Updated : 21/09//2003

A Wake-Up Call
By Wilson Ng

In 1999, I was attacked by a strange disease, a critical illness that affects the immune system. It is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys. It is often called a 'woman's disease' despite the fact that some men are inflicted with it.

In April 1999, a series of health problems hit me - from rheumatism and arthritis due to low white blood counts (neutropenia) to inner-ear infection. I was warded at a specialist hospital for a couple of days and after that the taking of steroids and painkillers became a routine in my life. But all those medications did not help as weeks later, the pain became so severe that it was difficult for me to stand up, walk up the stairs or even to lift my hands. I was very thoroughly demoralised.

I did not know God at that time. One evening, God in His mercy, sent some people including two of my closest ex-colleagues to share the gospel and love of Jesus Christ with me. True friends visit us in prosperity only when invited, but in adversity they come without invitations. I was so touched by their sincere sharing and I could not stop crying when they prayed for me. That very night in June 1999, I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour. Thank God, my wife too became a Christian soon after.

Some months later, I had lung pneumonia.  I was hospitalised for another two weeks. At this juncture, the Lord brought an experienced blood specialist (a Christian who had come back from Australia to answer God's call to do mission work) to visit me in the ward as a doctor and to pray for me as a fellow Christian.

My Christian friends and colleagues also continued to visit me and prayed for me at the hospital and at home after my discharge. Rain or shine, they were there always to pray for me. However, despite the prayers, I experienced  kidney failure in November 1999.  I was hospitalised yet again for another two  weeks and diagnosed with lupus nephritis (a strange disease). I could not swallow food and my weight dropped from 73 kg to 57 kg - a 16 kg loss! I had to move about in a wheel chair. I went into depression.

During my numerous medical check-ups, our wonderful Lord answered my prayers. Throughout the ordeal, my wife prayed earnestly to God for miracles. The Lord had said . "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." A week later, all the tests conducted showed negative results, especially the kidney biopsy test on `kidney failure'. The specialist was amazed at the results and decided to conduct a second test on the tissues.

I cannot remember at all of what transpired during my hospitalisation. I only came to know of my strange behaviour from my wife and my mother who were there to take care of me day and night. It seems that I refused to be examined by the doctors and nurses; did not take my regular meals; was rude to my wife and mother; and was very emotional and depressed. I had literally gone mad! Eventually I had to be attended to by a psychiatrist! The only thing I can remember now is that I felt my spirit floating in the air, watching over my own body on the bed.

During the last two days of my hospitalisation, the Lord performed another miracle. I vomited more than 10 times for two consecutive days, throwing out dark yellow fluids from my stomach. The doctors were puzzled as to what those fluids were.

Then the Lord suddenly woke me up and I started to talk to my wife and mother. I was now fully co-operative with the doctors and nurses in their efforts to help me. They were shocked but happy to see the abrupt turn of events - a 180-degree turn!

It took me almost a month to get back to normal. I was like a newborn baby or a man who had just recovered from a prolonged state of unconsciousness. I had to re-learn how to eat food on my own, sleep and drive. With God's help, I managed to overcome those problems and the various side effects caused by the medications.  During my recovery, although still on medication, I was perfectly well mentally and physically. Daily, I would claim victory over the sicknesses in the name of Jesus.

Today, I am fully recovered and back at work as an IT specialist. The Almighty God has healed me and given me a new lease of life. In every desert of calamity, God has an oasis of comfort. Throughout the ordeal, I have learned never to be afraid to entrust the unknown future to the all-knowing God.

The Lord Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour and the healer of all my diseases. 

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

I had never really given much thought to my career, the purpose of life or of making a difference to my family until after leaving school in 1974. However, my association with friends and colleagues exposed me to many religions and beliefs and that networking also led to business opportunities.

At that time a Christian friend would come weekly all the way from Klang to Petaling Jaya (where I was then living) to share about Jesus' love and to have Bible study with me. I wanted to be nice to him as a friend even to the extent of saying I believed in Jesus. However, I never totally surrendered my life to God.

In 1977, I got involved in a printing business with some associates even though my family was against it. Two years later, I left the business owing to a partnership dispute and was forced to start my own business in a small rented room. I was too ashamed to return to the family after having ignored their advice on the partnership.

But my problems were only beginning. One problem after another came. I met with a motorbike accident; printing jobs I had done were rejected; my suppliers were not cooperative; and a host of other headaches plagued me. The business was heading without a clear direction. I was deeply frustrated and had sleepless nights. One night, I knelt down and cried out to God I didn't know personally, "If there is a God, please help me". Soon I fell into a deep sleep and woke up with a peaceful assertion that everything would be fine.

The following day, as I was driving to work I passed by a church and felt a great longing to go in. I entered and heard the sermon. After many visits I decided to accept Jesus as my personal Saviour and Lord.

Soon I then gave up my own business and decided to join a public-listed conglomerate to start up their printing division. That stint as an employee was pleasant and rewarding. After eight years, I had acquired a solid track record and good reputation and was sought-after by the printing industry.

An attractive proposition in a printing company came my way and I grabbed it. The business grew and I was up and flying. Success was sweet and life was good. I owned a luxury car and was busy, busy all the time. My job soon became my god. I then started another printing venture and this took even more of my time. I began to be complacent in my Christian walk and slowly began drifting away from God with many excuses and reasoning with God. I was exploiting God's love and mercy.

In 1997, the business was sold to an investment group but the transaction went awry and many problems including financial ones arose. The mess that followed tarnished my reputation with my suppliers and in the printing industry. The sleepless nights returned. I was much afraid that my financial problems would even cause my family to lose our house. I feared greatly for the welfare of my family.

But the problem I was facing was a wake-up call from God. In my distress, I, once again, called out to the God I had pushed aside to pursue material success. I took two weeks to pray and seek the Lord's help. I totally surrendered to God and ask Him to give me another chance. In His mercy and grace, He answered my prayer and led me through this difficult period.

A year later, I started a new printing business again with a small capital but more wisdom from a loving God. Praise God, I found favour with Him and man. A supplier even provided four printing machines on a `payable-when-able' basis. Slowly but surely, the Lord prospered the business and guided me.

Today I am back on track again as a printer and with the Lord blessing my business tremendously. After this wake-up call, I did not want to be away from Him ever again. I have also begun to understand that "It is not the lofty sail but the Unseen that moves the ship".