I have just returned from China. Having been away for more than three months, I miss the church and everyone very much.
This is my third sabbatical year at ECC, and the Elder Board granted me a three-month break from work. Before I decided on what I should do with the time, I received the news that my father suffered a stroke and was admitted to the hospital. Returning to China immediately, I stayed by his side in the hospital for two and a half months before he finally rested in the Lord. I am grateful to all the brothers and sisters for their words of comfort and encouragement during this time, knowing many people were praying for my dad and my family. God listened to everyone’s prayers, and He gave me time to be with my father before receiving him to our heavenly home. Thank the Lord! During this time, I experienced the Lord’s grace, and I also had plenty of time to think about life, suffering, and the meaning of life.
When a person is very old or seriously ill, there is the possibility that the condition cannot be reversed, and s/he would endure pain for all his/her remaining days. At times like this, the question is whether or not s/he should choose to live on. The sovereignty of our lives is in the hands of the Lord, and we should submit to His will, even facing pain. When my children were little, I sent them out to play soccer. Once, when a child was injured and he was screaming in pain, his father helped him up and said to him, “Son, falling and getting hurt are part of the game of soccer.” Suffering and death are also a part of life. It is a gift from God, and we must accept it with joy.
Viktor Frankl, a survivor of Auschwitz, wrote in his book “Man’s Search for Meaning” that the value of life lies in its meaning, and meaning lies in:
1. The importance of the work one does,
2. Love in the service of others, and
3. Courage in the face of suffering.
In fact, as gifts from God to us, suffering and death have deep and profound meanings in life. The Apostle Paul wrote: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” (2Timothy 4:7) When we have done what the Lord wants us to do, then we will understand the true meaning and mystery of life. (Translation by Bob Tang)