If we look around us, a lot of changes have taken place. Today we see a lot of instant products. We have the instant 3 in 1 coffee, just add hot water, and we can drink hot coffee with milk and sugar; we have instant noodles, just add hot water and we have something hot for lunch; we have some powdered milk, just add hot water and we can drink hot milk.
When comedian Yakov Smirnoff went to the United States from Russia, he was not prepared for the incredible variety of instant products available in American grocery stores. He says, “On my first shopping trip, I saw powdered milk; you just add water, and you get milk. Then I saw powdered orange juice; you just add water, and you get orange juice. And then I saw baby powder; and I thought to myself, instant baby! What a country!”
I remember our first television.It was black and white. Most likely for young people, you have not seen a black and white TV. At that time, there were only two or three channels. And the picture was a little blurred; we had to climb up to the roof and adjust the antenna. A little rain would affect the reception. I remember that students would flock to a store near the Divinity compound (where the hospital is now) pay a small amount just to watch the drama in the early evening. And now almost every house has a TV, and some have LCDs.
And if we look around, we have computers, iPods, cell phones, refrigerators, and several others which just came out in the last few years.
Before, when we talked about notebook, it was made of several pieces of paper bound together which we used for notes. Now, a notebook is an electronic equipment.
Changes are taking place every day in our midst. And that includes the life in campus. Alumni who come to Silliman, especially those who graduated in the 70s or 80s or even before, would notice a lot of changes in campus.We have new buildings, air-conditioned classrooms, and even the clothes that students wear are different.
Sometimes, a small change can cause a lot of changes around.
A tourist was traveling in a Far Eastern bazaar, and came across a beautifully-carved ebony box. Small, delicate, he was entranced by it. He asked the shopkeeper about it, and the man said that yes, it was for sale. There was only one thing…he must always keep it facing east. He purchased the box and took it home. Remembering the instructions, he set it on the coffee table, turning it carefully toward the east. But once he did, he realized that it would look better if he also turned the coffee table just a bit toward the east. Then of course, the furniture was out of line with the table, so he reorganized the chairs and sofa. But then the lighting was all wrong, so he moved the lamps to align with the furniture. In doing so, he realized that he would need to put in some new electrical outlets to accommodate the new location of the lamps around the sofa and chairs and coffee table, now arranged to accommodate the box facing east.In ordering the new outlets, he discovered the need for an entire rewiring of the house, which required tearing out most of the old lath and plaster, having a new ceiling and paint, and, of course, while he was at it, new carpet and curtains…all because of the little box facing east.
Change is good. However, in the midst of these changes, St. Paul cautions us, “Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong.”(vs. 13)
In the midst of these changes, it is so easy to make some compromises. But St. Paul tells us there are things in our faith that should not be compromised. Stay firm. We are to be faithful to what God has called us to do.
You know, the church in Corinth was plagued with divisions, temptations, and false teachings. Paul reminded them to “be firm in their faith”.
Today, when everything seems to be changing, we are called to stand firm and to live boldly. When confronted with diverse theologies and conflicting beliefs, we boldly place our faith in the living, giving God who gave himself for us.
This faith is not just a set of axioms to which we give our assent. It is not just intellectual conclusions about the God who lives in heaven, far from us.
It does not mean “agreement with” the various theologies, it means “commitment to”; not just belief “about” but belief “in” the Christ who died to show us God’s love, and who rose from the dead.
And this is the kind of faith that we at Silliman University are trying to share with those who come through its portals. This is the story that we have to share with others–the Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
In the midst of all the changes that are happening, we need to be firm in our faith in the living Christ who is with us today and always.
And to translate this faith into everyday life, St. Paul talks about being courageous and strong. When we see some people treating others as commodities; when we see the marginalized forgotten, we need the courage to speak out. When there is injustice and things are not done according to what God wants us to do and to be, we need to speak out. When we see lives destroyed because of drugs, we need to speak out; when we see cheating not only in classrooms but anywhere, we need to speak out.
And then Paul continued on to say, “Let all that you do be done in love.”
I believe this is very important because for St. Paul, this is the supreme test for every action. He wrote that the “more excellent way” is doing things with love.
Bruce Larson tells about a young African woman, named Maria who came to the U.S. from Angola. One day Maria went to a meeting on evangelism in her church where they were talking about pamphlets, missions, campaigns, and all the rest. At one point, someone turned to her, and said, “What do they do in your church in Angola, Maria?”
“In my church,” said Maria after a moment’s thought, “we don’t give pamphlets to people, nor do we have missions. We just send one or two Christian families to live in a village. And when people see what Christians are like–how they show their love to others, then the others would want to be Christians themselves.”
This is what St. Paul meant when he wrote, “Let all that you do be done in love.” The light of Christ shines though our lives if we do things in love.
Finally, I don’t know precisely what the Lord’s call to “be courageous” and to “do things with love” means for each of us. I know it means at least: that we at Silliman University, blessed with human potential for leadership and caring, blessed with financial resources, must do all we can for the least and the lonely, the depressed and the despairing, the homeless and the hopeless, those who are up and out, as well as those who are down and out.
As we are blessed with people like you who are articulate in your faith and who have the commitment to follow Jesus Christ, on this University Christian Life Emphasis Week, we need you to be courageous enough to share the story of Jesus and how he means to you; we need you to commit yourselves in reaching out to our students with love.
And my heart is filled with gratitude to all of you who are helping in this program. It is a bold act of faith, representing the commitment of all that we have and all that we are to the cause of Jesus Christ.
Thus, in the words of St. Paul: Stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. (I Cor. 16:13) May God continue to bless you as you serve the Lord.
