In the midst of the Raya season…
It’s now almost half past two… Got back from mamak about an hour ago, unfortunately my mom caught me cos she couldn’t sleep and was watching national geographic…. Darn… Anyway, I watched with her a hari raya special… it was about the Haj.
Though tiring and dangerous it may seem, every man and woman under the crescent of Islam must perform this massive, yet personal pilgrimage to get back in-tune with God. All I can say is… ought we Christians have the same diligence to God everyday of our lives? Let’s go through the ritual of Muhammad s.a.w. and see what can we Christians learn.
They start at Mecca: They all start at the beginning of all things.
Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus also said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.” Therefore, in all our things, we must go back to the beginning of it all… that “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life, but he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
They run where Haggai ran: There’s a length of ground where pilgrims quick-paces up and down, just like Haggai did in search of water for her son, Ismail. This is to signify that God provides to those who seek.
Jesus said “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”(John 14:12-14) Jesus also said “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”(Matthew 7:7-9). We oughta be mindful that God provides what we need when we need it, according to His will. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:33-34)
They communicate in Arafat: They would walk 16km to a place where Muhammad receives his callings, and where he gave his last sermon. It was about submission and expectation. There people would receive conviction, mercy, forgiveness, the spirit of God, so powerful, it’s like He is speaking right at you, in the midst of the millions around.
Jesus is so personal that He wants a personal relationship with you, He wants you to love Him as much as He does to you. We ought to seek His voice, His calling, His presence, His love, and everyday, especially in church services. When two or three are gathered in His name, He Himself will come into our presence. The sermon of shared for the day ought to be the words of God Himself.
We ought be convicted and comforted as often as possible. We ought to have expectations that God want YOU, as much as the person next to you. He forgives you no matter how far away you may be…. How wonderful is that?
They head back to cast the demons out: Muslims then head back to cast stones to the pillars that represents the devil and his temptations as an act against Satan’s hold.
Jesus said: “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”(Matthew4:10). When temptation comes, when we are asked to compromise our beliefs and convictions, ought we stand for our Lord and say on HIM I shall serve?
They cut their hair, and offer a sacrifice: The Muslims then cut their hair as a public display of devotion. Then they make an offering of sacrifice as Ibrahim did when He received a ram. “Ibrahim receiving the ram from God, is like we receiving a bounty from God. From our work to our families. From this, we ought to give back a part to God as an offering of thanksgiving” (Devout Muslim)
The Bible said: “But I was like a docile lamb brought to the slaughter” (Jeremiah 11:19) we ought to be thankful for the great sacrifice the Father gave; that is His ONLY SON. And with that, we get baptized, we take communion, we tithe as testimonies of faith, as renewing your covenant with God, and with contributing back to God for the furtherance of His kingdom.
By now you ought be asking “Mark, what they do once or a lil more in their lives we do likewise almost every week, everyday. Exactly… that’s the thing. The key difference is not the ritual or the symbolism behind it. Rather, it’s the spirit that they did this, and the spirit we have when going to church or living a Christian life.
So the next time you go to church, or when you’re living your everyday life:
- Always be mindful of God.
- Seek Him everyday for forgiveness, conviction and comfort.
- Resist temptation. Stay in the light of God, and command the devil to go away.
- Live a life that would declare that you are the vessel of your testimony and faith to God, so that others may see God in you.
Remember. God wants you to be still and know that He is with you, He will never leave You, nor forsake you. Take sometime to be quiet and hear Him uttering that promise in your ear. Tell Him how much you love Him and pray that He will be your rod and staff to teach you, to keep you near Him as you walk hand in hand to greener pastures.
