See things as they really are

“Once upon a time” a young girl was sitting by herself in a city centre play park. She was wearing a worn pink dress and was barefoot and dirty. All the other children playing in the park ignored her and even the adults passed her by, never pausing to see if she was alright. She looked so sad and dejected and she never spoke a word.

The next day, she was there again, in exactly the same dress just watching the others play. She looked even more forlorn. But today something different was about to happen. One of the dads who had a child playing had noticed her over the past few days and wondered if she was alright. He decided that today he must to go over and speak to her. As he got closer to the girl he suddenly noticed that the back of her dress was grotesquely shaped. There was a massive hump on her back. “Ah” he thought to himself, “How sad, the other children won’t play with her because of her deformity.” The dad smiled and sat down beside her. “Hello” he said cheerfully. The girl looked up at him with beautiful clear blue eyes. “Hello” she replied.

They started to chat and then she added sadly, “You are the only one who has come to talk to me in a whole week”. They continued talking for some time and finally the man said “You remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent, yes you’re like a tiny guardian angel of the park watching over the children.” The girl nodded and smiled “Not quite” she said, “I am not the guardian angel of the park.” She then paused for a moment and opened the back of her pink dress to allow her wings to spread, “No, to be exact, I am your guardian angel, not the parks and now my mission is complete. I was sent by God to remind you that external appearances are not important in His sight. You must look beyond, to a person’s character and heart. It took you a few days but at last you have done that.”

This delightful modern day parable reminds us that we must make sure that we see people as they really are rather than regard outward appearances as being overly important. In 1st Samuel Ch 16v7 it states that “The Lord does not see as a man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.” Today’s generation concentrates far too much on the external, the trivial and superficial while forgetting that the “real measure” of a person is their character and personality.

Every day I hear or read of people who are quick to talk about all their various “achievements” in life. Perhaps they have completed this or that academic course or successfully landed this or that business contract. Maybe they have had cosmetic surgery to make them look more physically attractive or just won an award. It’s truly amazing the range of things people will boast about and what they believe to be important.

Scripture teaches however, that in God’s eyes, real beauty and real “achievement” is when an individual strives and labours to develop their character or the “hidden person of their heart” (1st Peter Ch3vs4, 5) according to the example set by Jesus Christ. Romans Ch12vs9-21 provides a summary of the kind of character and personality God expects; it is a sort of template for all those who aspire to be true followers of the Lord. Real achievement is working at trying to develop these personal characteristics and is the Biblical test of being a “real man” or a “real woman”.

While it is vitally important to see people as they really are in character, it is also vitally important to see things or events for what they really are as well. This is especially true when there are spiritual ramifications to an alleged event. It warns in Scripture that because there is a very real danger of people being deceived about spiritual matters we must always check out and “test all things” in the light of God’s Word. (1st Thessalonians Ch5v21). In Hosea Ch4v6  God laments that “People destroy themselves for lack of knowledge.” A great deal of this lack of knowledge and destruction is simply caused by individuals failing to properly check out the truth of an alleged event or piece of information, thereby harming their faith. The hoax of the Da Vinci Code written by Dan Brown in 2003 is one such example. Although a work of fiction with numerous subsequent publications and studies showing it was fiction, many people have read it as though it were factual. They failed to do what Scripture warned; test all things!

In 1st Timothy Ch4v1 it predicts “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceiving spirits and the teaching of demons.” And in 2nd Timothy Ch3v13 it further predicts “Evil men will grow worse and worse, deceiving others and deceiving themselves.” Today perhaps more than ever individuals must be careful to see both people and events for what they really are in the light and teaching of God’s Word. “All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness so that the man of God may be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2nd Timothy Ch3vs 16-17).

The Bible is our ultimate guide and final authority; and we know we can trust it, because God has placed proof that it is from Him by uniquely placing thousands of prophecies and predictions about future events within its pages. Amazingly one third of the Bible is composed of prophecy and hundreds of these predictions have already come to pass. As each prediction gets fulfilled one by one  it is a sign and witness to a new generation that Scripture can be trusted and is exactly what it claims to be; The Word of God to Mankind.

For over three hundred years a tribe in the Philippines called the “Tawbuid” had a special prophecy which was passed down from father to son. The prediction given was that some day, foreigners would come to the tribe with good news about the Owner of Creation and the way back to life. This prophecy further stated that they would be “white teachers” and that the tribe would be able to identify them, because these teachers would know their language and speak to them in their own tongue.

This amazing prediction was fulfilled when two American missionaries by the name of Russell and Barbara Reed went to work among the Tawbuid several years ago and told them of the One True Living God in their own language. To the Tawbuid the existence of this prophecy and its ultimate fulfilment was the vital sign they needed to prove that the teaching given by these Christian missionaries was authentic and true. It helped them discern truth from fiction. They were a particularly timid people and were delighted to learn of the God Who loved them and the way of salvation given to them through the Cross.

In the same way the prophecies of Scripture and their subsequent fulfilment provide us with all the evidence we need to see that the Bible really is the Word of God and can be trusted. Countless books have been written about Bible prophecy showing that their range and subject matter is truly phenomenal and accurate to the smallest detail. Among other things, predictions cover the rise and fall of nations and empires, the birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the restoration of the Jewish Nation in 1948, the development of weapons of mass destruction, the state of the world, the decline of true faith in God and of course events yet to be fulfilled such as the Second Coming of Jesus Christ in the midst of a great world crisis. All these prophecies were written hundreds and sometimes thousands of years before their fulfilment showing that the ultimate Source behind Scripture is Almighty God Himself.

Whether it is in regard to people, events, strange happenings, so called discoveries or whatever, let us make sure that we see things as they really are by testing them in the Light of Scripture. In 2nd Timothy Ch4vs3-4 it foretells “An age will come when people will not listen to sound doctrine but according to their own desires…they will turn their ears away from the truth and believe in fables.”  Fulfilled Bible prophecy provides abundant evidence that the teaching of Scripture is true and accurate. Let us faithfully use it to “test all things” because by so doing we will see things as they really are in the sight of Almighty God.

Be careful to whom you listen

Some decades ago in America a train was travelling West in the depths of winter time. It was freezing cold, snowing heavily and owing to strong winds, there were blizzard conditions. On board there was a certain young woman with her baby who wanted to leave the train at one of the remote stations along the route. Owing to the remoteness of the region one of the tasks of the guardsman was to call out the names of the stations as they approached, so people would know when to disembark. The woman was a stranger to the country so on several occasions she went up to the guardsman and said "Please don't forget me; I need to get off at Redrock". Repeatedly the guardsman promised he wouldn't forget her and would certainly tell her when she was to get off.

As time went on, the train slowed to a stop as though coming into a station and a fellow traveller said to the woman, "that must be your stop now." With gratitude the woman gathered her things and hopped off the train into the storm. The train moved on again. Forty-five minutes later the guardsman came in and called out "passenger for Redrock! Your station is next"! Passengers explained to him that she had got off the last time the train had stopped. The guardsman's face changed to one of despair. "I promised her that I would let her know when to get off. We only stopped because of heavy snow on the track. She has got off to her death." Sadly his prediction was all too accurate. Rescuers found her frozen to death. Amazingly the baby was found alive, having been protected from the worst of the cold beneath his mother's coat.

Be careful to whom you listen! This true story reminds us of the vital importance of listening to correct information and instructions. Sometimes listening to the right person with the right knowledge is quite literally a matter of life and death. But this story also teaches us  an important spiritual lesson that has profound implications.

Every one of us is on the "journey of life". As we travel along, we need to make certain that we are listening to the right "person" and the correct information; otherwise we won't know what we are doing, where we are going, what decisions we are to make, or indeed how to prepare for our journey's end.


Many people today are in a state of confusion regarding a whole range of moral, religious and personal issues. For example, some are  confused regarding what to believe about God and which religion to follow. Others are confused about what should be considered as morally right and what should be seen as immoral. Still more are confused about what is happening to the world and uncertain about how to deal with their own personal problems such as who to marry, where to live, what job to take, and so on.

Often in this confusion people look to their fellow travellers thinking that they might know the answer but they too are just as confused and uncertain. One traveller might say "It's the next station" another might say with equal affirmation that the station has already been passed or indeed that there is no station at all! Fellow travellers don't really know the answers to the questions of life. The only One Who knows the answers is "The Guardsman" Himself. If that poor woman had trusted the guardsman rather than a fellow passenger she would have lived. In stead she put her faith in a well meaning passenger who obviously didn't know what he was talking about; and it cost her, her life.

So likewise, during the course of our lifetime, many fellow travellers will express their views on moral issues, belief systems and personal problems. For instance, some will say "there is nothing sinful about some particular kind of conduct or behaviour", others will say "believe in this religion" yet others may say "take this job, marry that man" etc. Some might  suggest trying clairvoyance, trying New Age rituals, trying crystals, trying this, trying that, for ever clutching at straws in their own personal confusion.

 No matter what others may say, let us soberly remember that there is only One Individual we should listen to and that is "The Guardsman" Himself; Jesus Christ. Our life depends on it. He alone knows the truth. He alone has the answers to our questions and so it is His instructions and commands we should follow. We should listen to Him alone; no one else. As Jesus said "I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life."(John Ch14v6).

One of the main  reasons why God has provided the human race with Holy Scripture is so that everyone can read exactly what He Himself is stating rather than be misled by what fellow travellers say. The Bible is the Word of God, so if we want to know what "The Guardsman" is saying or commanding on any particular issue, it is there for us to read. We ignore His written Word and listen to others, at our peril!

In 2nd Timothy Ch3v16 it states "All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness." We need to trust and obey what the Lord Himself says about an issue rather than others, lest we be spiritually deceived. (See 1st Corinthians Ch6vs 9-11; Galatians Ch5vs 19-21; Ch6vs7-8; 2nd Timothy Ch3v13; Colossians Ch2v8; 1st John Ch3vs7-8).

In Proverbs Ch3 vs5-6 God gives a reassuring promise about guidance. It states "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and rely not on your own understanding. In all your ways obey Him and then He will guide and direct your path." What this means is that if we faithfully listen to and obey His commands in Scripture then we can be sure that we will indeed be guided to "get off at the right station," or make the right decision. We can be sure that we will indeed be shown what path we are to follow, what we really are to believe and what decisions we should make concerning "this or that or the other".

Throughout the journey of life we have to make many serious decisions. Friends and relatives will offer all sorts of contradictory advice but provided we listen to and obey the Lord, He will guide us concerning what is right and proper. Provided we remain faithful to Him, then He most certainly will show us the way we should go and the decisions we should make. Scripture promises that we will receive His guidance, so long as we follow and obey Him totally and completely.

Late in the 19th Century an acrobat arranged to walk a wire across Niagara Falls with another man on his shoulders. Many weeks of training went into preparing for this event. As the final moment for this event drew near, the rope walker cautioned his young colleague with the following words. "We are about to risk our lives, but we will get across safely if you do exactly as I say. I am the one walking the wire, the whole responsibility for that part is mine. I can do it safely. For your part you have nothing to do but match my movements completely. If I sway to the left, let yourself sway with me. If I sway to the right, do the same. Under no circumstances try to do your own thing. You must match your movements to mine so as to ensure harmony because without perfect unison we are both lost. There is only one thing for you to do;-sway with me."

All went well until they drew near the opposite side when the unexpected happened. The long vibration of the wire suddenly formed into separate waves, and each of these formed two more and so on. Soon the shortened wave like movements became so violent that the man could scarcely keep his feet where he placed them. It was a perilous moment, but the feat was accomplished and it was front page news across the country the next day.

After this, the young man who had played the secondary role upon the acrobat's shoulders settled down to private life and got married. In time he became an active leader in the church. He often commented, "I learned more about my relationship with God on that wire than in all of my life. I learned that the only safe way to get through trouble is to keep on fully obeying God. If I stop obeying, even for a moment or just a little then all is lost."

Provided we carefully listen to and fully obey the Lord, He will in turn guide us concerning the decisions we have to make in life. If we do as He says and as He guides, then we will get safely to the other side and disembark at the right station, if however, we disobey, then we will fall into the waters of deception and drown in the depths of despair.

The importance of listening to God

The humorous story is told of a hardened sceptic who one day decided to go and see the famous preacher George Whitefield. Whitefield was popular for his sermons and outreach work, and the sceptic was curious to see what this man looked like after hearing that the preacher was conducting an open air meeting nearby.

When the man arrived at the field, Whitefield was already  surrounded by hundreds of people so the only way to see him was to climb a nearby tree. The man climbed up, nestled in a branch and then put his fingers in his ears. He was determined to see the impassioned Whitefield but didn't want to be influenced by his preaching. The man watched for a while when suddenly an insect landed on his face. Precisely at the moment that he removed his hands from his ears to flick the insect away, the preacher shouted out to the crowd those famous words from Matthew Ch 11; "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Impressed by this coincidence the sceptic decided to listen to what he was saying.

Whitefield went on to speak of the wilful refusal of many to hear God's voice and pleaded with the crowd to search their conscience. The whole event profoundly impressed the sceptic to such a degree that he decided to explore spiritual matters with an open mind. After much soul searching and a great deal of investigation he finally embraced the Christian faith and became a devout Christian. He often wondered however, what would have happened if that fly hadn't landed on his nose!

Today, many people are similar to this man, in that they simply do not want to hear what God is saying to them or indeed hear what He is saying to the entire world. Oh they may not put their fingers in their ears, but they will use other methods of distraction to drown out His voice which are just as effective. Perhaps it will be a busy lifestyle with no time to stop and listen, or perhaps it will be too great an interest in some particular hobby or to too much devotion to business advancement. No matter what method of distraction is used the result is the same; God is speaking, but they aren't listening.

In reality, God has a personal message for every individual, but how many stop to listen? The message that God is trying to deliver to us is for our benefit and welfare, and so to ignore this message is akin to "biting the hand that feeds us."

If people listened to what God is saying to them, they would be amazed at the way He guides, prepares and sustains. One famous instance comes from the Times Square Church in New York. Over the years since 9/11 there has been much discussion amongst the American Security Agencies regarding "who knew what and when". Investigations reveal that this church had been waiting for the disaster and was actually ready and prepared to establish relief tents at "ground zero" to comfort survivors and rescue workers.

The pastor of the church David Wilkerson explained the reason for their readiness. He revealed that 6 weeks before the terrorist attack he and every member of his pastoral team were struck by a deep conviction that a tragedy was shortly to occur and that God wanted them to prepare for it. As a result of this conviction they cancelled all major church events in the weeks prior to 9/11 and replaced them with 4 prayer meetings per week. At these meetings the specific aim of their prayer was to plead that the effects of the coming disaster would be lessened from what might otherwise have been the case.

These individuals were listening and God was speaking. God wanted to prepare and forearm them. His message was for people's benefit not their harm. But just suppose they had made themselves "too busy" to listen? Suppose they had thought in their hearts "I don't want to hear what God is saying"?

When God speaks its always for our benefit, welfare and guidance so as to keep us away from evil, spare us from Judgement or protect us from trouble. It is sheer madness not to listen. Deep in your spirit are you listening to the personal message God has for you? Be sure that God has something to say which is for you benefit and blessing. Refusal to listen is like saying to God "I don't want Your blessing and help" and where is the sense in that?

Trust God with your life

Duan was stranded! It was the middle of winter and the engine of the bus had just given up its battle with the cold. He had been travelling south and was now stuck somewhere in the Chinese province of Henan. Duan was a pastor in northern China. He was now 77 years old and he still had no home to call his own. He prayed for guidance as to what to do next. The sun had already set so he trudged off in the darkness through fields covered with snow. As he walked his mind reflected on his long life as a Christian and the things he had experienced. He thought of his dear wife who had died long ago and then after a while a picture of their little son whom they lost floated into his tired mind.

Finally after what seemed like ages, Duan arrived at the next village. Again praying for guidance, he suddenly noticed a house with a little cross notched on the doorpost. Duan knocked on the door and was warmly welcomed by a Christian family. They were all very excited, because that  evening they were travelling to a neighbouring town to hear a dynamic Bible teacher  called brother Wang from one of the big cities. They asked Duan to accompany them.

On their way to the meeting the family told him all about brother Wang.  Duan then asked "How old is he?" When they told him that he was in his early forties, Duan commented "I once had a son. I knew him for only 2 months. Now he's dead, but had he lived he would have been 42 by now. We called him Isaac because like Abraham and Sarah we had despaired of ever having a child." The family listened intently as Duan revealed to them an amazing story.  "After ten years of marriage and many prayers, along he came just like we were Abraham and Sarah in the Book of Genesis!"

"My wife and I were evangelists in the 1950's and were often in danger of arrest by the communist authorities. An old school bully of mine called Wu kept accusing us of imperialism. When our son was born we became worried. What would happen to him if we were both killed or imprisoned. We were terrified for our new born child."

"One night something supernatural happened. My wife heard a Voice in a vision that said, "Give your son to your enemy." She said nothing about it to me, but the following day I happened to be reading   Genesis ch 22.  When I came to verse 2 ‘get Isaac your only son, the one whom you dearly love and sacrifice him to Me', I felt God say that there was something vital we needed to do with our son. I then shared this strong conviction with my wife who in turn told me about the vision she had been given the night before.  Knowing that the story of Isaac ended happily {foreshadowing that God Himself would sacrifice His own Son for us on the Cross}  and  knowing too  that God foreknows the future, we  obeyed and  offered our son to Wu and his wife who were childless."

"A few days later both of us were arrested on groundless charges and I was sentenced to life in prison. When I finally managed to get out of jail in 1978 I  was informed  by the authorities that  Wu, his  entire family and my son  had been  killed in an earthquake in 1975." The family listened in stunned silence, little realising that the events of the evening were about to become even more dramatic.

They finally arrived at the crowded church. When brother Wang began to speak Duan got a terrible shock.  It was like hearing himself preaching.  Even the preacher's phrases were similar and the physical resemblance was uncanny. Duan stood up to see better. Wang noticed him standing and after a moment stopped  talking. There was a minute of silence as both men looked at each other over the heads of the congregation. Finally Duan began to apologise "I am sorry brother for interrupting your excellent message. You see I had a son who would be your age now, and if he had lived he would have looked and sounded just like you."  You could have heard a pin drop in the church.

Tears came to Wang's eyes when he then asked "Are you daddy Duan?" In front of a packed church, father and son were reunited after 42 years.  When everyone had calmed down Wang explained to his father and the congregation what had happened to him after he had been adopted by Wu.

He explained that Wu had been so impressed by Duan's act of faithful giving that he decided to explore the Christian faith for himself and eventually became a strong and committed Christian. Wu brought up Wang as a Christian and regularly said to him "I am not your real father. He is a great man of God. He gave you to me and I give you all my love and the encouragement to put God first, just like your real father did." All but Wang had died in the earthquake and as he grew in his depth of faith God used him as an inspirational Bible teacher to help others find Christ.

This heart-warming incident from the persecuted   Chinese church teaches us a valuable lesson. In 1st Samuel ch 2v30 God promises "Those who honour Me I will honour." Duan and his wife trusted that when God instructed them to give up their son to their enemy He had profound reasons for asking such a thing and would mightily bless such a sacrifice. As a result of their obedience God indeed "honoured" them by their enemy turning to Christ and then ultimately by their son becoming a Bible teacher through whom the Lord was able to encourage and support thousands of persecuted followers.

If on the other hand, Duan and his wife had refused to obey God the outcome would have been very different. Their arrest would have taken place just the same but this time the authorities would have taken their son away just as they feared.  Most probably the authorities would have made sure the child was raised as an atheist and thousands of people enduring persecution would have been deprived of a great spiritual leader.

When God commands us to do some particular thing, follow some particular path, or perhaps give up something or someone, let us make sure we faithfully obey, because truly God will ultimately bless and honour those who honour Him.

Getting guidance from God

Some years ago a married couple decided to hire a small plane.  The husband had been a pilot for thirteen years and was very skilled and experienced.  They flew off for a small town one hundred miles away to have a meal and then fly home.  At one point in the flight home the husband remarked that he felt a little faint.  The feeling passed, but then suddenly he collapsed in his seat, went completely white and died of a heart attack.

The wife did not have the slightest idea how to fly the plane.  She pressed the transmitter button on the microphone and cried out for help.  The radio was tuned into a frequency used by many pilots and so her frantic message was picked up by dozens of people.  Suddenly there were voices saying, “Follow a highway, fly towards the sun, turn on the landing light.”  Listening to this babble on the airwaves completely confused her – the messages were all contradictory! Which voice should she listen to?  After a few minutes a voice identified itself as an experienced flight instructor.  The instructor ordered her to listen to his voice  alone because he was trained for this kind of event and only by obeying him could he save her life.  Calmly and quietly the instructor taught her the basic rules of flying.  Finally with his guidance she landed the plane – she walked away from it completely unhurt.

This true story has a tremendous spiritual lesson to teach us.  People today know that society is in a mess and getting worse by the month. Moreover, if that wasn’t bad enough they can also see that the world is getting increasingly unstable.  They know that they are in a dangerous situation.  Added to that, perhaps their own personal life is in a mess, with relationship problems, financial worries, health troubles or whatever.  They cry out for help – but which religion should they try for help?  “Should I try Buddhism or Islam or some New Age idea?  Should I try crystals or spells?”  They hear all these religions or philosophies offering help – but their teachings are all so contradictory that they get confused; which one will work?

 Among all these offers of help is another Voice.  This Voice is unlike the rest because it says “I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” (John ch14v 6). It is a “still, small Voice” which can only be heard if one is really, really listening hard. The Voice continues by saying that it is different and unique from every other religion because He is a God of love who suffered for mankind in place of us having to suffer for our sins.  It is a message unlike anything taught in any other religion.  The person listening finds the message very attractive; it soothes and calms their soul, they like what they hear.  The Voice continues, “Taste and see” (Psalm 34 v8) i.e. “try Me out and you will see it’s all true.”  (What other religion invites people to check it out, like a car salesman inviting someone for a test drive in order to see for themselves?) 

The person listening is increasingly interested.  Other voices fade into the background.  They focus on this Voice alone.  “Now that I have got your attention”, the Voice continues “I can save you and get you out of the mess you’re in but you must do exactly as I say.”  “Yes! Yes!” says the listener, “just tell me what to do.”  The Voice then says “If you want out of this mess, you must put Me first in your heart before yourself.  Here are Ten Commandments.  Live by them and follow them in your thoughts and words and actions.  Love me with all your heart and soul and mind, and love your neighbour as yourself.  Do this and all will be well”. 

The listener falls silent and thinks to himself, “I don’t want to put God’s commandments first in my life; I want to put myself and my selfish interests first.  There must be some other way rather than change my selfish lifestyle.”  All of a sudden the sound of the Voice fades into the background of noise and confusion.  A babble of other voices is heard once again. 

The Voice was rejected solely because it called for a personal change of heart which the listener was not prepared to do.  And so it is with many today.  They have rejected the still, small Voice of God in their heart, because it challenges them and calls for them to repent and change their lifestyle..  Ultimately this is the real reason for the mess society is in today.  And so is fulfilled the prophecy of Jesus  recorded in Matthew  ch 7v 13-14 “enter by the narrow gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to death, and there are so many who go in by it, because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life”.