Pastoral Letters

Time doesn’t stop when we stop

August 29, 2021 Author:Pastor Andrew Tan
Time does not stop just because we stop. Let me explain. When we are sick and take medical leave, we have a valid reason to stop studying or working. Under such circumstances, although we are justified in not studying or working, we (mistakenly) “feel” that there are no consequences in not using this time to do something more fruitful. “It is alright to waste this time because I am on sick leave,” so we think. To put it figuratively, time will wait for us. The fact is, time keeps ticking away: when you stop studying, during this time others are studying and improving while you are not; when you stop working, during this time others are making progress in their career while you are not. In other words, just because you stop working, time does not stop ticking away. There are serious consequences: others during this time are progressing ahead of you. I am not saying you cannot rest when you are sick. You can and you must. Rather, I am just making the point that there are consequences when you “waste” time even for valid reasons. Time does not stop.

During this time of Covid-19 pandemic, time seemed to have come to a stop: the church “takes leave” from doing spiritual work including worshipping in church premises, meeting physically for fellowship, Sunday School, and gospel meetings. We may feel justified in not doing these spiritual activities because it’s Covid-19 time (and party time?!). We may feel justified in not having gospel Sundays due to Covid-19. This, however, does not change the fact that time is ticking away: souls continue to enter hell. How many? The people who died without Christ in the last one and a half years! Truly, there are many evil things happening, one of which is the present Covid-19 situation that is preventing us from saving souls and doing gospel work. Please heed Paul’s advice: be wise! Time is ticking away. Souls are dying. We must ask God for wisdom and faith to overcome all obstacles presented by this evil time that will hinder gospel work: “making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil” (Eph 5:16). Don’t create obstacles for yourself more than what is necessary.

I write today’s pastoral letter for one purpose: we must start doing gospel work. We must re-start gospel Sunday. The next gospel Sunday is scheduled for the fourth Sunday of October (24/10/21). Hopefully, we will have the wisdom to arrange such that vaccinated and unvaccinated can all come. The choir will present the hymn, “Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus.” One person each from the Chinese congregation and English congregation will share her testimony of salvation. The gospel message is entitled, “Jesus Saves!” Please pray also for the church leadership and the safety management team that we will have the wisdom to arrange such that everyone, vaccinated for unvaccinated can come not only for this gospel Sunday (24/10/21), but also for regular Sunday Worship services. Above all, start praying and inviting people to the gospel Sunday. Time is ticking away, and there are serious consequences as time ticks away. We must not let gospel work and your spiritual life come to a standstill. The consequences are eternal. Be wise.