The Local Church

Christ is My Life, Hope and Joy

I began my undergraduate studies at the University of Manchester, England. Leaving my native country Hong Kong and for the first time living independently of my parents completely changed my daily routine. It was at this point I began to question my life and my living. Many times when I was studying in my dormitory I would suddenly stop and ask myself why I was studying so hard, and what was my purpose in life. I felt an emptiness within.

It was then I began to attend Sunday services at a University cathedral regularly. Because the acoustics in the building were very poor, I had a hard time understanding the ceremony. At last I gave up trying and began to pray by myself the Lord's prayer in the midst of all that was going on. I uttered this prayer again and again with an open heart. I can testify that in those days every time I came out of the place after such praying, I was full of joy. I felt washed and clean. The sky seemed more blue, the leaves more green, and I began to appreciate and love all the people I met. I wanted to shout and to jump as I walked back to my dormitory. Although this was my frequent experience, I was not clear what was happening to me.

It was not until four years later while I was in graduate school at Berkeley that I realized what had happened. One day I was invited to a meeting to hear a brother, Witness Lee, teaching from the Bible. I learned that, according to the Bible, God is not someone who keeps an account book of our good and bad deeds. Rather He is One who loves us and saves us and wants to come to dwell in us to be our life, our hope and our enjoyment. Just like Paul said, “Christ in you the hope of glory” (Col 1:27). Peter also said “Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, you love; into whom though not seeing Him at present, yet believing, you exult with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory” (I Pet 1:7b-8). When I was young, I received quite an amount of religious knowledge, but none of it touched my inner being. It had no more effect on me than a lecture in physics. But by praying to the Lord with an open heart I received the living Christ into my being, Who has now become my life and joy. I was so glad that Christ came to live in me. Over the past number of years, with the help of Witness Lee's ministry and through many human experiences, Christ has become more and more real, more and more enjoyable. Indeed I have come to know that He is my joy that is unspeakable and full of glory.

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