SALVATION AND CALL

Khoo May Lynn

Salvation

By God’s grace and mercy, I was born into a Christian family and have heard the gospel message from a very young age. Like what some believers who have also been born into a Christian family might say, “It is very difficult to pinpoint the exact day I received Christ into my heart”, simply because we have always heard the gospel and are told to believe.

As I was pondering on how to write my salvation testimony, through my quiet time, the Lord has been reminding me in little ways of how the gospel message first touched my heart when I was a young child, reminding me again of how God humbled me and made me realize I was a sinner in great need of a Saviour.

Sometime during my kindergarten and primary school years, one thing that was always taught to me at home and in Sunday school was about the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ and the imminence of God’s judgment day. It was taught very vividly, about how a “Rapture” would take place when Jesus comes again, and only those who believe and accepted Christ as personal Lord and Saviour would be caught up to meet Him in the clouds, to live with Him in heaven for all eternity. Those who do not believe in Him, however, will suffer in the lake of fire because of all their sins.

To a young child, the message of God’s judgment on this sinful earth during His 2nd coming was truly arresting and powerful. It felt like an urgent call to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, to ask Him to forgive me for all my many sins, and to come into my heart so that I could find security in knowing that I am His child, and part of His kingdom. I remember it impacted me so much, that I would often tell my school friends about the gospel, Christ’s 2nd coming and this urgent need of a Saviour.

Another thing that the Lord used to stir my heart was about the Lamb’s book of life, and how, only those who have their names written in it can enter the kingdom of heaven. However, those who have not believed in Jesus, will not have their names written in the Lamb’s book of life, and cannot find assurance in entering God’s kingdom. I was taught the hymn—“Is My Name Written There?”—very often, and the lyrics never failed to remind me of the pressing need to receive Christ into my heart, for all have sinned and come short of His glory. The only way to heaven is to believe in Him. I remember I used to be very anxious and fearful, that my name was not found in the Lamb’s book of life, further compelling me to ask God to come into my heart.

So growing up in an environment based upon God’s commandments and standards set from His Word did its good purpose in constantly reminding me of how I have broken the Ten Commandments time and time again, constantly reminding me how sinful and “naughty” I was from young. However, I was not left alone in sin, I would be reminded of how there is hope in a Saviour, Jesus Christ, who has died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins, rose up the 3rd day, and only by believing in Him can I have my sins forgiven, and find assurance on where I would be going to after I die.

I guess that is the beauty and privilege of having grown up in a Christian environment. That from birth, God’s Word has been present in my life, making me more and more aware of how I have transgressed God’s Law, on my way to hell, and there was only one way to get to heaven—Through Jesus Christ my Lord.

As time went by and as I grew up, the Lord became more and more real to me in my life. His presence was a certainty and I started to experience Christ in very real ways. By getting to know Him more through His Word and through providence or chastisements in my life, I began to discover how I have a Saviour and Creator who is so almighty, good, perfect, holy and just, and truly deserves all praise and glory. My assurance in knowing where I would be going to after I die took deep root in my life, further reassuring me that I am a child of His. The Holy Spirit has since been my Counsellor, Guide, Teacher, and Comforter in my life, and having a growing and personal relationship with God is truly the most precious thing to me, and I treasure nothing more than my personal relationship with God.

I can never thank God enough for choosing me, someone who is most unworthy, to be part of His kingdom and family. His grace and mercy is truly so rich and so free.

God’s Call

If I could describe God’s call in one word, it would be “Irresistible”.

I first started having a burden to give my life to serve the Lord when I was about 15 years old. There was a period where I was walking most close to the Lord, discovering the immense depth and joy of learning from His Word. It was a time where I genuinely learned and understood what it meant for God’s Word to be “sweeter than honey” and “more to be desired than gold”. God and His word became all that my heart desired to honour and obey. Yes, I still struggled with many old sinful habits and still continue to do so, but fearing the Lord became my all-consuming desire in life.

It was the simple gospel message again, that prompted me to want to give my life back to Christ. Serving the Lord, and giving my life to be used by Him is the very LEAST of what I could do, in comparison to all He has done for me. The Lord used the 2nd stanza of the hymn “Living for Jesus” to move my heart as it spoke deeply to me: “Living for Jesus who died in my place, Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace. Such love CONSTRAINS me to answer His call. Follow His leading, and give Him my all.” It was simply my gratitude to Christ who graciously saved me, that “constrained” me to follow His will, and give Him my all.

This desire started to grow and strengthen.

When I was studying for my O levels in Secondary Four, I worked hard. I worked hard because I desired to get into a good JC, following the conventions and standards of this world. After spending so much energy, effort, and time pursuing after this desire of mine, it dawned upon me how it was all meaningless. Just like what King Solomon said, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity”. My life, time, energy and effort could be used for much better purposes—To study God’s Word, to serve Him and further the extension of His kingdom—Far weightier in value as these are things that will last for eternity, things that will bring much gain. What is the point of joining in the world’s futile quest in studying so hard to attain the best university degree, to get a good paying job, when all that time and energy could be put to much better use, for God’s glory.

Also, it began to become more apparent how the faithful BP churches in Singapore were starting to lose FAITHFUL ministers and servants of God. Members in faithful churches were growing, but faithful servants were few.

Matthew 9:37 moved my heart, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.” There is a need for present full-time servants to pass down the baton to younger ones who are willing to serve but most importantly, are serious about being faithful till the end. “Who will go?” preachers would often say. My heart undeniably desired to do so as God’s call was irresistible.

I prayed that the Lord would confirm whether He was truly calling me into full-time, through His Word, a solid foundation. During my quiet time sometime in January 2014, I read through the book of 1 Corinthians. Many verses spoke to me about how the Lord can use the “basest things of the world”, for His purposes. However, there was one particular verse that struck through my heart, giving me a complete confirmation that I could do nothing else but serve the Lord, full-time.

It was 1 Corinthians 3:19, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God: For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.”

The verse immediately put life into perspective for me. Indeed, university degrees, qualifications, education and philosophies of this world are nothing but “foolishness with God”. The world may think big of studying the wisdom this world has to offer. But to God, it is truly worthless and not to be idolized or worshipped. I could not bear the thought of entering university or spending my life in the secular world. I knew I would be miserable.

Since then, the Lord has only been strengthening my desire and conviction to serve Him faithfully till the end. Through my two years in JC, the Lord has used many various circumstances in school to mould, chastise and prepare me before entering FEBC where I would begin training for the full-time ministry. During the past two years, there were times when I started to question whether I am truly called. However, through prayer and His Word, the Lord never failed to double confirm and reaffirm that serving Him full time is His will for me. Testimonies and biographies of faithful servants such as Hudson Taylor, Charles Spurgeon, John Newton, George Whitefield and Rev Timothy Tow have been used by the Lord to further move my heart not just to give my life to Him, but to serve Him FAITHFULLY, till the end.

It is honestly a joyful thing to know God’s will in our lives. I am grateful to the Lord for showing me His will clearly, and walking in His will brings the most delight. I am unsure of what the future holds as I start my training in FEBC and God-willing the full-time ministry. I am aware that the days up ahead will bring many trials, temptations, tribulations and much suffering. It is never easy to be a Christian in a world that is not our home, even more so in serving the Lord full-time on earth. However, I believe the Lord, our Creator is an almighty and a very good God. If He has truly called, He will be with me day by day, chastising and keeping me in the right path, helping me to rejoice if I suffer for His name’s sake, so long as I make it my purpose to live obediently, always according to His perfect Word and perfect will.

I would like to share two verses that are dear to my heart, “Only Fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart, For consider how great things he hath done for you.” (1 Sam 12:24). “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (Ps 84:10).

All praise and glory be to God.

“Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.” (Prov 17:6)