One issue that kept coming back when I served on the Committee of Management (COM) was the overflowing gutters around our auditorium. Every time there was heavy rain, the same problem would occur. We could repair the damage, but unless the design itself was improved, the problem would simply return.
Now that long-awaited renovation project is finally starting later this month. At last! What a joy! During the renovation there will be inconvenience and disruption, and we will need to be patient and bear with one another. But we do so with hope, because we are certain of the outcome. The work will take time to complete, yet we already know how it will end. When it is finished, we will no longer worry every time heavy rain is forecast.
This reminds me of our Christian life. Through Jesus' death and resurrection, He has already secured our salvation. Yet we still live in a world marked by sin and suffering, waiting for the day when He returns and brings His saving work to its glorious completion.
Until then, we will still experience suffering, illness, broken relationships and death. Yet by God's mercy, these do not define our future. Our hope rests not in our present circumstances, but in Christ and His unfailing promises.
So over the coming months, whenever we see the fencing, scaffolding and temporary disruption, may they remind us that God has already begun His saving work in us. One day He will bring it to completion. Until then, we live in hope.
As Hebrews encourages us, let us "run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. " (Hebrews 12:1–2).
當我在执理會（COM）服侍時，正堂的排水槽（gutter）溢流的問題一直困擾著我們。每逢大雨，雨水便會滿瀉。我們可以一次又一次地修補，但若不從根本改善設計，問題始終會重複出現。
如今，這項期待已久的維修工程終於將於本月底展開。等了這麼久，實在感恩！施工期間，難免會帶來一些不便和影響，我們也需要彼此體諒、互相包容。然而，我們仍能帶著盼望面對，因為我們知道工程終必完成。到了那一天，每逢大雨，我們便不用再擔心排水槽溢瀉的問題了。
這也讓我想到我們的信徒生命。藉著耶穌的受死與復活，衪已經為我們成就了救恩。然而，我們仍然活在一個充滿罪惡和愁苦的世界，等候主耶穌再來，把祂的救恩帶到完全的實現。
在此期間，我們仍會經歷苦難、疾病、破碎的人際關係，甚至死亡。但因著神的憐憫，這一切都不是我們最終的結局。我們的盼望不在於現在的環境，而是在基督和祂永不落空的應許。
因此，在未來幾個月，當我們看見圍板、棚架，以及施工期間帶來的種種不便時，願這一切都提醒我們：神已經在我們身上展開祂拯救的工作，並且有一天必定完成。在那一天來到之前，讓我們帶著盼望繼續向前。
正如《希伯來書》勉勵我們：「存心忍耐，奔那擺在我們前頭的路程，仰望為我們信心創始成終的耶穌。」（來12:1–2）
