I Know Whom I have Believed
Written by Ps Alby Yip
Some years ago, the Archbishop of Canterbury was rushing to catch a train in London. In his haste, he accidentally jumped on the wrong passenger car and found himself on a car full of patients from a mental hospital. They were all dressed in mental hospital clothing.
Just then, the hospital attendant came to count the patients, “1-2-3-4” when he suddenly saw the archbishop in his suit and clerical collar and asked, “Who are you?” The archbishop answered, “I am the Archbishop of Canterbury!” And the attendant continued, “5-6-7-8.”
Reality is no respecter of man regardless of how important we may be. This reality is made more damning recently in the COVID-19 outbreak. A single virus unseen to the naked eye can grind cities and perhaps the world almost to a halt and in some instances bring out the worst in humans.
Indeed, it is a stark reminder to us that humans, after all, are still humans. COVID-19 is still as much a mystery now as it was when first discovered last year. Experts warned of the possibility of the virus spreading out of control. What will be your plans?
Again, the reality is, besides being vigilant, there is really nothing much that we can do. That was perhaps what Job came to realize. There were a million questions and unknowns in his mind. And he sought answers in every sphere humanly possible. But finally, he found the one and the most important answer.
It lies beyond human and reality. Hence Job exclaimed in triumph, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God.” (Job 19:25-26)
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, COVID-19 and the subsequent economic fall-out are just realities that we humans need to reckon with. We can be almost certain that other variant and maybe more destructive forms will evolve in time to come. But we can be equally certain that we need not fear such realities. We live with a higher assurance and reality. So let us live, serve, give and continue to proclaim the Gospel with the same blessed assurance and fervour as Paul: “…for I know whom [not what] I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.” (2 Tim 1:12)
