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By Bishop Bro. Eddie C. Villanueva
By the grace of God and through His divine timing, my wife and I had the refreshing opportunity to visit the Jesus Is Lord Church Hong Kong (JIL-HK) a few days ago. We were with some leaders of the Philippines for Jesus Movement (PJM) who were invited by the brethren here to speak at their pre-Christmas worship services. Our hearts were expectant, knowing God was going to do a new and glorious thing in our war-weary hearts.
Quite simply, we were just so thankful to take a break from it all and be able to objectively petition God about certain pressing issues. Somehow, I was convinced that I could have a better prayer footing if I temporarily distanced myself from the perplexities brought about by the PDAF debacle starring Mrs. Janet Napoles, the senate verbal wrestlings featuring two equally brilliant senators (JPE and MDS), the mismanagement of Yolanda relief programs by some callous government agencies and agents, and most heart-breaking of all, the death of thousands of our unsuspecting compatriots in Tacloban and other parts of Visayas, most of whom were victims of lack of understanding about storm surges.
So there we were, a bunch of God-grateful visitors, just hoping to bring hope and inspiration to Filipinos in Hong Kong at this time of the year (Christmas) when most of them feel awfully homesick, all of us feeling so honored to be actually in Hong Kong soil not only to serve the Filipino community there and the Jesus Is Lord Church leaders and members, but also to pray for the Hong Kong government as it mulls over the idea of scrapping visa-free entry by Filipinos. But as the van that brought us from the airport to the hotel wound its way through thick traffic and I started seeing beloved faces of my Filipino kababayans, my heart swelled with compassion, remembering that they, too, were suffering.
Imagine yourself working away from the comfort of home and family, serving foreigners, loving and minding other people’s children while their own are 1) staying with relatives who themselves cannot take care of the children because they have kids of their own, or 2) living with the other parent who remains in the Philippines but whose heart has long since gone astray from family and therefore is also effectively absent from the lives of the children. How sad.
On the verge of being overwhelmed by a gripping sympathy for these beautiful, sacrificing Filipino workers, Jesus’ own words came to mind. In John 16:33, He Himself said, “I have told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world.” (The Living Bible Version)
Jesus said that He already overcame the world, and therefore, even those who are neck-deep in trouble may believe Jesus is able to bail them out just because He already secured the victory. If I, a mere human, could have so much love for these people, surely God the Father feels more for them than I do. And He is willing to give all that would be for the prosperity and for the good of His people. “Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” (Psalm 35:27 New King James Version)
The Apostle Paul encouraged those who were in Rome: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 New King James Version)
“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 New King James Version)
He will give us all things. “For as you know Him better, He will give you, through His great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: He even shares His own glory and His own goodness with us!” (2 Peter 1:3 The Living Bible Version)
This is His promise. This is His Word. He watches over His word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12). His Word is life. It gives life. Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63b New King James Version)
His Word says He has overcome the world, giving up His life that you might have yours. He died young that you might live long. He was cursed so that the curses of sin and death would no longer be upon you (Galatians 3:13). He came to destroy the one whose only aim is to kill you, steal from you, and destroy your life, family and destiny. Indeed, Jesus won.
“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8).
Now the best part of this story is that He has given us this victory. HIS victory.
“But thanks be to God who gives us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)