God is good all the time

God is good all the time

FGB Jaya One/ 30/3/12/ Brother Michael Chieng,

This Friday, we were privileged to have brother Michael Chieng, a successful businessman and former FGB group coordinator in central region share his testimony with us:-

Quiet time with the Lord is very important. I make it a point to have long quiet times, starting from 6-6.30 in the morning and I only leave for work after 9. Last night, I asked the Lord what I should share here but received no indication. This morning I asked again and I felt the Lord say “just speak”.

From a young age, I went to school at ACS, a Methodist Christian school, but after graduation, I went back to the world. I was young, ambitious and wanted to be rich. Early on, I plotted the steps I would have to take to be a millionaire, despite being from an average family. At age 25, I achieved my dream of earning my first million, driving around in a Mercedes when Nasi Lemak was still ten sen per pack. At age 30, I had already made enough money to retire and money no longer had meaning for me. Since there was no more challenge in that area, I began to seek spiritual life. I tried Kuan Yin, Yoga, Chi Kong, Chakra, Kung Fu and Taoism. I was even the chairman of a temple for 10 years. But Jesus came to look for me. At that time, I went into very deep meditation from 5.30-7.30 in the mornings. One morning, Jesus came into me, and said “I am God”. If you understand meditation up to a high level, you will know when one surrounds himself in a deep mantra, no one can penetrate. However, when Jesus came in, I knew He was God and I said “I know you are God”. After that I still not return to the Lord yet until a few more incidents happened. In the last incident, I experienced our Lord Jesus sitting beside me, talking to me. The Bible says that if you sincerely seek God, He will be found of you. Even in the temple, I did not pray to idols, but I prayed to meet the God out there. When you come to Jesus Christ, you will know He is Master God, and He will guide you. He will always be with you.

Riches and honor come from heaven, from God. One brother asked me how he could have breakthrough. I told him he must walk closely with God and He will guide you. To be successful, you have to be at the right place at the right time. God is good, and He is good all the time. Some people say that God is only good sometimes, but the truth is that He is good all the time when you commit all things to him.

A few years ago, I saw a nice shopping complex and noticed nearby shophouses. I was too late for the launch, but began to claim open doors to purchase a shophouse in that area. Later, a friend called me to tell me of a new launch, and I was surprised to find out it was Phase 2 of the area I had prayed over earlier. Even better, it turned out that the sales manager knew me, and offered me an pre-launch discount. I invited family and friends but they did not want to invest. I decided to invest in 2 units, since I had the peace of the Lord. A short while later, a situation arose where my company needed cash flow to buy more equipment in view of expansion. The logical choice was to sell the properties. The price had risen from RM3.2M to RM3.55M which was a good gain already. I inquired of the Lord but did not receive any answer to my dismay. As you would have it, on the day I was due to sign the sales and purchase, I was doing my quiet time when I read Numbers 9. In that passage, some Israelites asked to join in the celebration of the Passover despite being ceremonially unclean. Moses went to inquire of the Lord and received an answer immediately. My spirit rose up within me to ask God,” If You could answer Moses so easily, why can’t You answer me easily?” Immediately, I received a word “Don’t sell”. I was so agitated as the agent and buyer and lawyers were all coming at 12.30pm. However, despite complaining a bit initially, I surrendered and told God “Your word is my command”. The lawyer refused to take my instructions and I even had to send in a black and white letter stating “abort the deal, return the money”. 3 years later, the shoplots are now worth RM6M.

At that time, I had already studied the life of Moses for 1 year, and had intended to start rereading the Bible from Joshua. However, as fate would have it, my reading fell to Numbers 9, and it made all the difference. After reviewing my financial situation again, I realized I did not need to sell as I had other unencumbered property I could use for financing. You need to be at the right place at the right time and depend on God to guide you.

Praise God that we have a Heavenly Father who is with us even when we face opposition. For the past 6-7 years, I faced a very tough court case. I had sued a government body, starting the legal process just as documents were about to be time-barred. It was very difficult for me. At times it was just me and my lawyer against a big government team. The judge also had previously worked as the legal assistant of a government body. In spite of all this, I knew God was with me as I was totally committed to the Lord. After many years, the time came for 12 days of open trial. I was jittery on the witness stand as both lawyers harassed me. The judge scolded me. All they wanted to hear was yes, no, or I don’t know. I kept remembering Psalm 118:8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in men. In Chinese the number 1188 (yat yat fat fat) is very auspicious, indicating being prosperous everyday. Psalm 118:8 also happens to be the verse in the centre of the whole Bible. Indeed, what a wonderful truth. Trust God, don’t trust men.

Psalm 118:6-7 is also very precious to me. It says “he LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies.” God is here to help me. I need not be afraid. I kept repeating these verses more than a hundred times through this trial, those 12 days.

I did struggle through this experience. There were so many documents that we needed a tray, and my lawyer expected me to know everything in it. I had to be prepared for any question the other lawyers might ask me in court. Psalm 118:19 says “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 118:19 We can give thanks because in God we are victorious. God is our helper in every way. He is our lawyer, our advocate, our provider. He is our everything. What can go wrong when God is with us? God loves us so much! How can He let us fail?

While preparing for the trial, there was a time last year when my lawyer showed me a certain document which had a lot of false allegations. He said we were likely to lose because of it. I became really down. At that time, we were studying the book of Isaiah for the whole year and Isaiah 54:1 spoke to me. It says “Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD.” The woman sings and praises God even though she is barren. Even though I was down, I realized I could still praise God. I took my guitar, and at the first strum, I heard the Lord say to me “Celebrate”. I protested “How can I celebrate in this situation?” But as I meditated I realized I could celebrate because God is for me. In celebration, I can rest in Him and not worry. In spite of circumstance, I realized I can celebrate, for God is giving me the victory.

After the court case was concluded, the judge declared that judgment would be made on 22^nd March, 2.30. I marked that date carefully down on my calendar several times. Then Datuk Tony Tiah invited me for a fully-paid holiday in Singapore from 21^st to 23^rd March. His secretary started calling me every 2 hours to persuade me to go. I initially said it was impossible because of the importance of this judgment to me. Nevertheless after a few persistent calls, I decided to ask God, and He reminded me “Celebrate”. I called my lawyer and found out I did not actually have to go as the judgment had already been made and nothing could change that. So I asked my wife to go and bring the children as a learning experience. Incidentally, she was also a director of that company which I had put into dormancy because of this court case. So she was able to make a good representative as another director of the company. On the day, at 2pm, I found myself back in the hotel, and began to pray in tongues pending the decision. At 3pm, I received a SMS from my wife saying “You won”. My hand was trembling and I could not even reply. I cried for a good 5-10 minutes with tears of joy. I had endured so many years of frustration but it was now over. God is good all the time, all the time.