Even legends need a Saviour
It doesn’t matter whether you are screaming internally or literally.
At this point of my writing, Chester Bennington of Linkin Park had committed suicide about a week ago. I remembered how social media reacted with shock to the news. But he was so successful! But he was so popular! Death was no respector of who you are — it did not care about your fame, your wealth, or your massive success. The devil only comes to kill, steal and destroy. I think unfortunate circumstances like these wake us up to the urgent reality that it is a spiritual war we are fighting and that there are souls out there who need to be saved! To hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ! We are in the business of saving souls and we cannot ignore this mission, the greatest mission on earth and one which we are all called to.
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)
It was only in hindsight that people realized that Chester had been sounding out his alarm bells to the world, through interviews where he stated that it was scary to be alone with his own thoughts and how it was all a mess when he was inside his head. I believe we have to learn how to hear the silent cries of those around us, to get our spiritual radar out and start reaching out to people in need for the kingdom.
I remembered once when I saw one of my university batchmates in the office lobby. I was working in a bank at that time and he in a law firm. It was late at night. I remembered him asking how it was like working in a bank, and telling me that I should continue working in a bank and not a law firm if things were good there. We chatted a little in the lift and went our separate ways thereafter. I did not know why then, but I felt a strong prompting in me to continue to talk to him, but I did not. I rationalized that it was late at night and we were both tired. Any idle chat can wait until the next time we meet. Alas, there was no next time. Two weeks later, there was news that he committed suicide by jumping off a building. The only thing I had left was his shadow I saw as I walked up to my office building each morning. Oh God, I don’t want to let any soul pass me by like this again.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30–10:37 is a good reminder that we should always lend a helping hand or a listening ear to the people who need them. We should not pass them by leaving them half dead like the priest who happened to be going down the same road but passed on the other side.
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15)
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can
it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be
thrown out and trampled by men. (Matthew 5:13)
We are called to mourn with those who mourn and be the salt of the earth. Have we lost our saltiness? The world today does not need lukewarm christians but christians on fire for Christ and christians with a burden for lost souls. Do you have a burden for the lost souls? Ask God for that burden if you do not.
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But there are the hidden ones, the ones who are not wounded on the outside but on the inside. These are people who are wounded by life’s circumstances, by self-loathing, by distrust, by hurt, by an abusive background, by self-sabotaging thoughts… The list goes on. This is when we have to set up our spiritual radar and ask the holy spirit for guidance.
Holy spirit, is there someone in need who I can care for today? Who are the ones you place in my path? One day God is going to ask, hey Jerry, remember how I placed Anna in your path that Saturday night and you did not help her? One day we will all have to account to God.
This poem was inspired by a friend who was recently diagnosed with depression. He was a good friend of mine back in high school days, and he told me how everything was flat and grey and numb to him one night. After Chester Bennington, after my university batchmate, I believe one of the most important blessing we have in Christ is safety. He will keep us safe when we take refuge in him.
This poem is entitled “In safe hands” and for anyone who is suffering, I pray you come home safe tonight.
In safe hands
Take off the load my friend
because life hurls the strongest to the deepest end
But even broad shoulders were not meant to carry
These logs that make your smile weary
I know the mind can sometimes be a scary place
With thoughts that run faster than an arms race
But let us take courage in the pain
Pull out the sunshine in the rain
I imagine the colours grey and numb
Even the party’s now a humdrum
But with what little that may remain
Let us have faith that hope will shine again.
Today please breathe a little, and break dance
Because I know how tomorrow is another chance
But I hope you know that at each time of loss
You can empty it all at the foot of the cross.
At a command the angels will deploy
Anyone can trade their sorrow for joy
Open your heart to Jesus, He understands
I promise this time you will be in safe hands.
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