Faith.Hope.Love.
Ya, sounds logic and relevant.
But HIV.Hope.TB?
How do they relate to each other?
HIV and TB, ya, they both relate to depressing diseases;
nothing wrong to put these words together.
But how could Hope come between them?
Or rather how could Hope arise from them?
Served a HIV cum TB patient last month.
He has been in the TB ward for months.
I haven't seen anyone visited him throughout the week that I ministered to him.
Loneliness and solitude were what I saw in him.
A few thoughts came into my mind whenever I saw him.
Perhaps his family and friends have given up on him.
Perhaps he has hurt his loved ones in a deep way that we couldn't comprehend.
Perhaps deep down in his heart, he wished he could be given a brand new chance in his life and this time round he would make different major decisions in his life.
Perhaps like everyone else, he has also given up himself because he just couldn't see hope in his life anymore.
Have you ever felt so ashamed that you wished you could just turn back time and erase those destructive actions of yours unto others?
Have you ever been in a situation where guilt and remorse were so overwhelming and you wished you could be given one more chance to reverse the entire scenario?
Have you ever felt so desperate and hopeless to an extent where you see death as the only solution for all your problems?
John 10:10 (NKJV; emphasis added)
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.
I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
Matthew 9:10-13 (NKJV; emphasis added)
"Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house,
that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and his disciples.
And when the Pharisees saw it,
they said to His disciples,
"Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
When Jesus heard that, He said to them,
"Those who are well have no need of a physician,
but those who are sick.
But go and learn what this means:
'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.'
For I did not come to call the righteous,
but sinners, to repentance."
Luke 4:18 (NKJV)
"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set liberty to those who are oppressed..."
So now, what do you see from the above verses?
I see a loving God wanted so much to give His creations abundant life.
I see a merciful God wanted so much to restore our broken lives; whether we have messed it up ourselves or broken by others.
Above all, I see Hope in the midst of sins, sickness and shame.
It's never your Creator's desire for you to bear the guilt and shame.
It's never His intention to see you drown in your regrets and self-condemnation.
But it's always His desire to give you a brand new start in your life;
no matter what you've done;
and right where you are;
HE WANTS TO SET YOU FREE.
All we need to do is just a humble confession,
and He will do the rest. = )
HIV.HOPE.TB
Can you relate them now? = )
May you be Blessed by this entry.
God bless you. = )
*HIV- Human immunodeficiency virus
TB- Tuberculosis
