浴火重生

2009年2月20日凌晨，去信給一對在以色列的牧者夫婦，告訴他們，主感動我變賣一切來跟從他，我正準備如此行，並打算加入他們服事以色列的事工，信剛發出去，我們所住的公寓發生大火，燒了12個小時，是神的憐憫和保守，公寓裡72個人安全脫險。這火使我從對主的呼召舉足不前的狀態中清醒過來。主來的日子很近了，時間不允許我在將要過去的世界裡打盹，我為自己以往對主的不順服而憂傷痛悔。
一天，在網上我看到一張鷹的圖片，深深的被鷹銳利的眼光和堅忍不拔的神態所吸引。將這圖片畫成油畫，當畫完成時，剛好是我們經歷火災一周年，以此畫表達對神的慈愛憐憫充滿感激。
主來的日子近了，再沒有時間在這將要過去的世界裡打盹.願我們的眼光如鷹般銳利, 性情如鷹般堅韌不拔, 跟隨主, 永不回頭!
你從水中經過，我必與你同在，你趟過江河，水必不漫過你，你從火中行過,必不被燒，火焰也不著在你身上，因為我是耶和華你的神，是以色列的聖者你的救主.( 以賽亞書43:2)
主,我相信！相信你的愛，你的應許，相信你必成就關乎我的事。

In the early morning of February 20, 2009, I wrote a letter to a pastor and his wife who are serving the Lord in Israel. I told them that the Lord had moved me to sell everything and to follow Him, and I was prepared to do so and move to Israel to join them in their work.
Shortly after I mailed the letter, a fire broke out in my apartment complex, and it kept burning for 12 hours. Through the mercy and protection of the Lord, all of the 72 people who lived in the complex escaped safely.
This major fire awoke me from my hesitation in fully following the Lord. The Lord is at hand. I should not fall asleep in this soon-to-be-over world. I repented in sorrow and tears about my lack of response to the Lord’s calling in the past.
One day, I saw a picture of an eagle on the internet. I was deeply moved by the eagle’s sharp vision and its spirit of perseverance. I have therefore used the symbol of the eagle as the theme for this painting. It so happened that this painting was completed on the anniversary date of the apartment fire. This painting thus became a reflection of my gratitude and appreciation of the Lord’s tender love and mercy towards me.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.” (Isaiah 43:2, 3, NIV)
Lord, I believe. I believe in your love, your promise. I believe you will fulfill what you want to do through me.

Painting by Jean Long in Vancouver BC
February 20, 2009