer of Moses the man of God. 神 人 摩 西 的 祈 禱 )
1
Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
主 啊 , 你 世 世 代 代 作 我 們 的 居 所 。
2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
諸 山 未 曾 生 出 , 地 與 世 界 你 未 曾 造 成 , 從 亙 古 到 永 遠 , 你 是 神 。
3
You turn men back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men."
你 使 人 歸 於 塵 土 , 說 : 你 們 世 人 要 歸 回 。
4 For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.
在 你 看 來 , 千 年 如 已 過 的 昨 日 , 又 如 夜 間 的 一 更 。
5 You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning-
你 叫 他 們 如 水 沖 去 ; 他 們 如 睡 一 覺 。 早 晨 , 他 們 如 生 長 的 草 ,
6 though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered.
早 晨 發 芽 生 長 , 晚 上 割 下 枯 乾 。
7 We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation.
我 們 因 你 的 怒 氣 而 消 滅 , 因 你 的 忿 怒 而 驚 惶 。
8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.
你 將 我 們 的 罪 孽 擺 在 你 面 前 , 將 我 們 的 隱 惡 擺 在 你 面 光 之 中 。
9 All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan.
我 們 經 過 的 日 子 都 在 你 震 怒 之 下 ; 我 們 度 盡 的 年 歲 好 像 一 聲 歎 息 。
10 The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
我 們 一 生 的 年 日 是 七 十 歲 , 若 是 強 壯 可 到 八 十 歲 ; 但 其 中 所 矜 誇 的 不 過 是 勞 苦 愁 煩 , 轉 眼 成 空 , 我 們 便 如 飛 而 去 。
11 Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
誰 曉 得 你 怒 氣 的 權 勢 ? 誰 按 著 你 該 受 的 敬 畏 曉 得 你 的 忿 怒 呢 ?
12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
求 你 指 教 我 們 怎 樣 數 算 自 己 的 日 子 , 好 叫 我 們 得 著 智 慧 的 心 。
13 Relent, O LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants.
耶 和 華 啊 , 我 們 要 等 到 幾 時 呢 ? 求 你 轉 回 , 為 你 的 僕 人 後 悔 。
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
求 你 使 我 們 早 早 飽 得 你 的 慈 愛 , 好 叫 我 們 一 生 一 世 歡 呼 喜 樂 。
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble.
求 你 照 著 你 使 我 們 受 苦 的 日 子 , 和 我 們 遭 難 的 年 歲 , 叫 我 們 喜 樂 。
16 May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children.
願 你 的 作 為 向 你 僕 人 顯 現 ; 願 你 的 榮 耀 向 他 們 子 孫 顯 明 。
17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.
願 主 ─ 我 們 神 的 榮 美 歸 於 我 們 身 上 。 願 你 堅 立 我 們 手 所 做 的 工 ; 我 們 手 所 做 的 工 , 願 你 堅 立 。

3 comments:

  1. It's a good posting. I am sometime worried about your family's trip to Philippines because of the social unstability there. I cannot agree you more that nowhere is a safe place. It's a good reminder that "being in the center of God's will is the safest place on earth."

    Wenhua

    ReplyDelete
  2. Amy,

    It maybe no comfort to those who worry, yet for those who venture out, seeking to walk in the will of God, I am reminded of Phil 1:21 - "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (ESV)
    We always need to have perspective concerning our travels though life. Psalm 90 pointed it out so well, that in the end we will face an end of our life! Then it only becomes a time of when. For Paul, he was torn between his love for the churches he founded and his love for Christ. He wanted to be with Christ, yet he wanted to continue to serve. For the Christian, we should have the similar win/win perspectgive to life - that we love to serve and walk in the will of God, yet at the same time have a deep longing to go home and be with the one who loved us long before we even understood the concept.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Precious sharing and reminder indeed!

    Hey, Psalm 90, that's the tagline of my blog.

    ReplyDelete