The Old Believer

Today is the LORD's Holy Communion Sunday. Normally, I would be sitting among the congregation, waiting for my turn to receive the grace of God's Holy Communion. However, it was different for me today. As I was serving in the worship team, I had the chance to be at the backstage, facing the congregation as they make their way up to partake in the Holy Communion.

As I was sitting there observing the crowd, a few people caught my attention. Among them were the elderlies. As they were old, it took them quite some effort to kneel down before the pulpit to receive their portion. Unknowingly, a beautiful thought came into my mind. I wondered to myself, "There can only be two reasons why these elderlies are still coming to church and willingly humble themselves in front of LORD our God. They could have been Christians for all their lives or majority of their lives. I give thanks to You God because it meant that your grace and mercy was sufficient to keep them going all these years, providing them with strength and refuge, so much so that they've continued to walk in Your light after so many years. Alternatively, they could be new believers, coming to know God only towards the later part of their lives. I gave thanks to God for them too. It is because God's grace and love is so powerful that they have decided to follow Jesus during their aging years. Having gone through so much in their lives, it is never easy to let God into our hardened hearts at such an age. Their lives were salvaged at the later part their lives. I give thanks to you God!"

I came to realise one thing, no matter which part of our lives God chose to intercept, it is never too late. It is in God's timing and will that all things will fall into place. I began questioning myself. Would I be able to see myself kneeling down there 40 years down the road, humbly partaking in God's Holy Communion? It is not going to be an easy journey to be a Christian, but the end result is more than what we all deserve. This experience also reminds me of how so many out there have yet to come to know our Lord Jesus. It is never too late. Any time is a good time to love God because God loves us all the time.

God, if it is by your will that I'll ever live to that ripe old age, I want not only myself to be kneeling down in front of that pulpit, partaking in your Holy Communion. Let my children and my wife, my family and friends be kneeling beside me, joining me in this remembrance of Your amazing grace. Let my footsteps be steadfast and never far away from You. If I ever do stray from You Lord, do not forget me. Pull me back to Your side. I never want to feel far away from You. I felt that distance before and it feels exceedingly lonely. Lord, I do not want to be far from You. Keep me within Your reach, within a word of prayer.

I want to be with You for eternity. Let it be at Your will Lord...