A Special Christmas Message

This Sunday, as we celebrated our Christmas Service, we were privileged at CDC to have brother Ooi Chin Aik share a special Christmas Message.

Christmas is a time of gifts, and brother Ooi began by sharing how the greatest gift he ever received was Jesus, when he was aged just 10. His second greatest gift, he proudly declared was his China-born wife, who sang a lovely song in Mandarin which explained the meaning of Christmas.

In today’s world, we live in very uncertain times. Most of us are fearful of what 2009 will bring with the bleak economic outlook and global climatic changes casting a shadow over the whole earth. In recent times, we have indeed seen terrible earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, and the like. In our own home, we saw the tragedy of the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide and also the heroism of a veterinary surgeon, a mother who risked her life and lost it because of her love for her son. God is love, and because He made us in His image, all of us have the capacity to love, to sacrifice one’s self for another, just like the mother did for her son.

Brother Ooi shared how he recently went on a mission trip to Beijing in spring time, where the weather is normally cool and pleasant. However, this April, it was incredibly cold. Moving up North to Han Ping, where it is normally always cold, it was amazingly as hot as Malaysia. Indeed, the world changes and food production is threatened, and millions are endangered. The basic problem of the world is the problem of humanity, who is literally developing itself out of existence. When we break God’s physical laws, we have to suffer physical consequences.

Each one is special, being made in God’s image and God gave to each one of us a soul. A soul is so precious that Jesus said “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world yet lose his soul?” Just like the mother went to save her child because of her love, God sent Jesus to save us because He is love.

The name Jesus was not given by men, but the angels declared it from Heaven on that Christmas starry night. Jesus means “He will save his people from their sins”. All of us are lost and without God, we have no reference point, no true purpose in life. Jesus said “I have come to seek and save the lost”. Christmas is about the seeking love of God, about God seeking His creation - us.

The gift of God’s Son Jesus Christ is the gift of eternal life, life that will live forever, ad abundant life, life that is joyful and fulfilling in every way. Jesus loves you. Some of us have fear for we are human, and many of us are anxious, but Jesus loves you. Jesus loves you and your family. God has given Jesus to you and for you. Jesus is the gift above all gifts, the blessing above all blessings.

In a garden party in a bug house, brother Ooi spoke to a couple who were anxious and worried. The husband had three children and was really afraid of losing his job. Brother Ooi encouraged them: God hears prayer. He understands. He knows what you are going through, and God is the God of grace. If we humble ourselves, God will give us grace. A lot of things in life come to us when we are prepare to humble ourselves before God. Though we are lost, God can help us. God says “Cast your cares upon me”.

Life is not about money. No matter the years of our life, God is there to receive us, and that is what matters. Halfway through a seafood dinner, brother Ooi received an urgent SMS requiring prayer for a man who had a tumor and his heartbeat was faltering. They all stopped eating and began to pray fervently for the man. Praise God, the man made it through, and even met them the next day. The doctors told the man that he had no hope but he believed, and is still alive today. God is not limited by the physical laws of science. God is a God of miracles. Nothing is too difficult for God! The birth of Jesus is a miracle, for the baby Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. God is able to wash away our sins. Though they are scarlet, we shall be white as snow.

The greatest demonstration of love is when Jesus died on the cross for the world. As a young boy at the age of eight, brother Ooi was fearful of death, for his best friend had suddenly died in a fire. But Jesus was born so that we never need to die. He said “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and he who lives and believes in me will never die”. At 10 years old, brother Ooi asked Jesus into his heart, and he felt a deep sense of peace. God loves me, and He loves you. In Jesus, we will receive eternal life, joy, peace, and the precious gift of the Holy Spirit. Whenever we fear, we only need to look to Jesus, and peace floods back in from the Prince of Peace.

Come 2009, Jesus says “Fear not, for I am with you.” When we receive Jesus, all other blessings from God will follows…

This Christmas, if anyone would wish to receive this precious gift, the gift of Jesus, the gift of eternal life, he need only pray honestly to Jesus “Lord Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross for me so that I may be forgiven. I ask You Lord Jesus to come into my life and my Lord and Savior. I receive Your Holy Spirit. Lead me always in Your ways. In Jesus name, Amen.”