It had been two years since I visited Batam Island. Yesteryears, I used to visit Batam regularly. It was a busy little island filled with gamblers around the region, gathered here for sex, drugs and casinos.
Those busy streets I used to roam, now dead and quiet. Hotels used to be packed over the weekend, now offering free breakfast to lure customers.
One thing I enjoyed and still enjoying today was the journey to the island. I would sat at the edge of the back of the ferry and enjoy the nature of the big sea and the breezy wind that blew against me, I felt relaxed and a sense of freedom. Freedom from stress. Freedom from the world. Freedom from myself.
Out floating on the big sea, looking up the big blue sky and guessing the depth of the deep blue sea, I meditated upon the Word of the Lord.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children – with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
(Psalm 103 v11-18, NIV)
Now living in a world where chaos reigned and persona ruled, without Christ what would I become? Without the love of God, I would have lost my humanity.
I wished to return to the Lord, returned to the altar of my God and worshipped Him as David did.