I know my sheep and am known by my own’

UNLIKE TODAY WHEN there are many controversial religious issues, there was one major issue during the first century and that was believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, this is no longer the issue. In fact, so many people today claim to be Christians, expressing their belief in Christ and claiming that they belong to Him. The question, however, is whether those who claim to know and believe in Christ are also recognized by Him or not.

The Lord Jesus Christ described those who believe in Him as known to Him and called by His name:

“I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep and my sheep know me –

“The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” (Jn. 10:14, 3, New International Version)

Hence, it is not enough for people to know and believe in Christ. More importantly, they must also be recognized by Christ as His own sheep and must be called by the name given to Him by God:

“I pray for them, I do not pray for the world but for those you gave me, for they belong to you.

“And now I am coming to you; I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world. Holy Father! Keep them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me.” (Jn. 17:9, 11, Today’s English Version)

The name that is above every name is the name given by God to Jesus. That name is “Christ” who was made Lord by God, so that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God (Philip. 2:9-11); Acts 2:36, New King James Version). Thus, Christ’s sheep are called by the name “Church of Christ”:

“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation)

Those who truly know Christ and at the same time are recognized by Him as His own are the members of the Church of Christ.

A Catholic authority, Francis B. Cassily, agrees to the fact that the true Church is called “Church of Christ”:

“5. Did Jesus establish a Church?

“Yes, from all history, both secular and profane, as well as from the Bible considered as a human document, we learn that Jesus Christ established a Church, which from the earliest times has been called after Him the Christian Church or the Church of Christ.

“This Church, founded and organized by Christ and preached by the apostles, is the Church of Christ. …It is the only true Church, and the one which God orders all men to join.” (Religion: Doctrine and Practice, p. 330)

Even Bible scholars conform to the truth that the Church, which is Christ’s body (Col. 1:18), is called after His name. A professor of Ozack Bible College says:

“The church is the body of Jesus Christ. Eph. 1:22, 23. The idea of ownership is absolute here. As a man’s body is his own and not another’s, so the church is the church of Christ and not of another.

“Nothing could emphasize more strongly than these statements the right of Christ to call the Church His own, and to give the church His own name.” (The Church in the Bible, p. 349)

Since Christ considers His Church as His body (Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:23), His ownership of this Church is absolute and unquestionable. The name “Church of Christ,” therefore, is perfectly right.

The Church of Christ is also the sheepfold, the flock, and those who enter in it shall be saved (Jn. 10:7, 9). Hence, those who truly believe in Christ and are recognized by Him as His sheep are the members of the Church of Christ. Salvation is through Christ and this Church.

The other sheep of Christ

The name “Church of Christ” is not the only identifying mark of those who belong to Christ. Those who belong to Him are chosen and appointed (Jn. 15:16, NKJV). They are sure of their calling and election (II Pt. 1:10, Ibid.), because their election is founded or anchored on the prophetic word of God (II Pt. 1:19, Ibid.)

On the strength of which prophecy does the Church of Christ that emerged in the Philippines in these last days base its claim on God’s election? This Church was prophesied as Christ’s “other sheep”:

“I have other sheep too. They are not of this flock here. I must lead them also. They will listen to my voice. In the future there will be one flock and one shepherd.” (Jn. 10:16, Easy-to-Read New Testament)

The “other sheep” also belong to Christ and are recognized by Him. They would also be gathered into one flock. They are called the “other sheep,” because they don’t belong to the first-century Church of Christ, but were to be called in the future as one flock. As stated earlier, the flock is the Church of Christ (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation). These other sheep of Christ would hear Christ’s voice, although He is already in heaven, through the preaching function of the prophesied messenger. To hear the messenger sent by Christ is to hear Him (Lk. 10:16; Jn. 13:20, NKJV). Therefore, those who listen to Christ’s voice through the preaching of His messenger would be gathered as one flock, in the Church of Christ.

The first-century Church of Christ ceased to exist because it veered away from God’s unadulterated teachings (I Tim. 4:1, 3). From the ruins of the first-century Church of Christ emerged the Catholic Church whose doctrines are contrary to God’s truth. But the true Church would reemerge through God’s appointed messenger. The uniqueness of the preaching function of God’s messenger is that the believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit:

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” (Eph. 1:13, NIV)

We sincerely believe that Brother Felix Y. Manalo, who registered the Iglesia ni Cristo with the Philippine government on July 27, 1914, is the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning God’s messenger in these last days. What is the proof that he was instrumental in sealing God’s servants in these last days? He is the fulfillment of the angel from the east who had the seal of the living God:

“Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea,

“Saying, ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” (Rev. 7:2-3, NKJV)

The word “angel” denotes the office and not the nature of the one sent by God:

“A minister or pastor of a church” is called an angel (Cruden’s Complete Concordance, p. 16). Thus, the preacher sent by God is called an “angel.” The angel from the east having the seal of God is a preacher of the gospel because he bears the seal of God.

This is why the members of the Church of Christ are confident that they are among those whom God and Christ recognize as their servants. As servants of God and of Christ, they are blessed and their deeds will follow them (Rev. 14:12-13, NIV). Christ Himself assures them salvation.

The angel who ascended from the east

July 27, 1914 was a truly significant and memorable day. It was a day that changed the course of world history and affected the lives of so many people in more ways than one. It was on this day that World War I broke out in Europe. It was a war like no other before it in terms of the number of countries involved and in the way it was fought by land, air, and sea.

In the religious scene, July 27, 1914 was also a day of historic proportions. It was on this day that the Church of Christ (Iglesia ni Cristo) was registered with the Philippine government through the instrumentality of a man whom the members of this Church recognize as God’s messenger, Brother Felix Y. Manalo

This belief that Brother Felix Y. Manalo is God’s messenger is these last days is one of the fundamental doctrines the Church upholds. It is based on the words of God written in the Bible.

This study will focus mainly on Revelation 7:2-3, one of the passages of the Holy Scriptures that prove the truthfulness and validity of this doctrine. It reads as follows:

“Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads’.” (New King James Version)

The meaning of the word ‘angel’

There are key words in Revelation 7:2-3 that must be studied closely in order to acquire a clearer understanding of the prophecy in question. The first word that needs clarification is the term “angel.” When some people think of angel, what immediately comes to their mind is the traditionally portrayed figure of a human-looking being with wings on its back and a halo above its head. In truth, the true angels of heaven are spirit in nature and are sometimes sent by God for specific purposes.

However, the word “angel” does not only refer to spiritual beings but also to human beings sent by God. The word “angel” itself comes from the Greek word aggelos which means messenger. Furthermore, Bible scholars attest that angel can refer to a pastor who is a human being:

“Agg’-el-os: … a messenger; … by impl. a pastor: -angel, messenger.” (Strong’s Dictionary of the Greek Testament, p. 7:32)

To say then that there was “another angel” means that there was another messenger. Thus, in the Young’s Literal Translation of the Bible, the opening sentence of the verse reads:

‘And I saw another messenger going up from the rising sun, having a seal of the living God.” (Rev. 7:2, emphasis ours)

What makes us so certain that this messenger is not spirit in nature? As we can note, this angel or messenger bears the seal of the living God and would seal His servants. What does this mean by biblical terms? In the following verse, we can find the answer:

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.” (Eph. 1:13-14, New International Version)

The seal is the Holy Spirit. The sealing function is the preaching of the gospel. Those who are sealed are the ones who believed in the words of truth that were preached.

Thus, the angel or messenger spoken of in Revelation 7:2-3 is not a being that is spirit in nature, but rather a human being who is a preacher of the gospel. The term “angel” then denotes the office or duty of the one sent by God.

Ascending from the east

Aside from the office and the work of this angel or messenger, there are other factors that must be taken into consideration in order for us to identify the fulfillment of the prophecy. Where, for instance, would this messenger come from and preach the gospel? Apostle John wrote that the angel would ascend from the east or, in other translations of the Bible, from the rising of the sun (Revised English Version). This word may puzzle some people since the east is divided into three regions – near, middle, and far east – not to mention the fact that there are many countries situated there.

From the Smith’s Dictionary of the Bible, we can glean that the Greek word for “east” used in Revelation 7:2 was translated into Hebrew as mizrach (p. 637). The use of mizrach as opposed to kedem (which also means “east”) is explained:

“East. The Hebrew term kedem properly means that which is before or in front of a person and was applied to east…on the other hand mizrach is used of the far east.” (p. 154)

The word “east” that is used in Revelation 7:2 refers to the Far East. One of the countries that lie in the Far East, almost at the geographical center to be exact, is the Philippines (Asia and the Philippines, p. 169). Thus, to say that the true messenger of God in these last days came from the Philippines would not go against any biblical doctrine. It is a statement that is, in fact, supported by both biblical and scholarly references.

The time element

In what period of time would this messenger ascend from the Far East to preach the gospel? Revalation 7:1 provides the answer:

“After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.” (NKJV)

In biblical symbolic terms, wind means war (Jer. 4:11-13, 19) and the four corners mentioned refer to the four directions of the earth, namely, north, east, south, and west (I Chron. 9:24). In other words, there would be a war of global proportions going on at the time the angel or messenger in question would be ascending. What about the four other angels who had the power to bring the wind or war under control? Does history speak of such kind of four leaders?

“The treaty of Versailles. Of all the treaties made at the close of the First World War, that of Versailles was the most significant. It was drafted by the Versailles Conference composed of the delegates from 32 Allied nations. The defeated nations, neutral nations, and Russia were not represented in the Conference. Four of the greatest political leaders of the world at that time – Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States; Lloyd George, Prime Minister of Great Britain; Clemenceau, Premier of France; and Orlando, Premier of Italy – dominated the Versailles Conference. They were known as the ‘Big Four’.” (World History, p. 860)

History indeed attests that there were four leaders who had the power to stop the wind or war that was occurring in the world at that time. As to the fact that in Revelation 7:2-3 there are four angels being spoken of, government leaders are also considered angels inasmuch as they are sent by God, not as preachers of the gospel, but to punish evildoers or criminals (I Pt. 2:13-14).

When did this world war begin? Written records show that this war broke out on July 27, 1914:

“Austria, backed by Germany, swept aside all the efforts of the other powers of Europe to intervene in behalf of peace and declared war upon Servia on the 27th of July [1914].” (The Nations At War: A Current History, p. 8)

It was in this period of time that the messenger would ascend from the Far East.

The prophecy fulfilled

Was this prophecy mentioned in Revelation 7:1-3 fulfilled? Was there someone who fit the prophetic description of the “other angel” who ascended from the Far East when there was a world war and preached the gospel of salvation? Yes, indeed. That person was Brother Felix Y. Manalo.

Brother Felix Y. Manalo began preaching the true gospel or the words of God at Punta, Sta. Ana, Manila in the Philippines, a country in the Far East. On July 27, 1914, the same exact day that World War I broke out, the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) was registered with the Philippine government. This was no coincidence. This is, without doubt, the fulfillment of the prophecy written in Revelation 7:2-3.

Almost eighty-seven years later, this Church continues to grow in number and gain new evangelical footholds at a rapid pace. To date, there are congregations established in over 70 countries and territories throughout the world. Included among these congregations are the ones in Rome, Jerusalem, and Athens.

The success of this work Brother Felix Y. Manalo began in this era is a clear indication that he is a true messenger of God. What he accomplished can only be attributed to the help of the Almighty Father. For who would have ever thought that from an obscure town in a poor and underdeveloped country would emerge a man – lowly and uneducated in the eyes of his own countrymen – who would lead the emergence of a Church that is now steadily spreading worldwide? Who could ever foresee that from one man, a multitudes of true believers of different races, cultures, and social standing would soon follow? As Christ had mentioned long ago with regard to His authority to preach God’s words:

“But I have a witness on my behalf which is even greater than the witness that John gave: what I do, that is, the deeds of my Father gave me to do, these speak on my behalf and show that the Father has sent me.” (Jn. 5:36, Today’s English Version)

References

Abbot, Willis John. The Nations At War: A Current History. New York: Doubleday, Page & Company, 1917.

Boak, Arthur E. R., Preston Slosson, and Howard Anderson. World History, vol. 2. Madison, Wisconsi: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1942.

Costa, Horacio dela. Asia and the Philippines. Manila: Solidaridad Publishing House, 1967.

Hackett, H.B., ed. Smith’s Dictionary of the Bible, vol. 1. Michigan: Baker Book House Company, 1981.

Strong, James. Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1980.

TO THE CALLED OUT ONES - All Things Work Together for Good

HAVE YOU EVER felt terribly sad and desperate because of the tremendous problems and heavy burdens you carry in life? Do the situations surrounding you paint a bleak future, making you feel apathetic, unhappy, and uncertain? How much time and energy have you spent all day and night, wrestling with your troubles yet failing to find the needed solution?

Now think about this, where in this world can you ever find lasting peace and happiness? Most probably you would give up the search for pure happiness and settle down with a clever taunting remark that such a place still exists, in the mind at least.

So, how do you go about your life that is continually peppered with adversities? The Bible teaches us how children of God must view the problems they struggle with day by day. From the truth found in the Bible, all of us can learn how to deal correctly with frustrations and how to practice prudence in order to enjoy life somehow, with relative ease and contentment.

Universal truth, unchanging fact
All of us must understand basically that in the present life there are things that we human beings can not change. One that is relevant to the present inquiry is the fact that happiness and suffering do not exist in isolation to each other – by and large they do co-exist throughout life. Pain and suffering exist vis-à-vis with comfort and happiness, as good and evil are both present in this life. Neither of them can be deeply understood without knowledge about each of them. Each one of this distinct feelings is recognized and appreciated with due consideration of its opposite sensation.

There is no gainsaying the fact that both good things and bad things practically happen to all people – whether they are good or bad. And even among us who are members of the Church of Christ both experiences of happiness and sadness interchangeably fill our life. We are not immune to such variety of exposures. Therefore, what we need to learn is how we ought to deal with both experiences with prudence and profound understanding.

But, while other people would usually complain about their vicissitudes in life, we find ourselves able to cope with such uncertainties through the guiding words of the Holy Scriptures. This is because we have adopted quite a different way of looking at things and events that occur every step of the way. The Bible is our best and ultimate source of guidance and inspiration as to how to deal with and respond to the various experiences we have in life.

So, why are tribulations and problems seen by the people of God in a way very different from that by which others view it? What is their belief regarding the various kinds of suffering they experiences in life? Writing to the Christians in Rome, Apostle Paul declared this:

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28, New King James Version)

All things work together for good. That is the key to understanding and accepting the present realities of life. “All things” refers to practically anything – people and evernts – that affects us, whether in a positive or in a negative way. These are the things that produce happy and sad feelings within us. These are those that fuel our reactions that are later on judged by others as either right or wrong, or maybe as either acceptable or unacceptable, as the case may be.

However, the Bible says that those who love God and are called by Him, that is, those who belong to the true Church (Col. 3:15, 1:18; I John 5:3) are undaunted or unmoved in the face of such adversities. For them, all things work together for good and in fulfillment of God’s sovereign purpose. The one best thing for us to do, therefore, is to consistently and unconditionally surrender to the will of God as explicitly stated in the Holy Scriptures (Ps. 100:2-3; I John 2:3).

But, some people view this biblical truth as apparently paradoxical and absurd. For indeed, how and why would the pain of tribulations ever work for the good of those who suffer them? In response to this, we quote the Bible as saying:

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Rom. 5:3-5, NKJV)

Here, Apostle Paul explains to us that all things work together for the good of God’s children who love Him. The apostle does not assert this in favor of just any individual and regardless of the latter’s response to feelings of comfort or discomfort in life. He emphasizes that tribulations or troubles produce perseverance, which in turn produces character, and which finally produces hope. And those who have hope, the apostle concludes, are not disappointed, having received the Holy Spirit in their hearts. Therefore, only those not gifted with the Holy Spirit (or not counted among God’s children) are prone to the feeling of frustration and hopelessness.

Trials and tribulations are inevitableTrials and tribulations are practically part of man’s life. Whether they are welcome or not, they just inevitably come and therefore, our pains and sufferings are not to be construed as necessary evil – but as merely natural occurrences – as it is clearly understood by the enlightened servants of God.

But, why won’t God rid the present life of pains and sufferings instead? He definitely will, but will only do it in His own time and according to His sovereign purpose and design. Apostle Paul declares that God will “… give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels” (II Thess. 1:7, Ibid.). So, the pains caused by troubles in life will surely end at God’s appointed time. We hope to find rest from our troubles when our Lord Jesus Christ is finally revealed from heaven. Not right now, as we would probably have wished it to be, but when the Lord comes, on the day of Judgment.

This is why, as members of the Church of Christ, we boast even in the face of tribulations. For, after having endured them, we will be given respite or relief for our tired and weary souls. This heavenly comfort that will be granted to those who suffered tribulations was vividly presented in the Book of Revelation, which says:

“Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, ‘Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?’ And I said to him, ‘Sir, you know’. So he said to me, ‘These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes’.” (Rev. 7:13-17, Ibid.)

The Book of Revelation in which is recorded the last things that are bound to happen says that those who will be given rest from their labors are those who have “come out of the great tribulation.” These are the people of God who will have emerged victorious against the painful effects of their troubles in life. They shall eventually rest from their sufferings and will be rewarded with the kind of life that follows a new order, that is, a life completely devoid of hunger, thirst, and tears. There will be no more pain and no more death by then, where God and Jesus Christ will dwell with them in the new heaven and the new earth (Rev. 21:1-4). This biblical truth should give us consolation while we are still agonizing here on earth, so that we may triumphantly overcome trials and tribulations.

The right response to correctionFeelings of agony and emotional pain also come into our lives as a punishment from the Lord, a way by which we are being persuaded to live righteously. Such pains come as a corrective punishment. If a servant of God suffers as a consequence of his misdeeds, this will still redound to his own benefit. How? In Hebrews, it is stated clearly:

“When we are punished, it seems to us at the time something to make us sad, not glad. Later, however, those who have been disciplined by such punishment reap the peaceful reward of a righteous life.” (Heb. 12:11,Today’s English Version)

True indeed to our own experiences, when we are being punished (for having done wrong), we feel most uncomfortable emotionally because of fear and guilt; deep inside we feel the pain that is inflicted on us because we have violated God’s commandments. We sadly receive the corresponding discipline for our errors. Naturally, such punishments never produce joyful feelings but bring both physical and emotional pain. But, after having paid the price for the sins we might have committed, “the peaceful reward of a righteous life” follows. Notice that this applies only to “those who have been disciplined” or to those who have learned their precious lessons from the unpleasant experiences.

So, when God’s people have deeply understood the meaning and purpose of God’s punishment, and have made the appropriate response, they reap the fruits of a righteous life. Why can’t one appreciate God’s corrective punishment then?

What we only need to do is to look far ahead of us to see what it is that the Lord is preparing for us, so that we will benefit when we are subjected to rebuke or correction. To further appreciate the purpose of God’s punishment to His erring servants, we need to learn another lesson. The Bible says, “Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty” (Job 5:17, NKJV).

Corrective punishment is not by itself evil. It is good as it affords one who commits error the chance to acknowledge his fault and to plead guilty before God, and consequently produce change in his ways to receive forgiveness. Punishment is not a thing to be despised owing to the noble purpose for which it is divinely applied. It calls our attention to what God requires us to do. Punishments meted out to correct us should therefore be appreciated as they work together for the good of those who truly love the Lord and learned from them.

God Almighty said, “I rebuke and punish all whom I love. Be in earnest, then, and turn from your sins” (Rev. 3:19, TEV). Such words must serve as the source of our comfort and hope. Clearly, God loves those whom He corrects. He made it very clear that He wants His children to be zealous and to be repentant. So, those who have learned their lessons from God’s corrective punishment do not rebel or resent it. On the contrary, far from being demoralized, they even gain strength and inspiration from it, knowing that the love and forgiveness of the Lord is at hand. The right response, therefore, is to surrender completely to God’s sovereign will, to seek His mercy and forgiveness, and to be more enthusiastic and zealous in serving Him (II Chr. 7:14; Isa. 1:18).

While it shouldn’t discourage us if we experience chastening because or our wrongdoings, it would turn worse for us when God would cease to rectify us; it would mean that He no longer loves us and, therefore, by allowing us to continue in our sins, we will be finally condemned when Jesus Christ comes. By then, forgiveness will be too late.

Trials as the test of faith
Some of us may view trials in life as very unpleasant and undesirable – unwelcome events indeed. But, this should not be the case. Something good comes after the people of God have endured trials. By going through trials, they are eventually led to perfection. Apostle Paul says that “… when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:3-4, TEV)

Indeed, trials are essential in our life for us to be brought to perfection. But, this purpose is fulfilled only if we are faithful and obedient to God, not departing from His commandments (I John 5:3). When being tested, therefore, we get the chance to prove our faith in God by enduring the tests of faith all the way. Job says:

“But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.” (Job 23:10-12, NKJV)

In times of trials, it is important for us to find out not how we can avoid the pain, but rather, how we can put our faith and hope together to bear the tests of our faith. After this, we shall emerge as pure gold – this means our trials will have led us to perfection. Remember that God expects us to remain faithful to Him even when we are under pressure due to various circumstances. Note that Job remained faithful to God despite the severe hardships and fierce trials he went through, and so, he was blessed.

Drawing back leads to misfortune
While trials are for our own good and while we just need to understand their nature and purpose so that we can adopt the right outlook and react positively, we will suffer misfortunes if we transgress God’s commandments and do not hold on to a righteous life. That means, if we do not renew our life toward perfection and spiritual maturity, we would not be spared by the hand of the Lord. (Ezek. 33:12).

The Bible tells us that children of God will also suffer misfortune should they draw back because God is not pleased with them who fail to live according to the faith:

“For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” (Heb. 10:37-39, NKJV)

While the Bible testifies that all things work together for the good of those called by God, drawing back from Him produces negative consequences. Worst among these, drawing back leads one to perdition. Since God does not want us to perish, He commands us to turn away from sinning and from drawing back from Him. God Almighty says:

“I will forgive the sins he has committed, and he will live because he had done what is right and good.” (Ezek. 33:16, TEV)

God loves those who have turned away from their sins and have completely renewed their lives. This is right and good, and those who do this shall be forgiven of their sins. God will no longer count their sins against them and, for this, they shall surely live.

The Almighty God truly loves us. He wants us to live or to be saved. While it is true that He allows us to suffer trials and tribulations, He does this for a purpose that will benefit us in the end. So, during times of trials, He even guides us so that all things will finally be working for our own good. He disciplines not because He rejects us but in order to correct us and lead us back to Him.

Never lose hope whatever our experiences in this life would be. Let us always keep in mind: “All things work together for the good of those called by God.”