Been a while since I've actually written a descriptive post, but it shall be about church camp. Truly blessed to attend it. Only two Fridays ago I wasn't even sure if I would attend this. I was putting it on hold because I didn't feel comfortable going for a church camp because I'd be quite alone and out of place with mostly older folks whose children are older than me (in their thirties) or younger children who are in primary and secondary school. Furthermore, the only few people who were close to my age were attending the camp with their family so I was essentially left alone on an age island of almost 10 years both sides. Nonetheless, the experience of my first church camp ever was a good one and I felt it was really good to attend it.

Transport was at church at Upper Bukit Timah Rd. I didn't really know anyone there, but I guess it turned out quite well when I talked to the aunties in their 60s. Somehow I could keep the conversations going but of course as their children are already older than me, sometimes you won't feel totally comfortable. Since the theme of the church camp was "Jesus is the Joy of Living", it was focused on Jesus.

I had the opportunity to swim at the swimming pool at the hotel. I think it was the first time in about 4 years since I've actually swam, perhaps even more. Swimming 10 metres made me tired. But I managed to swim about 25 metres eventually. Spent almost 2 hours at the pool and talking to this Elder, who pretty much became my good friend towards the end of the camp. It is exciting to know how someone who is nearly seventy and has two daughters who are in their thirties would be able to talk to me and chat about everything under the sun for 2 hours. Well, but of course, the main point of the church camp, besides important fellowship time is the messages, some of which got me thinking and made me understand things that much better.

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Jesus is Creator: Proverbs 8:22-31

This sermon explains the origin of biblical joy. In Proverbs 8, Wisdom refers to the Son, and Proverbs 8:22-31 explains that both God the Father and God the Son have existed before time and space. 8:30 explains the true, ultimate joy that is within the perfect relationship between the Father and the Son. We see that Jesus is the master worksman and architect of the universe, which He created through the Father. This bring us to the thought that Jesus being the creator of everything that we know, had to humble Himself and come down to die for his creation in order to save them. Just looking at this gives a us a crazy perspective: The omnipotent creator lowering Himself under men to save them. What an asymmetry! Yet the Lord saved us because He loves us. Proverbs 8:31 then explains Jesus' infinite love with the Father, and that is is passed on to us "my delights are with the sons of men". How it must have broken His heart that this infinite joy and love He has for us would be betrayed by sin. All the pain of our romantic loves are nothing compared to His pain. And it also shows how we deserve the joy as well. We are special creatures made by God, able to appreciate aesthetics, the beauty of the world, the grace of a galloping hose, of morning dew on a flower, of the bright orange rays of the setting sun, of art, of the symmetry of creation as revealed in physics and mathematics. All these are given to us by God for us and only us (animals can't appreciate them like we do) to enjoy.

Jesus is Sustainer: Hebrews 1:1-3

The second sermon showed me that Jesus sustains us. God breathed life into two particular things in this world: the Word, and Man. Hebrews 1:3 shows that Jesus upholdeth "all things by the Word of His power". Uphold here was particularly interesting, as in Greek it refers to the meaning "to carry or to bear" in the continuous tense. Meaning that there is a persistence to it, meaning Jesus is the only one who sustains us and will continue to sustain us for eternity, just by the Word of His power. It also places emphasis and importance on the Bible as it shows us that the Bible has power! So what to do? Should we not then focus on Jesus who is the sole sustainer of our very existence? And await the day we get restored to the image of God, the Edenic state where we have direct communion and delight with God, ruling with the character of God. This made me think once again, that Jesus loves me even more than my deepest love for K, and my deepest love for my family. Imagine the pain of separation between Jesus and me, won't it be so much so much more than what I am experiencing? Multiply this pain by the whole human race, billions of people around the world, from times bygone. It made me think, if some people were not meant to be saved, Jesus would experience so much pain in not saving them, and yet it is righteous justice that we all are condemned, for all have sinned, and deserve nothing but death. Jesus knows and loves us so intimately still, and that is so amazing it is hard to even begin to comprehend.

Jesus is Saviour: Luke 15:1-10

Have you ever lost something and found it again? The resulting feeling is joy! A joy of reconciliation with that thing. The same goes for Jesus. He wants to reconcile with us, yet with our vile and depraved sin nature, we want to be independent and apart from Him. Jesus wants to restore the lost connection between Man and God, as Jesus is like the vines, and we the branches on the vine. Without the vine, we will never survive. The three parables in Luke 15 show us that reconciliation is proactive, and that the finder is actively doing something to find the lost object, just like how Jesus left his perfect communion with the Father to find us and save us. When Jesus took on all the sin of the world as He hung on the cross, the separation between Father and Son must have been so far apart, a separation from the blissful, perfect, divine connection between them that is the source of biblical joy was torn asunder, what a magnitude of pain! However, yet again, because Jesus is seeking us, the moment we repent is the triggering point of joy, where angels celebrate repentance and reconciliation. We are indeed blessed with the Assurance of Salvation. Again, I was faced with a thought that comforted me. The three parables taught that in searching for something that is lost, we must be proactive, diligent, and patient. So then, looking at myself. I can and I have felt the pain and sadness of separation from K, from a mere 9 months of close relationship, and far from a perfect one. Yet at this point, I am easily able to imagine the bliss that I would experience if I am reunited with her. Yet picture this, the perfect relationship between Heavenly Father and Son, something so perfect and divine. And picturing Jesus' and mine own relationship. How can I say my pain is great then? Am I not being a hypocrite when I wonder why K won't think otherwise when I myself won't think otherwise in returning to Jesus? I should seek the Lord with all my heart first, and be patient, diligent and proactive.

Jesus is Intercessor: Hebrews 7:25

Jesus is first our Saviour, then our Intercessor. After He had risen again and returned and sitteth on the right hand of the throne of God, He is mediating for us using His perfect sacrifice for our sins. And this nature of intercessions is a continuous one, since Jesus is eternal and infinite, He will continue to mediate for our sins forever. Jesus' grace is sufficient for us, we have a great high priest in Him (Hebrews 4:14-15) who knows ALL our worries and will help us overcome all our problems. This is the Assurance of Grace, that we would always find help, grace, mercy in times of need when we turn to Him and rely on Him. It is likened to a man pouring water over a fireplace, yet the fire never extinguishes because Jesus is at the back of the fireplace (hidden) adding oil in order to sustain us.

Jesus is Rewarder: Revelation 22:12-13

Our rewards in the end are many. A glorified body, no sin, doesn't get weaker, restored to the image of God. Our christian faith should really be based on this: Faith = Salvation + Works (for the glory of God) and not Faith + Works = Salvation. Because there is no other way to God other than through Faith in Jesus. It is the faith that saves us and compels us to give glory to God in our daily lives automatically, and it should be this way as we live on Earth. The amazing thing about eternity with an eternal God is that everyday He will show us something new. Jesus is infinite, therefore His creativity knows no bounds. Every day we will be treated to something new and amazing. How can Heaven be boring as argued by some people then? That's impossible.

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Amazing how a church camp has made me change my perspectives around, and encouraged me to focus my attention on the most important thing in life. Do I still worry? Yes I do, but I am assured and comforted knowing that Jesus knows my pain full well, and He will comfort and carry me through this pain because He loves me. || posted by Kuan Hui