Nothing? Resurrection is abundant!
Translated by Lin Yu
From glory to abjection
Have you ever been in a helpless situation? I remember that time my car broke down and I had no money to repair it. I told a friendly garage nearby how much money I had saved and hoped to buy a used car from them. The answer I got was, save two or three times more money and come back. My job requires a car; I can't work without a car; without a job, I can't change my car. Thankfully, my family helped me at this time.
What would happen if there was no one to help you?
Think of those who fled their home countries for safety and were forced to be separated from their families, not knowing when they would be reunited. This is what I saw during my recent trip to Central Asia. People live in strange places and cannot see the way forward. Many people fled danger and hardship with nothing. Most cannot work legally; some do not carry any documents. They all hope for a better future.
A young man I met was once a brilliant athlete and won international competitions; now he was doing menial work on a construction site, receiving meager pay, bruised toes, and cracked hands. I also met an artist who used to be a well-known artist in his hometown, but now drives a taxi to make ends meet. Some people go from a festive wedding reception surrounded by thousands of people to living alone in a new country.
Life is hard; but not everyone is equally miserable.
For some of us - we can order takeout when we want; swipe our card and get what we want; and we can sleep peacefully at home at night. Some families are fleeing corrupt governments and broken communities in order to live in comfort, safety, and relative justice. The actions they take to seek a better life are understandable.
But think about the kingdom of God. It’s actually an upside-down kingdom—beautiful yet terrifying; the first must be last and the last must be first; the king becomes the servant; and God’s power is made perfect in weakness.
The kingdom of God is a strange kingdom.
From self-sufficiency to trust
When I committed to going to Central Asia, I was scared. It's embarrassing to say, but I was really afraid that the plane would crash in mid-flight, or that I would be kidnapped, or that something might happen that would prevent me from returning to my original "safe" local home and continuing to do what I was called to do.
Why go to a place where you can’t use your gifts? Not much English was spoken there, and I couldn't get around on my own. Wouldn't it not only be of no help, but might even be a disservice?
I can understand these thoughts simply from my perspective on the ground.
When I was a teenager, I was a passionate Christian who preached the gospel to my friends and fearlessly entrusted my future to God. Once upon a time, I started to make more money and live more comfortably; as I became richer and richer, my grip on the world became tighter and tighter. When you are young, you have nothing to fear; as you grow older and become more "wisdom," you replace your trust in God with earthly wisdom, letting efficiency and ability dominate His calling.
My experiences while traveling remind me that God is at work and it is our joy to be a part of it. My fear of kidnapping and persecution melted away at the kindness of strangers and the generosity of my hosts. My fear of dying in a plane crash was replaced by the realization that there was more to life than just surviving. My fear of not being able to help was lifted in the presence of God’s wonderful and awesome work.
Some of the people I meet come to know Christ, not through missionaries or strategic plans. They had direct contact with Jesus in very unusual dreams and miracles. God does not need us, but He still invites us to come to Him as children, as children who trust Him and listen and follow His voice.
When I think of Jesus, what comes to my mind is that the almighty and omniscient Lord obeyed the Heavenly Father and became a human being. He was born in the form of a baby into a poor family. Likewise, God calls us to step out of our “power and fullness,” rely on Him, and lay down our lives for friends and foes alike.
This trip to Central Asia taught me: It’s not about becoming more efficient and self-sufficient, it’s about trusting and obeying.
The kingdom of God does not belong to the self-sufficient, self-confident people; the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like children. The world pushes us to grow; God takes us to die to ourselves, live for Him, and find true resurrection and abundant life.
Jonathan Ho), editor-in-chief of the English section of this journal. Currently working in the social services department, working mainly with adults with developmental delays. He got married in 2019 and enjoys growing more intimately in the Lord with his wife. Although he is still "under construction" by God and often makes mistakes, he slowly learns to be more like Jesus from God's grace and example of loving his neighbor.