Eyes Upon Him (A Testimony of Michael J. C. Liu)

I was one of the pianists of NRETC (National Reformed Evangelical Teen Convention), Jakarta 2012. I was glad to be given the opportunity to attend to such a wonderful convention. It was that week when I first heard Ev. Michael JC Liu's testimony. Torn, I was reminded of multitudes of sins that I have done and how unworthy I am. Since that day, I returned back to God once again. At the end of Michael's testimony, he advised us to read Psalm 40 whenever I feel like falling and walking off the right path.

"When you have time, read Psalm 40", he said. "If you don't have time, then make time".
I give praise to the LORD for calling me back to the right path over and over again through His servants.Without further ado, below is Michael's testimony:

Good evening.
Whenever I am giving my testimony on stage, I think of myself as someone unworthy. If you are a Christian, you need to understand that it is a privilege for an individual to share a testimony for God. Who are we? We are totally depraved; it is by God’s grace and grace alone that we are saved. What makes us to be worthy to serve Lord God Almighty?

What makes us to be worthy to offer something to the Lord God? The whole earth is His, and everything is created by Him. It is Him who is worthy of all the praises. His name alone should be glorified.

When I was 14, my mother sent me to New York City. At that time, she joined a Christian church. Many new immigrants got their spiritual and practical needs met there, including my mother. She felt warmly welcomed in the church. When I was 15 years old, she was baptized, after which, she commanded me to attend her church. Before this, she was always very gentle; she had never used her authority as a mother. I thought I must listen to her first commandment, ever. As a result, I went to the church.

The Problem of Humility

Some people take pride in accomplishments and special abilities, and some in disability and absurd humility. It is clear to say that a man is arrogant when he claims that he is the smartest, the most beautiful or that he is god. But an extreme humility would also mean arrogance. But how could we label a person arrogant when he claims that he is unable to accomplish great things or that his talents do not surpass others' expectancy?

Paul, in 1 Corinthians 1:21-31 clearly states that God is our source of power and wisdom. No matter who we are, ministers or pastors, we preach to others in foolishness compared to His wisdom. However, despite our incompetence before    God, He is pleased that we, who believe, could be saved through the foolishness of what was preached. Even the most intelligent and wise man in existence is nothing compared to His wisdom. In the Ancient Greek Classification, power and wisdom are two separate ideas. But in gospel, power and wisdom are one.

"For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 

Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 

For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. 

Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 

God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. 

It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 

Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the LORD.” 

~1 Corinthians 1:21-31 (NIV)

THE SOURCE OF POWER & WISDOM

This is a reminder that in order to be humble, we ought to believe that God is the only source of power and wisdom, from whom our abilities and talents overflow from.
This is also a reminder to be humble—on the other extreme. To not undermine the grace and gifts that He has given to us.
When we claim that we are not eloquent enough to spread the gospel of God, to stand up for His name, or even to multiply the talents that He has given to us, we too are claiming that His gifts are vain. You are boasting about your life, because you keep on looking at your drawbacks and faults.

Murdering Dreams for Love

Can't you see by now that your sacrifice has brought you to the most extraordinary places? And who knows what would come tomorrow or the day after. You hear it all the time, the voice coming from nowhere. You often cover up your ears so that the melodies stop ringing. But they are the very melodies that would possibly bring you to other places. Have you not realized that yet?
You've been walking not on your dreams, but on the dreams of others.

But you would be lying if you stop there, don't you think? Your greatest dream is to bring joy to the people you love. Love does not give a single care about whether or not you have been hurt in the past, love is courageous, love endures long, and above all, love sacrifices.
And beyond your sacrifice, you have seen signs of your other smaller dreams. They slowly build up higher and higher until they become too obvious to be abandoned. This is something we call grace, a mere privilege, something you should never experience a taste of it. You ought to keep on reminding yourself that the true meaning of sacrifice is to bear the pain for bringing joy to your loved ones.

Further up, this dream continues to rise, until you could no longer see what's ahead of you. You thought it was there to tempt you, to barricade you from reaching your ultimate dream. But I'm afraid you thought wrong. It was there to stay. It was meant to be.
Ever since you laid down your dreams for love, you have been receiving the gifts of love, hope and grace. And with these, came along your tiny dream puzzle pieces. And without you knowing it, you have already achieved your dreams and even more. This means also, something you would never thought of dreaming of.

In "murdering" yourself for others, you would at last find out who you really are:

A beautiful being of love and devotion.

"Whoever finds their life will lose it, 

And whoever loses their life for my sake will find it." 

- Matthew 10:39

Keep On living,

Alice