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At our recent Jubilee National Day celebrations, Singaporeans, once again, pledged their allegiance to our one little Nation. But there was a time when many doubted if this little red dot could survive as a Nation. However, the Lord blessed us with our Pioneer Generation, led ably by our founding Prime Minister, the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew. It took great courage, hard work and stamina to build Singapore to what it is today. Singaporeans today must continue to be courageous and stand up for Singapore, safeguard and build on this strong legacy and foundation left us by our forefathers. Singapore is our home!
Many are familiar with the story of our nation’s journey from the early days of independence to becoming a First World country. But we Christians have a more compelling story. Our Bible teaches us that it all began with the Creation of all things. God made man and woman in His image and gave them dominion over all the fish of the sea, birds of the air and every living creature on land (Genesis 1:28). Unfortunately, shortly after, Sin entered our world when Adam sinned by disobeying God and this interrupted and destroyed this perfect picture. Sin took away the glory that God had bestowed on mankind and replaced it with absolute death – physical, spiritual and eternal! Mankind would have perished but for the mercy and grace of God.
“But God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Through the supreme sacrifice of Jesus, the Son of God, on the cross, we have received the gift of eternal life, godly parentage and divine inheritance (Romans 8:1417). Therefore, as children of God, we look to and follow the example of Jesus, the Son of God. He completed the task, when He was on earth, of revealing God to His disciples (John 17:6) and has called all of us to do the same in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). It is not easy to follow Jesus, and so, the Apostle Paul reminds Timothy of the power of the Holy Spirit in his life (2 Timothy 1:6- 8). We thank and praise God that this same Holy Spirit indwells in each one of us as well (1 Corinthians 3:16). He gives us the power to follow Jesus and to carry out the Great Commission.
“For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord” (2 Timothy 1:6- 8).
