Last week was the remembrance day of my sister. It was also the remembrance day of Sister Seunghee Yoo and Deacon Yongbin Cho. These events have led me to once again think about life after death. With a half opened book on my desk, I begin to think about life. I remind myself that there is continued life after death; that my life’s journey does not end on this Earth but will see its completion in the place of eternal bliss.
As 2022 rolls to an end, I look back at the choices I’ve made this year. Such thoughts lead to prayer, and make me look back at my life’s journey. Moving forward, when the last day of my journey approaches, I pray that I will be less ashamed of myself than I am today, and that my legacy won’t be tainted. However, honestly, I am not sure if I will be able to race the remainder of my life’s journey feeling more proud and accomplished.. Looking back at my life’s voyage, I lose my assurance that I would be better than I am today.
Still, there is one thing I see for certain: I believe God’s grace will continue in a place of grace already given. I believe that the grace of God, the grace that has been with me every single hour of my life, the grace that has covered my flaws again and again . . . I believe that such grace will continue to overflow throughout the rest of my life’s journey. Trusting in such a God of mercy and grace, I dust my hands and stand up with a full-hearted prayer that my choices to come will please Him more.
I pray that I would be able to step forward to follow Jesus’ steps . . . that I would be walking not far but close to Him . . . that my love and faithfulness towards Him would become deeper than what it was yesterday. The last words of a pastor who was known as a saint pops up into my head.
“Love what you cannot love!”
“Forgive what you cannot forgive!”
“Don’t make excuses!”
That I would be able to live the rest of my life as the hands and feet of God . . .
Trusting in the God who sees what is done in secret . . .
Following the shepherd…
Pastor Jiwon Choi