Shortly after I started on my sabbatical leave, the government implemented a circuit breaker because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Just before that I was exercising quite vigorously everyday clocking about seven to nine kilometres each day. With the circuit breaker, everybody must wear a mask. To be sure I was quite irritated with that idea. How am I going to continue my vigorously workouts with the mask? (Spoiler: One of my personal sabbatical goals was lose six kilograms and bring “six friends” back.)

An idea struck me as I sat there moping. Athletes had always wore masks to train to simulate high attitude’s thin atmosphere. That made the training a lot more difficult. Immediately I decided that I cannot change the situation, but I can change myself. I continued my everyday workout with a re-usable mask on. Yes, it was more difficult, but it paid off. I reached my goals in a shorter time and felt much better that I could do it.

Our Christian life will need us to persevere on in spite of all difficulties to live a good life. Of course, it is much easier to listen to some “famous” preachers and believe that we need not do so. Regardless of how much money you ‘donated’ to them, you will not go to heaven on their teachings. It is more likely that you will end up in hell. Living a life that glorifies God in an era that is evil and against God is very difficult. Just staying away from the mobile phone for slightly more than an hour to worship God collectively is already very difficult for many; and you want to talk about real sacrifice?

There are many who read the bible and find some part of it difficult to follow. Credit to some, they soldiered on. There are others who will just ignore them and live a truncated gospel. Still others will try to explain away or even change the meaning totally just to feel that they are living the full gospel (think prosperity gospel, or cheap grace).

Brothers and sisters, persevere on and fight the good fight till the end. There is no easy way in this era, only holding on to the truth of Scripture.

God bless,
In Christ’s service,

Barry Leong

当我开始我的安息年假期不久，政府就因为2019年的冠状病毒疫情而实行了阻断措施。在这之前，我每天都勤力作运动，一天能建走七到九公里。因为阻断措施，每个人都一定要戴上口罩，其实我对这个要求是感到相当烦躁的。我戴上口罩又怎么能继续勤力作锻炼呢？（泄密警告：我其中一个安息年的个人目标是要减去六公斤并寻回  “六个朋友”）。

在我感觉郁闷的时候，一个念头敲击了我。运动员需要经常戴着口罩，在高空气压下接受稀薄氛围的模拟训练。这就增加了训练的难度。我立刻就决定，我虽然不能改变处境，但是我可以改变自己。我每天戴着可重复使用的口罩继续锻炼。是的，这愈发困难，但是值得了。我在更短的时间内达到了目标，也为自己能作到而感觉良好。

我们基督徒的生活需要我们在所有的困难之外，仍坚持到底活出美好的生命。当然，去听一些“著名”的讲员说话，然后相信我们不需要这么作是比较简单的。不管你“捐赠”了多少钱给他们，你将不会靠他们的教导上天堂。很可能，你最终到了地狱。要在一个邪恶且与上帝对抗的世代活出荣耀上帝的生命非常艰难的。对许多人来说，要稍微摆脱手机超过一个小时，以便能集体的敬拜上帝已经是非常困难了；而你还想谈论真正的牺牲吗？

有很多人查阅圣经却发现其中有些部分难以遵从。归功给那些坚持争战的人。有的人会无视这些且活出断章取义的福音。也有一些是尝试辩驳或完全改变原意，好让自己以为是活出全备的福音（例如富裕福音，或廉价恩典）。

弟兄姐妹，坚持到底，至死打一场美好的仗。这个世代没有捷径，只有把握圣经的真理。

上帝赐福，
主里同工的

Barry Leong