Heralds Digest

“When he has leveled its surface, Does he not sow the black cummin And scatter the cummin, Plant the wheat in rows, The barley in the appointed place, And the spelt in its place? For He instructs him in right judgment, His God teaches him.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭28:25-26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/isa.28.25-26.nkjv Many often concur to the narrative of an unfair God when faced with the challenges of life. They say ‘Life ain’t fair’, when frustrated by a recurrent failure to succeed, in spite of the much greater efforts invested than the average success blowers around. It is always difficult to accept the fact that God is not often interested in the changing of beloved’s condition, than the changing of believer’s character. Referring to the example of a plowman with the black cummin, cummin, wheat, barley, and the spelt, the scriptures say “When he has levelled its surface...”. Everything in life needs time before the expected change comes. And those who partner with the Great Counsell...

“Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭28:16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/isa.28.16.nkjv Confidence in a precious spouse has often led many into the sea of separation and divorce in times of conflict of interest. Confidence in a tried boss or capital market has resulted in retrenchment or bankruptcy in recessive seasons of life. Confidence in a sure family and friends has led many to attempt suicide in moments of mistrust. Obviously, the evidence of confidence in changeable spouse, boss, family and friends is not the problem, but the deficit of confidence in the unchangeable God. Jesus Christ, the scriptures say, is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is the sure foundation upon which any relationship with the elements of this world can stand without fear of suffering loss. In every moment, season, and times in life, His lo...

“The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, Will be trampled underfoot; And the glorious beauty is a fading flower...In that day the LORD of hosts will be For a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty To the remnant of His people,” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭28:3-5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/isa.28.3-5.nkjv The predicament of Ephraim suggested that the social security in material prosperity is always desirable until the mind is intoxicated with self-confidence and pride. Meanwhile, the problem of the heart of man is not its exposure to material prosperity, but the closure of intoxicated souls to inspiration and spiritual prosperity under the influence of pride. Therefore, the wise remnant of God’s people are conscious of the danger of feeding the needs of the body at the expense of starving the soul. Daily inspiration through fellowship with the Lord remains the glorious desire of the righteous, even if the needs of the body are forfeited. After all, the value of material prosperity deprec...

“And it shall come to pass in that day That the LORD will thresh, From the channel of the River to the Brook of Egypt; And you will be gathered one by one, O you children of Israel.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭27:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/isa.27.12.nkjv Life gets easily messed up through treacherous trespassing of the laws of nature. And within the sea of social decadence, immorality, and insecurity, the hope of possible restoration of dignity is always vague. The step of a prodigal son away from the care and fellowship of a loving father begins with a simple step of disobedience. However, one of the amazing realities of the nature of God is that He pursues an unquenchable love relationship with man. Like the LORD’s pursuit of the children of ISRAEL from river Euphrates to the Brook of Egypt, God’s hands of love are always reaching out to His herring children, even after the sacrifice of His only begotten Son - Jesus Christ - as substitute for man’s sin and condemnation. To God, every m...

“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/isa.26.3.nkjv Perfect peace is definitely not the absence of problems but the presence of the Prince of peace. The surplus of material prosperity can bring happiness without any idea on how peace will come, because most invitations to material prosperity are handled with welcome notes for spiritual penury. However, the heart that sets his affection only on the Lord, even in the face of variants of physical and material disaffection, is moved only at the impulse of God’s word and instructions. Since the eternal God is omnipotent and His pronouncements of peace are not subject to the elements of change or the transient circumstances of life, peace from God is perfect and permanent. Therefore, trusting in the invisible God with perfect peace requires the uncompromising faith against the perilous preference for material prosperity.

“O LORD, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, For You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭25:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/isa.25.1.nkjv Walking the counsels of God is more of experiencing the nature of God through patience on His promises than celebrating the quick fulfillment of these promises. A quick appreciation of the latter experience in life encourages the replacement of the true God with materialism. God’s faithfulness and truth are made real in the face of apparent fruitless experiences. And faithful people are made, mostly in fruitless circumstances of life. Therefore, faithfulness to God’s unfashionable counsels of old, in the face of sophisticated counsels of the New Age, brings the true realization of His faithfulness without compromising the truth about holiness and righteousness. Little wonder when the scriptures testify of Him as ‘our Sun and Shield...giving grace and glory’. For those...

Then the moon will be disgraced And the sun ashamed; For the Lord of hosts will reign On Mount Zion and in Jerusalem And before His elders, gloriously. Isaiah 24:23 NKJV https://bible.com/bible/114/isa.24.23.NKJV The revelation of the nature of God has always been reserved for those who prefer knowing God to knowing about God. Scriptural and many contemporary characters relish their experience of God -as love with the best will and way; as all-knowing with the best directions; and as all-powerful with the best enablement and capabilities. Yet, the revelation of God through most of the elements of this world - the work of His hands - is often misconstrued, with the focus of men on creatures or the derivative of creatures, and ignoring the Creator. For example, advances on the energy potentials in the solar system and the galaxy are readily embraced with little or no regards for the nature of God - the Giver of Light. Therefore, one of the latter-day events is the disgrace of both t...