 
### Crazy happiness in Christian Enlightenment

By Cohmi Coh

Copyright 2013 Cohmi Coh

Smashwords Edition

**Smashwords Edition, License Notes**  
Thank you for downloading this free ebook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to Smashwords.com to discover other works by this Author. Thank you for your support.

_Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from:_ Holy Bible: English Standard Version _, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved._

_Other Scripture quotations are taken from:_ Holy Bible: New King James Version. _NKJV. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved._

# Table of Contents

Introduction - Why I wrote this book?

Chapter 1 - Christian Enlightenment

Chapter 2 - Extraordinary transformation

Chapter 3 - Rejoicing in the midst of suffering

Chapter 4 - The glory of God we are beholding is only a glimpse

Chapter 5 - Refocused eyes stop the flow of our happiness

Chapter 6 - True enlightened Christian has the heart of giving

Chapter 7 - Why people loved the fallen world?

Chapter 8 - Having faith is only a sign that we are already enlightened

Chapter 9 - Jesus died not to offer but to bring the salvation

Chapter 10 -Maximizing your seeing for the sake of your happiness

Chapter 11 - Reaching your highest joy while in this world

Endnotes

About Cohmi Coh

Connect with Cohmi Coh

# Introduction: Why I wrote this Book?

The ultimate goal of this book is to lead you to experience _crazy_ happiness. I called it crazy because it is not the kind of happiness that you experienced through following the common secular tips of the world on how to be happy [ex. Be a positive person, Always be with a group of happy people, Say to yourself every morning that you are happy, Always sleep early at night]. It is not also a happiness that you get in laughing with your happy friends because Bible told us also that "even in _laughter_ the heart _may ache_..." (Proverbs 14:13) Meaning, you can _laugh_ and at the same time, have _sorrow_ in heart. Laughter is not always a manifestation of happiness! I called it crazy because I am talking to a kind of happiness that even you, the one who will experience this kind of happiness, will never be able to explain by words how happy you are in your life - you will be crazy in experiencing this happiness because it is really, really, really an indescribable happiness! And you will experience this crazy happiness _only_ through experiencing the extraordinary miracle of God that I called in this book _Christian enlightenment_.

**My prayer to you**

I am praying that as you finished reading this book, my title in this book will not be just a memory to you but will be a reality in your life. I pray that may you be the kind of person who is experiencing _crazy happiness in Christian enlightenment_.

# Chapter 1: Christian Enlightenment

True Happiness? Are you seeking for this _true_ happiness not just simply happiness? Then, I want you to know that you are not alone in seeking the road to the true happiness in life because since ancient times, all people, Christians or non-Christians, are already seeking it.

**We are created to be happy**

Diogenes, one of the ancient Philosophers, lived like the poorest man in the world in streets because he believed that if he will never be attached on any material things, he will become happy. He is one of the founders of _cynics_ – it comes from the Greek word _kunikos_ that literally means dog-like. He lived like a dog in the streets only because of happiness.

In 1990s, newly graduate student named Christopher Johnson McCandles, donated all of his money that cost 24,000 dollars to a Charity and then, lived to the wilderness. Before he died in August 18, 1992, he wrote in the destroyed and abandoned bus – the place where he is living in the wilderness: "I have had a _happy_ life..." Hmm...Wait! Did you notice his last words? Obviously, his driving force in doing what he is doing is to experience true happiness in life. And he extremely believed that it will never be found by having a lot of money. He lived in the wilderness without money only because of happiness.

According to FBI's Uniform Crime reporting data last 2011, there were about 750,000 drug arrests for marijuana made nationwide. What is something inside in that marijuana that leads most people to desire it? It is because according to the common experience of many, it makes them happy but actually the truth is it is only a temporary happiness. One of my classmates in college, user of marijuana, said when we are still in our college days, "Since I started smoking weed, I have perceived _happiness_ within and stop having care in the world." People desire marijuana even they know that they will be in jail for using it only because of happiness.

What else can I share about stories of people seeking happiness? There are lots of stories of it – they are uncountable like the uncountable stars in the sky! Because we have lots of different stories about achieving happiness, it is not surprising anymore that most of the philosophers concluded that the pursuit of happiness is the heart of humanity. Aristotle said, "Happiness is the chief end of human action" and Blaise Pascal said, "All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end" that's why when you heard a man who is saying, "I am _not_ seeking happiness in life," what that man is really saying is this: " _My happiness_ is not to seek happiness in life." The truth is even the desire not to seek happiness is actually driven by an inborn passion of humanity of seeking happiness. We are human beings created for seeking happiness.

**We are created for God's glory**

Philosophers didn't know that the thought they have that we are human beings seeking to be happy is actually what the Bible is saying that we are created for God's glory – we are called to _see God's glory_. God said to Isaiah, "...bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, _whom I created for my glory_ whom I formed and made." (Isaiah 43:6-7) The pursuit of happiness and the pursuit to see God's glory are actually only a one pursuit. It was written in the Bible, "The wilderness and the dry land shall be _glad_ and blossom like the cactus: it shall blossom abundantly and _rejoice with joy_ and singing." (Isaiah 35:1-2) They are glad and rejoicing with joy. Did you know why? The next verse tells us the reason: "They shall _see the glory of the Lord_ , the majesty of our God..." (Isaiah 35:3) Did you see that? Seeing is their rejoicing.

God's glory is our happiness that's why when the Psalmist said, " _declare His glory_ among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples" (Psalm 96:3), it has the purpose of making people of the earth to be happy. Psalmist said in the next verse of it, "...and let the earth _rejoice_." (Psalm 96:11) The rejoicing of the earth is in seeing the glory of God.

Look also what God said through Isaiah about the future event: "Arise, shine, for your _light_ has come..." What is that light? The verse itself answered, "..and the _glory_ of the Lord has rise upon you." (Isaiah 60:1) Light is referring to God's glory based on the context of this passage. Look what the next verse said: "Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdrawn itself, for the Lord will be your _everlasting light_ [the glory!], and your days of mourning _shall be ended_." (Isaiah 60:20) Did you see that? In the future event, when the light or the glory of God will be displayed to us as everlasting, the days of our mourning will be ended. Meaning, our _forever seeing_ of God's glory is the beginning of our _forever happiness_ – no more mourning! Again, the truth is God's glory is our happiness.

**Satan Blinding Ministry**

People who are eager of seeking their true happiness in life are blinded that they never realized that what they are actually doing is they are eager of desiring to return to a life why they are created – seeing God's glory. An atheist who never believed in God but still seeking the true happiness in life is blinded that he never he realized that what he is seeking is not actually happiness itself but the glory of God – the only source of his true happiness as being a human. The blindness of these people is the evidence that the ministry of Satan in this world exists.

Paul said about the ministry of Satan, "...The god of this world [Satan] has _blinded_ the mind of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the _light_ of the gospel of the _glory_ of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4) Satan blinded the mind of unbelievers. Why? It is to keep them from seeing the _light_ of the gospel. What is that light? It is the _glory_ of Christ, who is the image of God. In short, Satan blinded the people to keep them from seeing the glory of God in Christ in the gospel. The truth that Satan is blinding the eyes of the people so that they will not see God's glory in Christ in the gospel shows that the purpose of the gospel is _opening the eyes of the people to see God's glory in Christ_. Displaying God's glory in Christ is the main purpose why Jesus died on the cross and our seeing of that displayed glory is our happiness that's why when Jesus died, we can imagine that He is actually saying to us who are lonely in life, "From now on, I want you to be happy but I want to be the reason."

**Gospel reveals God's glory for our happiness**

William Mounce commented that the word "gospel of the glory" in 1 Timothy 1:11 should not be translated "glorious gospel," as most modern versions of the Bible do because in Original Greek grammar, the glory is actually the content of the gospel. Therefore, it should be translated "gospel that tells and reveals the glory of God."

In other passage in Old Testament, you will see that it was written: "How beautiful upon the mountain are the feet of him who bring good news, who publishes peace, who brings _goods news_ [gospel] _of happiness_..." (Isaiah 52:7) The gospel in Greek literally means good news that's why the phrase good news in this verse is understood by New Testament Authors as gospel. In this verse, you will see that gospel is called gospel of happiness. Did you notice something - that in New Testament, gospel reveals God's glory but in Old Testament, Gospel makes humanity happy? Does it mean that we have two kinds of gospel in the Bible? No, they're not! They are the same – it simply means that Gospel reveals the glory of God to us for the sake of our happiness.

**Christian Enlightenment**

Having an eyes opened in seeing God's glory in Christ is what I called _Christian enlightenment_ \- always remember that! To the enlightened Christians, their seeing of God's glory is actually their river path where the water of happiness from God to them is flowing that's why the state of a man under Christian enlightenment is he is having extraordinary joy and peace that he, himself, cannot explain how joyful, blissful and peaceful he is. And that is what I am really praying to you in this book – may you experience this Christian enlightenment!

David is my best example of a man under Christian enlightenment. Look what David said from his experience of having eyes opened in seeing God's glory: "One thing have I asked of the Lord, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, _to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord_..." (Psalm 27:4) You will never desire to do something that is all the days of your life if it doesn't make you happy that's why the truth that David desires to be in the presence of God all the days of his life to gaze the beauty of God's glory is because of the great happiness he is experiencing in gazing God's glory. And he actually said it clearly in other passage: "...In your presence, there is _fullness of joy_ " (Psalm 16:11)

**Jesus Christ is the source of our Christian Enlightenment**

Jesus Christ died to bring this Christian enlightenment to the people that's why when Jesus was born, the angel said, "...I bring you good news of _great joy that will be for all the people_." (Luke 2:10) Again, it is great joy because Jesus will display God's glory.

Enlightened Christians are having great joy or rejoicing because of having eyes opened in seeing God's glory in Christ. This is true to the testimony of the people responding in the gospel in the book of Acts. Let me share it to you one by one. When Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ, this is what happened to the city: "so there was much _joy_ in that city" (Acts 8:8) and when he also taught the good news of Jesus in the book of Isaiah to the Eunuch, the eunuch responded to him after he leave him: "and the Eunuch saw [Philip] no more, and went on his way _rejoicing_ " (Acts 8:39) and when Paul shares the gospel to the Jailer, this is what the jailer responded: "And he _rejoiced_ along with the entire household that he had believed in God" (Acts 16:34) and when Paul also told to the gentiles that they are also partakers of the gospel, they responded: "And when the Gentiles heard this, they began _rejoicing_ and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many were appointed to eternal life believed." (Acts 13:48)

In my journey, all of the testimony of a new converted Christian that I heard in my life is always related to experiencing extraordinary joy and peace inside of them. Actually, the theological reason why they are experiencing a crazy happiness is because they are under Christian Enlightenment – they already have opened eyes of seeing the beauty of God's glory.

**Reflect on this thought**

Jesus Christ died on the cross to display the glory of God so that you will be happy in God now until forever. When he is died, I think, he is saying to you, "From now on, I want you to be happy but I want to be the reason."

# Chapter 2: Extraordinary transformation

Once you experienced Christian Enlightenment – having opened eyes to see God's glory in Christ, you're seeing is actually not just where your happiness is flowing but also where you're _transforming_ is flowing. What do I mean by that? We will discuss that more in detail in this chapter.

**Beholding is our becoming**

Paul said, "And we all, with unveiled face, _beholding_ _the glory_ of the Lord, _are being transformed_ into the same image from one degree of glory to another." (2 Corinthians 3:18) In this verse, our beholding of God's glory is our becoming like Christ. The more you continue to behold, the more you are becoming like Christ but the moment you stop beholding, transformation stops also in your life.

It is like Peter who walks in the water. Do you remember it in Matthew 14:28-31? He is able to walk in the water like Jesus because he is looking at Jesus but his ability to walk in the water stop because his transformation of becoming like Jesus stop when he stop looking to Jesus and refocus his eyes on the big waves of the sea. As peter's becoming like Jesus stopped when his beholding of Jesus stopped, so also are we – we stop becoming like Christ when we stop beholding the glory of God in Christ.

Commanding a person to be like Christ, I believe, is not enough for a person to live like Christ. Every human needs power to obey this kind of command - be like Christ! And the only power of it is from _beholding_ the glory of God that's why if we want to see our surroundings transforming, what we must do is not to demand others to live like Christ and condemn them if they disobey it instead we should change our lifestyle - all the things that we are doing should have only one purpose and that is to display the glory of God. Their beholding of God's glory in our lifestyle is their transformation! In practical thought, what I mean is we should do good things to others not so that they will admire us as a good person instead it is so that they will admire our Master - Yaweh! Our good works should lead others to fall in love not to us but to God or them to be closer not to us but to God!

Anyways, did you notice also the word _transformed_ in the passage we read a while ago: "...are being _transformed_ from one degree of glory to another..." (2 Corinthians 3:18) Actually, the word transformed here in Greek is _metamorphoo_ where this Greek word is what Matthew and Mark in explaining the Lord's transfiguration. Matthew wrote, "and [Jesus] was _transfigured_ [metamorphoo] before them, and his face shone like sin, and his clothes, became white as light." (Matthew 17:2) and also Mark wrote, "And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was _transfigured_ [metamorphoo] before them and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them." (Mark 9:2-3) Also, this Greek word metamorphoo is where we got the word metamorphosis in Science. We are taught that metamorphosis describes the process that changes the ugly caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly that's why the transformation that Paul is talking in his letter is not an ordinary transformation of your personality, attitude or mind that comes on your own will-power, self-disciplines and reading self-help books. It is not a "trying to be like Christ transformation," it is an extraordinary transformation that starts from inside to outside that only the Spirit of God can do while we are beholding the glory of God that's why Paul also said in the end part of this verse: "...For _this_ [ _this_ is referring to transformation] comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18)

According to Jonathan Lear, in his book Aristotle: The desire to understand, he said about the belief of Aristotle, "For Aristotle, the genuine pursuit of happiness and the virtuous life are one and the same." Meaning, desiring to be happy and desiring to live a virtuous life is _one and the same_. Aristotle is right in saying that because biblically, becoming happy and becoming like Christ [or living a virtuous life like Christ] are both under the _fruit of beholding God's glory_. Water of happiness and water of transformation is flowing to us from God in our beholding of His glory. The pursuit of happiness and pursuit of virtuous life is a one pursuit but Aristotle didn't know that it is actually the _pursuit of beholding God's glory_.

Mahatma Ghandi, a great Philosopher in India and respected by great world leaders, said a shocking statement for Christianity. He said, "I love Christ but I hate Christians. They are unlike Christ." I think what Ghandi said years ago are still a reality today. There are many Christians today living not with a transformed life like Christ. They are Christians in name but _not in actions_. The only reason I see is because the gospel they heard is not the gospel that reveals the glory of God and leads them to a life of beholding God's glory instead the gospel they heard is the gospel that makes them realized that there is now a way on how to become rich, how to have successful career in this world and how to have sports car. The Christians that Ghandi are talking are the Christians who never experienced Christian Enlightenment – Christians who became a Christian only because they thought that God will make them rich and will change the status of their life.

**When God is our only Joy, we are transforming**

Jesus said to His disciples, "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bear much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5) In this verse, we need to realize first that we are called _not to bear fruit_ instead we are called _to abide in Him_. What does it mean to abide in Him? Abiding in Him means you desire every seconds or every moments of your life to be with Him because you know and believe that apart from Him even just one second you can do nothing. So abiding in Him means God is your _only_ joy in life.

Jesus said, as you live a life that God is your only joy, you will bear much fruit. What is that fruit? I believed that the fruit that Jesus is talking about is the same fruit that Paul is talking in Galatians. Paul said, "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22) that is the fruit! Notice that Paul clearly called it _fruit_ but most preachers today translated it as _list to do_. Paul gave us not list to do instead he gave us the fruit or manifestation of the Spirit that's why we should not focus on "how to love, how to have joy, how to have peace, how to be patient..." No! That's not the point! All of them is _fruit_ and _not list to do_. Fruit means you did something first before you have that fruit. Right? The question now is what are you going to do in order to bear those fruits? We learned from Jesus a while ago that it is by abiding in Him. Actually, Paul has the same idea, he said in this context that we bear fruit when we are "walking by Spirit" (Galatians 5:16) Walking by Spirit means you are depending on the Spirit because without Him, you can do nothing. Meaning, Paul and Jesus has both mind in how to bear fruit and that is to depend on Him or to abide in Him or simply to live in the truth that God is our only joy. The truth is when God is our only joy, we are transforming – or bearing fruit!

We learned a while ago that beholding God's glory is our transformation and now, we learned also that abiding in God [or living a life that God is our only joy] is also our transformation. Are these two are different ways to experience transformation in life? No! It's not. The essence of beholding God's glory is actually living a life that God is your only Joy. You are beholding means God is your only Joy.

Look at this. David said, "One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze [or to _behold_ ] upon the beauty of the Lord [or the _glory_ of the Lord]." (Psalm 27:4) In this verse, you will see the two together. Beholding God's glory [ _David is gazing the beauty of God_ ] and God is your only joy [ _David is desiring one thing which is to be in His presence all the days of my life_ ]. Meaning, beholding God's glory and abiding in God is not different to each other instead they are the same!

**Reflect on this thought**

Having eyes opened for beholding God's glory is the beginning of our life like Jesus. The more we behold in His glory, the more we become like Him but the moment we stop beholding His glory, our transformations also stops.

# Chapter 3: Rejoicing in the midst of suffering

In the ancient history, you will notice that there are lots of Christians rejoicing while suffering. One of it is Polycarp, when he was already in the arena ready to be killed as martyr, the Proconsul tried to persuade him to deny his faith in Christ by saying, "Swear! Reproach Christ, and I will set you free." It is amazing that even Polycarp has now a way to escape suffering, he still replied this: "86 years have I have served him and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?" He chose to suffer than to deny Christ! After that, the Proconsul is really eager to persuade him by saying, "I have wild animals here! I will throw you to them if you do not repent." Polycarp replied shocking words: "Call them! It is unthinkable for me to repent from what is good to turn to what is evil. I will be glad though to be changed from evil to righteousness." Again, the Proconsul scares him more by saying, "If you despise the animals, I will have you burned." All of the threat that Proconsul said to Polycarp doesn't lead him to deny his faith in Christ. He replied, "You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and is then extinguished, but you know nothing of the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. Why are you waiting? Bring on whatever you want."

When Polycarp was ready to be burned alive, he looked up to heaven, and said, "O Lord God Almighty, the Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the knowledge of you, the God of angels, powers and every creature, and of all the righteous who live before you, I give you thanks that you count me worthy to be numbered among your martyrs, sharing the cup of Christ and the resurrection to eternal life, both of soul and body, through the immortality of the Holy Spirit. May I be received this day as an acceptable sacrifice, as you, the true God, have predestined, revealed to me, and now fulfilled. I praise you for all these things, I bless you and glorify you, along with the everlasting Jesus Christ, your beloved Son. To you, with him, through the Holy Ghost, be glory both now and forever. Amen."

Polycarp is _rejoicing in the midst of suffering_. This story is only one of the millions of Christians who faced persecution with a rejoicing heart. What makes Christians rejoice in God in the midst of suffering? We will learn the theological answer of it in this chapter.

**Stephen's great suffering**

Bible said, "People cast Stephen out of the City and _stoned_ them." (Acts 7:58) Try to imagine the pain of it. He was stoned to death! Bible also said, "and as they were _stoning_ Stephen..." (Acts 7:59) Did you notice _stoning_? It is a _continuous_ action. Meaning, he experienced a lot of stones to die. He died not just by a single stone but by a lot of stones! Bible continued to explain what he is experiencing when people were stoning him, "...And _falling_ to his knees..." (Acts 7:60) Ouch! Can you imagine more the pain? His knees are already falling down because of the pain of stones and also the pain of negative words of the people that's why it is not surprising anymore that Bible also said, "He _cried_ out with a loud voice..." (Acts 7:60) He did not just _shout_ out but _cried_ out loud. And what is amazing in this story is after those pains, he never said, "it is painful Lord! Why! Why I need to experience this!", what he cried out is this: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them" (Acts 7:6) Wow! Stephen, like Polycarp, in the midst of great suffering, ended with peace, forgiveness and great love and care for the people.

The question now is what is his secret? His secret is actually in the previous verse which is verse 55. This is what happening to him while he is experiencing the pain of stones. Look at this: "But [Stephen] full of the Holy Spirit, _gazed_ into heaven and _saw the glory of God_ and Jesus standing at the right hand of God." (Acts 7:55) In the midst of suffering, God's glory was being revealed clearly to him. The happiness in God's glory is really a very strong happiness that when Stephen saw it, he already forgot the pain of his current suffering. Stephen's pain of suffering is nothing compares to the joy he is experiencing in gazing or beholding the glory of God.

In short, Stephen is actually under the strong state of Christian enlightenment. His seeing of God's glory makes him peaceful, forgiving and loving even to those who are executing his suffering. I believe that Christian enlightenment is what makes all Christians in ancient history rejoice in the midst of suffering.

A later Historian commented why Christianity grew so rapidly in the ancient world: "They were _absolutely happy_ , always getting into _trouble_." This is what makes Christianity different from Buddhism in terms of enlightenment – Buddhism Enlightenment has a goal of leading Buddhist escape suffering in this world while Christian enlightenment has a goal of leading Christians face all kinds of suffering in this world with a rejoicing heart. This is also the main reason that in my title, I am calling the happiness you get in seeing God's glory as a _crazy_ happiness - it is because it is a kind of happiness that makes you rejoice even in the midst of suffering!

**David under the strong state of Christian Enlightenment**

David under the strong Christian enlightenment said, "One thing have I asked of the Lord, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, _to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord_... (Psalm 27:4) Actually, before David said this statement, this is what he said in the previous verse: "Though an army encamps against me, _my heart shall_ _not fear_ , though war arises against me, yet _I will be confident_." (Psalm 27:3) Did you see that? The strong state of Christian enlightenment makes him have peace of mind even in the coming future problems. I believe Christian enlightenment is what makes missionary become brave in going to the countries where missionaries are being reported of being killed because of sharing the gospel.

**Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego**

In Daniel 3, the story tell us that King Nebuchadnezzar created gods and also the golden image so that people will worshipped and served those gods. He also made a decree that whoever does not fall down and worship those gods _should cast into a burning fiery furnace_. (Daniel 3:10-11)

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego pay no attention to those gods including the golden image. They don't serve and worship those gods (Daniel 3:12) that's why the king said to them, "if you do not worship [the gods I created], you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace..." (Daniel 3:15) And in the story, it is a shocking statement that these three men of God have strength to face that kind of suffering – being burned! They are not afraid. What do you think is their secret? Look what they reply to the king after they received that kind of threat. They said to the king, "...Our God whom we serve _is able_ to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand O King..." (Daniel 3:17) Because of this verse, many suggest that the reason they are not afraid to face that suffering is because they trust that God is alive and He is able to save them and protect them in their suffering. But actually, that is not their secret! That is not the source of their strength! Trusting that God will save them is not the main source of their strength. Did you know what their true secret is? Let me show you the complete statement of what they said. This is what they said: "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand O King, _but if not_ , be it known to you, O King, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." (Daniel 3:17-18) Try to notice the word _but if not_ – that's powerful! They are saying that if God will not save them, they will still not worship the golden image instead they will continue to worship the Lord [Yahweh!] So meaning, God saved them or not, it doesn't matter to them, what matters to them is God Himself. These three guys are obviously under the strong Christian enlightenment. The miracle of salvation of God is not their joy instead _God's glory is their only joy_. They suffer or not, they still believe that God is God, period.

**Paul's exhortation to the suffering Christians**

Paul encouraged the enlightened Christians who are presently in the times of trials and sufferings by writing the Hebrews. Anyways, I am not yet sure if Paul is really the author of Hebrews. All serious theologians are still struggling on the author of this book but for me, I believe that Paul is the author of Hebrews. But actually, it doesn't change the message of the book of Hebrews if Paul is not the author of it that's why knowing who the author of it really doesn't matter at all.

Paul said to the suffering Christians: "...Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, _looking to Jesus_..." (Hebrews 12:1-2) Looking to Jesus is referring to beholding God's glory in Christ. He is saying that as being enlightened, they should continue the journey of _God's glory is their only joy_. Do you know why Paul said that to the present suffering Christians as his encouragement to them? Let me explain briefly the reason. Paul said, "...looking to Jesus, the founder, and perfecter of our faith, _who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross_." (Hebrews 12:2) Paul is saying here about Jesus: "[Because of the] _joy_ that was set before Him, [He] _endured_ the cross." So meaning, Paul is saying that in our suffering, we must continue the race of looking to Jesus or continue living a life that God's glory is our only joy because that is exactly what Jesus did that He is able to endure also the suffering in the cross.

**The joy of Jesus in the cross**

What is the joy of Jesus that was set before Him in the cross that leads Him to endure the cross? Let us see some clue from other passage on what is the joy of Jesus especially in the cross. Jesus mentioned in his prayer what would happen in the cross before He will be crucified: "Father, the _hour_ has come [Other passage like John 12:23-24 told us that the _hour_ that Jesus is saying here to the Father is the hour of his _crucifixion_.]; _glorify_ your Son that the Son may _glorify_ you." (John 17:1) In this prayer, we see clearly that his crucifixion has the purpose of displaying the glory of God. So meaning, what will happen in the cross, which is the glory of God will be displayed is actually the joy that was set before Him that Paul is saying in Hebrews. And then, Paul said that that kind of joy – joy in God's glory is the one that gives Jesus strength to endure the suffering in the cross.

The joy of Jesus in God's glory leads Him to endure His suffering and Paul used that illustration to say to us that it is the same with us about enduring suffering: "Continue the race of _looking to Jesus_ [continue _living a life that God's glory in Christ is your only joy_ ] when we are suffering because that is the same way that Jesus did to endure the suffering in the cross." As enlightened, we should continue beholding God's glory because our beholding is our rejoicing even to the future suffering.

**In your trials in life, have hope in seeing God's glory in it**

If you are experiencing hard trials right now and not seeing any glimpse of God's glory, don't be sad instead have hope in our sovereign God that He is going to use it to show His wonderful glory in the future. Bible said, "For by [Jesus] all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – _all things were created through him and form him_." (Colossians 1:16) Paul didn't say _some things_ but _all things_ were created by God for His glory. Does in the _all things_ here included our negative situations, unexpected problems, trials and difficulties? Yes, it is included. Notice that Paul clearly said, "... _rulers or authorities_ – all things were created..." The rulers and authorities in this verse based on the context of this chapter included also the demonic rulers and authorities. Paul showed that in the next chapter: "[Jesus] disarmed the _rulers and authorities_." (Colossians 2:15) Obviously, the rulers and authorities that Jesus disarmed here are the demonic rulers. Therefore, all things doesn't mean _all things except_ instead it literally mean _all things are really created_ – it is _really_ all things no exceptions!

God created all things for His glory that's why when Pilate said to Jesus, "Do you know that _I have authority_ to release you and authority to crucify you?" (John 19:10), Jesus answered him: "You shall have no authority over me at all _unless_ it had been given you from above [from God!]" (John 19:11) It's true that Pilate, the enemy of Jesus, has authority but God is still the _author_ of his authority. He only has _allowed-authority_ by God and that authority is designed for God's glory. So meaning even the evil things, negative or worst situation of life, God allowed everything to be used for His glory.

In the end of the dark tunnel, there is always light waiting. It is the same with all if your trials in life, all the end of your trials, there will be always light waiting to shine and that light is God's glory. Let us be like Paul who is walking under dark tunnel but have peace of mind because he has great hope that he will see the light in the end of the tunnel. He said, "For I consider that sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)

Joseph is a dreamer boy who experienced a lot of problems in life. He is near to be murdered, his own brother sold him as slave and he was also put in Jail where he actually didn't do anything wrong but in spite of those things, it is very surprising that he has peace of mind that he never complaint to God by saying, "Why!" He never says anything against God. Do you know why? It is because he believes that God is sovereign! What makes Joseph unshakable in the times of shaking is his great hope that all things are designed for God's glory. He said to his bad brothers who sold him to slavery: "You meant evil against me, _but God meant it for good_ , to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today" (Genesis 50:20)

Let us be unshakable in times of shaking like Joseph and Paul by having great hope that all things are designed for God's glory. Have hope that God's glory will shine in any situation you are experiencing like how you have hope every night that tomorrow morning the sun will rise and shine again. Rejoice in your hope! All things work together to display God's glory in you.

**Reflect on this thought**

The only way to stay unshakable in times of shaking or stay rejoicing in the midst of suffering is to focus not on your current situation but to focus on the beauty of God's glory in all situations.

# Chapter 4: The glory of God we are beholding is only a glimpse

In the future, we shall see God _as He is_. John said, "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will see has not yet appeared, we shall be like Him, because we shall _see Him as He is_." (1 John 3:2) Because we shall see His fullness in the future, this is what will happen: "He _will wipe away every tear from their eyes_ , and death shall be no more, _neither shall be morning_ , _nor crying_ , nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." (Revelations 21:4) In the end, there will be _perfect_ happiness. Enlightened Christians are going to experience the _fullness of their happiness_ by seeing the _fullness of God's glory_ that's why the truth is the happiness that is flowing in our seeing is actually based on the glory of God we are beholding. _Perfect_ happiness is in seeing the _perfect_ glory of God.

While in this world, enlightened will never experience perfect happiness, only the _glimpse_ of that perfect happiness is what they can experience because the glory of God they can behold while in this world is only _glimpse_.

Paul said, "We, with unveiled face, beholding _as in the mirror_ the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18 – NKJV) In other version like New King James Version, there is the phrase _as in the mirror_ in this verse. Notice that Paul compares the glory that the enlightened Christians are beholding to the people beholding in the mirror. What does it mean? You must realize first that the mirror in ancient times is not like the mirror we have now. Their mirror was _polished metal_! If you used our mirror today, you will see your perfect or exact detail of your face in the mirror but if you used the mirror in ancient times which is the polished metal, you will see not the 100% you instead you will see only the glimpse of you. So meaning, Paul is saying here that the glory of God we are beholding right now is _not the exact_ and the perfect representation of God's glory in the future. The glory of God right now is only a glimpse. And Paul said it also in his other letter. He said, "For now _we see in a mirror dimly_ , but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12)

While here in earth, because the glory of God we are beholding is only a glimpse, the water of happiness that is flowing to us from God is also a glimpse of perfect happiness in the future. Because our happiness is not a pure happiness but a glimpse happiness, enlightened is experiencing two effects of it. They are experiencing _thirsty_ heart and _tempted_ heart.

**True enlightened is thirsty in God**

Because the water of happiness that is flowing to the enlightened is not a pure happiness, it makes the enlightened to be _more thirsty_ in God's glory. True enlightened are satisfied in God but still _thirsty to see_ God face to face.

Paul gives us the essence of being enlightened by saying this: "My desire is to depart [or to die] and be with Christ, for that is far better." (Philippians 1:23) It is far better to die and be with Christ because the glory of God he is beholding while here in earth is just a glimpse. The truth that he called it _far better_ shows that he is thirsty to see God face to face.

Try to notice also the beginning of the happy story in heaven. According to the Bible, God will say to the believers who are already in heaven: "It is done! I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. To the _thirsty_ , I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment." (Revelations 21:6) In this verse, God called believers as _thirsty_. Why? Again, it is because their _taste_ of the glimpse of perfect happiness in seeing the glimpse of God's glory leads them to be more thirsty of perfect happiness.

True enlightened is satisfied in God but still under the great hunger and thirst for the much more of God.

**Enlightened are still struggling in temptations**

Because the happiness that the enlightened is experiencing is not perfect happiness, enlightened have tendencies to _find more happiness_ not in God. In other words, enlightened are still in the battle of fighting temptations in this fallen world.

The desire to do something that you know will make you happy but you know also that is wrong to do is how I define _temptations_. Temptations is not just a desire to do bad, _it is also a desire to be happy_. If temptations never offer happiness, many will not struggle in it anymore. The fact that even enlightened still struggle in it is because it also offers happiness.

**2T State of Enlightened**

These two effects, to a true enlightened person, of beholding only the glimpse of God's glory are what I called "2T State of Enlightened." The first T of the state being of an enlightened is he is _thirsty_ to see God face to face and the second T is _temptation_ struggling. These 2T state of enlightened Christian is a very important truth that an enlightened should learn and remember always because these two is actually the formula of knowing when you are most tempted to do sin (thirst increases = temptation decreases). The _strength of temptation to sin_ in you increases when your _strength of thirst to seek God face to face_ decreases. In other words, you are mostly struggling to temptation when you are most not thirsty to seek God face to face.

When our joy in God decreasing, temptations that are offering happiness is increasing but when our joy in God is increasing, temptation loses its power in our life that's why the battle of enlightened in this world is not a battle of doing good or avoiding bad but a battle of seeing God's glory clearer to be more happy in it.

**Reflect on this thought**

While here in earth, because the glory of God we are beholding is a glimpse, our happiness is also a glimpse. And because the happiness we are experiencing is also a glimpse, we are currently in the state of _being thirsty to see_ God face to face and also in the state of _struggling in temptations_. As Enlightened Christians, the battle we are fighting is not a battle of doing good and avoiding bad like Buddhist are doing while in this world instead our battle is a battle of seeing more the glory of God to be more happy in Him in this world.

# Chapter 5: Refocused eyes stop the flow of happiness

"What a beautiful life I have! I am currently experiencing an extraordinary joy and peace inside me that even I, myself, cannot explain to someone by words how peaceful and blissful I am and it is only because I am now a new born-again Christian" – this is the common testimony you will hear always to a New Christian. After two or three years, if you try to find the people who said this in their life, most of them, the extraordinary joy in God they experienced is now only included in one of their good past memories to be remembered not a present experience anymore.

Many started a journey of being a Christian like me with an extraordinary joy in heart but end up with a tired and burned-out heart. What do you think is the main reason of it? This chapter will answer that.

Paul said, "And we all, with unveiled face, _beholding_ the glory of the Lord..." (2 Corinthians 3:18) Notice the word beholding. As I said in chapter 2, it is a continuous action. Being enlightened or your eyes being opened in seeing the God's glory is a _one-time experience_ in life but you're seeing of God's glory is actually a _continuous action_. While in this world, sometimes, you are seeing and sometimes, you are not.

Once you are enlightened, you're eyes of seeing God's glory will never be closed again. Born-again Christian will never be unborn. Enlightened will be never be unenlightened. However, your opened eyes can still be _refocused_ in something else. Once you're opened eyes is _refocused_ , the flowing of water of happiness from God to you _stops_ also. So meaning, even you are already under the state of enlightenment, you might still experience some moment of loneliness in life.

David, our best example of enlightened ones, said, "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you _hide your face_ from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and _have sorrow_ in my heart all the day?" (Psalm 13:1-2) David believed that the sorrow that he is experiencing is the _fruit of not seeing the glory of God_ because God's face is hidden.

In other place, David also said, " _Turn to me_ and be gracious to me, _for I am lonely_ and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged." (Psalm 25:6-7) Like the previous passage, his loneliness is the same. It is also the _fruit of not seeing the glory of God_ because God is not turning to him. Loneliness is the feeling of longing for God's glory of homesick in Gods' glory.

The loneliness of unbelievers is _blindness to God's glory_ while the loneliness of believers is _refocused opened eyes_.

**My personal experience of unaware refocused eyes**

I remember the first time I experience the strongest Christian enlightenment when I was 17 years old entering the journey of being a missionary in Cambodia. I was alone sitting under the tree, watching the flow of rivers and listening to the beautiful sound of nature that I said to my thoughts with a happy crying heart: "Today, I am the [most] happiest man in the world because of God. He is so beautiful!" I am saying this statement in my thoughts with no money in my pocket, no big ministry, no name, no influence and no possible good future in me. I am happy not because of the situation of my present life but only because of God Himself. I see life as beautiful and I never have worries even to the tomorrow or to the future.

My first ministry there is simply to preach the Word of God with one audience only and the maximum audience that I have in my preaching is two. It was 9 months that I stay in Cambodia experiencing great joy in God or what I called now, "Christian enlightenment."

When I went home here in Philippines, it is a humbling experience for me to be used by God in different churches. I started to preach and share testimonies in different churches. The most surprising is every time I preach; I always see the tears of the people – the old one and more surprising, including the teenagers like me. People, with tears in their eyes, love to hug me after I'm done in sharing my testimony that's why I really enjoy serving God in this ministry of preaching.

Months later, I decided to enter seminary to enhance more my preaching. One year before I graduate in seminary, I experienced a great loneliness not because I am blind again in God's glory but because my opened eyes was refocused and I didn't notice it.

When I was invited in a Church near to our Seminary to preach, I am already expecting people to be blessed by my preaching because I already pray hard and I already preach this sermon to the other churches that lead them also to be blessed and have tears in their heart. I am expecting that what happened to other churches is what will happen also in this church where I am going to preach.

After I preach the same sermon, I am seeing in my own eyes that no one is blessed and no one say anything even just a word – amen. Everybody is silent and nobody talks about the sermon. The service was done in a way that it looks like they never heard someone preached.

Because of my immaturity on that situation, I am so broken that I said to myself, "I don't want to preach anymore! I don't want this journey anymore because I am not happy in this journey anymore." By repeatedly saying these statements in my mind while having tears in my eyes, the moment of my happiness in Cambodia flash back in my mind. I remember when I was sitting under the tree that I said, "I am the [most] happiest man in this world." And God is speaking in my thoughts, "Cohmi, when you said that you are the happiest, are you happy because you have a lot of audience clapping in your preaching?" And I instantly become broken in this thought!

In this broken situation, God lead me to realize that I am now having refocused eyes. It is refocused from God's glory to the man's glory in preaching. My water of happiness in my journey is not coming from God's glory anymore but coming from the applause and admiration of people in my preaching that's why as I remember my experience of happiness in Cambodia, I can tell the big difference of my happiness in my simple journey in Cambodia than in my journey of being a proud preacher in preaching to different churches. Water of happiness that comes from the fountain of God's glory is very different to the water of happiness in man's glory. In my journey of preaching, I committed a great sin against God and that is forsaking Him as my only fountain of happiness. Bible said, "...my people [including me] have committed two evils: _they have forsake me_ , the fountain of living waters [I refocused from God's glory], and _hewed out cisterns for themselves_ , broken cisterns that can hold no water [I refocused to man's glory]." (Jeremiah 2:13)

Sometimes, unconsciously, you are not aware that you already made a refocused eye from God's glory to other things because other things also give water of happiness. You will realized that you made a refocused only when the other things already failed you or stopped giving you water of happiness. Like in my preaching, I saw where my heart really is not before I preached my sermon but after I preached my sermon. After I preach my sermon and if people are so happy in my preaching, I am happy also saying, "Thank you Lord! Glory to You alone, my God!" but if people are not happy in my preaching, I am lonely saying to God, "Lord! Why? What happen? I prepared this sermon with a lot of prayer." Did you see it? My heart was revealed not before but after the sermon. My heart is not actually in God's glory anymore but it is already in man's glory. I never realized that my fountain of happiness is already in man's glory until this fountain failed to give me water of happiness that's why I believe that most of our brokenness is a sign that that we already made a refocus!

**Reflect on this thought**

While in this world, even enlightened will never be blinded again in seeing God's glory, their eyes can still be refocused in something else and once their eyes is refocused, the water of happiness flowing to them also stop that's while you are in this world, stay focused on the glory of God. Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God!

# Chapter 6: True enlightened Christian has the heart of giving

Jesus said, "Do not lay for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal _but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven_ , where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19-20) While in this world, we have both accounts in two kinds of bank – earthly bank and heavenly bank. And Jesus told us to focus on depositing on our bank in heaven.

And then, Jesus said in the next verse, "For where your _treasure_ is, there your _heart_ will be also." (Matthew 6:21) What does it mean? It means that if you're living of life is more on _laying on treasures on earth_ , it means that _your heart is on earth_ but if you're living of life is more on _laying on treasures on heaven_ , it means that _your heart is on heaven_. Where you [lay] treasure is, there your heart will be also. Quick question! How are you going to have a heart in heaven?

David said, "One thing have I asked of the Lord that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord..." (Psalm 27:4) This kind of desire of David, obviously, will be fulfilled only in heaven that's why I believe that David, our best example of an enlightened Christians, have a heart in heaven not because heaven is so beautiful but because God's perfect glory to be revealed in heaven is so beautiful.

Paul, who wants to be in heaven, said his desire of it like this: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain... My desire is to depart [or to die] and _be with Christ_ , for that is far better." (Philippians 2:21,23) Paul is saying that dying is gain to be in heaven shows that he has heart to be in heaven. In his statement himself, he has heart in heaven not because he wanted to go to heaven but because he wanted _to be with Christ in heaven_. He is excited to see the glory of God in Christ face to face.

So meaning, having great joy in God's glory through having eyes opened in seeing God's glory is the _beginning_ of having heart in heaven and then, having heart in heaven is the beginning of a lifestyle of laying treasures in heaven. Therefore, enlightened Christians _naturally_ live a life of laying treasures in heaven.

**How are you going to lay treasures in heaven?**

You are laying treasures in heaven by giving the money you have in this world to others and this is very clear to what Jesus said to the rich man: "... _give_ to the poor, and you will have _treasures_ in heaven..." (Matthew 19:21) Every time you are giving, you are giving for God's glory not just for the benefit of others but also for your _own benefit_ – your treasures in heaven are increasing! Giving is not decreasing something you have instead it is increasing something you already have – treasures in heaven!

**True sheep of Jesus in the last days**

Notice the words of Jesus about the His sheep - the Enlightened Christians! Jesus said, "When the Son of Man [Jesus] comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the _sheep_ from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, 'Come you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you _gave_ me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and _give_ you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." (Matthew 25:31-40)

Notice that the true sheep of Jesus in the future are the people who are _giver_ but it doesn't mean that our salvation is by works of giving. You need to give in order to be saved. No, it's not! Works of giving is just the manifestation of being saved – experienced Christian enlightenment. As I said a while ago, where you lay your treasure is, there your heart will be also. When your heart is in heaven because you experienced Christian enlightenment, laying treasures in heaven through giving is the _natural_ work of your _new_ heart.

**Seeing God's glory produces a heart of giving to the beholder**

John said, "...And we have _seen his glory_ , glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth... And from his fullness, we have all _received grace upon grace_ " (John 1:14,16) In this verse, you see the truth that the evidence of having an opened eyes of _seeing God's glory_ is _receiving great grace_.

Now, try to look at this: "And with great power the apostles were giving their _testimony to the resurrection_ of the Lord, and the _great grace was upon them all_." (Acts 4:33) In this passage, you see that people receive great grace. Meaning, they also experienced having eyes of seeing God's glory and according to Luke, the author of Acts, it is by _hearing of the testimony_ of the resurrection of Jesus.

As the people in this verse see God's glory and receive Grace upon grace, do you know what happen next? Next verse said, "There was _not a needy person_ among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them..." (Acts 4:34) Seeing the glory of God produces a _heart of giving_ to the needy people. True enlightened Christians has a heart of giving.

**What is the wisest investment of our money in this world?**

If we learned that increasing our treasures in heaven is through investing our money to others then, what is now the wisest investment of our money to others? The wisest investment you can do is not just simply give to make people happy but give with the noble purpose of the expansion of God's glory. You give not so that people will admire you as generous but so that they will admire our God as glorious generous God!

Jesus said, "And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you in the eternal dwellings." (Luke 16:19) Let me say the main point of this verse _first_ and then, I am going to show how come that that is what the verse means.

Jesus is saying here, "Use the money you are receiving in this world that comes from God in spreading the gospel so that the people, who are the fruit of what you are doing, which is investing your money for the spreading of the gospel, will welcome and receive you happily when both of you see together in heaven."

Okay now, let me explain how I came up with that interpretation. Actually the verse we read is the conclusion of the short parable of Jesus about the dishonest Manager. The story of the parable according to the previous verse is this: "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.' And the manager said to himself, 'What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people receive me into their houses.' So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master? He said, "A hundred measures of oil. He said to him, ' _Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty_.' Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' He said, "A hundred measures of wheat." He said to him, ' _Take your bill, and write eighty_ " (Luke 16:1-7) The actions of Manager here towards his neighbor is obviously not an example of having compassion to others but an example of _unrighteous actions_ – he is cheating his master's wealth by using it for his own good, which is buying earthly friends.

Jesus said in the next verse after sharing this kind of unrighteous manager: "...For the _sons of man_ in this world are more shrewd than the _sons of light_." (Luke 16:8) Sons of this world, like the unrighteous manager – or simply, the _unbelievers_ , are shrewder than the son of light – the _believers_ or the children of God. And because that is the reality, Jesus said on the next verse, "And I tell you, _make friends_ for yourselves by means of _unrighteous wealth_ , so that when it fails they may receive you into the _eternal dwellings_." (Luke 16:9)

What is unrighteous wealth? According to the parable, the idea of unrighteous wealth comes from the unrighteous manager that is using not his wealth but the wealth of his master for buying friends. So using unrighteous wealth as a means of making friends simply means using the wealth of others not your wealth in making friends! And now, what is the eternal dwellings? It is actually referring to heaven that's why what Jesus is saying here in this passage as his conclusion to the parable is this: "As the sons of this world is wise in buying earthly friends using not his own money but the money of his master, we the sons of light, the believers, should be wiser in using the money of our Master [God] in bringing sinners to salvation, so that when they arrive in heaven, they will embrace us and welcome us." We should be wiser to them because we are dealing not just in earthly matters which are temporary only but we are dealing in eternal matters – it is a life and death _forever_ issue!

Jesus said also in the next verse: "One who is faithful in a very _little_ is also faithful in _much_ , and one who is dishonest in a very _little_ is also dishonest in _much_." (Luke 16:10) Many people today used this verse in a very out of context. They are using this verse to say that the reason many people today are still poor because they don't use their money in spreading of the gospel – they don't give. They are not faithful in the little money they have that's why God didn't allow them to experience a life of being rich with a sports car – that's totally out of context! That's not what Jesus is saying here!

Giving is not the way to make you rich in this world; it is the way to make you rich in heaven. According to its context, the _little_ that Jesus is talking in this verse is referring to the money we have in this world while the _much_ is referring to the treasures in heaven. He is saying, "If we are not faithful in the _little_ [the money we have _in this world_ ] in spreading the gospel, we are not worthy to be trusted in the _much_ [the treasures _in heaven_ ]" – that's what Jesus mean in this verse that's why Jesus said on the next verse as the continuation of this verse: "If then you have not been faithful in the _unrighteous wealth_ [in the _little_ ], who will entrust to you the _true riches_ [in the _much_ ]?" (Luke 16:11)

If you are not using the money you have while in this world that is related in spreading the gospel, how are you going to have a treasure in heaven – the true riches? Again, let me repeat the truth: "Yes, it's true that giving is the way to be rich but not in this world, it's in heaven!"

**Reflect on this thought**

Seeing the glory of God produces a heart of giving to the beholder of it that's why true enlightened Christians has a heart of giving. Always remember this enlightened people - Every time you are giving, you're giving might looks like decreasing something you have but always remember the truth that it is actually increasing something you already have – treasures in heaven! Give for the glory of our God.

# Chapter 7: Why people loved the fallen world?

We are living in a fallen world where many are enjoying so much the worldly sin. Did you know why they are enjoying it? We are going to answer it theologically in this chapter.

John knows why people loved the worldly sin. John said, "If anyone loves the _world_..." (John 2:15) The world that John was talking in this verse according to the next verse is this: "... for all that is in the _world_ – the desires of flesh and desires of the eyes and pride in possession..." (John 2:16) So meaning, John is saying, "If anyone loves the _world_ [which are the _lust of flesh, lust of eyes and pride in possessions_ ], the love of Father is not in him." (John 2:15) Did you see that? Why a person loves worldly sin according to John? It is because the love of the Father is not in him. Take note! It is love _of_ not love _for_. Meaning, people loved the world not because they don't love God but because they don't know how much they are loved by God. The truth is the presence of evil passions for the world in one's mind is the absence of God's love in his mind.

On my own observation in our modern world, I realized that our problem today why people continue to love the world is not because they don't know how much they are loved by God instead they don't know the meaning of God's love to them.

**What is God's love?**

When I say that God loves you, what is in your mind? Maybe you will define the love of God to you by getting the definition of the world about love. The world define love in this way: "When you are loved by someone, you will be the most important person in his life. He cannot live without you that's why he will choose to die than to live without you. He will not let you be hurt by someone." Now, let me ask you this question: "Is this how you define also the love of God to you? Is God sends His Son to you because He cannot live without you?" Because of the mixed definition of love by human ideas, experiences, reasoning and philosophies, the meaning of the love of God to us is also corrupted. Even many learned how much they are loved by God; they are still attracted so much in loving the worldly sin. Do you know why? It is because they have a wrong understanding of what it means how much they are loved by God.

**Biblical God's love**

What is biblical God's love? Bible said, "Now _Jesus loved_ Martha and her sister and _Lazarus_..." (John 11:5) In this verse, it is clear that Jesus loved Lazarus. Right? Now, let's continue reading this verse and be surprised. "...so when Jesus heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was" (John 11:5) and because Jesus stayed longer, Lazarus died (John 11:15) and buried in the tomb (John 11:17) What! Jesus loved Lazarus so much that He allowed Lazarus to die? Yes! He did and Bible called it _love_.

We will know the essence of God's love in this passage by knowing the purpose of the death of Lazarus. According to Jesus, this is the purpose of Lazarus death: "...this illness [of Lazarus] does not lead to death. It is _for the glory of God_ , so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." (John 11:4) Lazarus death was designed _to display the glory of God_. In short, God's love is about displaying His glory to you. Loving God means passionate God in displaying His glory to you.

**God's love is the true love**

If you think that your purpose of life is to become rich and successful in your career in this world, you will feel being loved when someone is caring for your career because the truth is how you define the purpose of your life affects the way you understand how you are loved by someone. If I invented something, I know its purpose more than the invented thing knows itself. God knows you better than you know yourself because He is your Creator. He knows that the true purpose of your life is to be happy in seeing God's glory that's why God's love to you in the cross that has the purpose of displaying the glory of God in Christ is the only true love that you will experienced in this world.

**Your true love to your neighbor**

If that is what true love is like the love of God to us - displaying His beautiful glory for us to be happy in it, then, you must realize now that loving your neighbor doesn't just mean doing good things to them or making them feel important and special in your life instead it means leading them to be closer to God's beautiful glory. You do good things to them not for them to love you more or be closer to you more but for them to love God more and be closer to God more. Loving your neighbor means leading their eyes to _focus on the beauty of God's glory_.

**Love of the Father may be in us**

Because God's love is about displaying His glory, it is common sense to conclude that God's love may be in us means God's displayed glory may be seen by us. And that is actually what Jesus said in His High Priestly prayer. Jesus prayed to the Father, "...that the love which _You_ [ _You_ is referring _to the Father_ ] have _loved me may be in them_." (John 17:26) In other words, He is saying, "Your love may be in them." What does it mean that the love of Father may be in us? According to the previous verse, this is the love of the Father to Jesus: "Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be where I am _to see my glory_ that you have given _because you loved me_ before the foundation of the world." (John 17:24) Father loves His Son means He wants the people to see the glory of His Son. So meaning, the prayer of Jesus in the previous verse that says, "the love which you have _loved me may be in them_ " means that "may my glory _will be seen_ _by the people_." The love of the Father may be in you means the glory of God in Christ will be seen by you.

John understood this kind of love that's why after he wrote, "If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15), he repeated again what he learned from the prayer of Jesus on what does it mean Father love us in the next chapter. John said, "See what kind of love the Father has given to us..." (1 John 3:1) What kind of love? John answered on the next verse: " _Beloved_ [Beloved here is referring to _you – the recipient of God's love_ ], we are God's children now, and what we will see has not yet appeared, we shall be like Him because _we shall see Him as He is_." (1 John 3:2) Again, Father love us mean that _He will display His glory_ – we shall see Him as He is. Being beloved means our eyes is opened to see the glimpse of God's glory here in earth and see the fullness of God's glory in the future.

So the essence of what John is saying, "If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is in him" is this: "The one who loves the world is the one who is unenlightened that his eyes is blinded to see the beautiful glory of God." Many people loved the beauty of the world because _many are blinded in seeing the beauty of the Lord_. And Satan knew that that's why notice that his ministry in this world is not actually making people to become more evil instead his ministry is " _blinding_ the mind of unbelievers from _seeing the glory of Christ_ , who is the image of God." (2 Corinthians 4:4)

**Blindness to God's glory is the root cause of Sin**

Paul said, "And [they] _exchanged the glory of the immortal God_ for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things." (Romans 1:23) Obviously in this verse, they are blind to the beauty of God's glory that's why they exchange it to others. Do you know what happened because of their blindness? Sin comes in their life! And you can see that in the next verse: "Therefore, _God gave them up_ in the lust of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves." (Romans 1:24) Blindness to God's glory of a person is the beginning of his life conquered by sin.

Again, Paul said in the next verse, "they exchanged truth about God for a lie and _worshipped and serve the creature than the Creator_ " (Romans 1:25) Here again, Paul is telling that people are blind in seeing the beauty of God that they choose to worship His creature than He, the Creator Himself. Because of it, like the previous verse, sin comes in again in their life! Paul said it in the next verse: "For this reason _God gave them up_ to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error." (Romans 1:26-27) Their blindness to God's glory produces sin such as sin of homosexuality. The ultimate root cause of sin is blindness to the beauty of God's glory. Many people loved worldly sin because they are blinded to the beauty of God's glory.

**Reflect on this thought**

People loved the beauty of the world because they are blinded to the beauty of God.

# Chapter 8: Having Faith is only a sign that we are already enlightened

Having faith is not a key to experience Christian enlightenment; it is the evidence that we _already_ experienced Christian enlightenment. In other words, you are believing only because you are _already_ enlightened. Maybe, what I am saying right now is surprising to you. Be more surprised if I am saying something in this book that is not actually in the Bible. Don't easily believe in the beautiful thoughts of Pastors, no matter how big is his churches or his ministries, unless his thoughts was purely aligned in the reasoning of Bible not in the reasoning of humans. Let me help you in this chapter to see in the Bible that having faith and experiencing Christian enlightenment is really not a decision we made instead it is only a work of the Holy Spirit in us - it is only a _gift of God_ to us for the glory of His grace!

Jesus said to Nicodemus, "And as _Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wilderness_ , so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." (John 3:15) Jesus used an historical event in Old Testament that Moses lifted up the Serpent to explain how people will be saved by having faith in Him. Understanding that story that is in the mind of Jesus will lead us to understand what He means about having faith in Him that's why let us read that story here in Numbers 21:9-9, the passage that is in the mind of Jesus while talking to Nicodemus. Look at this: "And the Lord said to Moses, 'Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he _sees it_ , _shall live_. So Moses made a bronze serpent and set in on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would _look_ at the bronze serpent and _live_." This passage tells us a story of being saved or healed _by seeing_. He used a story of seeing as a means of salvation because that is what He will do in the cross – He will display the glory of God in His resurrection and then, our salvation is _trough seeing_ that glory that He displayed in Himself.

Let me explain clearer how come that I end up with that conclusion in this verse. Jesus is saying to Nicodemus, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness [that whoever _sees_ it _may_ _live_ according to Old Testament context], so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever _believes_ in him _may have eternal life_." (John 3:14-15) Did you notice that? In the salvation in the Old Testament through the Serpent, to be saved is _by seeing_ but in the salvation in the New Testament through Jesus, to be saved is _by believing_. Jesus used this story in OT to show that the essence of believing that He is talking here is _seeing_. The faith that Jesus is saying is the fruit of seeing. Seeing what? Jesus said, "...So must the _Son of Man be lifted up_ , that whoever believes in him [or _sees_ him] may have eternal life." (John 3:14-15) The verse itself answered: "It is seeing the Son of Man being lifted up."

What does it mean seeing the Son of Man being lifted up? It means that seeing the glory of God in Christ in His crucifixion. How do I end up with the interpretation? Let me show you how.

In the same book of John, just in the next chapter, Jesus said, "...When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am _He_..." (John 8:28) In Original Greek, the word He in this verse is actually not included that's why you will notice that in most bible versions, the word _He_ in this verse is in italic [ex. I am _He_ ] Meaning, Jesus is saying here based on original Greek is this: "When you have lifted me, then you will know that _I am_."

The two words "I am" has a theological significance in their times. "I am" is the personal being of God that was revealed to Moses. Look at this: "Then Moses said to God, 'If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, "The God of your fathers has sent me to you," and they ask me, "What is his name?" What shall I say to them?' God said to Moses, ' _I am who I am_ ' and He said, 'Say to this to the people of Israel, ' _I am_ has sent me to you.'" (Exodus 3:14-15)

So Jesus being lifted up has the purpose of leading the world to know that He is the same "I am" revealed to Moses in ancient times. Anyways, it's true that Jesus said only "I am" and never " _I am the_ I am" but in this passage, even Jesus is saying only "I am," in the minds of His audience, it automatically means that He is saying that He is the I am – He is God! In the context of this passage, "I am" is a short statement of saying "I am the I am." Let me prove that to you. Look at what Jesus said on the next verse, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, _I am_." (John 8:58) In this verse, it is clear that He said only "I am" and never "I am the I am." Now, look what is the respond of the people in the next verse after hearing that two words from Jesus – I am! "So they _picked up stones to throw at him_ , but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple." (John 8:59) They, who are picking up stones, know that their scripture said: "Whoever _blasphemes the name_ of the Lord (Yahweh) shall surely be put to death. All the congregation _shall stone him_..." (Leviticus 24:16) People hearing Jesus saying "I am" understand that what He mean about "I am" is He is already claiming that He is the I am – He is God! They know that the name "I am" is the personal being of God revealed to Moses and saying that you are the "I am" means that you are claiming to be equal with God. And claiming to be God is a _blaspheme_ to God because they believe that there is only one God. So meaning, people throwing stones to Jesus is their body language of saying that they understand clearly that Jesus statement of "I am" is a statement of claiming that He is the I am!

So when Jesus is saying, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am," He is saying, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know _that I am the I am_ [I am a glorious God!]" When Jesus is lifted up, we will know that He is the I am. Jesus being lifted up has the purpose of displaying the glory of God – the glory of "I am" of Old Testament.

Therefore, the faith that Jesus is talking about to Nicodemus is the _fruit of seeing the glory_ of God in Him. You eyes were opened to see God's glory in Christ first _before_ you believe. You experienced Christian enlightenment first before you have faith. To believe in Him is the fruit of seeing Him lifted up or seeing the glory of God in Him. Meaning, faith is not a way to be saved but a sign that you are already saved.

**You experienced Christian enlightenment first before you believed**

Jesus said to Nicodemus and take note first – Nicodemus is one of the most religious man who is faithful in religious activities in their times and yet, Jesus said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, _unless one is born again_ he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) Even one of the most religious man and active in religious activities in their times need to be born again in order to be saved. Nicodemus ask Jesus how to be born again and because he didn't yet experienced the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, he is blind that he thought being born again is entering for a second time into mother's womb. (John 3:4)

Jesus continued to teach him about being born again on the next verse. He taught, "...born of flesh is flesh, and that which is _born of the Spirit is spirit_." (John 3:6) Jesus said that to be born again is not to be born of flesh, and that is what Nicodemus is thinking on that time, instead it is to be born of the spirit. It is not physical rebirth but spiritual rebirth. Jesus told how we are going to be born again in the next verse: "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8) Let me explain clearer what Jesus said here! "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do now know where it comes from or where it goes..." Jesus is saying here that no one can control the wind and it goes where it wishes! Now, maybe you might be confused and asking, "so what? What's the point?" Jesus answered, "...So it is with everyone _who is born of spirit_ [or to be born again]" Meaning, to be born again is not our control because it is not our work; it is the work of the _uncontrollable_ wind – God's Holy Spirit.

How the Holy Spirit make someone born again? According to Paul, when we are still unbelievers, we are under Satan who is blinding us to see the glory of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4) but because of God's free will, Paul said that God Himself opened our eyes to see God's glory in Christ. He explained it in this way to the Corinthians: "For God, who said, 'let light shine out of darkness', _has shone_ in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6) Paul taught us that how the Lord gives light to the darkness in the creation of the world in the very beginning is the same thing He did in our hearts that we are now able to see the glory of God in Christ in the gospel. What the Holy Spirit is doing to make someone born again is saying to someone's blinded heart, "let there be light!" You are born-again Christian today believing in God not because you prayed the prayer of acceptance but because one day in your life, God said to your dead heart, "let there be light!"

Born-again Christian is the man who experienced the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit –opening the blind heart of a fallen man to see and enjoy the glory of God in Christ in the gospel. Meaning, to be born again is actually to experience Christian Enlightenment.

Becoming children of God by becoming a born-again, therefore, is not our decision but a gift of God to us. And John stated this truth clearly in his introduction, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become _children of God_ , who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, _but of [will] of God_." (John 1:12-13) In other place, it was written also: "Everyone who _believes_ that Jesus is the Christ _has been born of God_ , and everyone who _loves_ the Father loves whoever _has been born of him_." (1 John 5:1) Faith doesn't able us to be born-again. Being born-again able us to have faith. Faith doesn't able us to experience Christian enlightenment; Christian enlightenment able us to have faith. Having faith is a sign that by God's grace, Holy Spirit worked in our fallen nature.

**Faith without works is dead**

James said, "faith without works is dead" (James 2:17) Many misunderstood this by saying that you must work to show that you don't have a dead faith instead what you have is a saving faith. If that is what James really means, then, it is a contradiction to the teaching of Paul that "we are saved only by faith and not by works." (Message of Ephesians 2:8-9)

I believe what James is saying of "faith without works is a dead faith" is "faith without experiencing Christian enlightenment is a dead faith." We learned that _faith comes from seeing the glory of God in Christ_ and we also learned that Paul teaches that _beholding God's glory is our transformation_ (See Chapter 2 for stronger theological explanation of this truth). Paul said, "We, with unveiled face, _beholding_ _the glory_ of the Lord, _are being transformed_..." (2 Corinthians 3:18) Once you experienced Christian enlightenment or have eyes opened to behold God's glory, you will experience two things. First is _you will have faith_ and second is _you will have a transformed life_. So meaning, Saving faith and works will never be separable. It is impossible for a person to have saving faith and yet never have works [or transformed life] unless the faith he has is not the fruit of Christian enlightenment. The dead faith that I believe James is talking here is a faith without experiencing Christian enlightenment.

**My personal experience as an example of a faith without transformed life**

I am a pastor's kid and I prayed the prayer of acceptance [ex. Lord Jesus, I accept you in my heart as my Lord and Savior, amen!] in the age of ten because I am so afraid imagining the pain of being burned in hell forever. I am so scared of hell that I almost pray the prayer of acceptance every day.

And when I grew up and enter High School, my fear of hell was gone and because of it, I begun to live the worst life ever. In our family, I would say that I am the black sheep. I become rebellious to my parents. I am addicted to computer games. I make a lot of troubles in our school. I become little famous in our school by becoming brave in making fun of our teachers. I never respect them! It's only a miracle that I never experienced being dropped out in my high school days.

Our church knew that I am a Christian because I am a pastor's kid and I have faith in Jesus by praying the prayer of acceptance since I was a kid. I strongly believe that on that day, my faith is a dead faith. It is a faith without transformed life.

After I graduated High School in the age of 15, I experienced a miracle [which this kind of miracle is now I'm calling Christian enlightenment] that I begun to love the Bible so much. I started to read it every morning and night. The first time I open my bible to study, I am so shy to my parents to show that the "rebellious Cohmi" is now crying to every pages of the Bible. It's a very weird thing for others to see me reading the Bible that's why every time I am reading, I always hide to a place where no one will see me. The truths that I learned in the Bible are not just increased knowledge for me but they are like treasures that worthy to be rejoiced for being founded.

I shared my testimony in one of our prayer meetings. I said to them, "I thank our God that He allowed me to experience radical change in my life. Before, I am attending Church services only because my dad is a pastor but now, I am attending because I have a great joy in hearing God's word and singing praises to Him! Before, I try to be a good person in all of your eyes because I am a pastor's kid but now, becoming a good person is not a duty for me but a delight! Before, I have faith in God to be in heaven because I am afraid of Hell but now, I have faith in God to be in heaven because I experienced the great joy of having God in my life while in this world and I am now so excited not to be in heaven but to be with God in heaven." I see to myself that I am now really transformed to a new creation!

I believe saving faith came only from Christian enlightenment. Any kind of faith that is not from Christian enlightenment is a faith that never produces a new transformed life. Like James, I will call it, dead faith!

**Why I wrote this book if experiences of faith and Christian enlightenment are both only work of God to us and not our decision?**

Maybe, right now, you are so confused and asking in your mind: "If experiencing Christian enlightenment and even, having saving faith are only a gift of God to us, then, why do I need to read this kind of book?" Good thinking! I want you to know now that means and miracle work together. God used people as means to grant His miracle. Let me give you some samples of it. Look what Paul said to timothy: "And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. [Those are the _means_. Now, this is the _miracle_ of God to those means.] God _may perhaps grant_ them repentance." (2 Timothy 2:24-26) We are the means and He is the only miracle.

It is true that I wrote this book to lead you to experience Christian enlightenment – having extraordinary joy in God but actually this book is only a means. The truth is only God can open your heart to experience happiness in Him through this book. Take note – through this book not mainly this book. So meaning, I admit the truth that without God's miracle of opening your heart to see God's glory and have joy in it, this book is totally useless and nothing!

**Reflect on this thought**

Faith without experiencing Christian enlightenment is a dead faith.

# Chapter 9: Jesus died not to offer but to bring the Salvation

Jesus died not to make salvation possible to everyone who will choose to have faith in Him because if that is true, in the end, no one will be saved even Jesus died on the cross because of the reality that we, by fallen nature, are not able even just one percent of desiring to seek God.

Jesus said, "No one _can come_ to me _unless_ the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:44) and He also said, "...This is why I told you that no one _can come_ to me _unless_ it is granted by him by the Father." (John 6:55) The truth that fallen man deeply needs God's grace to be able to repent and believe the gospel or come to Christ shows that man is really totally depraved – he is _not able_!

Paul clearly stated also this doctrine of total depravity by quoting passage in Psalm: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no on seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no does good, _not even one_." (Romans 3:10-12) and even the first book of the Bible affirms this doctrine: "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was _only evil_ continually." (Genesis 6:5)

**God predestined those who will be saved**

Before the foundation of the world, God already made a choice by Himself alone on who will be saved. Is it shocking for you? You must be shocked if this is not written in the Bible and yet, I am teaching this! Bible said, "... _He chose us before the foundation of the world_ , that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love _he predestined us_ for the adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace." (Ephesians 1:4-6) He already predestined some people to be saved.

In the final story in the Bible, it was written: "and all who dwell on earth worship [the beast], everyone whose name has not been written _before the foundation of the world in the book of life_ of the Lamb who was slain." (Revelations 13:8) Before the foundation of the world, there are already names of people written in the book of life and these names are the one who will be saved that's why the truth is even your name right now is actually not an accident.

Having saving faith in Christ to be saved is God's predestination to us. Therefore, having saving faith is only God's gift to us – as I taught in the previous chapter. We should be thankful to God's predestination because if God didn't predestine some fallen people to be saved, no one will be ever saved because all fallen man has no capacity to seek God.

**Seeing God's glory can kill us**

I already established to you in the previous chapter that our salvation is through having an opened eyes of seeing the glory of God. Right? In the Bible, when you see the glory of God with a status of being a sinner, you will _instantly die_ because God's glory is extremely holy. So meaning, seeing God's glory in Christ while being in the status of sinner will not become our salvation instead it will become the _cause of our tragic death_.

**Isaiah thought that he is already dead in seeing God's glory**

According to the testimony of Isaiah: "In the year that King Uzziah died _I saw the Lord_ sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple." (Isaiah 6:1) Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord! And this is what he responded on it: " _Woe is me! For I am lost_ : for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!" (Isaiah 6:5) He thought that he is already dead and lost when he saw God's glory while being in a status of a sinner.

**If Jesus Christ didn't become human in coming down to earth, it will be a great problem to humanity**

When Jesus Christ who is God came down to earth, He became human. (Philippians 2:5-8) Why do you think Jesus became human if He can actually go down here in earth as God aside from the answer that it is because it is a prophecy that He will be a human? Let me answer it _logically_ with scriptures, of course – we should be always biblical!

In Old Testament, Moses asked God, "Please show me your _glory_." (Exodus 33:18) God replied to him, "you cannot see _my face_ , for man shall not see me and live." (Exodus 33:20) Instead of replying to Moses, "you cannot see _my glory_ ", God replied, "you cannot see _my face_." Meaning, God's face is referring to God's glory and according to what God said, when any man sees it, _he will surely die_ because all man are sinners that's why God showed not His face but His back. God said it in the next verse: "Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but _my face_ _shall not be seen_." (Exodus 33:23) This is also the reason that Isaiah thought that he is already dead when He saw the glory of God.

In New Testament, Paul teaches us that Jesus Christ is actually the face of God or the glory of God. He wrote, "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of knowledge of the _glory_ of God in the _face of Jesus Christ_." (2 Corinthians 4:6) The truth that Jesus Christ is the _face_ of God is He is the _glory_ of God that's why if He went down here in earth not as human but as God displaying the glory of God, all humans will surely die in seeing it because we are all in sin. In other words, if Jesus Christ didn't become human, His coming to earth will not be a salvation to humanity but will be the cause of instant massive death of all humanity.

**Jesus took our sins**

Seeing God's glory in Christ while being a sinner will not become our salvation instead it will become the cause of our tragic death that's why Jesus actually died not to offer salvation but to bring salvation to his _elect_ [elect is what the Bible called about the _group of people predestined to be saved before the foundation of the world_ ] by destroying the obstacle of the elect [the _sin_!] from their way to their salvation [ _seeing_ the glory of God in Christ!]

God's glory is so Holy that it will kill sinners who will see it that's why God take away _first_ our sins through the death of Jesus Christ before He opened our eyes to see the glory of God in Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Paul said, "...[God] sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for _sin_ , he condemn sin in the flesh." (Romans 8:3) The other manuscript translates the _sin_ in this verse as _sin offering_. What does it mean sin offering? In Old Testament, sin offering is where your sin was transferred so that you will not be punished in your sin instead your sin offering [most of the sin offerings are _sheep_ ] is the one who will be punished that's why when Paul said that God send His own Son for sin offering, it means that when Jesus came here in earth, He took all of our sin and He transfer it and put it in His own body. And peter affirms the teaching of Paul by saying in his letter: "Jesus Himself _bore our sins in His body_ on the tree." (1 Peter 2:24)

When Jesus was on the cross, He was shouting, "My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34, Matthew 27:46) In the cross, it is the first time you will hear that Jesus used "my God" when referring to God the Father! In the gospels, He always uses Father when calling to our God the Father but in the cross, He said on the very first time, "My God! My God!" Why do you think is the reason of it? It is because He who without sin became sin for us! Paul said, "For [God] made [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us..." (2 Corinthians 5:21 – NKJV) Jesus Christ took our sins.

Logically, because our sin was no more in our body but it was in the body of Jesus Christ, the wrath of God in us also transferred to Christ that's why before Jesus will be crucified, it was recorded in Luke that: "He is praying more earnestly that His sweat became _like great drops of blood_ falling to the ground" (Luke 22:44) His sweat became like drops of blood not because he is thinking that to be nailed in hands when you are alive is extremely painful. What was in the mind of Jesus that makes His sweat like blood were not the hammer and the nail of the angry people but the hammer and the nail of an angry God. What was in his mind is the wrath of God that's why Jesus said in his prayer while his sweat is becoming like drops of blood, "Father, if you are willing, remove this _cup_ from me..." (Luke 22:42) and the word _cup_ here in gospel of Mark was called by Mark as _cup of suffering_ (Mark 14:46) Cup of suffering in the Old Testament is mainly referring to the _wrath_ or _anger_ of God.

Also before Jesus Christ will be crucified in the cross, He taught to the people: "You must forgive _so that_ your Heavenly Father will forgive you also" (Matthew 6:14, Mark 11:25-26) but after He was crucified on the cross and shouted, "It is finished," Apostle Paul, who receive the revelations of the risen Christ taught two times in his letters: "You must forgive _because_ you are already forgiven by God" (Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13) That's been a change! It is not so that but it is because. You must forgive not _so that_ but _because_ you are already forgiven. Why it was change? It is because when Jesus Christ died on the cross, He already finished and satisfied the wrath of God to your sin, you are already forgiven! We are forgiven people of God. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He took our sins and He was punished so that we will never be punished and He was condemned so that we will never be condemned.

**Jesus destroyed the obstacle to our salvation**

Jesus died to destroy the sin, the obstacle to our salvation – seeing the glory of God. Therefore, Jesus died not to offer salvation but _to bring salvation_ to the people who are predestined to be saved.

**Then, how are we going to preach the gospel to everyone?**

Before I end this chapter, I am going to answer first to most common objection of others in this chapter – how are you going to share the gospel to those who are not predestined to be saved? This is really a though question! Let me answer it biblically.

We are going to preach the gospel like how Jesus commanded us to preach it: "Preach the gospel to _all_ nations" (Marks 16:15) and follow the examples of the Disciples in preaching it: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household." (Acts 16:31)

We are not going to preach: "If you are not elect or predestined to be saved, you will never be saved because Jesus died not for you but only for the predestined people." People who are preaching like this are the one who study and understand well the doctrine of predestination but never understand the _real purpose of knowing this doctrine_. They missed the main point of the doctrine of predestination. Paul said, "He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, _to the praise of his glorious grace_." (Ephesians 1:5-6) Did you see that? Predestination is for you to acknowledge _only_ the glory of the grace of God. Every time predestination is coming in your mind, it is _only_ for you to stop looking on yourself or boasting about yourself and start acknowledging God's glory.

We do the preaching to _all_ nations, not thinking who are the predestined people but thinking only to share the gospel and then, when people respond to the gospel we share, we will not see ourselves as great in preaching because we know the doctrine that God is the one who is working to them though our preaching. In short, doctrine of predestination is not related about your responsibility in sharing the gospel instead it is only about acknowledging God's grace in doing your responsibility in this world.

**Reflect on this thought**

Thousand years ago, God send His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross to destroy the sin of the elect and after He died and resurrected, He is started now the ministry of opening the eyes of the elect to see the glory of God in Christ through the Holy Spirit and His ministry is happening until now - maybe to you!

# Chapter 10: Maximizing your seeing for the sake of your happiness

Does Christian enlightenment that means seeing God's glory in Christ means _seeing an extraordinary shining light_ that look like Jesus? Yes, to some but no to all! While in this world, seeing doesn't literally mean seeing. In the Bible, seeing actually means _knowing_.

Paul said, "For now we see in a _mirror dimly_ , but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12) He said that while in this world, we only see the glimpse of God's glory but in the future, we will see the perfect glory of God. Notice that Paul connects seeing and knowing. Let me emphasize it one by one. He said, "For now _we see in a mirror dimly_ , but then face to face. _Now I know in part_ ; then I shall know fully." Seeing glimpse means knowing glimpse. Again, He said, "For now we see in a mirror dimly, _but then face to face_. Now I know in part; _then I shall know fully_." Seeing fully mean knowing fully. In short, seeing means knowing.

You will see also in other passage that seeing is knowing like in the gospel of John. John said, "No one has ever _seen_ God, the only God, who is at the Father's side, he made him _known_." (John 1:18) Did you notice the connection of seeing and knowing in this verse? Instead of writing, "No one has ever _seen God_ ; the only God who is at the Father's side, he made _him seen_ ," John wrote, "he made _him known_." Meaning, seeing is actually knowing.

According to Paul, "Satan blinded the _minds_ of unbelievers in seeing God's glory in Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:4) Notice that it was the mind that is blinded. Therefore, having eyes opened in seeing God's glory in Christ means having an _awakened mind_ to know more Jesus as God in the Bible. But it doesn't mean that all people who opened their Bible and study it deeper are enlightened. There are blinded theologians and enlightened theologians. Anyways, if you don't know what theologians means, it is simply a term referring to the people who are studying deeper the Bible. Blinded theologians study their Bible _for the sake of knowledge_ while the enlightened theologians study their Bible _for the sake of seeing God's glory more_ [or to know more of God's glory] to experience more of happiness.

If seeing means knowing, then, _seeing more_ means _knowing more_. So maximizing your seeing as enlightened for the sake of happiness is to _maximize your knowledge for God's glory_. Maximize your seeing by having the same principle of Paul: "I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of _knowing Christ_ Jesus my Lord..." (Philippians 3:8) See anything that is not related to knowing Christ as loss and nothing. " _Grow in_ the grace and _knowledge_ of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ..." (1 Peter 3:18)

Bible said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall have _eternal life_ " (John 3:16) God gave us Jesus Christ to have eternal life. What is eternal life? Many Christians thought that eternal life is given to us so that we will be in Heaven someday. Eternal life is not just simply a key to heaven. Jesus Christ Himself told us what eternal life is. He said, "This is eternal life that _they may know you_." (John 17:2) Eternal life is given to us now for the purpose of knowing God.

When I was 18 years old entering the journey of being a seminarian, many people are thinking that I am going to waste my life because I am going to risk everything I have including my dreams and ambitions in life. But I am so comforted to this verse: "The kingdom of heaven is like _treasure in a field_ , which a man found and covered up. Then in _his joy_ he goes and _sells all that he has_ and buys that field. " (Matthew 13:44) He sells everything he has just to get the greatest treasure he discovered! This is actually a great picture for seminarians. Jesus is something - someone - worth losing everything for. And seminarians risk everything they have for getting something greater than any other treasures in the world - and that is the treasure of _knowing Christ_. If people will understand that entering seminary is like this picture, they will stop thinking that we made a sacrifice instead they will start to realize that we just simply use our common sense.

Maximize you seeing for the sake of your happiness by living a life like seminarians. But this doesn't mean that you must go to seminary, what I mean is you should be like Paul who is "[counting] everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of _knowing Christ_ Jesus [our] Lord." (Philippians 3:8) Meaning, like seminarians and Paul, the most important in your life should be only to _know Christ_. From now on, see yourself as seminarian even you are not in seminary by making _knowing Christ_ as your only greatest treasure in life.

**Why some maximize their knowledge of God but never have great happiness in God?**

There are people who have great knowledge of the Bible but if you will notice their life, they never have great happiness in God of the Bible. What do you think the reason of it? We will know it by studying what Jesus said to the theologians in His times.

Jesus said, "How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?" (John 5:44) Based on the context of this verse, Jesus is talking here to the people who are delighting in studying the scriptures. Jesus said just in the previous verse, "You _search the scriptures_..." (John 5:39) Did you see that? His audiences are the theologians in His days, the people who are delighting in scripture. And the "believe" that Jesus is saying here in "how can you _believe_..." is referring _to seeing the glory of God in Christ_ to be admired, received, and enjoyed. In other words, Jesus is saying, "how can you see the glory of God as you are studying the scripture..." Let me explain how come that that is what it means. According to John, the author of what we are reading, believing is actually receiving. He said to his introduction: "But to all who did _receive him_ , who _believed in his name_ , he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12) Did you see that? The truth is receiving is believing! Let me explain what does receiving means by simply showing to you the previous verse: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God [and the Word became flesh as John 1:14 said which clearly referring to Jesus. In other words, Jesus was God]. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not made that was made... He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people _did not receive him_." (John 1:1-3,10-11) Obviously, the receiving here that people failed to do in its context is referring to acknowledging that Jesus is the Word that was God that became flesh and that all things were created through Him. In other words, it is referring to _seeing the glory of God in Christ_ to be admired, acknowledged, received and enjoyed that's why as John said on the next verse: "But to all who did _receive_ Him, who _believed_ in His name..." (John 1:12) The receiving that John is saying here based on the context is seeing the glory of God in Christ to be received and enjoyed.

Receiving is believing that's why if you will go back to the passage we read a while ago, you will see the previous verse of it is like this: "I have come in my Father's name, and you don't _receive_ me. If another comes in his own name, you will _receive_ him. How can you _believe_..." (John 5:43-44) Even in this passage, believing is receiving - seeing the glory of God to admired and rejoiced. In other words, He is saying, "How can you _believe_ [How can you _see the glory of God_ ], when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?" (John 5:44) If you are studying scriptures only to get human praise like theologians in Jesus' times are doing in studying their Bible, you're eyes will be closed to see the glory of God and because you cannot see it, there is no doubt that you are not experiencing happiness in it. Therefore, the reason why even some are growing in their knowledge about God through reading the Bible or books about the Bible, they are not happy, is because they are studying the Bible seeking glory from others - they want to be admired by others as great theologians!

**My own experience**

While I am here in farm in Laos, meditating God's Word for my scheduled preaching in the Chapel in our seminary in Philippines, God spoke to me in my thoughts. This is the question that enters to my mind that change my whole perspective in dealing with meditation scriptures: "Cohmi, are you going to continue mediating My Word [Bible] at this moment even someone will inform you today that the preaching scheduled to you next month is already canceled?" In this kind of question, God taught me that I should put my joy in meditating God's word not for the sake of preaching or for the sake of public teaching ministry but only for the sake of knowing Him and enjoying Him more.

After God lead me to realize this, I started to feel the great waves of happiness flowing in me in every truth in passages that God showed to me in the Bible. Loving man's glory in preaching is like putting big stone in the pathway of water of happiness flowing in you – it blocks the water of happiness flowing in you!

Maximize your seeing by maximizing you knowledge of God's glory through delighting in the Bible but be careful in desiring to grow in your knowledge of God, don't pursue it for the purpose to be admired as intelligent man but for the purpose of knowing God more to enjoy Him to the fullest.

**Let your heart burns in the truth of God's word**

Every truth about God's glory that you can see in the scripture is not only meant for us to increase the ideas of our brain but mainly meant for us to burn our hearts to worship the beautiful glory of God.

Try to look at this simple story in the Bible. In the road going to Emmaus, after Jesus was resurrected from the dead, he met there two men and he "interpreted to them in all the _scriptures_." (Luke 24:27) Do you know what happened to the two after learning something from Jesus in the scriptures? According to the next verse, this is the recorded testimony of the two: "They [the two!] said to each other, 'did not our _hearts burn_ within us while he talked to us on the road, while he _opened to us the Scriptures_?'" (Luke 24:32) Wow! Did you see their testimony? Scriptures gave them burning hearts! So meaning, the design of the Bible is not just for us to have _increasing knowledge of God_ but also for us to have _burning hearts in God_.

**Reflect on this thought**

Have more delight in studying deeper the word of God not for the sake of public teaching ministry but for the sake of seeing more the glory of God in it and by it, you will not just have an increasing knowledge about God instead you will also have a burning heart in God.

# Chapter 11: Reaching your highest joy while in this world

While in this world waiting for God's full glory to be revealed, some enlightened Christians, aside from the feeling of wanting to see God face to face in heaven, still have an unknown feeling that _something is still missing in their life_ as being an enlightened. I believe that this unknown feeling is the effect of having a long time _closed dispenser_ of water of happiness flowing in them. When you have no disciples to share what you are learning in your journey of being an enlightened or you have no disciples to dispense the water of happiness you are receiving, there will be always unknown feelings that something is missing in your life in this world.

**Completing the joy of Paul**

Paul said, " _Complete_ my joy..." (Philippians 2:2) Paul is encouraging people to complete his joy. The question is how do the recipients of Paul, which are the Church of Philippians, will help him to complete his joy? Let's complete what Paul is saying in this verse and discover how they will complete the joy of Paul. He said, "Complete my joy by being of the _same mind_ , having the same love, being in full accord and of _one mind_." (Philippians 2:2) Did you see that? By being what? By being same! What is that the same mind and one mind that Paul is talking about? Paul said it clearly on the next verse: " _Have this mind_ among yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus though He was in the form of God, did not count equally with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant..." (Philippians 2:6-7) The main point of Paul in saying about having one mind is this: "have this mind - _be humble_!" So he is saying, "Complete my joy by having one mind – be humble!"

According to the same book, which is actually just in the next chapter, Paul experienced the truth [be humble!] in his journey. Look what he said: "Though I myself have reason for confidence in flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eight day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the Church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless." (Philippians 3:4-6) In this passage, you already see that he is really from a High-class man. He has a high and respected status in their society and yet even he has those things, according to the next verse, He said: "But whatever gain I had [high-profile man!], _I counted as loss_ for the sake of Christ. Indeed, _I count everything as loss_ because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord..." (Philippians 3:7-8) So meaning, what he is saying about the humility of Jesus, that even Jesus is God, he did not count himself equally with God, is actually what he experienced in his own journey – even Paul has a high status in their society, he count everything as loss! What he share, spread and write are actually what he experienced also in life. And to complete his joy is simply to pass the truth [be humble like Jesus] he experienced in his own journey to others.

When you have no disciples to share the truth you learned in your journey, who will complete your joy? The truth that there is a feeling that something is still missing to an enlightened is the _manifestation of lacking disciples_. Therefore, have your own small group of disciples is the antidote to your disease of feeling "I am not complete!" Anyways, I am not saying here that once you feel the complete joy, it is already like being in heaven seeing God's full glory. No! Completed joy in this world and completed joy in heaven is totally different! I cannot explain to you how they differ right now. We will both know and experience it someday – and it is already near!

**Be a doer and my joy will be complete**

In this chapter, let me encourage you to be a doer of the Word [doer of this book you are reading] not just hearer only. Meaning, live in the life of being enlightened – God is your only joy lifestyle not just learn what does it mean to be enlightened. I am encouraging you to be a doer so that, like Paul said, my joy will be also _complete_. As I am writing this chapter, I feel how John feels when he wrote his letter. He said, "And _we are writing_ these things _so that our joy may be complete_ " (1 John 1:4)

Allow me to help you now being a doer of the Word by showing to you what is the biblical reason why many stops in being a hearer of the Word only and not going to the next level which is being a doer of the word.

**Let us be a doer of the Word**

Try to read _first_ what James said and I am going to explain it after. James said: "But be doer of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror, For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." (James 1:22-25)

James said, "... _be doer of the Word_ and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22) As you learned that God is your only joy in this book through reading, it should not be just knowledge in your mind that you will forget someday like the hearer that James is talking about instead it should be your life – be a doer of it! How are we going to do that? James actually answered it! Let's learn from him. James said, "if anyone is hearer of the word and not doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror for he looks at himself and goes away and once forgets what he was like..." (James 1:23-24) If you are just simply a hearer only, you will forget everything I told you in this book maybe next month or next year. James told us why they are hearer only and easily got forget everything. James said on the next verse, "but..." Oops! Wait! Did you notice how this verse starts? It starts with the word _but_. Meaning, what he is going to say in this verse is the opposite of a hearer in the previous verse who is forgetting easily what he learned. James said, "but the one who looks intently in the _perfect law of liberty_ [or referring _to the Word of God_ ], and _continues in it_ [continue in what? Continue in applying? No! It is very clear that it is _continuing in looking or reading_ ]." (James 1:25) So meaning, the man who easily forgot the truth after reading his bible is not actually the one who never think how to apply in his life after reading but the one who don't continue in looking or reading or hearing that's why the key to be a doer of this book not just learner only is simply to _continue_ reading, reading and reading. After you are done reading this book, read it _again_! Read it again because continuous reading leads you to doing. As you continue reading and hearing, application of the truths in this book will come out in your life naturally and effortlessly.

**Reflect on this thought: Practical Application**

I want to encourage you now to find some friends after you are done reading this book and try to make schedule with them that every time you are going to meet, you will study together one of the chapters of this book. I am also encouraging you to start Bible study in houses using this book as you discussions.

As you do the things that I am advising above, I believe that you will experience two truths in your life. First, you will become unconsciously a _doer of the truths_ inside this books not just learner of the truths in this book because you are reading this book repeatedly – _continuing hearing leads you to doing_. Second, you're feeling of something is still missing in your life will be cured – _having your own small group of disciples is the antidote to your disease of felling, "I am not complete."_ In short, you will become a doer and at the same time, you will feel complete. God bless you.

###

Thank you for reading my book. If you enjoyed it, won't you please take a moment to leave me a review at your favorite retailer?

Thanks!

Cohmi Coh

# Endnotes

**Chapter 1 - Christian Enlightenment**

. Will Buckingham, Douglas Burnham, Clive Hill, Peter J.King, John Marenbon, Marcus Weeks, Richard Osborne, Stephanie Chilman, _The Philosophy Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained_ , (Great Britain: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2011), 66.

. Into the wild, Directed by Sean Penn, (River road Entertainment), DVD.

. Paul Armentano, "Marijuana Arrests Decline In 2011, But Still Total Half Of All Illicit Drug Violations," last modified October 29, 2012, http://blog.norml.org/2012/10/29/marijuana-arrests-decline-in-2011-but-still-total-half-of-all-illicit-drug-violations/

. Aristotle, _Nicomachean Ethics 1.4_ , 1095a15-17, quoted in Jonathan Lear, _Aristotle: The desire to understand_ , (United States: Cambridge University Press, 1988-1999), 161.

. William Mounce, _Pastoral Epistles_ , (Nashville: Thomas Elson, 2000): 43, quoted in John Piper, _God is the Gospel_ (United States of America: Crossway Books, 2005), 99.

. Blaise Pascal, _Pascal's Pensees_ , trans. W.F. Trotter (New York: E.P Dutton, 1958): 425, quoted in John Piper, _Desiring God_ (United States of America: Multnomah Publishers, 1986-2003), 19.
Chapter 2 - Extraordinary Transformation

. SeekFind.net Staff, " _Romans 12:2 You Will Be Transfigured [metamorphoo] Just As Jesus Was_ ," last modified August 2011, http://www.seekfind.net/Romans_122_You_Will_Be_Transfigured_Just_As_Jesus_Was.html

. Jonathan Lear, _Aristotle: The desire to understand_ , (United States: Cambridge University Press, 1988-1999), 156.

. Mahatma Gandhi. BrainyQuote.com, Xplore Inc, 2013. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/mahatmagan107529.html, accessed December 1, 2013
Chapter 3 - Rejoicing in the midst of suffering

. Christian History Institute (CHI), "#103: POLYCARP'S MARTYRDOM," https://www.christianhistoryinstitute.org/study/module/polycarp/

# About Cohmi Coh

Cohmi Coh is the founder of God is our only Joy ministries. He is a man who is enjoying God in his life through the journey of writing. He finished Bachelor of Theology in Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a global missionary of International Teams.

# Connect with Cohmi

Website: http://godisouronlyjoy.weebly.com

Smashwords Author Page: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/micohongoco

Facebook: <http://www.facebook.com/experiencegrace>

Email: mikhael.ongoco@gmail.com
