人生之進程
作者：盧國禮
測量師時代 (Surveyors Times, January 2017, VOL. 26 NO. 01) 對香港特首 (2017 年) 所發表的施政報告，有以下的評語：
除了已經收集的項目外，評論者對整個建築業有憂慮，因缺乏周詳計劃而將面臨各類難題。例如：「香港 2030+」計劃是否有足夠可發展土地供應，建造成本急升 , . . . . . . 樓宇保護、維修及改善方法，樓宇規管等等 . . . . . . 。
天路歷程
當我唸中學時，曾讀本仁約翰所寫的「天路歷程」一書，它說到一個信基督的門徒一生應走的天路，經歷人生曲曲折折的黑暗困境，但他卻拋棄世俗的一切，去尋找一處不會毀懷，不會被沾污，不會殘敗的所在 (彼得前書一：4，和合本)。這是 神為他預備了的城市，是一個更美的家鄉。(希伯來書十一：15-16，和合本)。
近視變成遠視
去年我做了白內障手術。手術順利完成後，不需戴眼鏡了，棄掉了戴了六十多年的近視鏡，現今左眼只有 120 度，右眼只有 75 度。從近視變為遠視，但看書必須戴老花眼鏡。
我剛剛發現，從來我有一錯誤觀念，以為近視眼是看不清近的東西，原來卻是相反，只是近的東西才看得清楚，遠的看不清。如今，手術後，卻是遠的看得清，近的看不清，名為遠視眼。
屬靈(天)的視野
我們嘗試從信仰的角度看世界，即從耶穌基督的視角看世界，是否會看見所謂屬靈的視野？這視野是否也有近視和遠視的分別呢？何為屬世的近視？怎樣才可成為屬靈的遠視？
每個人都是活在當下的現實世界，當然也有人活在模擬的世界裏，每天幹活，起居，與人交往都受環境和周圍的人影響。基督的信徒，他們一同熱心事奉，一同團契，一同敬拜，或多或少，也受著互相的影響也會受到良善，或壞的誘導。換言之，我們一生之經歷都受著「好」與「壞」的試煉。
近視(屬世)
". . . 世界的智慧，在 神看是愚拙 . . .。"(哥林多前書三：19，和合本)。
". . . 與世俗為友 . . . 就是與 神為敵了。"(雅各書四：4，和合本)。
". . . 凡世界上的事，就像肉體的情慾，眼目的情慾，並今生的驕傲，都不是從父來的，乃是從世界來的。"(約翰一書二：16，和合本)。
現代人". . . 厭煩純正的道理；耳朵發癢，就隨從自己的情慾，. . . 並且掩耳不聽真道，偏向荒渺的言語。"(提摩太後書四：3-4，和合本)。
我們如果能每天三省吾身，細心內視，也許在生活上也犯了上面所說的過失，得罪了我們的 神。
遠視(屬神)
"神就是光，在他毫無黑暗；. . . 我們若說是與 神相交，卻仍在黑暗裏行，就是 . . . 不行真理了；我們若在光中行，如同 神在光明中，就彼此相交，他兒子耶穌的血也洗淨我們一切的罪。"(約翰一書壹：5-7，和合本)。
耶穌在馬太福音五：13-14，和合本，說："你們是世上的鹽；. . . 你們是世上的光 . . . 你們的光也當 . . . 照在人前，叫他們看見你們的好行為，便將榮耀歸給你們在天的父。"
我們必須從屬靈的 "近視" 轉變為屬靈的 "遠視"，這才符合 神對人的心意。"不要效法這個世界；只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為 神的善良，純全可喜悅的旨意。. . . 不要看自己過於所當看的，要照著 神所分給各人信心的大小，看得合乎中道。"(羅馬書十二：1-3，和合本)。耶穌臨上十架前為門徒禱告說："從今以後，我不在世上，他們都在世上，. . . 求你因你所賜給我的名保守他們，叫他們合而為一，像我們一樣。"(約翰福音十七：11，和合本)。
"我不求你叫他們離開世界，只求你保守他們脫離罪惡。他們不屬世界 . . . 求你用真理使他們成聖；你的道就是真理。"(約翰福音十七：15，17，和合本)。耶穌不但為門徒祈求，也為那些因他們傳的福音，信了耶穌基督的人祈求 (就是所有信耶穌的人)；使他們都合而為一。"(約翰福音十八：20-21，和合本)。
所以，我們要恆切禱告，求聖靈內住於我們的心，我們的身體乃是聖靈的殿，讓聖靈引導我們的一生，就是天路之歷程。這是一條要走的"窄路"，屬天的路。求 神賜我們屬靈的 "遠視"，早日看見並踏進永生之路，˙阿們。
Making Progress
Written by Francis Loo Translated to English by FKL
Surveyors Times, January 2017, VOL. 26 NO. 01 has commented on the Administration Report (2017) of the Hong Kong Chief Executive as follows:
Apart from the received items, the commentator has concern over the building industry as a whole, because of lacking a comprehensive plan therein all sorts of problems will be arriving.
For example: Will there be enough developable land supply for the "Hong Kong 2030+" Project, . . . rapid rising construction cost, . . . building's preservation, and maintenance and improvement plan, governance and so on and so forth. . . .
Pilgrim Progress
When I was educated in Secondary School, I once studied the book, Pilgrim Progress, by John Bunyan. It narrated about a disciple whose life pilgrimage through the zig and sag dark detour but abandoning the worldly things for the search of an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—(1 Peter 1:4, NIV). This is the city God prepared for them—this is a far better native home for them. (Hebrews 1:15-15, NIV)
From Near (Short)-sightedness to Long-sightedness
Last year, I had my cataract surgery. After that, I don't need to wear glasses. Having worn it for over sixty years; the glasses were dropped. My left eye now has only 120 degree and my right eye has only 75 degree. I have become long-sighted instead of shortsighted, but I still need reading glasses for reading.
I just realized that until then I had had a wrong perception that a near-sighted person could not see clearly things close by, but just the opposite is true—only seeing near clear, not clear at distance. Now, after the surgery, only clear at distance, but not clear close by, i.e., long-sightedness.
Spiritual (Godly) Perspective
We may try to see the world from the standpoint of faith, that is, to angle through Jesus Christ. Can we see the so called spirituality? Do we also have short-sighted and long-sighted differences? What is worldly short-sightedness? How can one become spiritually long-sighted?
Everyone is in the living presence in this world. Of course, some are living in the virtual world. We labor daily, living and interrelating with peoples and mutually being affected in the environment. The followers of Christ, they together serve zealously in the ministry, participating together in fellowship meetings, and corporate worshiping. More or less, they are mutually being affected in good or bad ways. In other words, in our life progress we're being affected by "good" or "bad" osmotic trials.
Near-sightedness (Worldly)
" . . . For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight . . . (1 Corinthians 3:19, NIV)."
". . . Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God (James 4:4, NIV)."
". . . For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world (1 John 2:16, NIV)."
Men "will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, (will like to hear) what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their eyes away from the truth and turn aside to myths (2 Timothy 4:3-4, NIV)."
Should we reflect on us three times a day, prudently self-examine our soul, perhaps, in our daily life we're also in commitment of the above-mentioned violation. Sin against our God.
Longsighted-ness (Godly)
"God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. . . . If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we . . . do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:5-7, NIV)."
Jesus says in Mathew 5:13-14, NIV: ". . . You are the sault of the world. . . . You are the light of the world. . . . In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven."
We ought to change from "near (short)-sightedness" to long-sightedness". This is conforming to God's will towards humankind. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. . . . Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you(Romans 12:1-3, NIV)." Jesus before going to the Cross prayed for his disciples: "I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world. . . . Father, protect them by the power of your name --the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.(John 17:11. NIV)."
"My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of this world. . . . Sanctify hem by the truth; your Word is truth (John 17:15-17, NIV)." "(Jesus') prayer is not for them alone. (He) prays also for those (i.e., all who are followers of Christ) who will believe in (Him) through their message, that all of them may be one. (John 18:20-21, NIV)."
Therefore, we have to pray in perseverance, inviting the Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts. Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit. Let the Holy Spirit lead our way of life—the pilgrimage. This is the "narrow road" we have to progress—the Godly road. Ask God to gift us spiritual "long-sightedness—enabling us soon to see and step onto the road of eternity. Amen.