耶穌基督可在我們生命裏重活嗎？
作者：盧國禮
測量師時代 (七月 2016，VOL. 25 No. 7) 刊登一則有關 "迷你倉，大問題" 的文章，批判香港政府錯誤的簡化政策，將舊式工業大廈用作非工業用途. . . 作為活化計劃。
知名的惡火警在 2016 年六月廿一號發生於一幢多層迷你倉內，此類廢棄的工業大廈建成於 1973 年前。當日消防條例沒有須要裝花灑系統。那場完全失控的火燒了 80 小時之久。此悲劇奪去了兩個家庭的父親或丈夫。是一場令人心碎的災難！
迷你倉不是新的問題，但受活化計劃的遮蓋而容許使用。"活化計劃" 聽來悅耳，乃是香港政府的同情舉操，用來寬待此類工業大廈的業主或用者，而該類樓宇未合標準，亦不符合現行消防條例。只是允許改變用途而沒有預定維修計劃，使廢棄的工業大廈翻新或提高到現行建築標準，在政府方面，乃是完全缺乏公家責任。同樣難以相信的，就是社會不知不覺地容忍此行為。
上開事件仿佛提醒了我，將要更深思有關跟隨基督者之日常生活。正如廢棄建築物須要翻新或重建致達到現今標準，並作適當維修保養，延續它的功能；更為重要的生命，在基督裏的永恆確據，便須要謹嚴地自我檢討。我是否已受洗歸入祂的死？我是否對罪死了，但因神而活？我是否有了新生命？我是基督的兒子嗎？
Gary Inrig 在他的書 "正北" 裏說得好：
如果人人都有一船側標記在心，生命將會輕鬆得多。生命航程須要超過航行的技術。我們讀過 "正北" 的航海原則，及航海儀器、聖經、祈禱、及良心；仍需加上航行安全保護，以致我們對一些聖經重要話語有關重量限制得著心靈視覺，否則，我們必不能安全到達我們的目的地，除非我們知曉了 神的船側標記。(Inrig, 97頁。)
每個人都有一量限，那是 神預定的重量限制。正如船側標記為船而設，也為每一個人類而設。負荷不要過重是你的選擇，只要作正確選擇，不要超越重限 (那就是 神賜的船側標記)，這不是人的本性。沒有人在他的生命航程裏不需指導而能達目的地。一位真基督跟隨者能否受洗與祂同死，能活出新生命，並步步隨從著聖靈？當他或她在基督裏，而祂也在他或她裏，一個人便能在生命的航程裏結很多屬靈的果子，以致得勝。
回答尼哥底母的發問時，耶穌說，我實實在在的告訴你，人若不重生，就不能見 神的國。(約翰福音3：3)。耶穌這話不是對一低下罪人說，而是對高貴正直人說的。新約聖經之新生觀念，不是從我們生出來的東西，乃是進入我們心裏的東西。(神的愛，Oswald Chambers, 101頁)。
當耶穌開始傳道，祂呼召首批門徒時說，跟隨我。稱呼彼得的西門和他兄弟安得烈等立刻跟從了祂。(馬太福音 4：18-22；馬可福音 1：16-20)。他們都是單純漁夫，毫無渴慕被赦罪，亦並無此慨念。他們心醉於耶穌，便跟隨祂的生活方式三年。耶穌基督教導那些門徒真理，並播下屬靈的種子在他們心田裏，容讓他們時間經歷而成長。他們不只是仿照耶穌，乃遵從 神而行。我們也是在同樣的屬靈境界。我們不是為 神作工，乃是透過我們 神作祂的工。我們要學知悟 神的話語，在我們心裏，活出生命來，反映著 神的榮耀。
在升天前耶穌說，我將給你們我父所應許的，但要在城裏等候 (耶路撒冷) 直到你們領受從上頭來的能力。(路加福音 24：49)。這意義重大的靈性，它引致我們的救恩，使我門活出榮美的生命，這些都不是首批門徒所知曉。有時，它也是今天很多跟隨基督者所不認識。有時候，我們可能察覺到，但疏忽不顧。當祂被捉拿時，門徒都離開祂逃走了。(馬可福音 14：50)。
到了五旬節，聖靈降臨到門徒裏。彼得和十一位門徒站立起來，向群眾演說，"你們要悔改，奉耶穌基督的名受洗. . . 叫你們的罪得赦，就必領受所賜的聖靈。. . ." (使徒行傳 2：38) 。
我在開頭所發問的問題，答案是，我是否願意跟隨聖靈的領導去走生命航行的路，並遵從祂的主權？
耶穌從來沒說，你必要. . . 祂常常說，如果你想. . . 選擇是我們的。但是恩惠是從 神來的。
CAN JESUS CHRIST RE-MAKE HIMSELF IN OUR LIVES ?
Written by Francis Loo
SURVEYORS TIMES (July 2016, VOL. 25 NO. 07) published the article "Mini Storage, Big Questions?" That comments on the mistaken Policy of the Hong Kong Government by simply using old industrial buildings for non-industrial purposes . . . for Revitalisation Program.
The notorious fire occurred on June 21, 2016 inside a multi-storey mini-warehouse in one of the obsolete industrial buildings completed before 1973. In those days, sprinkler systems were not required under the Fire Codes. The blaze went totally out of control for 80 hours. Tragically, each of two young families is bereft of their father or husband. A heart-breaking disaster!
The problem of Mini Storage is not new, but usage is permitted under the cloak of Revitalisation policy. "Revitalisation" is high sounding. It's a sympathetic approach taken by the Hong Kong Government towards owners or users of industrial buildings that have become substandard and non-conforming to current Fire Codes. Just allowing the change of use without prior maintenance plan to have the obsolete industrial buildings renovated or upgraded to current building standards is complete lack of public responsibility on the part of the government. And equally incredible is the unawareness of society tolerating this practice.
The above event, somehow, has prompted me to give deeper thoughts to the daily life of a Christ follower. While obsolete buildings need to be renovated or rebuilt to modern standard, and, properly maintained for extending their functional life, more importantly the assurance of eternal life in Christ need critical self-examination. Was I baptized into His death? Am I dead to sin but alive to God? Have I lived a new life? Am I a son in Christ?
Gary Inrig says it well in his book called Truth North:
Life would be a lot easier if there were a Plimsoll mark for people. Navigating life requires more than navigational skills. We have looked at the navigational principle of the North Star and the navigation tools and Scripture, prayer, and conscience. To these we need to add navigational safeguards, and that brings us to some important biblical insights into load limits. We will not arrive safely at our destination unless we understand God's Plimsoll line. (Inrig, P97.)
Every human has a load limit, which God has destined for. As the Plimsoll line is for the ship it is also for every human. Try not to overload yourself is your choice, but to make the right choice in order not to exceeding the load limit (i.e., the God-given Plimsoll Mark) is not human nature. No one can achieve its purpose without guidance in navigation of life. Can a true Christ follower who has been baptized into His death, be able to live a new life and keep in steps with the Holy Spirit? When he or she is in Christ and He in him or her, one can bear much spiritual fruit in the navigation of life, which leads to victory.
In a reply to the question Nicodemus asked, Jesus said, I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again? (John 3:3, NIV). Jesus did not speak these words to a man down and out in sin, but to a sterling, worthy, upright man. The concept of new birth in the New Testament is not of something that springs out of us, but of something that enters into us. (The love of God by Oswald Chambers, P101).
When Jesus began to preach and, called the first disciples, He said, Follow Me. Simon called Peter and his brother Andrews and others followed Him at once. (Mathew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20.) They were simple fishermen and had no concept or desire to be delivered from sin. They were fascinated by Jesus and just followed His way of life for three years. Jesus Christ taught the disciples the truth and sowed the spiritual seeds in their hearts and allowed them time to grow up through life experience. They were not just to do as Jesus did but to do by abiding in God. We are in the same spiritual situation. We are not doing something for God but through us God is dong His work. We have to learn to realize that the word of God in us living our lives to reflecting the glory of God.
Before the ascension, Jesus said, I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city (of Jerusalem) until you have been clothed with power from on high? (Luke 24:49). This significant spirituality that triggers our salvation to live thereafter a life of glory was not known to the first disciples. Sometimes it is also not to the knowledge of many of the present day followers of Christ. Sometimes we may be aware of it, but negligently unconcerned. Every one deserted Jesus when He was arrested (Mark 14:50).
Not until the Pentecost, the Holy Spirit has come to the disciples. Peter stood up with the Eleven and addressed the crowd: "Repent and be baptized . . . in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit . . . " (Acts 2:38, NIV).
The answer to the questions which I would ask myself in the first paragraph is: Am I willingly following the guidance of the Holy Spirit in my life navigation and abide by His sovereignty?
Jesus never says: Thou shalt . . . He always says: If you will . . . The choice is ours. But grace is from God.