The Farewell

I could never tell you the Chinese symbols (words) that mean this term. 

I just watched a thought provoking Chinese movie, it translated in English as "The Farewell".

It was on Amazon Prime.

It was well written and the acting was great.

It was English subtitled so you will be able to understand.

When I first starting watching this movie, I was struck by the similarities of this group of Chinese people as compared to American families.

Some of family members went to America, some to Japan and some stayed in China.

I was so caught up in it that I almost missed what I found to be of the greatest eternal importance.

I'll only tell a few things about this movie in case you would like to see it.

It's about a grandmother, Nai Nai, is the Chinese Mandarin translation.

All the family from all over go home supposedly for a wedding. 

Some have not seen family members in 25 years.

There an underlying secret that they must keep from Nai Nai. 

She has cancer.

There is much disagreement over to tell or not to tell.

There was a cemetery scene where the went to pay respect to the grandfather who had died many years ago. 

As it is in their customs, they had shrines.

I was struck by the eternal implications.

Those funeral scenes play out for each family here too and all over the world.

If there is no Savior, eternity is bleak.

Eternity never ends!

There are many false gods that lead to destruction!

There is only One Christ!

God has bestowed on Him eternal life through His suffering on the cross.

Is He calling you?

Are you covered by His blood that washes sin away?

Christ doesn't have rituals or customs.

He has nail scarred hands, a resurrected body that death could not hold and a love for a stiff necked people filled with sin.

How can a dead idol compare?

I've done my part, I'm presenting the gospel. 

That is all I can do.

Well I can pray and I will.

I'll put scripture after this.

I pray you will weigh it carefully!

Sinner

Mercy

Love

Judgement 

Salvation

Authority

Faith

Preach

Make disciples 

High Priest 

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8

So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. - Romans 9:16

1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.

4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you;

5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. - 1 Peter 4:1-8

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, - Hebrews 9:27

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." - Acts 4:12

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,

2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you"? Or again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son"? 

6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."  - Hebrews 1:1-6

2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. - John 17:2-3

who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. - 1 Peter 1:21

18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." - Matthew 28:18-20

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. - Hebrews 4:14-16