My belated father migrated from China to Borneo in his youth. His motto and principle throughout his life on earth was: "If one treats you kindly, you have to be doubly kind to him in return." He taught us this principle since we were young and personally practiced it until his breathed his last on earth. He made sure that he brought trouble on no one else and had been carrying his own burden throughout his life. Because of this principle of his, we children sometimes found it a bit frustrating in our dealings with him because if we gave him a treat, he would find ways to give double to us instead.
My belated father was a good man. He lived a good and conscientious life. We are proud to learn from his friends that he was a good man, even a very good man… Surely we are proud to have him as our father and grandfather. Anyway, a good man also needs to be saved.
Many use the noun 'God' for their gods. Our Chinese character, '神’ is made of '示' （which means 'god') on the left and '申’ (which means 'proclaim, declare' or 'three o'clock in the afternoon') on the right. So who's the God that is depicted by this Chinese character '神‘? Jesus on the cross (note that '申’ is made up with '口’ (mouth) and '十’ 字架(cross)) from whose mouth cried 'It is finished!' on the cross at 3pm 2,000 years ago IS the God that '神’ portrays.
My father came to know this '神' and accepted Jesus Christ 10 years ago when he was 75 years old. The Lord had been good and gracious to him and fulfilled all his wishes on this earth. He'd lived a full life indeed. As he had carried his burdens on his own all his life, he was tired… he needed a rest and I see that his physical death is a good thing for him now as he is finally released of his burden and rest in the bosom of our dear Lord Himself today in heaven. I am not speculating on where he is now. I am very sure that he is with the Lord Jesus Christ today in heaven, to the place where He 'd prepared for him. Psalm 23:6 says: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
Today is the 23rd of June (the 6th month). We used this scripture verse for the obituary as well but not knowing the coincidence then... The Lord had chosen this special day for my father's funeral and burial to assure us of His goodness and mercy and where my father is at now. Hallelujah! There is no fear in death. We have to die to go to heaven just like a baby needs to leave the mother's womb in order to be born into this world.
My belated father used to share with me when I drove him to church on Sundays. Once he spoke to me in parable, just like our Lord Jesus. He didn't use birds in the air nor flowers in the field as examples. He spoke to me about fish instead. He said both salted fish and fish in the sea come in contact with salt , however one is dead and the other is alive. He said we as Christians should live out the abundant life within like that of the fish in the sea, not as the dead salty fish. What a profound message the Lord had revealed to his dear child, my elderly brother in Christ, my dear father in his old age!
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who had served and shared fellowship in Christ with my father in the past 10 years of his walk with the Lord. Thank you for all that you did for him.
And I would like to say thank you to all who offer your condolences, love gifts and all kinds of help during our bereavement and your presence with us today at the memorial service.
Thank you very much.
