Size isn't Might

The latest super-hero in town wasn't big at all. In fact he's small but mighty small. Throw in the  handsome hunk, funny gags, fast-paced action, good acting, great special effects and Ant-Man is well-worth 2 hours of my life at  a GST-increased price ticket.

Who wouldn't root for an ex-con trying to make good; a guy who just wants to turn over a new leaf so that he can be a father to the daughter whom he adores? You can't go wrong with lines like "Second chances don't come around that often", "I believe everyone deserves a shot at redemption." Heck, the latter is even biblical. After all, that's the very reason Jesus came to earth - to seek and save sinners; not just ex-cons but everyone since mankind can never escape the curse of Adam except by the grace of divine redemption.

The hero was tasked to save the world from the antics of a mad scientist by being shrunk to the size of an ant, with a literal army of ants at his command. And what a visual treat the ants were - they really got me....Ants with unpronounceable scientific names. Ants that could weave a rope in the air, ants that could swim, float, fly and carry sugar cubes. I will never look at an ant the same way again....

And as I watched how Ant-Man tried to adapt to an 'ant-sy' world, so totally alien and removed from his world of man,  and even more how to relate to these strange creatures, I wondered at a parallel   that happened 2000 years ago. Only this event was about a real, living, breathing person, not a fictitious character out of a comic strip. Apostle Paul explains of this person Jesus Christ succintly,

"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:6-8)

To this day, I am amazed at the lengths God went to, to save me, to save the world from eternal damnation. He literally 'shrunk' Himself from being Ruler of the universe to zilch, gave up all divine power, taking the form of a mere man. The Creator became part of His creation. Just so He could die to redeem the life of sinners who keep rejecting, disbelieving and opposing Him. That's way more than any imaginary super-hero ever had to contend with. And just like Ant-Man, who did it all out of love for his child, that's exactly why Jesus gave of Himself, so that all of us can be reconciled back to the Father who loves us so. Hmmm, I wonder if Hollywood knew how much Ant-Man (intentionally or unintentionally) parallels the greatest fact of the Bible - a God who loves man so much He came down to earth, not to visit, but to live and die as a mortal, so that all other mortals can have a second chance, to be redeemed into eternal life.

After all, that's what super-heroes are supposed to do all the time - save the world, even if it means sacrificing oneself in the process. Still, comic book heroes never quite die; they always live to fight another day somewhere down the line. But way more than a feel-good super-hero fantasy movie is the real life, death and resurrection Jesus Christ. It's not a prequel or sequel, it's a done deal - there's the bloody cross, and there's the empty tomb. I can walk out after a  movie and forget about something that's the figment of human imagination. But I can't walk out on or forget about a God who gave all of Himself to die my death, just so I could live in His resurrection power. He did it unconditionally,  allowing me to choose whether I would believe and follow Him, or not. That's amazing love. That's unending grace. That's true freedom.


Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One man the many will be made righteous.... Romans 5:18-19

India 2015

It was hot, hot, hot all the way this time round .  The heat got to us all. We were bathing in sweat at every venture out into the villages and house churches. My last visit to this  state of India was in 2011( read here)  What a difference it was then, compared to now. No more open air huge rallies, now we could only minister in confined quarters of people's homes or schools. Confined is really confined. Their houses are so small. We found ourselves sitting on people's beds most of the time whilst waiting for this or that. The beds were hard wooden ones, with just a sliver of a mattress (if it can be called that), they filled the entire room. Cooking was done either open air style using firewood or on small cement tops using gas stoves. Most of the time, there wasn't even space for a sink - the bathroom was used for everything that needed washing.

Some things remain the same in India - the poverty, the dust, the dirt.  It was a test of endurance, even for me, whose standard of cleanliness is very much less than perfect.   Apparently  the pastor had not expected 3 ladies to be landed onto him.  So he was quite flustered especially since this was his first time taking charge of foreigners. On top of accommodation problems, he was worried about our safety, as we were deep in hostile territory. One of the districts we went to was a known 'cowboy' town, where violence is the norm. And indeed we felt the negatives vibes immediately. I am used to being started at in India. But these stares were different; they were rudely aggressive. Still we had come to minister, so minister we did, and we thank God for His protection all the way.


The congregations were small, but very warm and hospitable to us. From the little the hosts had, they freely shared, even if it was just a cup of tea and a plate of snacks. The pastors' wives were especially kind, taking the trouble to cook the daily main meals for us.

Every missions trip brings about different revelation for me. This one took me back to the basics, the heart of things. Once again I realize how blessed I am. On that first nite when we had to settle for a dark dingy motel-like room with a toilet that even I had trouble adjusting to, I was reminded the price Jesus paid for my soul. He didn't endure a filthy washroom; He endured death for me. So what's a dirty toilet compared to what Jesus did to prove His love for all mankind? Actually nothing could compare to that; no sacrifice can ever match His.



And as I sweated it out  at every session,  I was humbled by the people who turned up. The spaces were so tight, they were packed body to body. We were given chairs, they sat on dust-caked floors. How much more they suffered than us.  So what cause do we have to complain of discomfort?  We 'touch-n-go' home to our comparatively spacious air con mansions, clean bathrooms, piped water and comfy  beds  in M'sia. The poorest of them still live in huts. Even their brick houses are no more than small cubby holes.  Our children get the best of food, health care, education and all things material. Many of theirs run around naked or in tattered clothes, have bad skin eruptions, don't go to school or drop out.  How can anyone not be moved?

I don't have money or resources to help any of them. The only thing I have is hope; hope in a God who is light in the midst of darkness, who promises not to make problems disappear, but to take us through them. Government, politicians, NGOs, can only do so much. But they can never give hope the way a living God can. After all if  Jesus conquered death, nothing in this earthly life can get a believer down. And these people know it. It's evident as they come forward in simple faith  to be prayed over; they jabber away about their problems, although I don't understand a  word, but I do know how to pray from the heart.  One woman simply burst into tears standing in front of me. I offer her my shoulder and the peace of God. They come bringing bottles of water and oil for us to pray over; some tangible thing that connects them to the power of a divine God who heals.  And I am the one who goes away blessed, because they give meaning to the words of Apostle James, "Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?" (James 2:5)

The atheist mocks such 'useless' stuff because he isn't aware of or doesn't want to admit his need. Only the desperate know how to seek  - and find God.

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" - Hebrews 11:6

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