How Are You Measured?

8th April 2006, Singapore - You needn't put your ears to the ground to know that the people of the land are gearing up for the big GE. The fever is in the air. The notable intensity at which new candidates are introduced every other day; the jabs and stabs that come with the representatives of both the ruling and opposition parties come as no surprise. How will you vote? What will it be based on?

Hoards of newspaper columnists have already made their oxymoronic 'calculated guesses' on what basis the city state's citizens will vote. There have been eager calls not to vote for the opposition for the sake of wanting opposing voices in government; the converse is also heard. What makes a candidate worth one precious vote from every individual in a single ward or GRC?

Observe all news reports and bio data released on every newly-unveiled contesting candidate and you'd be greeted with information on what high profile positions they held previously, their educational background, the highly-appraised good work via humanitarian/charitable/grassroots work and other vote-winning points. If contesting candidates of political parties are measured this way, what about you? How are you measured? By your position/designation at work, the good deeds or volunteer work you engage in, the mission trips you've made, or what your highest educational qualification is?

Pray no. There are too many conditions to live up to and too many faults to begin with. If not for grace (God's grace) with with which we live under from one day to the next, we all fall short of the expectations and standards set upon us by man, by institutions, by the world.

What is the measure of a man if he gains the world or the world's vote and favour, but loses his own soul?