As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to know GOD.

When I was still a kid, every time I went home from school, I almost always check the afternoon sky. At that time I have no concrete idea or logical speculation as to why I was doing that – maybe in awe or instinct? I don’t know. I was obsessed with something which my elementary brain cannot process or verily refine.

The afternoon sky…

Saffron, rarely I see crimson. Have you ever seen such afternoon sky? You know, when the ocean waves are flipped vertically to that glorious ceiling? When the sun paints that canvas with color beams that are not found in your 64 Crayolas? Those cirrus clouds that were like cotton candies scattered on a faded-vast-aerial-cartolina?!

I am a kid whose delight is found not only in the anatomy of toys but also in the configuration of creation. I tell you, I was not able to comprehend that “great sea in the sky” at that time but somehow I know it was bliss! I was a kid. Yes.

And I find this very interesting; as my kiddy-hiking from school to home culminates, these sky spectacle also ends – the night commences. This I have figured out, but the question still lingers.

Why do I do this?

Why is it that my happiness is found in a place where I cannot hold it nor embrace it (with all the limbs in me) and say “this is mine, this is mine!”?

After 20 years, GOD opened my eyes.

Meaning. Purpose. Destiny. Truth

These are the four words that solidified my CHRISTIANITY. However let me make it clear, through the power of the HOLY SPIRIT working in me, I was humbled to have been taught the difference between General Revelation and Special Revelation. Thus, I was not saved because of this experience since a person can only be saved through the Gospel and apart from it there can be no salvation.

Romans 10:14 - How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

General Revelation - is the knowledge of God as well as the knowledge of right and wrong that can be obtained through nature

Special Revelation -  is the revelation of God that is mainly known as the Bible, which is the inspired word.

I am not an atheist because meaning is true in life. There’s always a meaning to everything! An atheist might say, “Nah, we’re all like twigs…floating above random sea waves.” Even to this statement a meaning can be extracted!

ndsa#@kure45434&%*#@&    <— even this random characters mean something; either my keyboard is not properly working or my eyes are too tired or I am just implying that things can be meaningless when you don’t understand it – which by the way still means something.

I work and would like to get married because I believe in purpose. How can you live without a purpose? Even if you insist that life has no purpose you still go to work and sleep for the purpose of working again tomorrow. Even evil has a purpose. There’s no such thing as purposeless evil!

Everything has a destination. All life forms shall die. If you go all the way North to the map you’ll end up in the North Pole. If you add 1 + 1, its destiny is two! Now, I’ve heard atheist saying “Nah, even Mathematics is just a theory.” Or relativist saying “Well for me 2+2 = 5!” Well here’s the news my brother, the fare inside this jeepney is based on Mathematics, not to mention its machinery is computed by Mathematics – see the building we just passed by? If it wasn’t for “fix” Mathematics we would have been squashed! Yea, that would have been our destiny.

So what’s the connection of that “afternoon sky” to this meaning, purpose, destiny, and truth?

Answer: answer.

Yep, the answer is ANSWER in indeed.

Because of JESUS, I found the answer to my question.

Meaning.

If I could draw out any meaning from such recollection it is this: that there is beauty in creation, and if there is a creation there is a creator. I, as a human, was formed to respond to such operation because I am part of the operation. Some might say “Well, it’s just the chemicals in your brain.” My respond would be “Well, what made these chemicals produced such response and how did we arrived to name and define things?” Creator. There is a creator and HIS design is absolutely astonishing! Majestic!

Psalms 19:1-6

The heavens declare the glory of God,
   and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
   and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words,
   whose voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out through all the earth,
   and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
   which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
   and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
   and its circuit to the end of them,
   and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Purpose.

The purpose of that beautiful memory is for me to acknowledge, honor, and glorify that Creator! Because I find such view very beautiful, it is just right to honor the maker behind it. We humans are familiar in giving honor and praise to whatever/whoever that is worthy of value.

I have become a witness to HIS handiwork and it is just right to give HIM thanks and praise.

Isaiah 43:7-10

Everyone who is called by my name,
   whom I created for my glory,
   whom I formed and made.”

Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes,
   who are deaf, yet have ears!
All the nations gather together,
   and the peoples assemble.
Who among them can declare this,
   and show us the former things?
Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right,
   and let them hear and say, It is true.

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
   “and my servant whom I have chosen,
that you may know and believe me
   and understand that I am he.

Some may say, “Well I am an artist, and yes perhaps I might love your afternoon sky, but why is it that it doesn’t point me to your GOD or why is it that I was not inclined to praise Him.” Well my answer would be, “Destiny.”

“General revelation does not provide sufficient information for the Gospel message.”

Destiny.

Let us understand first that GOD is HOLY and BEAUTIFUL, HE is the standard among all things and we humans are the number one enemy of GOD. We hate GOD, we always find ways consciously and subconsciously to defy GOD. As one of the great Reformers, Martin Luther stated:

“Love God, sometimes I hate Him.” a strange quote indeed from a respected religious man. “ Sometimes Christ seems to me nothing more than an angry judge who comes to me with a sword in His hand.” He added.

This is true to every man. People hate GOD, I hate GOD! Because HIS standard tramples my worldly entertainments.

We naturally love The Great Transgression rather than The Great Commandment. Our very heart and mind can’t stand HIM. We detest, despise, and loathe HIM. We are extremely allergic to GOD.

Romans 8:7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

Ephesians 2:3 Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Romans 3:10-18

“None is righteous, no, not one;
   no one understands;
   no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
   no one does good,
   not even one.”
“Their throat is an open grave;
   they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
   “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
   in their paths are ruin and misery,
and the way of peace they have not known.”
   “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Because of the Fall (Adam and Eve) we became sinners and sinners are naturally born to disobey or to not recognize GOD. Sin has affected all parts of man. The heart, emotions, will, mind, and body are all affected by sin. Our humanity is the very definition of sin!

Mark 7:21-23 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

My brothers and sisters, we whole-heartedly don’t want GOD – we are born to hate GOD. So it just makes sense that most of us does not and will not give credit to the Creator.

We are destined to act sinful and we are destined for hell, all of us…but wait…there’s a good news – The Gospel.

Truth.

As simple as it is, that afternoon sky lead me to the Truth. All my life I was baffled with questions of meaning, purpose, and destiny – and it lead me to the Truth.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

By GOD’s grace and by HIS doing alone, not by my “free-will”, I was born again.

“Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”

If you want to avoid your destination towards hell and have an everlasting life, know the Truth, love the Truth. Believe in the Truth.

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Romans 10:8-13 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for,“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

After GOD opened my eyes, the LORD gave me a new life. Creation becomes logically beautiful. Now I understand real beauty, the true beauty, the Truth of this beauty. I can now set my eyes upon the heavens and say, I know the answer. I know the answer!

Why do I do this?

-       Because I am GOD’s witness.

Why is it that my happiness is found in a place where I cannot hold it nor embrace it (with all the limbs in me) and say “this is mine, this is mine!”?

-       Because GOD planted eternity in my heart. Because there is a much better place – an everlasting joy and peace – a place where bright angel feet have trod. Where saints gather…that flows from the throne of GOD. GOD promised heaven. Its crystal tides are forever! I will worship ever! All of my days.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 - He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

The night might commence a thousand times more, but soon our hiking shall cease - we shall all go home - this is our destiny. The question is where? 

To a far more divine afternoon sky or to a total darkness? 

Even to that question, JESUS is still the answer.

My afternoon sky was like the first step for me in knowing GOD but it won’t save anyone  General Revelation cannot save anyone. We need a Special Revelation, the Bible – the Gospel. The gospel is the most important communication or revelation of GOD to man. In JESUS, who is God the Son, we have the revelation of God’s love and sacrifice that saves us from God’s righteous judgment upon sinners.

Brothers and sisters, repent. See the beauty that is in JESUS. Come with us! Not in this world’s afternoon sky, but in that everlasting sky. We pray that may JESUS show mercy to you and to your family. We pray that GOD will open your eyes and that your vision shall be fixed upon HIM.