LIFE IS A TEST

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I've recently met an old college friend on ICQ.

We had a good time in college about 7 years ago, when we played basketball together, despite that we represented different school. He is a competitor, real good defender and a skillful shooting guard too. During college time, I played point guard position, sometimes I had the chance to face him one-on-one, it was a nervous moment, as I know that he is able to destroy our defence, be it penetration or outside shooting, he did it all. On the other end, he defended me well, making my game played in a very difficult situation. I hate playing against him, to be honest....he made my game poor. But, when we played together for our college team, I love to play alongside him. He does the best he could to help the team, led the team by his competitive spirit . No matter we lost or win, he is forever a winner, he did his best, he competed every single possession, both ends on the floor.

Off the court, we are good buddy for that 1 year in college. Not only we played basketball together, sometimes we share our dreams and vision, Michael Jordan is our  inspiration and "Idol" growing up as basketball player. I remember We watched the 1997/98 NBA Final together, in a friends house, thanks to Astro for the live broadcast. He left college after 1 year of study, and I lost contact with him since. He left without finishing his course.

Michael Jordan is the greatest player to play this ball game.

Couple of weeks ago, while I was ICQing (new verb for this generation!!!), I met him on-line, and he told me that he is in Nagoya, Japan. What a surprice!!! He flew to Japan with his girlfriend, (too bad they break-off after 1 year in Japan) to earn a living in Japan. But...why Japan? I asked him curiously, he said he wanted to test his ability to survive in a totally new environment. Well, he survived, after 6 years in Japan, from nothing....now, he owns a cybercafe , and a partnership of a small restaurant/cafe in Nagoya. "Nothing is impossible!!! You just need to believe that you can do it!!!"  Well, he doesn't speak good English, matter of fact, good English doesn't helps in Japan. He learn Japanese language, he learnt their culture. From working in Seven Eleven, cybercafe, restaurant, he learnt the culture, the lifestyle, and the needs of people there. He is getting married, next year, early February, will come back to Malaysia for a simple wedding dinner and Chinese Ceremony. His fiancee is a pretty Japanese girl, very supportive to him and encouraged him all the time.

I felt so happy that I have a chance to meet a friend like him, and I believe God has a plan for me to meet him at this moment in my life, I had too much complaints. Not knowing that "Life is a test". Many time, I try to avoid the unavoidable test in my life. But this guy that I know was looking for challenges and test to prove himself. Words like trials, temptations, refining, and testing occur more than 200 times in the Bible, It shows that God continually tests people's character, faith, obedience, love, integrity, and loyalty. Character is both developed and revealed by test, and all of life is a test. We are always being tested. God watches our response to people, problem, success, conflict, illness, disappointment, etc. "Blessed  are those who endure when they are tested. When they pass the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12 )

Now, I realise that, God wants me to pass the tests of life, so I can glorify His Name above all. Often, I lack of faith to face many circumstances, think that I will fail and it won't be nice to let people see how I fail the test. I always worry about how people will look at me. "What if....?" These are the attitude that hindered us from growing in spirit, God wants us to grow, walk close with Him, so he can shows His amazing love to our life. As we grow stronger eachtime we passed the test, He shapes us into a complete personality that He can uses us for greater things, greater jobs, so we can be a greater instrument for His kingdom.

Thank you, Ah Hou (This is how I call my friend in Japan), you show me the real life that we live, compete everyday, live our days to it's fullness. I pray that God will touch you one day. God bless you!!! by Hanry H Y Chan 19 October 2004 e-mail me at : hanrychy@ttrb.com.my ICQ : 173-543-755