Asian Beacon

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Reflections…
Facing Life’s
Toughest Battle
In February 2013, MEE-LOK TENG learned that he was suffering from stage 4 cancer,
and the disease had spread. He was only 62 years of age. Conventional treatments had
failed, so he travelled from his home in Melbourne for a last-ditch experimental treatment
in Singapore. During these trying times, he penned his feelings, thoughts and hopes and
relayed them to his family and close relatives. Following are excerpts from his writings.
Someone commented
recently that I looked 10
years older now with all
the chemotherapy and
radiation. Chemotherapy
and radiotherapy are likened to terrorist
bombs, killing everyone within range,
whether good or bad. This is in stark
contrast to God’s grace: “He causes his sun
to rise on the evil and the good, and sends
rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
(Matthew 5:45)
But God’s salvation invitation is not
forever, and time is running out. I am
reminded of 2 Cor. 6:2, “For he says, “In the
time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of
salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time
of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.”
And again in Hebrews 4:7: “Today, if you hear
his voice, do not harden your hearts.”
I am learning to have a deeper
understanding of what it means by “our life
is not our own, our life is in God’s hand”.
We are chosen for His purpose and by
His will. We are the means by which the
Lord Jesus is going to do His work on this
earth. In Ephesians 1:11-12, it says “In him
we were also chosen, having been predestined
according to the plan of him who works out
everything in conformity with the purpose of
his will, in order that we, who were the first to
put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise
of his glory.”
Our life on this earth can be likened
to being tourists or temporary residents
in a country; our desire is to go home
to where we truly belong. As I waited in
the departure lounge to return home to
Melbourne, I am reminded of our final
days on this earth.
As Paul said, “For we know that if the
earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have
a building from God, an eternal house in
heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile
we groan, longing to be clothed instead with
our heavenly dwelling, because when we are
clothed, we will not be found naked. For while
we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened,
because we do not wish to be unclothed but to
be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,
so that what is mortal may be swallowed up
by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for
this very purpose is God, who has given us the
Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to
come.” (2 Corinthians 5:1-5)
A better future
Despite knowing this, we seem to be
more focused on this earthly life instead
of the heavenly realm; we set our sights
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