A doctor was down with COVID-19 and was resting at home. A friend sent get-well greetings to him during his isolation. An interesting statement in his reply was “You learn to appreciate your health when you are down with a sickness.” When I heard about this, I said doctors are just as human as anyone else. Most would have thought that they would appreciate health much more than others as they attend to sick people every day. Well, they take it for granted like most people; maybe more as they probably trust medicine more than others.

That aside, many do take the important things in life pretty much for granted. We assume our health, our safety, security, that the sky will not fall on their heads the next moment. The knowingly or unknowingly assumption is that it will not happen to us. The probability is one in a hundred million. That’s what they think. When it hits you, it is 100%.

So, let us treasure and appreciate all that is important to us: our relationships and families, health, country…..

Do not take them for granted for you know not what or when. Ukrainians probably thought that war will not happen. The US will help us. Yes, the US will help US, not us. The parents who sent their children to school one morning and then got the news that they were shot dead. Empty words will not help nor console anyone. They are but a mockery. We know not what or when. It is not will it happen but when it happens. Treasure what’s important, spend time with them.

Do not take our salvation for granted. Read the bible if you choose to believe in those prosperity gospel preachers. There is no such thing as “once saved always saved.” Follow the Lord according to His words, not the words of those who tickle your ears. It may seem tough, but it will save you much agony and pain. The day of reckoning will come, hopefully you will be prepared for that day.

Read your bible, Pray everyday, Trust the Lord, and Obey His words.

In Christ’s service,
Barry Leong

一名医生感染了新冠肺炎，正在家中休息，在他被隔离期间，一位朋友向他问候及祝他早日康复。他的回答中有一句相当回味的话：“当你生病时，你会学会珍惜自己的健康。”当我听到这个消息时，我说医生和其他人一样也是人。大多数人会认为他们比其他人更珍惜健康，因为他们每天照顾病人。和大多数人一样，他们认为这是理所当然的事，也许他们比任何人更相信药物与医学。

除此之外，很多人确实认为生活中重要的事情是理所当然的。我们假设我们的健康，我们的安全，保障，灾害不会在下一刻降临在他们的头上。有意或无心的假设是，它不会发生在我们身上，或然率是一亿分之一，这就是他们的想法。当它击中你时，它却是百分百的。

所以，让我们珍惜和欣赏所有对我们重要的事物：我们人际之间的关系和家庭，健康，国家…..

不要把它们视为理所当然，因为你不知道什么时候会发生什么事。乌克兰人可能认为战争不会发生，美国将帮助我们。是的，美国将帮助美国自己，而不是我们。有一天早上，父母把孩子送到学校，然后得知孩子被枪杀的消息。空洞苍白的话语不能帮助任何人，也不能安慰任何人。它们不过是一种嘲弄。我们不知道什么时候发生了什么事，不是它会发生，而是它将何时发生。珍惜宝贵的事物，多花时间和他们在一起。

不要以为我们的救赎是理所当然的。如果你选择相信那些成功福音的传道人，请阅读圣经。没有所谓的“一次得救，永远得救”。跟随主的话语，而不是那些让你耳朵发痒的话语。这可能看起来很难，但它将为你減轻很多痛苦和苦难。清算的日子将会到来，希望你会为那一天做好预备。
研读圣经，每天祷告，来信靠主，遵守祂的话语。

上帝赐福，
主里同工的，
Barry Leong