Date: 15-03-26
Preacher: Pastor Choe Humphrey
Title: Hello, where are you?

Hello, where are you?

In a world that sees war being waged almost on a daily basis, this morning’s message offers not just hope but a reminder of our responsibility as Christians.

Yes, those of us who are in Singapore might even take the peace we are experiencing for granted and conveniently postpone our responsibility for the Great Commission as there seems to be little urgency.

This morning’s biblical reference is taken from Isaiah 6:1-8. Ps Humphrey gave the background of prophet Isaiah as someone who had served 4 rulers as counsellor. When King Uzziah died, he was downcast but he was also given a heavenly vision. For a detailed description of his vision, one just need to refer to biblical reference quoted above. 

Ps Humphrey then unpacked the biblical reference into 3 parts using the very creative terms of ‘Upward, Inward and Outward’. These are three simple directional signs used by Ps Humphrey to characterise what Isaiah saw in the vision and signify what Christians should do.

When Isaiah looked up (Upward) what he saw was God in all His glory surrounded by angels and heavenly beings in His service. He was thus reminded of a God whose reign is eternal. This signifies to us that we serve a God who outlasts everything we see and experience yesterday, today and tomorrow. In a world of great turmoil that certainly does give Christians a hope that our belief is based on a God of eternal peace and harmony beyond our understanding.

Then when Isaiah looks (Inward) at himself, he saw how unworthy he was when compared to God’s holiness. It was at this juncture that Ps Humphrey shared with the congregation the power of the human tongue, for Isaiah was cleansed by a heavenly being with a piece of living coal. The reference to the tongue is certainly synonymous with our work to be done under the great Commission for we would use words to bring the unbelief to experience the glory of God.

Finally, the third direction of looking (Outward) made him see that he was in the company of many who, like him, were unworthy. This then translates into a sea of opportunities to do the Great Commission.

I would like to end with 2 quotations which Ps Humphrey shared. I thought that both when taken together summarises the human condition at both the personal and community level. The first is by Henry David Thoreau which states "City life is millions of people being lonesome together.“ The other is by Blaise Pascal which states "There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing, but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ." 

With the harvest so thick how do we respond to the question ‘Hello, where are You?’