牧者心聲
「我只想家宅平安」—— 618長者佈道會
任健雄牧師
2022 年 5 月 28 日／29 日
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耶穌說：「你們心裡不要憂愁；你們信神，也當信我。在我父的家裡有許多住處；若是沒有，我就早已告訴你們了。我去原是為你們預備地方去。我若去為你們預備了地方，就必再來接你們到我那裡去，我在哪裡，叫你們也在那裡。」（約十四 1-3）
這是我常用的安息禮經文。我觀察到有基督信仰的家人，縱然對摯愛的逝者感到難過和不捨，但卻因為可以「天家再見」而有很大的安慰和盼望。我在長者團契裡常告訴團友，信耶穌的人有三個家：第一個是原生家庭，第二個是教會，第三個是天家。
「家」是我們生活的核心、重要的場所，大部分人都會努力維繫、經營，務求自己的「家」平平安安、齊齊整整。在安息禮上家人常會分享離世父母的生平，絕大部分兒女都會憶述父母如何無私地為了「家」而奔波勞碌，有弟兄姊妹提到父親朝七晚七地工作，仍未能維持一家的生計，母親一面照顧家人，一面接工廠外判手作回家做，我聽後十分感動。真的，很多為人父母的都別無所求，「只想家宅平安」。而信耶穌的兒女，覺得最好的報答，就是帶領父母到上主那裡，讓他們得享永恆的福樂。
感謝神，在過去日子，我目睹肢體們十分努力帶領父母信主。許多作子女、媳婦、女婿的，不單帶父母來教會，更陪伴他們上福音班、初信班、洗禮班等培育課程，我每季都見到有數十位長者受洗，我和導師們都見證了每位長者的生命更新。有一位導師說，長者初上福音班時常帶著愁容、被動、嚴肅、拘謹，但決志後卻有很大改變，正如詩歌所說：「憂愁變為喜樂，長臉變為圓。」
當然，肢體們不是一邀請，家中長者就會立即答應上教會或參加培育課程，有些是經過長年不住禱告，花盡心思，多次邀請。長者們往往是因為肢體的生活見證和熱誠而受感動，最後肯踏足教會。有些長者甚至一直都沒有來教會，直到病危時，因著過往聽過或接觸過福音，有了福音的基礎，才因此相信主耶穌，接受特別洗禮，平安返回天家。
「我只想家宅平安」是 6 月 18 日（週六）長者佈道會的主題，如果你家中有未信的長者，鼓勵你邀請、也一再邀請他們參加，叫他們一同領受這上好福樂。你要為他們祈禱，並告訴長者科教牧，我們會請其他長者為你們所愛的長者家人祈禱的。
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Jesus said: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:1-3)
This is a Scripture passage I often use for funeral services. I can see that for Christian members of the family involved, however saddened they may be and miss their beloved, being able to "meet again in the heavenly home" offers them great comfort and hope. I always tell the members of our senior fellowships that believers have three homes or families: our family of origin, our church and our heavenly home.
"Family" forms the core of our living, a most important part of our lives. Most people do their best to maintain and preserve their family, trying to make sure that everyone at home is well. At funeral services, family members often share on the lives of their departed parents. Most children recount how their parents worked selflessly to the last atom of their strength for their "home." Some brothers and sisters shared that the father worked seven to seven but still failed to feed the family. The mother took up outsourced jobs from factories to do at home while looking after the family. I was immensely moved by the accounts. It is true that many parents have no other wishes but for "the family to be well." As for children who are believers, they find that the best way to give back to their parents is to lead them to the Lord so they can share in the everlasting blessings.
Thanks be to God that in the past, I have seen how our brothers and sisters work hard to lead their parents to the Lord. Many children, daughters-in-law and sons-in-law not only take their parents to the church but also accompany them to attend classes for seekers, new believers, baptismal candidates, etc. that nurture their faith. Every quarter, I see tens of seniors getting baptized. The counselors and I witness the life renewal of each senior. One counselor said that when a senior first takes a gospel class, he or she often looks unhappy, passive, solemn and reserved. But once they give their lives to Christ, they become very different. It is just like the worship song that goes "Grief turns into joy. Sad faces brighten up."
Of course, seniors in the family may not immediately respond to the invitations to go to church or join faith courses. Some will take prolonged and incessant prayers, thoughtful ways and many invitations before they respond. Seniors are often moved by the testimony and zeal of brothers and sisters before they are finally willing to go to church. Some seniors even never go to church but when seriously sick, they believe in the Lord Jesus based on the foundation from hearing or knowing about the gospel before. They receive special baptism and peacefully go to the heavenly home.
"I Only Wish My Family Well" is the theme of the Evangelistic Meeting for Seniors on Jun 18 (Sat). If you have unbelieving seniors at home, I encourage you to invite them, or invite them again, so they too can receive the best blessings ever. You need to pray for them and also tell pastoral staff of the Elderly Ministry so we can ask other seniors to pray for the beloved seniors in your families.
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