The Sounds in the World

The sounds in the world indicate that the time is nearly up: our Lord Jesus is nearer to coming. Many things are happening, like commotions, floods in many places, financial crises, wars, threats against Israel, children away from parents. Brothers and Sisters, are we really aware of what the Bible says about the rule of Jesus? Are we aware of what Romans says in 7:7-25? Beware of sinning and make sure that your Christian knowledge helps to overcome temptations. So often we do what we don’t like and leave the better way of God.

So many worldly things in this life are very difficult to cope with. Even basic things like the cost of living affect not only our domestic lives but are causing some ecclesias to break down. Whatever happens, remember our salvation. It is God who is the owner of the earth, so we should always respect His word (Exodus 19:4-6). We have the chance to be given everlasting life: God knows everything we think and do. We need to respect His holiness. We are told to be aware of the false prophets who claim to be doing miracles, such as healing blind people, but at the same time they are teaching wrong doctrine and leading people astray (Mark 7:6-9).

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Our purpose is to live a good life in this age. How can we get that life? By following in the footsteps of Christ. Remember how God taught the Israelites: “I shall bless you. I am your God” (see Deuteronomy 28, especially 6-10). But they went on to forget God in spite of all the good things He did for them and ended up punished. Now, others of us can find God. We have benefitted from God’s grace and also become His servants. He has taken darkness from our face and eyes, and selected us out from darkness to pass into the light. We shall be in Christ until the end.

We will never know the time or the day of his coming (1 Peter 2:9-10). Let us keep watch and spread the word everywhere and for everyone, doing and preaching the true gospel of fellowship, and giving to widows and orphans. We are examples of Jesus, to indicate the light, not darkness or corrupters (Romans 5:1-11).

Bro John Thomas was one of those disciples who suffered hardships (as Paul had in the extreme). He suffered a shipwreck and devoted 15 years to Bible study to find much faith in God’s word. Why? Because God had saved his life when he was about to die. So John Thomas took measures to publish the salvation of God by spreading the gospel to everyone around him. With the help of the spirit of God, the gospel spread to the United Kingdom and Bro Robert Roberts. The word then spread worldwide, saying ‘God is here, the son of God is here’. Jesus said ‘Come all, the Father has everything you need. Come and take, bless you all’. So it is our duty now in the same way to spread the gospel, not benefitting personally. Let our aim be to serve the Lord so that our names stay written in the book of life.

Spreading out from Chishumba ecclesia, it is so good to see more ecclesias opening in Mozambique. This mainly because of one faithful brother who, in his turn, suffered difficulties but is a good example for us all. Like through Bre John Thomas and Robert Roberts, we have come to a knowledge of the true gospel. As Hebrews 5:11-14 says, a Christian develops by reading the Bible daily. We can be encouraged by the signs of the times but we need to pay attention to the Bible and the examples of faith described in it. Throughout scripture there are those who turned away from God even in the early church. But we should be of those who receive understanding and be fruitful. We need to be spiritually enlightened so that our ministry is always good.

Bro Misheck Hondoma (Magunje, Zimbabwe)