After the Rain, Comes the Sun

I am not into "worldly" songs. However, yesterday I came across this song sung (listen here) by the daughter of Malaysia's former DPM, a haunting yet soothing melody accompanied by a pianist on the beach and sea as the backdrop with the occasional rain drops falling on the piano making the song more poignant as a reflection of the mood of the country as a whole. It reflects the mood of Ranauians, after 3 or 4 days of rain, comes the sun this morning. I have been mourning for the country for almost 40 days now, since the disclosure of the Wall Street Journal on an 2.6 billion ringgit allegedly banked into account of the top politician in the country. Since then, many things have happened. The DPM and a few senior ministers had been sacked for speaking out on the 1MDB debt, the Ringgit had crashed into its lowest against the USD in 17 years (RM3.92 = 1USD or RM2.83 = 1SGD yesterday). With falling commodity and oil prices coupled with China's slowing economy, the worse that one could ask for is political turmoil affecting business and investment sentiment further with foreign investors taking their money out of Malaysia in the billions. That will only bear on the Ringgit's weakness further in days and weeks ahead. With all the political upheaval, Malaysia's role and influence as Chair of ASEAN this year is severely diminished, not least its moral authority among the 10-nation grouping. What should be our day in the Sun is now shrouded in controversy and clouded by multiple scandals in the country. What's in for Malaysia at this juncture of her history?
Last April I listed 7 or 8 negative indicators of what had happened in Malaysia since the Lahad Datu incursion in February 2013 to April 2015. I could add a few more in the past few months. It adds to more pessimism on the nation's prospects and short term recovery, economically, politically and socially. I read Daniel 9-11 a fortnight ago coupled with Isaiah 59-60. Whilst the earth or land is enveloped in darkness, God's people rise up with light shining on them. Arise for Your light has come.. though darkness may cover the land. In these dark days of the nation, the church must rise to the occasion, and it is in the land of the shadow of death (Galilee of the Gentiles) that the light had shone. Malaysia may sit in darkness at present but she will see a great light for as Jesus says, "You are the light of the world" and "a city set on a hill cannot be hidden" and "let your good works shine before men that they may glorify Your Father who is in heaven" (Mat 5:16). Tomorrow I will be preaching on the theme "Pursuing Glory" based on Romans 2:7, "to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury." Like Noah's days, people may mock as God's judgment is delayed but judgement there is and judgement there will be. This is the certainty for those who do wickedness, wrath and fury from the face of the Lord. "If the righteous are scarcely saved, where would the wicked be?"