Seek First the Kingdom of God
Hi everyone, my name is Marcus I am 22 this year. My parents, Jensen and Yvonne first brought my brother and me to Bethany in 2003 and we have stayed on ever since.
Growing up in Bethany, I managed to catch glimpses of what it meant to have faith and a relationship with God through lessons that impacted me through the various ministries and camps. However, these moments were fleeting, and I found myself slipping back into old habits again and again. Though there was a desire to follow Christ, my weak foundations coupled with the draw of the world always pulled me back.
As such, I found myself gradually getting drawn further and further away from God as I grew older. I was drawn to the good times that I could find with friends, drawn to the idea of doing well academically and the worldly ideas of success that came with it. Saturday meetings in church got replaced by studying time or simply a time to spend with friends. And even though I continued to come to church on Sundays, there was never the right heart or state of mind for it and the lessons learnt never stayed.
This was the case until I finished my National Service in early 2017 and I was able to have more time to myself. I started attending YPG III when it first commenced in Bethany IV, and it was really there where lessons of faith really impacted me as I realised how far off and how in need of God I was. I started to take my faith more seriously, seeking to apply lessons learnt into my life. Looking back, I truly thank God for opening my heart and eyes to these lessons even when I was far away from Him.
These lessons were quickly put to the test when I started university about a year and a half ago. I entered Nanyang Technological University (NTU) studying Business and Accountancy. Being new in the business school, the competitive culture and pressure to do well really threatened to draw me away from Christ and the faith that I was just seeking to develop. However, the lessons that I learned and applied grounded me in my faith.
Matthew 6:33 reads:
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
This is one verse that really summarizes the lessons that I sought to apply in my life. To put aside worldly ideals that I have so often given in to in the past and to continually put God first place in my heart, fully trusting in God’s plan for me.
And even as I applied these lessons, I definitely saw God’s hand of blessing in my university life. As He became my source of strength on days that I was drained, my source of comfort when things didn’t turn out too well. Through the challenges and pressures faced in school, I was able to learn to place my trust in Him and grow in my faith.
And it is with this reality of God that I have decided to get reaffirmed. Because I am sure of this God that I believe in and I want to commit to knowing Him even more as I continue my university studies and into the future when I begin working.
‘looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.’ Hebrews 12:2
Looking forward, even as the future is fraught with uncertainty, I seek to continue to live looking towards Christ, continually placing my confidence in Him, discovering His plan for me as I trust Him.