How was your summer? In spite of the very hot and stormy summer, everyone could overcome it in God’s grace and love. Praise the Lord!

Have you been in a maze? We know it has only one way out. It is very confusing because all directions look the same. We probably are able to find the way out only through trials and errors. If the maze is bigger, we may have to go through many more struggles to get out.

Our life is somewhat similar to a huge and much more complicated maze. The Bible tells us that we all will face God’s judgment after the exit of this maze-like life, “And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment…” (Hebrews 9:27) That is very scary. Then, what shall we do?

That means we must prepare for eternity in this world. That is why God sent Jesus Christ so that we can have eternal salvation through Him. Even so, people don’t care about eternal life. Instead, they are putting the most attention on success and earthly pleasure. They just are content with the fame and wealth in this world. No interests in the Lord.

We remember the parable of a rich man. When he had a plentiful harvest, he said, “I will build big barns and store all my grain and my goods. I have ample goods for many years. I will relax, eat, drink and be merry.” Then what did God said? “Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?”

Jesus reminds us not to be sold to this world because earthly success doesn’t count at the exit. Instead, we must glorify God with our life, “… for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:20) That requires us to live a Holy Spirit-filled life, which means our life should show and produce the spiritual fruits as in Galatians, “love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law.”

This kind of Spirit-filled life gives us not only joy and peace in this world but also great rewards at the exit. The reward is not by the lottery but through our sincere heart and life in Christ. For those who live a Spirit-filled life, the world is not worthy (Hebrews 11:38). In other words, this world cannot understand the Spirit-filled Christians because this world doesn’t know Christ and cannot imagine the eternal Kingdom.

It is also time for our students to return to schools. I pray that all our children can have confidence in Christ and have another fruitful year by walking with the Lord. Please remember our Lord’s promise, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” You are protected by His power in Christ. Praise the Lord!

In Christ,
-Pastor David C.