People Matter to God: The Ultimate Love | Sis. Sia Wan

Between these, people matter to God, and people need the Lord. There is a correlation, okay? That is a mutual relationship and connection. So we start off with creation. How we start off with creation, and then we are in the midst of connection. Finally, there’s the conclusion when the second coming of Christ comes about. So we are in the midst of connection now. In the very beginning, the very foundation of our life, of the Bible, is God is love. So it’s a love story, okay?

When I mentioned this to my daughter—ah, sorry, I forgot—she said, “Don’t mention my name.” She said, “Yeah, you can add on, ‘This is a love story, not by Taylor Swift.'” Okay, I even never heard of that song, but our love story this morning is authored by our God. It is His story. It is God’s story. It started off with a love story: the creation of Adam and Eve. Then, tragedy strikes—the fall of Adam and Eve. Finally, redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, this is the very heartbeat of God, okay? My slide doesn’t seem to be coming up. Okay, right. So, when I first accepted the Lord, there was one verse—my first verse—that I memorized. Okay, wow, so loud, the heartbeat reflects my heartbeat. Okay, so my first memory verse—can you all take a guess? What’s my first memory verse? John 3:16. Come, let’s read together:

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

So this was the first memory verse. This is the very heartbeat of God, okay? Yesterday, I was just watching this movie. It was acted by Ted Danson. Do you remember him? He acted in the movie Smiles or something like that. He has a restaurant, and the restaurant tagline was, “Everyone knows your name.” You know, he was acting in this movie, and he says—he was an engineer constructing bridges. So he was giving a talk to universities and whatnot, and he says, “What makes this bridge special? It reflects the heartbeat of that designer.”

So, this is God’s heartbeat: that people matter to God, that people need the Lord. It says here, “For God so loved the world.” Who is the world? You, me, everyone. Who is the person? He says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Who is the person? The person is you, me, our neighbors, whoever. Define as any person.

So, look around you. Look around you. Look. Look. It’s not okay—look around you. These are the people. So there are two parts to this: We matter to God, and we need the Lord. People out there matter to God; they need the Lord.

Countless scriptures speak of God’s love. In John 17:24, it says—let’s read together: “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”

So, in the very beginning, there’s love—God’s love. And in 1 John 4:8: “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

So, if we don’t love, we cannot say we know God. And if you know God, you will know the very heartbeat of God. What is the heartbeat of God? People matter to God, and people need the Lord.

Now, I will summarize The Parables that were so wonderfully done earlier by Pastor Fing Gai and Sophia, and even Brother David Wong and the main team. We can see from them: lost, found, and rejoice.

The parable of the lost lamb. Where’s my lamb? Okay, I snapped a photo of this from the pastor’s room. You look at it. So cute, isn’t it? But can you see the love poured out? Okay, now, being a shepherd was a very common occupation during the time of Jesus. It’s a familiar environment.

So, where’s your familiar environment? Is it your office, your university, your school, your neighborhood? Where is your familiar environment? Your family? Okay, then let us ask ourselves—this is very applicable to me also—are we searching for the sheep in our familiar environment?

Sometimes I have so many excuses, you know? “This la, that la. I don’t want to travel there.” These are your familiar environments—your familiar place.

Moving on, the parable of the lost coin. You know, Sophia highlighted to us in one of our CGs: this lost coin could be—this lady is wearing a headgear made of coins. It could possibly mean the lost coin is one of those coins from the headgear. It is very, very expensive. It is very dear.

Okay, so my question to all of us: Are those people around us dear to us? Does the heartbeat of God resound toward them, or do you just pass them by daily? Just work, work, work, or just giggle, giggle, talk about university discussions, you know, your project? But does your heart reach out to them? Are they dear to you? Are they dear to you? Do you love them, care for them?

Are they aware that they are lost? You know, before I came to know God, I was doing very well. I was in college. My parents loved me. There was nothing I needed. Everything was provided for. So, I didn’t go around asking people, “Hey, do you think I’m lost?” I’d say, “No, I’m doing very well.”

So, those people around, they wouldn’t come knocking at your door saying, “I’m lost.” But it’s our duty to seek them out and let them know they are lost. Okay?

So, people are not aware that they are lost.

The teachers of the law, you know, when Jesus was giving out and sharing these parables, do you think they thought they were lost? Yes? No? No. They thought, “We are the righteous ones. We did the right thing. We know the Torah. We know the law.”

You see, does your friend, my friend, or relatives know that they are lost? They wouldn’t know. I read this very funny—”How do I know when I’m lost?” You know, I Googled this up, and I found this story, I mean this answer, very cute, but it has some element of truth. “I know I am lost when my phone screen shows ‘No Wi-Fi.'”

Isn’t it? We go anywhere: “Wi-Fi? Wi-Fi?” You know, “Where’s my Wi-Fi?”

So generally, people do not know that they are lost unless they are shown the way or unless they know their destiny. John 14:6: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”

Do we know the way? We know it is through Jesus Christ. But if we know, we have to lead others.

Do you remember him? He acted in the movie Smiles or something like that. He has a restaurant, and the restaurant tagline was, “Everyone knows your name.” You know, he was acting in this movie, and he says—he was an engineer constructing a bridge—so he was giving a talk to his university and whatnot, and he says, “What makes this bridge special? It reflects the heartbeat of that designer.”

So this is God’s heartbeat: that people matter to God and that people need the Lord. It says here, “For God so loved the world.” Who is the world? You, me, everyone. Who is the person? It says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Who is the person? The person is you, me, our neighbors. Whoever is defined as any person. So look around you. Look around you. Look. Look. Not okay? Look around you. These are the people. So there are two parts of this: we matter to God. God, we need the Lord. People out there matter to God. They need the Lord.

Countless scriptures speak of God’s love. In John 17:24, it says—let’s read together—”Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world.” So in the very beginning, there’s love—God’s love.

In 1 John 4:8, it says, “Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love.” So if we don’t love, we cannot say we know God. And if you know God, you will know the very heartbeat of God. What is the heartbeat of God? People matter to God, and people need the Lord.

Now I will summarize the parables that were so wonderfully done earlier by Pastor Fing Gai, Sopia, and even Brother David Wong and the main team. We can see from there: lost, found, and rejoice.

Okay, the parable of the lost lamb. Where’s my lamb? Okay, I snapped a photo of this from Pastor’s room. You know, you look at it—it’s so cute, isn’t it? But can you see the love poured out? Okay, now being a shepherd is a very common occupation during the time of Jesus. It’s a familiar environment. So, where’s your familiar environment? Is it your office, your university, your school, your neighborhood? Where is your familiar environment? Your family?

Okay, then let us ask ourselves—this is very applicable to me also—are we searching for the sheep in our familiar environment? Sometimes I have so many excuses. “Eh, you know this la, that la. I don’t want to travel there,” and all these things. These are your familiar environment, your familiar place.

Okay, moving on. The parable of the lost coin. You know, Sopia highlighted to us—one of our CG—this lost coin could be, you know, this lady is wearing a headgear made of coins. That coin is actually—it could possibly mean—the lost coin is one of those coins from the headgear. It is very, very expensive. It is very dear.

Okay, so my question to all of us: Are those people around us dear to us? Does the heartbeat of God resound toward them, or do you just pass them by daily? Just work, work, work? Or just giggle, giggle, talk about university discussion, you know, your project? But does your heart reach out to them? Are they dear to you?

Are they dear to you? Do you love them, care for them? Are they aware that they are lost? You know, before I came to know God, I was doing very well. I was in college. My parents loved me. There was nothing I needed. Everything was provided for. So I didn’t go around asking people, “Hey, do you think I’m lost?” I’d say, “No, I’m doing very well.”

So those people around—they wouldn’t come knocking at your door and say, “I’m lost.” But it’s our duty to seek them out and know that they are lost and let them know they are lost. Okay?

People are not aware that they are lost.

Okay, the teachers of the law—you know, when they were—Jesus was giving out, sharing these parables—do you think they think they are lost? Yes? No? No. They think, “We are the righteous ones. We did the right thing. We know the Torah. We know the law.”

You see, does your friend—my friend, relatives—know that they are lost? They wouldn’t know.

I read this very funny—how do I know when I’m lost? You know, I Googled this up, and I found this story, I mean this answer, very cute, but it has some element of truth. “I know I am lost when my phone screen shows no Wi-Fi.” Isn’t it? We go anywhere, first: Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi. You know, “Where’s my Wi-Fi?”

You know, so generally, people do not know that they are lost unless they are shown the way or unless they know their destiny.

John 14:6: “Jesus, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

So do we know the way? We know it’s through Jesus Christ. But if we know, we have to lead others. Do we know our destiny? In 2 Corinthians 5:17, it says, “You have to believe God destined you for dominion and greatness.”

The world’s definition of greatness may be different from ours. You know, they may be, “Well, great. Well, I travel every month overseas, you know. I have a big car, you know. I change cars every month.” You know, I do change cars every month—the tiny car toys, okay, for my display.

Okay, but then the thing is, when my father passed away, I was comforted because I know his destiny is in the Lord, and I look forward to seeing him when I go back home—my heavenly home. You know, so I know.

So what about those around you? Do they know their destiny? Do we care enough? Do we love enough? Do we know the heartbeat of God?

Now, the parable of the lost son. The father neglected the culture, forsook all ethics, what is customary, and forsook all forms of rejection from the Jewish practice to embrace his son.

Do we forsake all these forms, formalities, in order to pursue others? Are we going to say, “I know. This one elder, we cannot say, you know, you die.” You know, they say, “Choy, choy,” you know. “You cannot say Jesus Christ.”

Some say, “What is wrong?” You know, we all Chinese, you talk about Jesus, you know, but in a very condemning manner. Why do we tell about Jesus?

I have people coming up to me and saying, “Why do you keep on telling me about Jesus? Other religions don’t say anything, but you Christians—your Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,” you know?

But I say, because it is the heartbeat of our God. He loves you. You need Him.

So this, all this parable, wants to tell you the heartbeat of God. Do we go the extra mile? You know, we have been sending the short and multiplier invitations for Christmas. You know, how many of us really take the time to send out, then to follow up with our friends? You know, call them up, go for a drink, you know, say, “Hey, you know, I think these few weeks we’ve been doing the bridge, I think it’s so good,” you know? “It looks good, right?”

My cross even has a three-dimensional one I draw, you know, looks so good. But it will be even better if it is drawn and shared with others. Amen?

Okay. However, in order to do all these things, it’s not easy, isn’t it? We are always so busy. It’s not easy to go and, you know—but I remember when we first accepted the Lord, and we were excited, we kept on telling, “Hey, my life changed, you know?”

So now, continue to change—don’t know for the better or for the worse—but let’s stir up our spirit, man. Stir up, you know, the Lord, to put that heartbeat, you know. The bridge shows the heartbeat of the designer. The whole story of the Bible shows the heartbeat of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us be that heartbeat for Him, for others. But one of the important essential elements that we must have is compassion.

You know, we cannot be robotic and say, “Hey, you know what? You listen to this.” You know, where is your compassion for the lost? You know, compassion is a byproduct of love.

I told you from the very beginning, this is a love story. So it’s a byproduct of love. Love. Compassion is defined as simply love in action.

We just don’t say, “I love you.” You know, if my husband comes to me and says, “Hey, I love you,” and he doesn’t do anything for me, he doesn’t show it, I’ll say, “Isn’t it?” But because, through his commitment, he makes sure we are taken care of. He makes sure when I’m not well, he goes and gets my medication. You know, when the children are too noisy, he locks them in the room so I can rest.

No, okay, but compassion simply means love in action. It’s so easy to talk, but where is the action? It must be stirred by action.

Now, Jesus has shown us a very good example. He shows compassion many times.

Okay, in Matthew 9:36—let’s read together—”When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

You know, Matthew 14:14, “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.”

Matthew 15:32, “Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, ‘I have compassion for these people. They have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.'”

Luke 7:13, “When the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her, and He said, ‘Don’t cry.'”

This is about the story of a widow, you know, the son died, and she was crying. You know, can you imagine, you don’t have a husband, and your only son died? So heartbreaking.

And when Jesus saw her, His heart broke for her. You know, one prayer that I think we should—we must, I don’t say I think—we must pray is, “God, break my heart to what breaks Your heart.”

It’s not an easy prayer. I’ve prayed that prayer, and I tell you, every ambulance car that passes by, and I see during certain festivals people walking barefooted, it breaks my heart. They love God, but they do not know Jesus. It breaks my heart.

And I encourage you—pray, “God, break my heart to what breaks Your heart.”

Okay, continuing. Mark 1:40-41, “A man with leprosy came to Him and begged Him on his knees, ‘If You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing.'”

You know, can you imagine you have leprosy? And these are contagious. Jesus, if not because of compassion, the love for this man, He would not have knelt down and touched this person.

Jesus’ compassion was often directed towards strangers, the brokenhearted, that the religious leaders tended to look down upon.

These are the people—those around us. Laughter may hide their silent cry. I got this from David Wong, okay?

Here, this is another—I told you in the beginning that when I first accepted the Lord, I memorized John 3:16. But there was this other medical journal that I read, and I would like to share this with you. I’m going to skip certain parts, you know. It is reflected—they extracted this. This is a professor in the department of biology and chemistry. They always present every year a special lecture on the science of Christ’s crucifixion, okay? Extracted from the gospels, The Gospel of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

After the Passover celebration, Jesus took His disciples to Gethsemane to pray. So this is the journey just before the crucifixion. During His anxious prayer about the events to come, Jesus sweats drops of blood.

This is a rare medical condition called—my pronunciation may be out—hematidrosis.

Okay, during which the capillary blood vessels that feed the sweat glands break down. Blood releases from the vessel, mixing with the sweat. Therefore, the body sweats drops of blood. This condition results from mental anguish or high anxiety, a state Jesus expresses by praying, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death.”

So before He went and was crucified, He was praying. He was so intense. He knew exactly what He needed to go through, even to the point of saying, “Can this cup be removed?” But in the end, because of His great love, His great compassion, He said, “Your will be done.”

But that doesn’t mean He’s like, “Okay, I can take it.” You must remember, Jesus is 100% God and 100% man. So His physical body is just like ours. It was so intense that instead of just perspiring sweat, blood drops came out.

Then, in Matthew 27, Pilate orders Jesus to be flogged as required by Roman law before crucifixion.

So traditionally, the accused stood naked. You always see the cross with a cloth there—actually, He was totally naked. Can you imagine that?

And the flogging covered the area from the shoulder down to the upper legs. The whip consisted of several strips of leather. In the middle of the strips were metal balls that hit the skin, causing deep bruises. In addition, sheep bones were attached to the tips of each strip.

When the bones made contact with Jesus’ skin, they dug into His muscles, tearing out chunks of flesh and exposing the bone beneath. The flogging left the skin on Jesus’ back in long ribbons.

So as they whipped Him—this is fact, huh—these are actual events, exactly what happened to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Then, Roman soldiers placed a crown of thorns on Jesus’ head, and as they hit Jesus on the head, the thorns from the crown pushed into the skin, and He began bleeding profusely. The thorns also caused damage to the nerve that supplies the face, causing intense pain down His face and neck.

Then, they nailed His hands to the cross. The Greek meaning of “hands” includes the wrists, okay? The wrists are most likely where the nails went through Jesus’ hands. The bones in the lower portion of the hand supported the weight of the arms and the body, keeping it nailed to the cross.

As the cross was lifted, Jesus’ full weight pulled down on His nail-pierced wrists, and His shoulders and elbows dislocated.

Can you all imagine with me? You know, as His hands were nailed to the cross, the full weight of His body pulled on the nails. The excruciating pain!

And then His legs. As Jesus hung on the cross, the weight of His body pulled down on the diaphragm, and air moved into His lungs and remained there. Then Jesus had to push up on His nailed legs to exhale.

So for Him to breathe, you know, He had to lift up His body, using His legs.

And in order to speak, air had to pass over the vocal cords during exhalation. And yet, during those times, Jesus spoke seven times—seven times from the cross.

It is amazing that, despite His pain, He pushed Himself up to say, “Forgive them.”

So His death on the cross is not just for a few of us. It’s for everyone who has yet to know the Lord.

Let us truly treasure what He has done. When I read that as a new Christian, I said, “How can it be? I don’t know Him, and yet He would do that for me.”

My dad—I’m his child. My real father—he would do anything for me. But when I came to know Jesus Christ, His love for me overcame my father’s love. And I vowed, I said, “For You to die like that for me, yet while I am still a sinner…”

I don’t want to make it like an emotional trip, you know, or a guilt trip. But we have to know that this is the truth. This is what happened.

Before we put our trust, we need to know: Our Lord died for us, and we are so grateful and full of gratitude that we’ve come to know His love, His goodness, His compassion.

But this is just not meant for us.

You know, we’ve been hearing, “People matter to God. People need the Lord.” But today, I want to emphasize: let us search our hearts—really search our hearts. Is it just the people out there that need the Lord? Do I need the Lord at times?

How many times have we given up? How many times have we decided to walk away? How many times have we grown cold before the Lord? Now is the time to come back and say, “God, I need You, and people around me need You.”

His death on the cross—that is the ultimate compassion, the ultimate love for us.

As I mentioned, I don’t want to make this an emotional trip, but our relationship with God cannot be compartmentalized. It engulfs the whole being of us. It engulfs my emotions, my mind, my body, and my soul. I cannot compartmentalize it—”Only on Sunday, I’m a Christian. Other days, I follow my own way, I follow my will, not God’s will.”

Look at Him. Did He die an easy death? Knowing, while He’s there, that we may still reject Him—and yet, He said, “Let Your will be done.” Because that’s the first love story between Him and our Heavenly Father.

In the beginning, I stated that this is a love story. Love stories almost always end with, “They lived happily ever after.” But will our love story for the people end with, “They lived happily ever after”? Or will it end with a different twist?

In Matthew 13:49-50, it says: “So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

This is from the Bible, and God’s Word is the truth. How do we want our love story to end?

Musicians, we should be driven for souls, for the purpose of God found in Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. We are not to be driven for success or money, but Word-driven, Spirit-driven, and Kingdom-driven.