During my middle school days‚ our native country - China‚ was fighting against Japan's invasion‚ and we were taught many things concerning patriotism‚ national morality‚ the 'New Living Movement‚' etc. For instance‚ the 'corporate I or body' was very much emphasized at the expense of the 'little I or body'. In other words‚ I myself may be sacrificed in order that my country and my people can stand up and be saved‚ preserved or profited. Another popular example was that we might start something from low and small‚ yet we can aim high and think big. I must admit that this kind of indoctrination has strongly influenced and molded‚ at least my generation‚ even to this day.

I also recall very vividly that during my first year in the university‚ our Chinese-literature professor taught us the way in pursuing knowledge --- 'something in everything and everything in something'. He even spoke this in English‚ and it was really funny and surprising to me. At the time I could not quite comprehend it fully‚ but I just memorized it anyway. Many years later, however, I began to appreciate his saying which was so true‚ profound and important, not only in the academic field‚ but also in our entire life.

As the years went by‚ I learned that thermodynamics‚ in one way to categorize it‚ has two branches‚ namely‚ macroscopic thermodynamics and microscopic thermodynamics. Indeed, every branch of science or art may be similarly classified as two kinds‚ opposite to each other. For example‚ there is macroeconomics versus microeconomics‚ macrophysics versus microphysics‚ macrocosm versus microcosm‚ and so forth. Our view should be expanded as far and wide as possible on one hand‚ and concentrated as small and local as possible on the other hand. In short‚ we may consider it as macroview versus microview.

Occasionally in the past‚ I would advise my students in the heat transfer field that one should work either in the high temperature area or the low temperature area‚ which is more promising‚ challenging and offers greater potential. Today we have entered into the age of high-tech‚ where the unit measurement is in giga (ten to the 9th power) on one hand‚ and nano (ten to the negative 9th power) on the other. We should not and cannot remain in the old age of milli or micro versus kilo or mega. Here we do not mean that we should be fashioned according to this world‚ rather‚ we may survive and even reign over the age‚ instead of being eliminated by the age or the trend of the age.

Surely we Christians should deny our self‚ lose our soul-self (Matt 16:24‚25)‚ and walk by the Spirit (Gal 5:16‚25), and according to the spirit (Rom 8:4). However‚ the function of our soul should not be crossed out‚ but remain. This simply means that our soul needs to be totally transformed (Rom 12:2). After transformation‚ for instance‚ we still need the mind to think‚ the will to choose and the emotion to love. Furthermore‚ we are vessels to contain God‚ and the vessels should be enlarged to the uttermost as He is infinite. We may then be able to embrace all believers regardless of their condition‚ and to make room for the Lord to dwell in us (2 Cor 6:12 and footnote in RecV; Eph 3:17).

The Song of Deborah mentioned that in the districts of Reuben there were great thoughts - searchings of hearts ( Judges 5:15b‚16b). No doubt‚ this referred to the people with big hearts. Dan 11:32 tells us that "the people who do know their God shall be strong‚ and do exploits" (KJV). This also indicates that we need to have a big capacity of heart or soul to know Him‚ and to do the great and valuable things in glorifying Him. The Lord Jesus also encouraged us to generate as much interest as possible from the talent given to us. Therefore‚ in a good and positive sense‚ our heart or soul‚ and mind in particular‚ should be developed to the fullest capacity. On the one hand‚ our knowledge should be increased to such an extent that we may know something in everything‚ but not necessarily in detail. On the other hand‚ our main interest should be concentrated on a certain specific area so that we may become an expert in it. Of course‚ in both principle and practice, we should do everything in the Lord‚ for the Lord, and to the glory of God (1Cor 10:31).

In church history, many famous servants of God‚ the apostle Paul and Martin Luther‚ for instance, all had a big soul. Otherwise‚ they would not have been entrusted by the Lord to carry out His burden or mission. If we are small vessels‚ our capacity would be much more limited and the Lord would be able to use us only up to our measure (Eph 4:16). In consequence‚ we all need to ask the Lord to enlarge our capacity and to broaden our view. May His view become our view‚ His mind ours. May His will become our will‚ His concern ours‚ and His interest ours. Then and only then, will we be truly one with Him and in Him. And our view‚ thought and plan can then cover the whole earth‚ in spite of our physical body being limited to one finite location.

For years our Lord has not only walked among the churches, but also led the churches to move forward‚ toward His goal -to build up His Body and consummate in the New Jerusalem. Today the Lord has further revealed to us the New Way - the God-ordained Way. We all should have the same view and stand up to practice it in our own locality. Our labor and struggling should be according to His operation (Col 1:29). In other words‚ this should be done in line with not only the so-called long term view‚ but also the heavenly view‚ i.e. God's view‚ the view of His eternal economy. We cannot afford to wait‚ much less to lose or miss the opportunity of His grace. We may then conclude as follows: universally we need the macroview as the eternal plan‚ and locally we may practice it with the microview.