Am I Precious?, L. H.

I was brought up in a Christian family in the local church hearing and reading the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee. Every morning before school we would read a chapter of the New Testament and two chapters of the Old Testament. Every night we would read a Life-study message. My mother was very strict not only in the things of God but also humanly, so needless to say I couldn't wait to leave home.

At college I explored the world, doing things I couldn't do when I was at home. I refused to admit that the things I was doing were not satisfying me. However, I was at a point in time where I seriously started to consider my future. I would earn heaps of money, buy all the things I couldn't have when growing up, and then what? After I achieved my goals the three words always came up “and then what?”, the final answer being “and then the Lord comes back.”

I recalled a verse which likens the Lord's return to a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2). A thief not only comes at an hour you do not know but a thief also comes to steal what is precious. I asked myself, “What is precious to the Lord? Am I precious to the Lord?” It was then that I realized that the Christ in me is the only thing that makes me precious.

It was at this point in time that Witness Lee passed away. My thoughts were that as long as he is still alive and ministering Christ I'll be fine. However, I realized we all need to rise up. The ministry is there, the Bible is there, and I need to be constituted with the Word of God (1 Peter 2:2; Matthew 4:4).

I was brought up with the view that after University there is the full-time training. This is the place where I can be constituted, be filled with Christ and become precious so when the Lord returns as a thief He will want to steal me.