INFUSION!

Cameron Highlands is an idyllic spot in the middle of the Malaysian peninsula. Situated 5,000 feet above sea-level, it is a popular hill station, a respite from the equatorial heat and humidity for those who can’t take either. On the other hand, there is no lack of rain. The coalescence of these climactic conditions, however, renders this locus ideal for the growth of Camellia sinensis, aka “tea.” That also explains the verdure, the brilliant greenness of the land. Tea estates pretty much blanket CH. And all of them have tea rooms. Sit down with a pot of hot tea (cream and sugar, please!) and—believe it or not—a holdover from Malaysia’s colonial past: scones. Delightful!

The perfect pot of tea requires water at the right temperature to extract the precious chemicals from the tea leaves—infusions call for steeping in hot water. Cold water yields no tea (not the purist’s kind, anyway). Wise philosophers have been known to declare: You can’t make good tea without hot water.

True, in more ways than one.

Recently, preaching on the Seven Letters of Christ to seven churches (Revelation 2–3), I realized one thing. Of the seven churches, there were only two that didn’t have some form of external persecution or the other. And guess which two churches were at the bottom of the list in terms of spiritual quality? Guess which two won the most scathing condemnation from the lips of Christ? Yup, the two without persecution.

You can’t make good tea without hot water? There is something to that adage. Tea infusions call for steeping in uncomfortable circumstances.

Indeed, all who desire to live godly
in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
2 Timothy 3:12

Jesus reminded us of that possibility powerfully.

“Remember the word
that I said to you,
‘A slave is not greater
than his master.’
If they persecuted Me,
they will also persecute you ….”
John 15:20

Tertullian (160–220 A.D.), one of the early Church Fathers, is famously known to have stated that the blood of martyrs was the seed of the church. The more the church was under pressure, the more it grew, which, of course, is a fundamental principle of physics: the greater the heat, the greater the expansion.

For it is better,
if God should will it so,
that you suffer for doing
what is right rather than
for doing what is wrong.
1 Peter 3:17

Notice Peter says “if God should will it so.” While that gives comfort—nothing happens outside the will of God—it also creates a sense of apprehension: God might—just might—will it that we suffer persecution.

“Blessed are you when
people insult you and persecute you
… because of Me … for your reward
in heaven is great ….”
Matthew 5:11–12

Perhaps God will will it so. Perhaps we and the church need it. A bit of heat! God has allowed that in the past.

“I will also turn
My hand against you,
And will smelt away
your dross as with lye ….”
Isaiah 1:25

Perhaps He will again. So let us draw near to God as the end draws near each day.

The night is almost gone,
and the day is near.
Therefore let us lay aside
the deeds of darkness
and put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:12

And we must be ready to suffer.

Therefore, those also who suffer
according to the will of God
shall entrust their souls
to a faithful Creator
in doing what is right.
1 Peter 4:19

The perfect cuppa … in hot water!