These days, the world seems to be full of problems. We see the ISIS
ruthlessly executing the hostages now and then; we hear news about
people committing suicide basically every day; and we see our teachers,
parents and friends bothered by all sorts of illnesses and unhappy
events all the time. We quarrel, we complain, we blame and we hate. And
all this negativity won’t go away.
I suppose everyone
has dreamt of changing the world. We would try to settle the wealth
disparity problem, so that everyone is happy, and we would try to take
away the whole concept of homework and exams, so that we also become
happy. Sometimes we would wonder if it is actually possible, because
someone in history has really done something great and changed the
world, no matter with awe-inspiring plays like William Shakespeare,
altruistic acts like Mother Teresa, or innovative inventions like Steve
Jobs. Recently, the near-overnight rise to fame of student leader Joshua
Wong makes the dream of changing the world so much more tangible to us,
as if we can all do it if we are more determined, more passionate, or
more talented.
More often, though, we think it’s a
dream too big, and as we grow older we begin to give up the idea of
changing the world, because it sounds too idealistic and unreachable.
Indeed
we may not be able to really change the world, but we can change our
buying habits, our dieting routines, or our way of life. Yet, I honestly
don’t believe we will be solving the greater human conflict, THE
deep-rooted problem, with our efforts, which is the issue that needs the
greatest change. The reason, I guess, is that this recurrent problem is
not about the whole political atmosphere, nor the ozone hole somewhere
down in Australia, nor the lack of integrity of our political leaders.
People are unhappy and unresolved, and the problem is not with the
surroundings.
The fact is that WE are the problem.
The
Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, writer of the book War and Peace once
said, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of
changing himself.” I think he has made a wise point in revealing that by
not willing to change ourselves, the world is not going to be fixed, at
all.
I think every conscious person has a moment where
he stops blaming the problems in the world on humanity and authority
and starts to face himself. I hate this part though. It is so difficult
to deal with the notion that the problem is not out there, but the needy
beast that lives inside my own chest.
I am not
talking about non-Christians only; it’s about every human being. Who
says Christians are flawless? When you see a Christian, you don’t always
see Jesus. Most of us are misrepresenting Jesus, as we do all sorts of
things Jesus didn’t tell us to do and failed to act according to his
commandments and I am no exception.
Jesus said to love
one another, even my enemies, but I only love those who love me, or
those who look very lovable. I am very judgmental about people who I
don’t like and I speak ill of them even in public, and more often I
speak behind their backs, which is definitely not what Jesus wants. And
sometimes I am thinking I don’t even love my parents much. And I always
become jealous of my friends, although I know that God wants me to
appreciate them and learn from them.
Jesus said to feed the poor, heal the sick, and take care of the weak. I
have never done very much about that. I only feed my own desires.
Jesus said I should be humble, but I tend to overemphasise my own effort
and take all the credits instead of honouring God who is gracious and
loving to me, who has always sinned.
I know that a lot of people do not believe in Christ because people like
me, who know Him, do not enjoy the relationship with Him and do not
live as if Christ is living inside. We worry about things, we whine
about our misfortune, and we focus on ourselves. There’s a lot more, you
know.
If you agree with me, then here is the way out.
Jesus Christ did not come to condemn us; He came to change us. The same
power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead two thousand years ago and
the love that involved sending Jesus to die for us are here right now to
transform our weaknesses in our lives into strengths.
Do
you want God to change your life? He will — in His own way. I know God
wants to change you. He sees the prince or princess in your life. He
sees what you can become. He sees your potential, and he wants to change
you, every single one of you, to become a better version of you.
Maybe
you are now in a situation that is somewhat beyond your control, and
this is God trying to get your attention. But we never change until we
honestly face and admit our faults, sins, weaknesses, and mistakes.
Maybe you have been limiting God by making excuses, blaming other
people, or rationalizing. Or maybe you are very comfortable with your
current situation and you don’t want to leave your comfort zone. Or
maybe you think you are not really a problem and there are other worse
people out there. But we all know we are not perfect. It may be hard to
drop your mask and say, “God, I have a weakness. I have a problem.”
Until you do this, things will just stay the same as they are now. But
when you do this, then God can go to work, and you are changed for the
rest of your life. When He does the changing, it will become permanent.
You will not have to worry about your willpower and staying with it
because you will be cooperating with God, relaxing and trusting Him.
Just
as what Mother Teresa has said, ‘“I alone cannot change the world, but I
can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” If today we
all start by admitting our problems, ask God for forgiveness, and let
God change us, the world will be a different place tomorrow.
Let’s pray for the courage to be changed.
