疫情中的敬拜（一）：基督徒面對死亡WORSHIP IN PANDEMIC (1): THECHRISTIAN FACES DEATH
講員：林慈信（2020.3.19 講於馬來西亞檳城。2020.3.29 根據記錄稿增訂。）
(Webcast March 22, 2020, Penang,
Malaysia. Edited and revised from
transcription of recording, March 31, 2020.)
疫情正在世界各地散播的時候，讓我先講幾句話，討論一下我們的日常生活。
我們很多人將要，或是已經在隔離。因為我們每天的生活大致上限制在室內，所以，很重要的一件事就是：要過一個正常的，有規律的生活。我們每天都需要處理一些必須的事情。我們特別要在每天早上做一個時間表，定時撥出時間來讀神的話和禱告，並為個人的事情作計劃，例如：本週要作好的事。除了讀經，禱告以外，也可以撥出每天一些最好的時間（你的精神最好的時間），為了個人的成長作一些閱讀或學習。可能我們在這段時間，要重新學習如何禱告。花一點時間自我省察內心。當我們注意到外面的世界時，讓我們花點時間，關心別人，或作一些憐憫，鼓勵，輔導的事。重新建立（或加強）基督身體裡的相交。
As we
live through the pandemic in various parts of the world, I would like to make
some comments about our daily lives.
Many of us are experiencing(or have experienced, in China) isolation and quarantine for most of the
day. Since we spend most of the hours of
the day indoors, it is important that we live some kind of regular, disciplined
lives. Let there be some daily
routine. Make a schedule, especially for
the morning. Set aside time to study
God’s Word, followed by prayer. You may
also want to set aside some morning hours, or some other quality time (when
your concentration is at the peak) to do some additional study for your own
growth. Perhaps we might learn all over
again, how to pray. You may want to take
the time to search your own hearts. And
then as we look out on the world, take time to show concern and mercy on
others, albeit only online. Straighten,
or rebuild that community that is the Body of Christ.
今天第一次的『疫情中的敬拜』的信息是：基督徒面對死亡。
PRELIMINARY
REMARKS: OUR DAILY LIVES
I. 為什麼討論這題目
I. Why Discuss This Topic?
首先，為什麼要討論這個題目？為什麼現在討論？最明顯的原因就是：病痛在這些情況會導致死亡。我們的生命是渺小的。我們不知道，什麼時候會結束生命，特別在疾病大流行時。基督徒，亞洲人，特別是華人，會忌諱不討論死亡這個問題。這種忌諱，避免談死亡的題目，背後隱藏的，是我們對死亡的懼怕。
“The
Christian Faces Death”: why discuss this topic?
Why discuss it now?
[1]
The first, most obvious reason is that sickness can, and does often lead to
death. Our lives are uncertain. We do not know how and when it will end,
especially during a pandemic. Many Christians,
especially Asians and particularly Chinese people, have a taboo and avoid
discussing the topic of death directly.
Perhaps this taboo betrays our fear of death.
另外一方面，有些基督徒聽到一種消息，是虛假的盼望，不論是從成功神學，或來自其他的來源。有些人寄望於一些大型的禱告聚會，不論是基督教圈子裡，或者圈子以外的。所以，一方面，我們怕死；另一方面，我們想要抓到一些不實際的盼望。第三方面，基督徒可能會選擇走上絕望之路，因他們認為再沒有盼望了，什麼也不能作了。
[2] On the other hand, there
are Christians are told a message of false hope, from various sources including
the prosperity gospel. Some people
put false hope in certain large
gatherings, Christian or otherwise. So
on the one hand we fear death, and on the other we grope for what turns out to
be false hope.
《聖經》不是要我們怕死。基督來，就是為了『釋放那些一生因怕死而為奴僕的人。』（《希伯來書》2：15）《聖經》給我們的盼望，絕對不是建立在虛假的根基上。面對絕望的人，《聖經》的確提供盼望。但是，《聖經》是一本教義的書，我們的上帝是一位現實主義的上帝。
[3]
Thirdly: Christians might fall into despair, and think there is nothing we can
do.
The
Bible doesn’t want us to fear death.
Jesus Christ came to “deliver all those who through dear of death were
subject to lifelong slavery” (Hebrews 2:15). The Bible certainly does not give
us false reasons for hope. And the Bible
certainly offers hope for those who despair.
The Bible is a realistic book, and our God is a realistic God.
所以，不論我們講《聖經》哪一方面，特別有關死亡的教導，絕對不願意妥協上帝的主權。任何面對死亡和苦難的方案，都不可妥協上帝的主權。上帝坐在寶座上，我們的上帝是掌管生與死的主宰。我們要抓住這個真理。從上帝的主權，推出一些如何面對死亡的原則。順便一提，我們必須懂得怎樣面對死亡，才懂得怎樣面對人生。我們必須面對死亡，和我們永恆的結局；這樣才開始懂得在這個時刻，這個處境如何好好活下去。（這可能是你沒有想過的，或是多年裡忽視了這個基礎的教義。）
Whatever
teaching we provide for how to face death, we will not consider any alternative
which compromises the sovereignty of God.
Our God is on the throne. He is
lord of life and death. We hold on to
this truth, and from this we draw some deductions as to how to face death. By the way: we will not know how to face
life, unless we know how to face death.
We must face death and our eternal destiny squarely; only then can we
learn how to live with meaning and purpose at a moment like this. (Perhaps you haven’t thought about this;
perhaps for several years you have neglected these foundational principles.)
所以，為什麼要討論死亡？因為病痛會導致死亡。死亡是人人必須面對的事實。《聖經》給我們一些非常現實的答案，怎樣面對死亡，更重要的是怎樣勝過死亡。
So
why discuss this topic? Because sickness
can lead to death. And the Bible gives
us realistic answers to explain death, and to explain how to cope with and much
more importantly, how to overcome death.
II. 死亡帶來的後果
II. The Consequences of Death
死亡是什麼？人們為什麼會死？那麼，死亡這個現實會帶來什麼後果？
我們必須提醒自己，死亡並不像亞洲某些宗教那樣說。人死並不如燈滅！死亡是一個轉捩點，從這個世界的狀況，轉到另外一個永恆的狀況。《希伯來書》9：27：『按著定命，人人都有一死，死後且有審判。』死亡並不是我們人生所有事情的終結。
What
is death? Why do people die? And what are the consequences of this
reality?
We
must remind ourselves that the Christian view of death is not the same as in
Buddhism or perhaps other Asian religions.
Death is not extinction; it is not as is said in Chinese, “like putting
out a lamp.” Death, physical death, is
transition, from this phase of existence in this world, to another phase of
existence. Hebrews 9:27: “It is
appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Death is not the end of all things.
基督徒的死亡觀裡最重要的事實是：死亡是咒詛，是上帝對人類的咒詛。有時候，在基督教的圈子裡，會作出一種區分：一方面有『肉體的死』，另一方面是『屬靈的死』。但是根據《聖經》的教導，身體的死是真正的死亡。上帝清楚警告亞當和夏娃，吃分別善惡樹的果子必定導致死亡：『園中各樣樹上的果子，你可以隨意吃，只是分別善惡樹上的果子，你不可吃，因為你吃的日子必定死』（《創世記》2:16, 17）。我們肉身的死是上帝的咒詛（審判），肉身的死就帶我們面對永恆（上帝）這個層面。倘若人沒有被救贖，罪還沒有得到赦免，他面對的死，包括肉體的死和永恆的死。永恆的死，就是與生命的主宰隔絕，永遠在地獄裡；肉身的死，可能是與永活的上帝隔絕，但對信主耶穌的人，死亡是往永活的上帝那裡去！
[1]
The most important thing about the Christian view of death is: death is a
curse, it is God’s curse on mankind.
Sometimes Christians like to distinguish between physical death and spiritual
death. However, the Bible teaches that
physical death is real death.
In
the Garden of Eden, God clearly told Adam and Eve that the consequence of
eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is death: “You
may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall
surely die” (Genesis 2:16, 17). Our
physical death is God’s curse (judgment).
When we physically die, we immediately face eternity and God’s
judgment. If a person is not saved, if
his/her sins have not been forgiven, the death which he/she faces is both
physical death and eternal death. Eternal
death means separation from the lord of life and spending eternity in hell. So physical death may mean eternal
separation from God; but for those who
have put their trust in Jesus Christ, death means going to heaven, where our
living God is!
因為上帝咒詛了人類，因此人必須面對死亡，死後必須面對祂的審判，面對我們永恆的結局。朋友，你準備好了嗎？準備好去迎見上帝，面對上帝的審判和我們永恆的結局？
Because
God has cursed mankind, each person must face the fact of death; and after
death, we all have to face God’s judgment.
Dear friend, are you prepared to meet God? Are you ready to face his judgment and your
eternal destiny?
這是令人絕望的消息嗎？絕對不是！我們下面會看到，上帝對死亡這個難題提供了一個解決方案。死亡帶來的第一個後果，就是上帝的審判和人與祂永恆的隔絕。人類面對的只有兩個永恆結局：天堂，或地獄。（聽不下去了，是嗎？請忍耐，好戲在後頭。）
Is
this news for despair? Not at all! As we shall see later, God has provided a
solution for the problem of death. The
first result of death is God’s judgment, and man’s eternal separation from
him. There are only two destinies
possible for men and women: heaven or hell.
(Are you getting restless? Please
be patient; there is good news to come.)
死亡帶來第二個結果，就是在宇宙中，在自然界中帶來的虛空和敗壞。現在身處的自然界中，我們現在所經歷的一切，並不是正常運作的，並不是在人未有犯罪之時那樣正常地運作。我們可否說，病毒就是因為這個宇宙是上帝所咒詛過的，所以服在虛空和敗壞之下：『受造之物服在虛空之下，不是自己願意，乃是因那叫他如此的。』（《羅馬書》8：20）
[2]
The second consequence of death is futility and corruption in the natural
realm. Nature as we know it, the planet
which we live in, is not functioning as it should, it is not functioning as it
did before man sinned. We can say that
there is pandemic because the universe has been cursed by God, so it is subject
to futility and corruption: “The creation was subjected to futility, not
willingly, but because of him who subjected it” (Romans 8:20).
我們看到亞當的罪所帶來的，不僅是每一個人都成為罪人（羅5：12），必須面對上帝的審判；連自然界都因為亞當犯罪的緣故敗壞了，服在虛空之下。我們可以說，病毒是上帝審判的一部分。不過這是上帝對全人類的審判。亞當一人犯罪，全人類受到上帝的審判。我們沒有權利，也沒有這種智慧會知道，究竟上帝是因誰犯罪而施行審判（除了亞當以外）。我們只知道，因一人犯罪，罪就進入世界；審判也隨之而來，結果是死亡（羅5：12，15-19）。而上帝同時咒詛了自然界（創3：17-19）。
Thus
we see that because of one man Adam’s sin, we all became sinners (Romans 5:12),
we must all face God’s judgment; even nature became futile and subject to
corruption because of his sin. We can
say that viruses are part of God’s judgment (curse). But it is God’s judgment on all mankind,
because of sin. Adam sinned; all mankind
faces God’s judgment. We have no
privilege, no wisdom to know, which individual (other than Adam) has sinned to
bring about God’s judgment. We only know
that because one man sinned, sin entered into the world, and along came
judgment and death (Romans 5:12, 15-21).
At the same time, God cursed nature (Genesis 3:17-19).
死亡這事實帶來第三個後果：正如因一人犯罪，死亡進入世界，死亡進到世界時，就帶來更多的罪；人類就會犯內心而發的罪，從口而出的罪，以及犯行為上的罪。死亡帶來更多的罪。
[3]
The fact of death brings a third consequence: just as one man sinned and death
thus came into the world, so death
brings more sin. Men and women commit
sins of the heart, sins through the mouth, and sins in conduct. Death brings more sin.
死亡帶來第四個後果，就是苦難。（主若願意，我們另外一次信息會討論苦難問題。）
[4] The fourth consequence of death is:
suffering. (The Lord willing, we will
devote another session to suffering.)
死亡帶來第五個後果，就是敗壞。不僅自然界中受造之物活在敗壞中，還有我們的身體也敗壞了。所以，死亡帶來病痛（死亡是根源）。因為死亡的緣故，我們人會老化，人要面對生老病死。生老病死，是上帝因為一個人，亞當犯的罪，咒詛全人類的內容或後果。
[5] The fifth consequence of death is corruption. Not only does nature live in corruption, our
bodies have become corrupt. Therefore
death brings about disease: death is the root cause. Because of death, we grow old – aging,
sickness and physical death are inevitable.
These are the content and meaning, as well as consequences, of God’s
curse upon man’s sin.
結果，我們人生都很短暫，很快如飛而去。這讓我們想起《詩篇》90篇，神人摩西的詩。我們來看，人生是多麼短暫，像夢一樣那麼虛幻。
Therefore,
our lives are fleeting – they pass quickly.
This reminds of the psalm of the man of God Moses, Psalm 90. Let us pause to consider the brevity of life.
III. 基督徒的生死觀：『摩西之詩』的啟迪
III. The Christian View of Life and Death: Psalm of
Moses
『主啊，你世世代代作我們的居所。諸山未曾生出，地與世界你未曾造成，從亙古到永遠，你是上帝。』（《詩篇》90：1-2）上帝是神，祂是永恆的。『永恆』的意思是：上帝創造了時間，祂掌管時間。祂在時間以先，就存在了。
“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all
generations. Before the mountains were
brought forth, or ever you have formed the earth and the world, from
everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
(Psalm 90:1, 2) The Lord is God,
he is eternal. The meaning of God’s
eternity is: he created time, he rules over time. Before there was ever time, he exists.
『你使世人歸與塵土，說：你們世人要歸回。在你看來，千年如已過的昨日，又如夜間的一更。你叫他們如水冲去，他們如睡一覺。早晨，他們如生長的草，早晨發芽省行，晚上割下枯乾。』（《詩篇》90：3-6）上帝是永恆的，與這事相對的是：人的生命是短暫。上帝會讓我們的生命結束，我們便要歸回塵土。對上帝來說，一千年只不過好像一天，一個晚上。所以我們的生命就如洪水一樣，我們被冲去；或者我們的人生好像草一樣，很快成長，很快被割下來。人生是短暫的，上帝卻不是，上帝是永恆的。
“You return man to dust and say, ‘Return, O
children of man!’ For a thousand years
in our sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as watch in the night. You sweep them away as with a flood; they are
like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it
flourishes and is renewed, in the evening it fades and withers.” (Psalm 90:3-6) God is eternal; in contrast with this fact,
our lives are short and temporary. God
brings our lives to a close; we return to dust.
For God, a thousand years is like just one day or one night. So as in a flood, we are all swept away. Our lives are also like grass; it grows up
quickly, and is cut down just as quickly.
Yes, life is short. But not so
with God: he is eternal.
《詩篇》90：7-8，摩西解釋人生為什麼這麼短暫。我們為什麼都要必死？『我們因你的怒氣而消滅，因你的忿怒而驚惶。你將我們的罪孽擺在你面前將我們的隱惡擺在你面光之中。』這裡《聖經》告訴我們，有兩個原因，為什麼我們都必定要死：我們是罪人，我們會犯罪，而罪帶來了罪孽（就是罪名）。第二個原因，為什麼有死亡？因為我們的罪的緣故，上帝彰顯祂的忿怒。罪帶來上帝的忿怒和上帝的審判。
In
Psalm 90:7, 8 Moses explain why life is
so short. Why must we all die? “For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed. You have
set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your
presence.” Here the Bible gives us two
reasons why we humans must all die: first, we are sinners, we all sin, and sin
brings guilt and death. The second
reason is: because we sin, God pours out his wrath. Sin brings God wrath and his judgment upon
us.
我再重複：我們不可問：上帝因誰犯罪，因此施行審判，賜下了戰爭、飢荒、病毒、或其他的災難。（除了因亞當一人犯罪。）上帝沒有告訴我們。《聖經》沒有告訴我們。所以不能問這些抽象的，不切實際的問題。（《聖經》沒有答案的問題，定義上就是抽象的問題。《聖經》是具體的，告訴我們能具體的事。）《聖經》說的是：我們的罪帶來上帝的審判，就是我們的死。讓我們再記起《希伯來書》9：27：『按著定命，人人都有一死，死後且有審判。』我們只可以知道這麼多，我們也只需要知道這麼多。（《聖經》告訴我們所需要知道的；我們所需要知道的，就是如何得救，過敬虔的生活榮耀上帝。）因此，人生短暫，死亡是必然。都因亞當犯罪，我們犯罪，也因為上帝的忿怒和審判。
Let
me repeat: we cannot ask: who has sinned to bring about God’s judgment, plus
war, famine, viruses, or other disasters?
(Other than: the one man Adam sinned.)
God does not tell us. The Bible
does not tell us. So try not to ask
these abstract questions which are detached from reality. (The questions which the Bible doesn’t answer
are abstract questions by definition.
The Bible is concrete; it tells us concrete things.) What the Bible does say is: our sin results
in God’s judgment, which is: our death.
This reminds us of Hebrews 9:27:
“It is appointed for man to die once, and after that judgment.” We can only know so much, we also only need
to know so much. (The Bible tells us
what we need to know; what we need to know, is how to become saved and live
godly lives to the glory of God.)
Therefore, life is short, death is inevitable, all because Adam sinned;
we sinned; and also because of God’s wrath and judgment.
我們繼續讀下去：『我們經過的日子都在你震怒之下；我們度盡的年歲好像一聲嘆息。我們一生的年日是七十歲，若是強壯可到八十歲；但其中所矜誇的不過是勞苦愁煩，轉眼成空，我們 便如飛而去。』（《詩篇》90：9-10）人生不僅是短暫的，死亡不僅是必然的。人生往往充滿這虛空和痛苦。我們一生充滿的只不過是勞苦和愁煩。
Let
us read on: “For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to
an end like a sigh. The years of our
life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but
toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.” (Psalm 90: 9, 10) Life is not only short; not only is death
inevitable. Life is often filled with
emptiness and suffering. All our lives
are filled with toil and labor.
《聖經》似乎非常悲觀！那麼，為什麼說《聖經》是現實主義的？因為《聖經》告訴我們要敬畏上帝，要作一個智慧的人，明白人生的秘訣。『誰曉得你怒氣的權勢？誰按著你該受的敬畏，曉得你的忿怒呢？求你指教我們能怎樣數算自己的日子，好叫我們得著智慧的心』（《詩篇》90：11-12）死亡不是萬事的結局，因為在今生，上帝要教導我們，使我們得到一顆智慧的心。上帝要賜我們恩典，使我們能敬畏祂。我們要作智慧人，得到救恩，敬畏祂，就可看透生死的奧秘。『這《聖經》能使你因信基督耶穌，有得救的智慧。』（《提摩太後書》3：15）
Isn’t
the Bible pessimistic! Why do we say,
then, that the Bible is realistic?
Because there is a way out. The
Bible directs us to fear God, to be a wise person and thus understand the
mystery of life. “Who considers the
power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? So teach us to number our days that we may
get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:11,
12) Death is not the end of all things,
because in this life, God wants to teach us and make us wise. God wants to give us grace to fear him. We are to become wise and receive salvation
and fear him; this is the way to penetrate the mystery of life and death. The Bible, “the sacred writings … are able to
make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (II Timothy 3:15)
換言之，上帝要救我們脫離死亡，就是要我們脫離罪和審判。『因為世人都犯了罪，虧缺了上帝的榮耀；如今卻蒙上帝的恩典，因基督耶穌的恩典，就白白的稱義。』（《羅馬書》3：23-24）『凡接待祂（耶穌基督）的，就是信祂名的人，祂就賜他們權柄，作上帝的兒女。』（《約翰福音》1：12）當我們信靠上帝的兒子耶穌基督，就從罪和死亡的權勢得著釋放，得救後成為上帝的兒女。下面我們就馬上討論這件事。
In
other words, God wants to rescue us from death, that is, to save us from sin
and his judgment. “For all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-24) “To all who did receive him (Jesus Christ),
who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)
When we put our trust in God’s Son, Jesus Christ, we will be liberated
from the power of sin and death, and become God’s children. Let us discuss this right away.
我們這些已經經歷到上帝救恩的人，上帝要使我們作智慧人，作敬畏祂的人。我們應該知道如何禱告：不是以自己為中心，只求降福，把上帝當作是『有求必應』的偶像。不是這樣的。我們讀下去：有盼望的。在今生，基督徒是有盼望的：當然，條件是，我們禱告必須以上帝為中心，以上帝所關心的事為中心。可以把自己的掙扎放在上帝面前，不過是以信靠順服的態度。看摩西如何禱告：『耶和華啊，我們要等到幾時呢？求你轉回，為你的僕人後悔。求你使我們早早飽得你的慈愛，好叫我們一生一世歡呼喜樂。求你按著你使我們受苦的日子，和我們遭難的年歲，叫我們喜樂。願你的作為向你僕人顯現；願你的榮耀向他們子孫顯明。願主，我們上帝的榮美歸於我們身上。願你堅立我們手所作的工；我們手所作的工願你堅立。』（《詩篇》90：13-16）
Those
of us who have received God’s salvation, God wants us to fear him and be wise
persons. We need to know how to
pray: not self-centered prayers which
only ask for blessing, not to treat God as a genie in a bottle. Not, it’s not like this. There is hope. In this life, Christians have hope; the
condition is, we must be God-centered in our prayers; we must care about the
things which God cares about. Of course
we can lay before God our struggles, but we need to have an attitude of “trust
and obey.” See how Moses prays: “Return,
O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast
love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have
afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. Let your work be shown to your servants, and
your glorious power to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of
your hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!” (Psalm 90:13-16)
摩西向上帝求喜樂。不是逃避苦難得喜樂，乃是在患難中，以喜樂的心走過患難。
他禱告，讓人能夠經歷上帝的慈愛。上帝的慈愛不是一種捏造的情緒，乃是在患難，愁煩中經歷的真實。
Moses
asks God for joy. Not the kind of joy
through escaping from suffering; rather, that in the midst of suffering, God
will make us go through suffering with joy.
摩西祈求人能夠遇見上帝，經歷祂的榮耀。不是透過情感捏造出來的巔峰經歷，乃是在痛苦中，從軟弱中經歷祂的大能，祂的榮耀。而摩西求上帝在我們身上彰顯：在軟弱中，我們因為主耶穌基督能經歷祂的強壯。
He
prays that we may experience God’s love.
God’s love is not some sentiment which we manufacture, but a reality
which we can experience in the midst of suffering and sorrow.
Moses
prays that we can meet God and experience his glory. Not a kind of mountain peak experience
manufactured by emotions, but an experience of God’s power and glory in the
midst of our pain and weakness. Moses
prays that God will manifest this on us: in our weakness, we can experience his
strength, all because of Jesus Christ.
他也求上帝來賜福給我們手所作的工。我們手上作的工，是先求祂的國，祂的義（《馬太福音》6：33），這樣，我們求上帝降福在這些工作上。因此，我們的生命是以上帝為首，以祂的榮耀和國度為中心，因此我們充滿喜樂，方向，意義，尊貴，榮耀，和盼望。
He
also prays that God will come to bless the work of our hands. The work of our hands is seeking first his
kingdom and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33).
Only this way may we ask God to bless our work. All this is possible,
and available because of Jesus Christ, and because the Holy Spirit is actively
working in the Christian. Therefore, we put God as first in our lives, his
glory and his kingdom is at the center.
Thus we are filled with joy, direction, meaning, dignity, glory, and
hope.
換言之，那些被耶穌基督釋放，解決了死亡問題的人，就是那些知道，敬畏上帝的人才能明白人生的意義。我們可以作這種禱告，我們可以禱告，求上帝賜予喜樂：患難中的喜樂，走過患難時的喜樂；我們可以求上帝讓我們看到祂的榮耀，在我們軟弱的時候可以經歷祂的榮耀。可以求上帝給我們看到，我們手所作的工，為祂國度所作的工，有上帝所賜的福，必會有紮實而長久的果效。這些人，可以轉身回到這個充滿著災難的境況中，或在病毒的世界中，成為別人的祝福。提供盼望，分享憐憫，傳揚一個叫人得救，得智慧，得釋放的福音。藉我賜恩福 Make me a blessing！
In
other words, those who have been liberated by Jesus Christ, who have received
the solution to the problem of death, those who know God and fear him, only
they know the true meaning of life. We
can pray this kind of prayer, we can pray that God gives us joy: joy in
suffering, joy as we go through suffering.
We can pray that God lets us see his glory, see his glory in the midst
of our suffering. We can ask God to let us see that the work of our hands,
work for his kingdom, is blessed by him, that they bear solid, long term
fruit. These people can turn around and
go into this world, filled with disaster or viruses, and become a blessing for
others. They offer hope, they share
compassion, they declare a gospel which saves and liberates people, and makes
them wise. “Make me a blessing!”
IV.
基督教信仰如何面對死亡：上帝與死亡
IV. God and Death: How Christians Face Death
上帝定意要解決死亡的問題。祂是否只坐在天上，不關心我們人類的痛苦？他關心，他下來人間解決罪和死亡的問題。我們的立場是，要解決死亡和苦難等的問題，我們只接納那些不妥協上帝主權的方案。上帝非常關注死亡。首先，祂很現實地宣告了祂的咒詛。《創世記》第二章，祂告訴亞當夏娃：你吃那分別善惡樹的果子那日子，必定死 (16, 17節)。亞當犯罪之後，上帝來施行審判：祂咒詛了蛇，咒詛女人，咒詛男人。咒詛男人的話裡，包括宣告大自然界會變成不正常。『地必為你（亞當）的緣故受咒詛；你必終身勞苦才能從地裡得吃的。地必給你長出荊棘和蒺藜來…』（《創世記》3：17-18）
God
is determined to solve the problem of death.
He doesn’t just sit up there in heaven, not concerned about mankind’s suffering. He does care; he has come down to solve the
problems of sin and death. Our position
is: in order to solve the problems of death and suffering, we only accept those
solutions which do not compromise God’s sovereignty. God is very concerned about death. First he very realistically pronounced his
curse. In Genesis chapter 2 he told Adam
and Eve, the day in which they eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil, they shall die (v. 16, 17). After
Adam sinned God came to judge: he cursed the serpent, the woman, and the
man. And the curse upon Adam include the
pronouncement that nature will become abnormal: “Cursed is the ground because
of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and
thistles it shall bring forth for you.”
(Genesis 3:17, 18)
但是，上帝咒詛人類和大自然界的同時，祂提供了幫助，盼望，和恩典。
But
just as God cursed mankind and nature, he gave help, hope, and grace.
首先，祂提供幫助。祂殺了動物，用皮作了裙子給亞當夏娃遮蓋他們的羞恥（《創世記》3：21）。犯罪前沒有羞恥的（《創世記》2：25），現在羞恥成為人類生命中的現實。因為有罪孽，所以有羞恥。上帝提供了衣裳給亞當夏娃穿上。上帝也用天使和火焰來擋住伊甸園的入口（《創世記》3：22-24）。因為他不要人，身為罪人，在被審判的狀態紅再進入伊甸園，吃那生命樹的果子，就用於啊沉淪。上帝是慈愛的。祂要幫助人，祂要施行拯救。
[1]
First, he offered help. He killed
animals and made skirts from their skins for Adam and Eve to cover their shame
(Genesis 3:21). There was no shame
before sin (Genesis 2:25), but now shame is part of human reality. Shame exists because of man’s guilt. God provided clothing for Adam and Eve to put
on. God also sent angels and a flame to
guard the entrance to the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:22-24). Because he does not want man, as sinners, to
re-enter the garden, possibly eat of the tree of life, and perish
forever. God is compassionate. He wants to help man, he wants to save man.
其次，上帝提供盼望。當上帝咒詛夏娃的同時，祂提供了盼望。祂對蛇說：『女人的後裔必傷你的頭』（3：15）。換言之祂暗示，耶穌基督有一天必要來，擊敗罪，魔鬼和死亡的權勢。耶穌基督是女人的後裔所生的（《加拉太書》4：4）。當上帝咒詛人類和大自然界的同時，祂就開始展示，開始實現祂的救贖計劃。
[2] Second, God provided hope. Just as God curses Eve, he gave hope. He told the serpent: the seed of the woman
shall bruise his head (Genesis 3:15). In
other words, God intimated that one day Jesus would come to defeat the power of
sin, Satan and death. Jesus Christ is a
descendant of the woman (Galatians 4:4).
So just when God cursed mankind and nature, he began to unfold his plan
of salvation. He began to save.
最後，祂提供恩典，救贖的恩典。亞當知道他吃了這個禁果之後，必定死的。不錯，上帝的審判誠然來到。但上帝也給亞當恩典，使他有信心能相信上帝的恩典。所以『亞當給他妻子女起名為夏娃，因為她是眾生之母』（《創世記》3：20）。祂本來應該死的，但是現在憑信心看到，生命會延續下去，有救贖，因為有救贖主。都因為上帝賜他信心（《以弗所書》2：8，9）。
[3] Finally, he offered grace, saving
grace. Adam knew well that after he ate
the forbidden fruit, he must die. God’s
judgment came, as forewarned. But God
also giave Adam faith to believe in his grace.
“So the man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of
all living” (Genesis 3:20). He deserved
to die, but now through faith he saw that life would go on. Salvation will come, because the Savior will
come. All because God gave him faith
(Ephesians 2:8, 9).
《創世記》第四章起，上帝繼續展示祂如何勝過死亡的咒詛和權勢。人沒有能力勝過死亡。上帝如何勝過？勝過死亡的方法，是透過死亡；換言之，要透過流血，獻祭，贖罪，人的罪才能被塗抹，被赦免。上帝不僅用動物的皮子作裙子給亞當夏娃穿；裙子和接下來的啟示讓人知道，解決罪的方法是透過代罪來贖罪 (substitutionary atonement)。必須有一個代替品，代替人死。到了出埃及時期，我們讀到『頭生者』的原則。生出來的第一個男子是屬上帝的，應該成為祭獻給上帝。上帝沒有要人把人獻為祭，所以總會有一個替代的祭（《創世記》第22章；《民數記》3：40-51）。上帝後來設立祭司，聖所，叫人能為自己的罪獻祭。
From
Genesis chapter 4, God continues to unfold how he is to triumph over the curse
and power of death. Man has no power to
overcome death. How does God do it? He overcomes death through death: in other
words, through the shedding of blood, offering up a sacrifice, atoning for sin,
only this way can man’s sin be blotted out and forgiven. God not only provided clothing for Adam and
Eve with the skins of animals; subsequent revelation shows that the way to
overcome sin is through “substitutionary atonement.” There must be a substitute that will die for
man. When time came for the exodus, we
read about the principle of the “firstborn.”
The firstborn male belongs to God, he should be a sacrifice, offered to
God. Now God doesn’t want man to offer
human sacrifice, so there will always be a substitute (Genesis chapter 22;
Numbers 3:40-51). Later God instituted
the priesthood and the sanctuary, so that man could offer sin for his
sins.
上帝在整個舊約歷史中多次向人啟示，要人認識：這些祭物都是預表耶穌基督，上帝有一天要親自來，為我們的罪獻上自己。耶穌基督親自來死，解決死亡的咒詛問題，並勝過死亡（《哥林多前書》15：55-57；參看全章上下文）。人若信靠耶穌基督，就能靠祂免了定罪，勝過死亡。死亡的問題不僅解決，耶穌更從死裡復活，為罪人復活。祂的復活向我們保證，我們有一天也要復活，穿上永遠不會死的身體（《哥林多前書》15：35-44）。
Throughout
Old Testament history, God revealed to man many times, to teach man: all these
sacrifices are “types,” they point to Jesus Christ. One day God himself will come to personally
die as a sacrifice for our sin. Jesus
Christ came to personally die, thus resolving the problem of death and
curse. He also triumphed over death (I
Corinthians 15:55-57; refer to the whole chapter as context). If we put our trust in Jesus Christ, we will
be spared condemnation, he will overcome death for us. Not only is the problem of death solved;
Jesus rose for the dead, for sinners.
His resurrection is a guarantee to us
that one day, we too will be raised, and put on a body which will never
die (I Corinthians 15:35-44).
『基督已經從死裡復活了，成為睡了之人初熟的果子。死既是因一人而來，死人復活也是因一人而來。在亞當裡眾人都死了；照樣，在基督裡眾人也都要復活』（《哥林多前書》15：20-22）。保羅繼續說，將來我們信耶穌基督的人會得到一個新的身體，是不會死的，不會敗壞的，沒有羞恥的（哥林多前書）15：42-43）。當我們面對病毒時，當我們面對人類痛苦時，必須認清：這些痛苦都是亞當一人犯罪的後果。因為耶穌基督的緣故，我們靠祂有盼望。
“In
fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have
fallen asleep. For as by a man came
death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
For
as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (I Corinthians
15:20-22). Paul continues to say that,
one day we will receive a new body which cannot die, will not be corrupted, and
have no same (I Corinthians 15:42-43).
When we face viruses, when we face human suffering, we must be clear:
all this pain is the result of one man Adam’s sin. And because of one man, Jesus Christ, we have
hope by putting our trust in him.
V.
如何具體面對死亡
V. How to Concretely Face
Death
在具體生活中，我們究竟該怎樣面對死亡？
Now
concretely, how do we actually face death?
首先最重要的是：你必須信靠耶穌基督。祂死唯一為罪人勝過死亡的那位。朋友，你是否清楚知道，自己已經信了耶穌，靠祂為你的罪死，使你潔淨，並為你勝過死亡？假如不是，你必須確認這一點。今天就來到祂面前，接受祂為你的神，你的救主，你生命的主宰。
First,
the most important thing is: you must put your trust in Jesus Christ. He is the one, the only one, who died to overcome death for sinners like
us. Dear friend, are you sure that you
have trusted in Jesus as your savior?
Have you relied on him to die for your sin, to cleanse you, and to
overcome death for you? If not, be absolutely clear about this. Come to him today. Receive him as your God, your Savior, the
Lord of your life.
其次：對基督徒來說，你怕死嗎？實實在在的，在你的心中，你怕死嗎？今天，全人類死亡的人數每天在增加。（脫稿前，美國死亡人數已超過兩千。）基督徒有基督，有復活的盼望，應該是不怕死的人。基督來，就是『要釋放那些一生因怕死而為奴僕的人』（《希伯來書》2：15）！
Next,
for Christians. Are you afraid of
death? I mean, really, in your heart,
are you afraid to die? The human death
toll increases every day. (As I write,
the death toll in the US has passed 3,000.
March 31, 2020. Experts project
100,000 deaths or more.) As Christians,
we have Jesus, we have the hope of resurrection. We should be people not afraid to die. Jesus came to “deliver all those who through
fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Hebrews 2:15)!
這並不表示我們不會感覺焦慮，我們都是有血肉之軀的。但是我們藉著聖靈賜我們的信心，可以每一刻抓住我們的主耶穌基督，抓住上帝話語的應許。我們可以求祂給我們恩典，勇敢正視死亡。
This
doesn’t mean that we don’t have anxiety.
We are all made of flesh and blood.
But through the faith which the Holy Spirit gives us, we can hold on to
our Lord Jesus every moment, and hold on to the promise of God’s Word. We can ask him to give us grace, that we may
boldly face death.
至終，我們怕死，是因為我們缺乏信心。宗教改革傳統告訴我們，大部分的罪，歸根究底是『不信』(unbelief，缺乏真正的信心)。我們在心靈的深處，並不完全相信上帝已經為我們解決了死亡的問題，為我們勝過了死亡。我們告訴自己，我相信，但是心靈深處卻不沒有那個真的，活潑的信心。因為，我們若真的相信，我們會操練我們的信心：聖靈所賜的信心，不怕死，勇敢的在地上為基督作見證。保羅說：『我活著就是基督，我死了就有益處… 情願離世與基督同在，因為這是好的無比的』（《腓利比書》1：20,
23）。當然，一天仍然活著，是基督，是為基督（參：《加拉太書》2：20）。
At
the end of the day, we fear death because we lack faith. The Reformation tradition tells us, most of
our sins, at their root, are due to unbelief (the lack of true faith). Deep in our hearts, we don’t completely
believe that God has solved the problem of death for us, that he has overcome
death for us. We tell ourselves, “I
believe,” but in the depths of our souls, we don’t have that true, living,
strong faith. Because if we really
believe, we would exercise that faith; the faith which the Holy Spirit gives is
not afraid of death. Faith lets us
boldly witness for Christ in the world. Paul
says: “With full courage, now as always, Christ will be honored in my body,
whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. …
My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better” (Philippians
1:20, 21, 23). But, as long as we live,
to live is Christ (Galatians 2:20).
我們心裡根本的罪，是不信（缺乏信心）。你會反駁說：牧師，你所講的簡直是非人生活。這不是人可以聽得道（給天使聽還可以）。怎可能？不怕死。用我們的信心就不怕死。
The
root sin in our hearts is unbelief (the lack of true faith). You will object: Pastor, you can’t be
real. This isn’t a message for humans
(perhaps for angels only). How an this
be? Not to be afraid of death? Just use our faith, and we will not be afraid
to die?
你所講的盼望，好像只是抓不到的另一個虛空的盼望。
The
hope you are talking about sounds to me
like just another empty message of hope.
不過，信是很難。事實上，是不可能，除非上帝開恩，幫助我們。但是，在上帝凡事都能。『我靠那加我力量的，凡事都能作』（《腓利比書》4：13）。信心是恩典，是上帝所賜的恩典。我們要求上帝賜我們信心，也藉著敬拜，悔改，默想，來用信心抓住永活的，大能的上帝。
Friend,
it is true, it is difficult to have faith.
In fact, it is impossible, unless God gives us grace and strength. However, everything is possible with God. “I can do all things through him who
strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13) Faith
is a gift from God. We must ask God for
faith; and through worship, repentance, meditation, hold on to our ever living, almighty God.
我們來作一些具體的應用。譬如，死亡近了，你也知道，生命只剩下幾天。呼吸都開始困難了。你怎樣預備自己面對死亡？
Now
onto practical application. Let’s
suppose that death is near. You know
that there are only a few days left to live.
Breathing has become difficult.
How do you prepare yourself to die?
三百多年的英國基督徒，預備自己離開世界時，會在床上唱《詩篇》，並禱告，把家人交託給上帝。我用他們的精神，寫了一個禱告：當時的意思是送給一位在芝加哥快要離開世界的弟兄的。請參考，隨意分享給其他基督徒。
About
300 years ago, Christians in England would prepare for death this way. They would sing psalms in bed, they would
pray and commit their family and loved ones to God. Following their spirit, I prepared a prayer,
originally intended for a brother to use before he dies. Use this as a reference; feel free to share
with other Christians.
離開世界前的禱告
A PRAYER FOR CHRISTIANS AS
DEATH APPROACHES
親愛的主，你是我的救主。你是世上的光，也是我路上的光。我交託自己給你。
感謝天父，我找到了救主，有你作我生命的主宰。感謝主，你賜給我一生的道路，
一生的年日。你賜日光，你賜黑雲，你賜風暴。主啊，賞賜的是你，收取的也是
你。你是配得我稱頌的。
Dear
Lord, You are my Savior. You are the
light of the world, You are the light of my life. I now commit my soul to You.
Thank
You, my Heavenly Father, I have found my Savior. You are the Lord of my life.
Thank
you Lord, You are the Way of my life, every day, every year of my life. You give sunlight, You give the dark clouds,
You give the storm. Lord, You give, You
take away, blessed be Your Name.
親愛的主，我把我的家人交託給你。與我的妻子同在。賜她每天所需的力量，每時刻需要的恩典。賜她足夠的信心，活在你的面前。我們一旦分開，她留在地上，求你每天給她心中的亮光，賜她力量確信你的應許。她有你自己愛她，支持她，帶領她。你是她的安慰，你親自來作愛她的丈夫。
Dear
Lord, I commit my family to You. Please
be with my wife. Give her the grace and
the strength she needs every day, every moment.
Give her the faith she needs, so that she may live before You. Once we part from one another, she will be
left on earth; grant her the light she needs in her heart. Grant her strength to take hold of Your promises. She has You, Lord, to love her, support her,
guide her. You are her comfort, You will
be her loving husband.
求你給她足夠信心相信，抓住這些從你而來的應許。
Give
her enough faith to believe, and hold tightly to the promises from You.
我信，我交託我的妻子。求主幫助我的不信。
Lord,
I believe. I commit my wife to you. Help me in my unbelief.
親愛的主，我把下一代交託給你。他們是青少年，需要你自己作為他們的智慧。求你按著你的應許，作他們的父親。他們在成長的過程中，求你賜他們分辨的能力，分辨真理與異端；分辨與哪些青少年交朋友。主啊，若是你許可，我願意看見下一代與敬畏你的對象成立家庭。求你成全。
Dear
Lord, I commit to you the younger generation(s). They are young, they need You to be their
Wisdom. According to Your promise, Lord,
be their Father (and Grandfather). They
are growing in life’s journey, grant them discernment, O Lord, to know truth
from falsehood. Grant them wisdom to
discern which friends they need. Lord,
if it be Your will, grant them spouses who love and fear You, that they may
build Christian homes. May You fulfil
Your purpose in their lives.
主啊，我相信，我交託我的下一代給你。求主幫助我的不信。
Lord,
I believe. I commit the younger
generation(s) to You. Help me in my
unbelief.
主啊，我交託我主內的弟兄姐妹，牧者長執，求你繼續治理，愛你在地上的教會。我交託我週圍的親戚朋友，求你在每一位身上成就你最美的，最智慧的旨意。
Lord,
I commit to You all my brothers and sisters in Christ, pastors and elders. Lord, continue to rule over Your church. Continue to love Your church on earth. I commit all my relatives and friends around
me to You. May You fulfil Your most wise
and wonderful purpose in each life.
主啊，你是我黑暗中的亮光，你是我心靈的居所。我願意在地上服事你，我願意歸家投奔你。無論在哪裏，我的心啊，要抓住我的主。
Lord,
You are the light in my darkness, You are the dwelling place of my heart. I want to serve You while I am still on
earth. I want to run home to be with
You. No matter where I am, O my soul,
take hold of Your Lord.
主啊，我相信你。求你幫助我的不信。感謝主耶穌是我的救主。奉我的救主名求，阿們。
Lord,
I believe you. Help me in my
unbelief. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for
being my Savior.
除了禱告，這些清教徒也鼓勵家人，向他們見證上帝在他身上一生的恩典：祂『信實廣大』！
In
the name of my Savior Jesus I pray, Amen.
Other
than praying, these Puritans would also encourage their family members, and
witness to God’ grace in their lives.
“Great is thy faithfulness!”
VI.
如何面對別人的死亡
VI. HOW TO FACE THE DEATH OF A
LOVED ONE
那麼，當我們的家人親友去世時，我們該作什麼？當然，會有憂傷，會彼此安慰。『笑有時；哀動有時』（《傳道書》3：4 ）夜闌人靜時，在心靈深處，如何面對？
《聖經》和人間的智慧都告訴我們，家人離開世界時，人會有哪些可能的反應。有些人憂傷到絕望，憂鬱（我對這種憂鬱的定義是：憂傷到不能正常生活，工作）。有些人會責怪上帝，會發出很多疑問：為什麼？為什麼是他（她）？為什麼在這時刻？為什麼那麼快？為什麼那麼悲慘？
What
about when our family member or a loved one dies? What can we do? Of course there will be grief and sorrow, and
we do our best to comfort each other. “A
time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn…” (Ecclesiastes 3:4) As
darkness falls, at night, in the depth of your heart, how do you cope? The
Bible and human experience both tell us, when loved ones depart, how people may
possibly react. Some people are so
overcome by grief, they become depressed (my definition of depression here is:
we become unable to function and work normally). Some people may blame God and ask: why? Why now?
Why is it he/she? Why so
fast? Why with so much pain?
又有些人會與家人爭吵，兄弟姐妹吵架，當去世的家人（特別是家長）躺在棺木裡，彼此爭吵。還有一些相關的情緒，甚至不承認對方走了，等。
Or
some would quarrel and argue with brothers and sisters. As the deceased lie in the casket, family
fight goes on. Then there are other
emotions, including denying that the loved one has died, etc.
這些是自然的反應。但是若停留在中西情緒，是死路一條。是的，憂傷有時，但停止憂傷也有時。而面對死亡最好的方法，乃是感謝上帝。為對方的一生感謝上帝。他有普遍恩典，若是信徒，則有救恩，有永生。
These
are all very human reactions. But if we
remain in these emotional states, they become a dead end street. Yes, there is a time to weep. But there is also a time to stop weeping. The
best way to face death is to give thanks to God. To thank God for the life which was
lived. Common grace has come to our
loved one. And if he/she is a believer,
also salvation and eternal life.
你說：牧師，你太殘酷了，簡直不懂人性。怎能告訴我們在憂傷中感恩？那麼去哦請問你：你又如何面對死亡？你用的方法，是上述一種嗎？有幫助嗎？有出路嗎？給你帶來盼望，喜樂嗎？是你更加智慧嗎？願意考慮試試上帝的方法嗎？歡迎，我們邀請你。
You
will object: Pastor, you are so cruel.
You don’t understand people at all!
How can we give thanks as we are grieving? Well, may I ask you a question? How DO you cope with death? Are you in one of the above mentioned situations? Has your way helped? Is there a way out? Has it brought you hope and joy? Has it given you more insight and wisdom?
How
about it? Consider. Try God’s way. We invite you. Come.
回到摩西的詩（《詩篇》90篇，見上文）。我們要求上帝賜我們一顆智慧的心，透視生死的奧秘（《詩篇》90：12）。《傳道書》的作者，舊約的智者在卷末作這個結論：『這些事都聽見了，總意就是：敬畏上帝，謹守祂的誡命，這是人當盡的本分』（《傳道書》12：13）。
Let’s
return to the psalm of Moses (Psalm 90, see above). Let us ask God to give us a heart of wisdom,
that we can see through the mystery of life and death (Psalm 90:12). The author of Ecclesiastes, the wise one,
concludes his book this way: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this
is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
這是最現實的人生觀，如何面對生與死。這是活的路，帶來真正的盼望，方向，意義，使命。
This
is the most realistic philosophy of life: this is how to face life and
death. It is a living way, it brings you
true hope, direction, meaning … and a mission for living.
死亡的謎，不是一個學術的問題。是一個真正要面對的事實。死亡，正在我們眼前發生。世界各地每天都在發生。我們聽到一些地方，幾千人同埋在公墓。這些痛苦是不可思議的。但是對信主耶穌的人，有出路。有盼望。
The
riddle of death isn’t just an academic subject for debate. It is a reality which we all must face. Death is happening right before our eyes
every day, all over the world. We heard
about places where mass graves are dug for thousands to be buried
together. Unthinkable. But for those of us who put our trust in
Jesus Christ, there is a way out (I Corinthian 10:13). The is hope.
朋友，你願意信耶穌基督嗎？祂是罪人的救主。信靠祂的人，祂為我們勝過死亡。若願意的話，讓我們現在就禱告：
Dear
friend, are you willing to put your trust in Jesus? He is the savior of sinners. Believe in him, and he will overcome death
for you. If you are willing, let us
pray right now:
相信耶穌基督的禱告
A
PRAYER TO PUT OUR TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST
上帝啊，在一個充滿恐懼，焦慮，痛苦的這一刻，要我來相信你，是非常難的。我承認，信心非常難作到。我也不完全明白我的思想。求你開恩，憐憫我。求你賜我信心。求你開我的眼睛，叫我看到死亡的奧秘，看見你如何為人勝過罪和死亡。我承認我是罪人，活在充滿罪的世界。求你赦免我的罪；賜我信心，信靠你是我的救主。求你潔淨我，住在我裡面作我的主宰。我願意從你的話得到方向，知道怎樣敬畏你，為你而活，甚至與你一同面對死亡。主啊，我每天還有你給我的責任，要生活，要照顧家，要工作。謝謝你為我預備了人生當盡的義務。求你叫我如何活，如何預備死，因為你為我們預備了一個天上的家。感謝主，你把各樣恩典賜給相信你的人。我信。求你幫助我的不信。我禱告，都是靠那罪人的救主，耶穌基督的名求。阿們（『阿們』的意思是：這是我誠心所願）。
Dear
God. This world is full of fear, anxiety
and pain. For me to put my trust in you
is very difficult. I admit, it is
difficult to believe. I also don’t
understand all that I am thinking.
Please be gracious to me. Have
mercy on me. God, please give me
faith. Open my eyes, and let me see the
mystery of death. Let me see how you
have overcome sin and death for sinners through Jesus.
I
confess that I am a sinner, and I live in a world filled with sin. Please, I ask you to forgive my sin; give me
faith to believe you as my savior.
Please cleanse me and become Lord of my life. I want to receive direction from your Word,
so I can fear you, live for you, and face death with you.
Lord,
you have given me everyday responsibilities; I need to live, work, take care of
my family. Thank you for providing
duties in this life. Teach me how to
live, how to die. Because you have
prepared a home for us in heaven.
Thank
you, Lord, for giving all kinds of gifts to those who trust in you. I believe.
Please help me in my unbelief. I
pray in reliance upon the name of Jesus, the savior of sinners. Amen.
(Note:
“To pray in the name of Jesus” means to rely on him and all he has done. “Amen” means, “I sincerely mean this.”)
