It was Monday morning (last week-April 18), about 6 AM. There was no water supply in my new place so I decided not to go to work (summer job). I planned to get up late since I won't be reporting for work but that had been spoiled by some noise created by the neighborhood. I was really frustrated and it somewhat ruined my day… I got up, folded my blanket and went down to the ground floor. I joined my dorm mates in the porch. They were looking at something down the street and as I saw their expressions and heard their comments, I realized that something was not going well. I looked down and I was really astonished. A man lying on the street with hands and feet tied!!! That was quite alarming!!! I stayed in the porch trying to figure out what was wrong…
Around the man were some other men (teenagers, some old and some more are fathers of households). I was shocked and a bit frightened when a teenager approached the man and kicked him on his face, then another one followed and hit him on the same part. I was hurt as if I were the one lying there, receiving all the blows and kicks. Some women joined and threw insulting words at the man’s face… Then an old man (I think, aging 50-55) with a sack full of clay approached and raised the sack higher then brought it down to the man’s face. I can’t help it anymore, my tear flowed down and I felt so useless. I was just standing there, doing nothing but watched them. I wanted to call the police but I do not know what numbers to dial. I want to shout “STOP” but fear defeated me…
Do you know why they did that to that helpless man? It was all because of a flat iron that he was trying to steal from one of our neighbors. I was really surprised when I knew that from one of my dorm mates. At some point, it is certain that the man had a mistake, however does that justify all that they had done… for me, not at all… They could have brought him to the police station or the barangay hall, right?
Right now, I am still reflecting how mean people can get, like giving more importance to possessions over lives and dignity of their fellows... so heartbreaking... sometimes, i ask, do man really has innate goodness? if so, why are there situations like this? what do you think???
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Friday, April 15, 2005
HOW IMPORTANT IS NOTHING!!!
This story is about nothing — nothing at all. That's what you brought into the world with you when you were born. Just nothing ... zero.
There was a man in Italy who added a great deal of money to his first zero, and he became a rich man with a lot of zeros after the number one. He had an expensive car and much more. He also had in his car one little New Testament which he had stuffed out of sight in his glove compartment, because he didn't know what to do with it.
Think of that! The eternal Word of God, showing the way to everlasting joy with the answer to all the sins and sorrows of life and death ... and he didn't know what to do with it! He knew how to handle money and how to make more. He knew how to get a beautiful house and how to meet important people, but he didn't know God's simple way of salvation. How poor can a rich man be?
Then came the car accident. The ambulance was called, and there was nothing he could do but wait. His injuries were not severe, but he knew very well that he could have been killed. His hand reached for the ownership papers of his car, and his fingers came up with that little New Testament. For the first time, he opened it and read that verse about "nothing." It was 1 Timothy 6:7. "We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."
"I felt as if I had been struck by lightning!" he said later. He realized that if he had been killed, all his possessions would be reduced to the original zero. Nothing would be left for eternity. Not a single penny of all his riches would be his the moment after his death.
But after death there is something that would still be his. His sins! These you cannot get rid of after death. They must be gotten rid of before death or they are yours forever, through the endless ages of eternity. Will you please, at this moment, picture this awful truth — standing before God in your sins!
However, the awful debt of my sins has been paid by the One who loves me and died for me on Calvary. His precious blood cleanses from all sin now, and this cleansing is forever. After I'm gone, everything I own will also be left behind for someone else. But, Jesus is mine forever. I cannot lose Him because He cannot lose me. When God looks at me He sees Jesus, now and forever.
The rich man in the car accident began to read the Bible earnestly, and he soon accepted the Lord Jesus as his Saviour and shortly afterwards was baptized. Will you also receive this loving Saviour as your own? "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation"
(2 Corinthians 6:2).
There was a man in Italy who added a great deal of money to his first zero, and he became a rich man with a lot of zeros after the number one. He had an expensive car and much more. He also had in his car one little New Testament which he had stuffed out of sight in his glove compartment, because he didn't know what to do with it.
Think of that! The eternal Word of God, showing the way to everlasting joy with the answer to all the sins and sorrows of life and death ... and he didn't know what to do with it! He knew how to handle money and how to make more. He knew how to get a beautiful house and how to meet important people, but he didn't know God's simple way of salvation. How poor can a rich man be?
Then came the car accident. The ambulance was called, and there was nothing he could do but wait. His injuries were not severe, but he knew very well that he could have been killed. His hand reached for the ownership papers of his car, and his fingers came up with that little New Testament. For the first time, he opened it and read that verse about "nothing." It was 1 Timothy 6:7. "We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."
"I felt as if I had been struck by lightning!" he said later. He realized that if he had been killed, all his possessions would be reduced to the original zero. Nothing would be left for eternity. Not a single penny of all his riches would be his the moment after his death.
But after death there is something that would still be his. His sins! These you cannot get rid of after death. They must be gotten rid of before death or they are yours forever, through the endless ages of eternity. Will you please, at this moment, picture this awful truth — standing before God in your sins!
However, the awful debt of my sins has been paid by the One who loves me and died for me on Calvary. His precious blood cleanses from all sin now, and this cleansing is forever. After I'm gone, everything I own will also be left behind for someone else. But, Jesus is mine forever. I cannot lose Him because He cannot lose me. When God looks at me He sees Jesus, now and forever.
The rich man in the car accident began to read the Bible earnestly, and he soon accepted the Lord Jesus as his Saviour and shortly afterwards was baptized. Will you also receive this loving Saviour as your own? "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation"
(2 Corinthians 6:2).
