Clergy Corner: February 5, 2026

Clergy Column (February 5, 2026)

Last month, I traveled to Chicago for the annual Convocation of Korean Pastors within our denomination. It is a gathering where ministers from across the country meet at the start of the New Year for seminars and fellowship.

The weather was initially pleasant, but on the day of my return, a blizzard struck at dawn, causing widespread flight cancellations and delays. After boarding my flight to Spokane, a “20-minute delay” turned into six hours trapped on the tarmac. When we finally took off, thick fog made landing in Spokane impossible, and we were diverted to Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco. I finally returned home the following day. Truly, traveling in January—much like life itself—is unpredictable.

Where do we come from, and where is our journey taking us? No one can perfectly predict their path. A ship sailing on a favorable wind can suddenly be tossed by a storm. Consider how the journey of life begins: babies enter this world crying. If a baby doesn’t cry, we might give them a gentle swat to ensure they do to clear their airways. Yet, some joke that they cry because they are saddened to be thrown into such a painful world.

In truth, human life in this world is often painful. If we look back, how much of our time was spent in genuine joy compared to the hours lost to worry and distress? This is why Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, described life as a “sea of suffering” (Go-hae), noting that birth, aging, sickness, and death are inherently painful.

However, there is a way to overcome the hardships of this fallen world. Our Creator has provided “True Life” that overcomes the power of sin and death. Through this life, we can triumph over anxiety and wounds, finding true peace and hope. This is possible because Jesus Christ came in human form to bear our sins. Though He died as our ransom, He conquered death on the third day and ascended in a glorious resurrection body. As the “Second Adam,” Jesus is the prototype for all humanity. Whoever receives Him—the Way, the Truth, and the Life—gains the power to overcome the world as He did.

There is a story of a philosophy professor in Korea who, in his final lecture after 30 years, admitted, “Students, I realize I know nothing at all.” A freshman jokingly agreed, saying he didn’t know anything either.

What is true knowledge? It serves as a GPS for life, but if it fails to reveal the ultimate truth, it is incomplete. The Bible reminds us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7) and that in Christ are hidden “all the treasures of wisdom” (Colossians 2:3). No matter how much information we acquire—even with the aid of super-intelligent AI—without a heart that fears God, we cannot find the path to Life. Without this anchor, one might drown in a sea of worldly data only to die knowing nothing of the Truth.

Entering the 26th year of this century, the “Age of Information,” we have reached a crossroads. Super-intelligent AI has emerged, surpassing human intellect to the point that even its creators worry about their inability to control it. In such an unpredictable era, is it not more vital than ever to revere God and seek the “True Life” found through the sublime knowledge of knowing Christ?