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二○二○年八月二十九日/三十日                                                                                          Click here for English version

疫情下的福音人生

譚廣海牧師

新冠肺炎疫症一直在世界各地蔓延,至今已有三季。若問各人現今最期待的禮物是甚麼?答案很可能會是:「期盼各國醫療專家能夠盡快成功研製疫苗,有效驗出病毒散播的方式,避免一波又一波的疫情爆發!」我想,這期待若能達成,理當是一則喜訊,甚至可視之為「給予世人的福音」。

耶穌基督向我們清楚宣告:「我是世界的光,跟從我的,必定不在黑暗裡走,卻要得著生命的光」(約八 12,新譯本)。是的,疫情帶來困境,令我們感到猶如落入黑暗無光的洞穴裡,伸手不見五指,不論怎樣摸索也無法找到出路!甚麼是疫情下的福音人生?對我們而言,就是儘管人類對新冠肺炎疫症的蔓延苦無對策,而我們也因此顯得「脆弱無助、智慧有限、能力不逮」,然而,我們卻仍堅信,基督的愛是不會與屬神的人隔絕的(羅八 35)。至於其他人,神又有甚麼心意呢?昔日以賽亞先知曾宣告說:神要差遣祂的僕人去傳揚美好的福音,向世人宣佈神的平安與救恩(賽五十二 7 上)。

誠然,在傳福音的過程中,我們或會碰到許多固執心硬的人,他們輕視主的救恩,而且心意堅決,表示不需要任何信仰的幫助!縱然如此,我們仍要認定神的主權,說:神作王了!守望者的聲音都要揚起來,我們要發聲一同歡呼(賽五十二 7-8)。聖經中眾多的事例都告訴我們,再心硬的人也會被神扭轉——頑固堅執的埃及法老一直自以為是,但最終仍擋不住神用十災拯救以色列民的心意(出三 18-20,七 16,十一 1-3);從來不吃俗物和不潔之物的彼得,被差遣傳福音給外邦人哥尼流之後說:「我實在看出神是不偏待人的。原來在各民族中,凡敬畏祂而行義的,都蒙祂悅納」(徒十 34-35),彼得後來又說:「其實祂是寬容你們,不願有一人滅亡,卻願人人都悔改」(彼後三 9)。

親愛的弟兄姊妹,萬有的主耶穌基督,會將心志與能力賜給我們,成就傳揚福音的計劃,因為「除了從天上賜下來給他的,人就不能得到甚麼」(約三 27)。願聖靈在我們心裡動奇妙的工,如那些作美事報喜訊的人一樣,擁有傳福音的美好腳蹤!(羅十 15)






Pastor's Sharing
Gospel Life under the Pandemic
Rev Samuel Tam

The coronavirus has now been spreading worldwide for months. If asked what gift everyone would very much want at this time, the answer would probably be that the medical professionals all over the world could successfully develop a vaccine and find out how the virus is spread in order to prevent further outbreaks! If these can be done, it will be very good indeed. It will be "good news" for the world.

The Lord Jesus Christ has proclaimed: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). The troubles associated with the pandemic have somewhat cast the world into utter darkness. People see no way out! What can a believer, with the gospel in his life, do under such circumstances? It is good that for us, much though that we find our hands tied in the face of the pandemic and ourselves fragile, helpless, our knowledge and talents exhausted, we are convinced that nothing shall separate those who belong to God from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35). What is God's will for the others? As the prophet Isaiah has proclaimed, God wants us to bring the good news, to proclaim peace and salvation (Isaiah 52:7a).

In the process of spreading the gospel, we will come across many whose hearts are hardened - who ignore the salvation of the Lord and are determined that they do not need help from any faith. Still, we need to ascertain God's lordship. Our response: Our God reigns! Listen! Our watchmen lift up our voices; together we shout for joy (Isaiah 52: 7-8). There are many instances in the Bible in which adamant hearts have turned to God. The obstinate Pharaoh in Egypt used to think he had the answer and needed nothing else. But he gave way to the will of God to save the Israelites through the ten plagues (Exodus 3:18-20; 7:16; 11:1-3). Peter, who never ate anything impure or unclean, said after being sent to preach the gospel to gentile Cornelius: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right" (Acts 10:34-35). Later, Peter also said: "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

Dear brothers and sisters, the sovereign Lord Jesus Christ will give us the will and ability to accomplish His plan for sharing the gospel. It is because "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven" (John 3:27). May God do His wondrous works in our hearts and help us become like those whose feet are beautiful as we bring good news (Romans 10:15)!