Dr. Tan Tech Zinc

DAILY REFLECTION
10 August 2026

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
— Ephesians 2:8–9

In 2011, I met Prof. Dr. Zhao when I hosted his delegation of 35 Chinese entrepreneurs in Kuala Lumpur for a dialogue with local Christian business leaders. A respected academic, he had served on an economic advisory team connected with the Chinese government.

Prof. Zhao was sent to Harvard University as a research scholar to study how American corporations operated differently from Chinese enterprises. But what began as an academic journey soon became a spiritual journey that changed his life forever.

While in Boston, he began visiting churches on weekends. At first, he simply wanted to understand Christianity and what Christians believed.

Then, during one Sunday service, something unexpected happened. Prof. Zhao experienced a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit. His heart was deeply touched, and he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ.

Prof. Zhao later published an article entitled “The Enterprise of the Cross”, which reportedly attracted nearly ten million readers. His testimony also opened doors for him to speak among Christian communities.

Because of his bold witness for Jesus, he was removed from his official responsibilities and faced opposition. He persevered, trusting in the grace of God. 

His story illustrates the truth of Ephesians 2:8–9.

Prof. Zhao had education, influence, status, and achievement. Yet none of these could save him. Salvation came not through what he had accomplished, but through what Christ had accomplished for him.

We cannot earn salvation through education, wealth, good works, religious activities, or social status. Salvation is a gift from God, received by faith in Jesus Christ.

Sometimes we may think we must first become good enough before God will accept us. But the gospel tells us otherwise. We come to Christ just as we are, with empty hands, and receive His grace by faith.

And the grace that saves us is also the grace that transforms us. It gives us courage to follow Christ faithfully, even when doing so becomes costly.

“Grace is not the reward for what we have achieved; it is the gift of what Christ has already accomplished.”