By Xuesong, China
I live in a coastal city in mainland China. When I look into the distance, it seems as if the other side of the sea is visible. The pity was that I had never left for there. Therefore, my world was narrow. Recently, I finally had a chance to cross the ocean to travel abroad and broaden my horizons. So I was extremely happy and I couldn’t wait to see what foreign countries were like and how people there live.
First, I flew to Singapore, the world’s third-largest financial center next to London and New York. After I got off the plane, clusters of high-rise buildings, the blue sky set with white clouds, the fresh air, the clean streets, the singing birds and fragrant flowers—all of this made me feel as if I was in a garden. It seemed that Singapore indeed lived up to its reputation—the Garden City.
In the fast bus, our guide introduced the customs of Singapore to us. She said, “Our country is under the rule of law. The government pays great attention to people’s health. Both our food and water are all natural.” After these words, she also told us how Singapore’s economy developed, saying, “Without abundant resources, the economic development of our country depends on the deep-water harbor, namely, the wharf. Its favorable geographical location attracts the ships from other countries to berth there. Gradually, this promotes the development of our country’s economy and contributes to our happy life.” After her words, we all felt greatly astonished and started to discuss, “Wow! Singapore’s economy should be inseparable from this wharf. It’s really amazing. People living here are really very happy.” Meanwhile, I had a very good impression of Singapore.
As Singapore covers only a small area, it didn’t take us much time to tour there. Before long, we came to Malaysia, to the west of Singapore. In the past, I knew little about Malaysia, yet this tourism opened my eyes.
Not long after we set out in the bus, lots of lush trees with fruits along the way drew my attention, which I had never seen in China. The other tourists also felt curious about them and we started to excitedly discuss what they were. Some thought them to be pine trees, some said they were durian trees, and others guessed them to be banana trees. Immediately, the atmosphere became vivid.
Seeing that, the Malaysian guide said to us, “Our country boasts of primary ecological resources. The trees we see along the road are rubber trees and palm trees.” At that time, a tourist pointed outside and asked curiously, “So many trees! Why haven’t we seen some people take care of them? It seems that no one lives here.” The guide answered with smiles, “People don’t need to do so. Lying on the equator, our country has a tropical rainy climate all the year round. Though it’s very hot, it suddenly pours nearly every day. This climate is beneficial to the growth of these trees.” After her words, we all said, “That’s good. It can save a lot of expense of monetary and human resources. How wonderful it is!” “Yeah!” The guide said proudly. Then she reminded us, “In our country, you need to bring umbrellas every day. Because the weather is just like a woman’s mood. Now, it’s sunny. Next minute, it will possibly be overcast.” After hearing that, we all felt curious.
Then, the guide asked us, “Do you know what rubber trees and palm trees can be used for?”
After these words, we all shook our heads. Then the guide said, “Rubber trees mainly produce rubber, and palm trees produce palm oils. Rubber can be used for making our necessaries of life, such as soles of shoes, tires of airplanes, pillows, quilts and mattresses. Palm oil is our cooking oil. The development of our country’s economy mainly depends on the export of these products.”
From these words, I knew every country has its own sources of livelihood. Though the sources are different, they are adequate for nurturing the natives, so that people can live happily on their own land. It was indeed “a side water and soil raising a side people.” But I didn’t understand why different countries have their own advantageous location so that people there can live easily on their natural resources.
The end of our short trip came quickly. However, the different customs of these two countries left an unforgettable impression on me. What impressed me more deeply was that these two countries took advantage of their favorable natural resources to drive their economy and nurture their people. It was so wonderful.
After returning home, I immediately opened the book of God’s words and saw the following God’s words, “All things cannot be separated from God’s rule, and not a single person can separate themselves from His rule. Losing His rule and losing His provisions would mean that people’s lives, people’s lives in the flesh would disappear. This is the importance of God establishing environments for survival for mankind. It doesn’t matter what race you are or what piece of land you live on, be it in the West or the East—you cannot separate yourself from the environment for survival that God has established for mankind, and you cannot separate yourself from the nurturing and provisions of the environment for survival He has established for humans. No matter what your livelihood is, what you rely on to live, and what you rely on to sustain your life in the flesh, you cannot separate yourself from God’s rule and His management.”
As it turns out, every country relies on the things God created to develop its economy, so that it becomes thriving and prosperous—that’s all because of God’s rule and arrangements. It is God who has created a suitable living environment for mankind and nurtures the people of all countries and territories. Just like our daily food and drink, they all come from God. If losing the things bestowed by God, we will lose the source of our livelihood and can’t survive at all. So, we humans really can’t be separated from God’s provisions.
During this trip, I appreciated that God rules every country’s existence and development, and that He nurtures people of different countries and races. Just like Singapore, its natural resources aren’t abundant, yet God bestowed Singaporeans with the wharf to ensure their survival. Due to the wharf’s favorable location, they lead a good life. As for Malaysia, according to its geographical location, God gave Malaysians special resources for their survival—rubber trees and palm trees, so that people there can live and work in peace and contentment. All of this is because of God’s provisions and manifests God’s power and deeds.
I had thought it was difficult for a large country to develop its economy and nurture its people. However, unexpectedly, every country runs in the laws set down by God. So, all people need to do is make rational use of the natural resources prepared by God and they will lead a good life. Just like the developed country—Dubai, on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf. Though it’s a desert country without much vegetation, it’s rich in petroleum underground, which can provide fuel for cars. Through exporting petroleum to the other countries, Dubai develops its economy and improves its people’s living standard. From that, I saw God’s power is so great and marvelous and is completely beyond our human imagination.
All of these God’s wondrous deeds show us that no matter which country we humans live in, no matter what our source of livelihood is, we can’t be separated from God’s sovereignty and arrangements. That people of different countries can live happily on their own land is determined by God’s domination, but not their presidents’ abilities to promote the development of their economy. Just as God’s words say, “God created this world, He created this mankind, and moreover He was the architect of ancient Greek culture and human civilization. Only God consoles this mankind, and only God cares for this mankind night and day. Human development and progress is inseparable from the sovereignty of God, and the history and future of mankind are inextricable from the designs of God.”
God created this world. He provided us humans with the conditions and things necessary for our survival, such as what we eat and use, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the flowers, grasses and trees, the rivers and lakes, and so on. Without these things, no matter how capable we are, we can’t survive at all, because none of us possesses the authority and power to create all things, and what we do just depends on the things God created. No matter how developed a country is, it’s inseparable from the things created by God. Therefore, people of all countries and all races should believe and worship God because every day each of us enjoys the things bestowed by God, living under the Creator’s provision and nourishment.
