Dear All, my name is Tan Kang Fun but I am better known as KF Tan in the market place. I am currently the CEO of a health trust company in Singapore. I started my career as an auditor with one of the Big 4 firms before I joined a chemical company back in 1990. In year 2000, I moved to a high-performance material manufacturing plant where I was the Managing Director. Before my present position, I was with healthcare companies where I had different roles at different point in time as the CPO, CFO and COO.

It has been a blessing and delight for me to share this series on God’s Unfailing Love. It all started by Sis. Michelle Liew asking me to share my personal testimonies on this GLOBAL REACHOUT ministry. The first series was on how Christians can make an impact in workplace. This was followed by the second series on my personal journey with stage 4 lung cancer. Well, in this third and final series, I have shared many passages on God’s unfailing love from the Old Testament where the love of God is truly unfailing for His people in all circumstances. I shall now focus on His love still continues in the New Testament to keep us going on our walk with our Lord Jesus Christ. We shall now continue with the final part of God’s Unfailing Love series.

In conclusion, I would like to share passages from the New Testament where God’s unfailing love continues to teach us, guide us, encourage us to be a better Christian for His glory :-

1. He Will Not Let Us Be Tempted Beyond What We Can Bear – I Corinthians 10:13 says “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it”

Since we are God’s creation, He knows very well from the beginning of time that we, in our flesh, can never bear it and, thus, has provided us the way out so that we might not sin against Him. In this regard, it is important for us to walk closely with God, so that when temptation comes, our helper the Holy Spirit will spring into action to protect and guide us to do what’s righteous in the eyes of our holy God.

Probably some of you might have encountered this situation before. Remember a situation where you knew that it is wrong to do something that is against God’s holy nature and your mind somehow clicked and you realized that you will be sinning if you had proceeded to do what had been in your mind. Isn’t it amazing how the Holy Spirit living in us can spring into action to protect us from sinning? Thus, the psalmist said in Psalm 119:11 “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You” is so true for our good to glorify God in whatever things that we do.

2. He Disciplines Those He Loves – Hebrews 12:6 says “For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives”

The Scripture clearly tells us that So, when we look at Hebrews chapter 12, God is telling us the same thing about the children He loves, starting with verse 5 which reads “⁵And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; ⁶for whom the LORD loves He chastens; and scourges every son whom He receives.”

The author of the book of Hebrews actually referred to the Old Testament and quoted Proverbs 3:11-12 “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction; for whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights”. From these verses, it is clear that God disciplines His children. His discipline is not a venting of wrath like “giving us what we deserve”. His chastisement of us has purpose. It is part of the necessary process of bringing us to responsible maturity, making us His holy people. It is God’s sign of love and care, leading us to Him and away from the final judgment.

3. He Uses Trials To Mature Our Faith – James 1:2-4 says “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing”

Let us look at verse 2 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” At the first impression, one would ask how can we have joy when we are in trials? To many of us, we would associate “joy” with “happiness”. My brethren, happiness is something completely different from joy. Happiness is circumstantial. Happiness is based on happenings. So, what is joy? Joy is a supernatural delight in the person, purposes, and people of God. Thus, when James said “Count it all joy,” he is telling us to “Reach out to God. Get God’s heart in this matter.” Only Christians get to experience joy. Have you ever sensed God is at work in you, or seen His obvious hand in a situation and knew in your heart of hearts that God did that? Joy is also something we exchange as brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to minister to one another and to encourage one another.

Let us move to Verse 3 “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience”. This is so clear in so far as testing, faith and patience are concern. If you don’t know testing of your faith produces patience, then you will know tomorrow. Why did I say that? This is because trials separate the men from the boys. Trials separate the sheep from goats. Trials separate wheat from the tares. The proof of whether you are a true follower of Christ often comes with trials. When life is hard, you discover whether you’re really in Christ or just an imposter who showed up for a sunny day at the beach. Matthew 7:20 declares “Therefore by their fruits you will know them”. One of the fruits of a genuine believer is that you endure hardship. You continue. You don’t give up. Jesus said in Matthew 10:22(b) “But he who endures to the end will be saved”.

Now let us go back to verse 3 again “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience”. As I said earlier, a trial is a test of your faith. So, what good or benefits do they bring me beyond a confidence in my conversion? Testing produces patience or steadfastness (ESV) or endurance (NASB). The testing of your faith produces the ability to “remain under” Him. God wants to give you the ability to remain under. He wants you to know under His wings you can take refuge, Psalm 91 tells us that.

When you are under a trial you feel the pressure. You feel the weight of whatever it is that God has allowed, but if you were to tell the full truth right now, what do you want most when trial comes? “I want to get out from under it.” If God can get to you the ability to remain under the pressure, He can give you every other good thing He wants for you. All the character qualities God wants to pour into your life are coming through the funnel called “remaining under.” He wants you to stick with it, hang in there, and under NO circumstances give up. But what should we do when the pressure is on and life becomes very hard? The apostle Peter tells us, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6). Remain under the pressure by God’s grace and in His strength and when you pass the test by persevering, a lot of great things are in your future.

As we proceed to verse 4 “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” What God wants from you is that trial produces life transformation. That’s why God has you working in the place where you can do the best. God is working on you and me from the inside. God is trying to change you and grow you on your own customized training program. Only as you keep trusting Him for as long as possible will you notice the good result. God wants to mold you to have that staying power and a life transformed through the trial. God wants you to have victory over the trial. Victory over trial presents the elect with the crown of life which God promises the elect who love Him.

I pray that based on what I have shared will be able to provide you some tips on Christian life and your walk with God, knowing that he is the God with unfailing love. Now, I have completed the entire course on “Light @ the Marketplace”. Thank You!