shades of grey.

heloo again. was asked to write on this topic for LKY all round excellence award.. topic was The Greatest Influence in My Life.. so here is my essay. quite interesting to read i guess.. took me around 1h to do.


The greatest influence in my life has to be God. I see the hand of God in many ways around me. The very trees and plants that provide beauty and shade for us show the intricate work of a master creator. Our human bodies are also an art of perfection, and so are all the animals that roam the earth. Man can only study these living creatures, and perhaps clone them, but we will never be able to create anything completely new with our own power.

God has truly provided me with everything I possibly need. Good parents, who have good values, a place in a good school ACS (I), and many loyal friends. I am also blessed with much material comfort and with gifts of leadership, academic ability and musical ability. But more importantly, God has redeemed me from my sins and iniquities through his Son Jesus Christ. John 3:16 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.” All of us, being human, are imperfect. Romans 3:23 states that “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Even the good people of this world will not go to heaven, only the perfect will. Through the death and resurrection of Christ, all who believe and obey in Him are sanctified through His blood shed on the cross. This gift from God to all of us transcends all the other physical things the world has to offer. It gives me energy and strength for each day of my life, and also provides me hope of eternal comfort and rest beyond death.

God has not left me to search for all my answers to life’s questions alone. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path”. The Bible is God’s word and I have found it to be true in every aspect. The questions that philosophy seeks to answer seem to have no end to their arguments, and when it boils down to the essential questions like ‘what is the meaning of life?’ or ‘why is there suffering in this world?’, we can neither find a true answer in our surroundings nor within us, we will only go round in circles. However, the Bible provides me answers that I feel are the most true and applicable in all situations. God’s word provides me encouragement when I need it the most. Colossians 3:23 encourages me to work at whatever I do with all my heart, as working for the Lord and not for men.

God has shown me love through all the people around me. This love is not romantic love between lovers, but rather brotherly love, or agape. 1 Corinthians 13:4 - 5 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” This is the love that has been shown to me by my parents, church friends and Christian school friends, which is a manifestation of Christ’s love for us, when he gave up his life for the world. This love changes lives, and it spurs me on to show God’s love to everyone around me. Finally, God provides me comfort and hope, as Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”.

posted by guitar123 @ 3:30 PM