To continue the mission of Jesus Christ
Date: 05-04-26
Preacher: Rev Lawrence Seow
Title: Crucify To Live
Crucify To Live
I have always believed that an anointed speaker does not rely on Power Point and this morning’s speaker is in that category. He had only 4 slides and all black fonts on white background. Yet, Ps Lawrence was able to engage the congregation with his style and wits. This morning’s biblical references were taken from Galatians 5:24, Galatians 5:20, Colossians 3:1 and Luke 17:32.
He started the message by saying that the God we worship is different from all others because He reaches out to man first. Man’s sinful nature can only be overcome when we invite Him into our lives. Even after that, we have a choice on how we are to lead our lives; whether to live as God’s people or to still continue with the world. Ps Lawrence likened it to rearing two dogs inside us: one white (God’s) and the other black (devil’s). Which one grows in size will depend on which we feed more of.
Then Ps Lawrence shared 3 points to signify how we ought to live when we have died to our old self or specifically when we are crucified on the cross.
- We only face ONE direction.
He asked the congregation whether we know where we are headed in life. Although he did not give a straightforward answer to the question, we ought to know.
- There is no looking back.
Here he gave an amusing anecdote of what he would always ask someone during baptism service when he was pastoring a church. He would ask the person being baptised whether he or she would backslide after baptism. Often that person would then ask why Ps Lawrence would ask him/her such a question. He would then answer that if that person were to answer in the positive, he would then not raise him/her from the water during baptism, thus drowning him/her, sending him/her directly to heaven.
- No more earthly ambitions.
He asked a rhetorical question to illustrate his point here and that is ‘what other earthly plans do you want to make when you are on the cross?
Before he concludes, Ps Lawrence said that although Jesus taught for only 3 short years on earth compared with 3 of the greatest Greek philosophers of Plato, Socrates and Aristotle (all three combined would have taught for more than a century), his work left such an impact on the world that many artists would pay such great tributes to Him in their works.
He then asked the congregation if we were to die at this instant and are at the gate of Heaven with St Peter asking us why he should let us in, what would our answer be. He said there was no need to give a glorious account of our work on earth but all we need to say is ‘The man on the middle cross says that I can go in.’
I thought, despite all his wits and humour, Ps Lawrence delivered a sober message befitting Easter Sunday. It gives all sinners the hope following redemption and to all who already believed, the reason to keep believing.