Green pastures

People are leaving this country, even more so now than before it seems. Young people who go abroad to study will, if they have a chance, usually choose to stay and work in that foreign land. Professionals, business people, the wealthy, those able to, will fly for a better quality life, for the sake of their children's education or future, for a nice retirement home.

We know people who have gone, people who are going, and people who are calling us to go, go, go, before it's too late.

Who, in their right mind, would want to stay in this hot, dirty, messy place with goons for police and politicians, and civil servants? The whole country seems to be unraveling before our eyes, and things seem to be getting from bad to worse daily. It's not just the quality of life, it's the insecurity, hardships and perils of just living here.

So many are going Down Under, but we know one lady who's left there and come here and to poor hot, messy Asian countries to serve. Yes, it was lovely in Melbourne, Perth, with beautiful weather and parks, and order and courtesy in society (people queuing up for buses and trains which run on time). Yes, it would be lovely to stay there and enjoy life, but then life for this one is not the pursuit of happiness or enjoyment as most see it. Life is to serve and give and die for others most in need.

So what am I here for? I was born in this country and I grew up here. In this country, in my youth, O joy inexpressible, I found God (or, to be more accurate, He found me) and came to know Him as my Loving Eternal Heavenly Father. Since then, He has been with me and has been leading me all the way: to study in the local university, to work, to marriage and motherhood, to service in the local church and community. It doesn't matter where I am physically now as long as He is there with me. I would not exchange this life with and in Him for a life of luxury and comfort and greener pastures anywhere without Him.

As Paul said to the Athenians in Acts 17:²⁴"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. ²⁵And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. ²⁶From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. ²⁷God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ²⁸'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

So here I am in Malaysia where God has put me for the time being. He has a purpose for me here: may His purpose be fulfilled to the glory of His name. I know that my real home is not here or in any other country on this earth: it is in Heaven with Him, my Everlasting Father and Gracious Saviour and Lord and the Eternal Spirit.

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

³ he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

⁴ Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

⁶ Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Psalm 23