今天是BSF本學年的全體同學大分享(Grand Sharing),雖然如以往有準備,卻一直沒有上台的感動,想想或許是主耶穌想讓我多聽聽祂在其他同學的見證,結果真的聽到神藉著今年大家讀啟示錄,安慰、鼓勵、改變了好多同學以及她們的家人。我又何嘗不是其中一個?
Today is the Grand Sharing for this year's study of the Book of Revelation. Even though I do prepare as usual, I don't feel the Holy Spirit to prompt me to share on the stage, thinking maybe God wants me to listen to others' sharing more. Indeed, God has comforted, encouraged and renewed so many classmates and their family. - I'm certainly one of them.
坦白說,雖然信主多年,啟示錄印象中只讀過一次,想到裡面好多難懂的預言和嚇人的最後審判,就忍不住怕也拒而遠之,反正那些都離我還很遙遠,我先把現在顧好比較重要。
To be honest, I used to be scared and resistant to read the Book of Revelation due to the difficult prophecy and horrifying judgement which I thought they are still far far away from me.
只是都報名要讀了,去年暑假就開始準備,每天讀三章,連續讀了三遍,以前的排斥不翼而飛,反倒期待BSF會用怎麼樣的方式帶著我們來研讀。很感謝主一開始在1章3節就應許:念這書上預言的和那些聽見又遵守其中所記載的,都是有福的,...。接著讀給七教會的書信,原本一直以為是耶穌基督寫給"教會"的信息,跟我"個人"沒關係,殊不知那字字句的安慰、鼓勵、斥責,完全可以套用在不同情況的我;以前不想面對的災難和審判的預言,讓我感受到的是主一次次慈愛地呼喚我要趕快悔改轉向祂,因為祂從來都不願有一人沉淪,乃願人人都悔改(彼後3:9);龍、獸、巴比倫不再虛幻遙遠,而是寫實地化身在日常生活當中的種種人事物。過去我在意的是在世生活過得快樂和順遂就好,現在我想努力追求那在新天新地裡的永生,在那裡神要擦去一切的眼淚,不再有死亡,也不再有悲哀、哭號、疼痛(啟21:4)
To prepare for this study, I was advised to read it over and over again until the resistant feelings faded away. Thank God and Praise the Lord! Right at the beginning, I received His encouraging promise that "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it" (Revelation 1:3). Further, the letters to the seven churches seemed to speak to me in different conditions while I used to think they were related to the physical church only. The plagues and judgement are more loving and merciful warnings to me as "the Lord is not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). The dragon, the beast and the Babylon actually exist in various forms in my daily life. I was pursuing a happy and successful life in the world, but I’m now striving for the eternal life in the new heaven and new earth where God will wipe every tear and there will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4).
去年讀摩西生平的最後,申命記34章記載,耶和華在摩西死前,讓他登尼波山,上了毘斯迦山頂,一覽祂所應許以色列人的流奶與蜜之地,但卻不允許他過到那裡去。真的很難想像神竟如此愛我們,在啟示錄裡就把天家顯現給我們看,也歡迎口渴的人白白來喝生命泉的水。曾經祂說:我要住在以色列人中間,作他們的神(出29:45),如今祂的應許也包括我們,在那新天新地,神的帳幕在人間。祂要與人同住,他們要作祂的子民。神要親自與他們同在,作他們的神(啟21:3)。
I recalled in the end of last year’s study, Deuteronomy Ch34, the Lord showed Moses the promised land before he died but didn't allow him to cross over into it. I couldn’t imagine how much more God loves us to have shown our heavenly home in the Book of Revelation. He used to dwell among the Israelites," I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. (Exodus 29:45); now He extends the promise to dwell among us in the new heaven and new earth. God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God (Revelation 21:3).
我很感謝主耶穌20年前在我門外叩門,從我開門迎接祂進來與我同住那時起,祂就一直與我同在。回想過去的生命,自私和驕傲的本性從來都不配得到祂的恩典和憐憫;然而祂的愛與寬容從未止息,時時喚我回轉向祂。
I thank the Lord for knocking my door 20 years ago and has been with me ever since I welcomed Him to come in and dwell. I looking back to my life, my selfish and prideful nature would never deserve the grace and mercy from him. However, He never stops showing His love and patience to draw me back to Him.
盼望也為所有還在猶豫或不願開門的人(包括家人、朋友、同事)禱告,別再讓主在門外等候。
I pray for those who are hesitant or unwilling to open the door, including my family, friends and colleagues not to keep the Lord waiting any more.
也為我們每個聽見主聲音而開門的人禱告,願我們都能謙卑也勇敢地捨己,成為基督潔淨合用的器皿,預備為祂行各樣的善事,準備到那日親見主面!
I also pray for everyone of us that hears His voice and opens the door to humbly and bravely deny ourselves to be Christ's cleansed vessels, prepared to do every good work for Him and ready for the day to see Him face to face!
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讀完啟示錄,讓我在讀聖經其他書卷時,很容易地去發現神話語間的關連性,覺得與主更親、與主更近了。這時我才知道這是主耶穌一開始就應許的祝福,這般持續的喜樂和滿足,每每讀經就充滿我。哈 所以才剛讀完,我又開始重頭讀了... ^^...
今晚回家路上跟老師聊天,才知道老師也有一篇有關啟示錄的分享唷!