Why God Sends Messengers
And How We Can Benefit from it
by Roland A. Aguirre
We
remember biblical figures whose great character and unselfish acts are
forever etched in our minds. Their examples are emulated; their
accomplishments are noticed and praised. Their commitment and compassion
are a testament to the strength of their character. They were those who
served God faithfully and courageously amid the most difficult
circumstances. Included in the list are the messengers of God who have
been entrusted with a very noble and divine mission.
The
people then who understood the purpose of God in sending them benefited
from their work—and so do we, in our time, if we also understand the
purpose of God's commissioning of His messenger in these last days.
Sent for a divine purpose
The
primary purpose of God in sending His messengers in different periods
of time is for the work of salvation. Case in point: when Christ, the
greatest messenger of God, was born, the angel who appeared to the
shepherds stated,
"Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy ... For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord ..." (Luke 2:10-11, New King James Version).
Likewise,
this divine purpose of God in sending His messengers was manifested
during the time of John the Baptist who was sent to prepare the way of
the Lord. And the primary purpose of sending him was "to give His people
the knowledge of salvation" (Luke 1:57, 76-77, New International
Version).
Moreover,
before the Christian Era, God sent Moses to be the ruler and savior of
His ancient nation, Israel. God sent him to save and free the Israelites
from the bondage of slavery in Egypt (Acts 7:20, 35).
Another
messenger of God who was sent for the salvation of God's people was
Apostle Paul. He quoted a prophecy from the Old Testament of the Bible
about God's commissioning of him. The prophecy said, "I have set you as a
light to the Gentiles; That you should be for salvation to the ends of
the earth" (Acts 13:47, NKJV).
Indeed,
in different periods of time, God sends His messengers with the primary
purpose of salvation for His nation which, undoubtedly, is the greatest
of all blessings.
God's Messenger in these last days
This
very purpose of God in sending a messenger—to bring salvation to His
nation—was also fulfilled in His commissioning of a messenger from the
Far East. The prophecy from the book of Isaiah states:
"Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it. "Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, Who are far from righteousness: I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, For Israel My glory." (Isa. 46:11-13, Ibid.)
According
to the prophecy, the messenger from a far country in the East, whose
work is likened to that of a bird of prey, will be God's instrument in
bringing salvation to people who are far from righteousness.
The
righteousness being referred to is the gospel (Rom. 1:16-17). The work
entrusted to this prophesied messenger was likened to that of a bird of
prey because the people to whom he was sent are being held back by false
religions. Hence, according to another prophecy, the messenger—whose
work is to bring salvation to the people he was sent to—will take the
nation of God out of false religions; in other words, they need to be
brought out from the grips of false beliefs so that they will not
receive the plagues and, thus, be saved (Rev. 18:4-5).
We
faithfully believe that the fulfillment of this prophecy is none other
than Brother Felix Y. Manalo. Other biblical prophecies concerning God's
commissioning of a messenger in these last days that have found
fulfillment in him are in Revelation 7:2-3; Isaiah 41:9-16; 46:11-13;
43:5-7; and John 10:16, among others. Thus, just like in the beginning,
God's main purpose in sending His messenger in these last days is for
the salvation of His people.
Consequently, in our time, man would truly benefit from this
commissioning if he understands and fulfills the holy purpose of God in
sending His messenger in these last days; by joining the Church of
Christ that re-emerged through the instrumentality of His messenger, man
will be assured of everlasting benefits and blessings: eternal life and
salvation.
Preaching, laboring, reconciling
Inasmuch
as salvation is the main purpose of God in sending messengers, those
whom He sent, like the apostles, proclaimed God's words even if they had
to labor and sacrifice to perform their God-given tasks. As Apostle
Paul attested:
"We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me." (Col. 1:28-29, NIV)
Messengers
of God labored and struggled in teaching His words be¬cause they want
us to be presented perfect in Christ which is the quality possessed by
those worthy of receiving salvation (Col. 1:28-29). Yet, in preaching
God's words, His messengers do not preach themselves but Christ Jesus
(II Cor. 4:5). This is the hallmark of true preachers. Hence, a true
messenger of God does not invent or come up with his own teachings; he
does not use human wisdom to persuade people but the testimony of the
Holy Spirit and the power of God so that our faith "should not be in the
wisdom of men but in the power of God." (I Cor. 2:4-5, NKJV). Such
can be said of Brother Felix Manalo: he did not preach anything of his
own; instead, what he preached with power and authority were the pure
and unadulterated words of God. This is why we firmly believe that
Brother Felix Manalo is God's Messenger in these last days.
Furthermore,
the objective of God's messengers in preaching His words is to
reconcile man to God through Christ. Man has been separated from God and
has become His enemy because of sin; thus, man needs to be reconciled
to God. Such reconciliation can be made possible through God's
messengers because to them are given the word and the ministry of
reconciliation:
"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. "Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation." (II Cor. 5:20, 18-19, Ibid.)
Hearing
and believing in the gospel preached by God's Messenger leads to being
reconciled with God and attaining salvation. Holy and noble, indeed, is
the purpose of the Messenger in preaching, laboring, and enduring all
things for the benefit of the elect or the members of the Church of
Christ as this will result in their salvation come Judgment Day:
"Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." (II Tim. 2:10, Ibid.)
Valuing their labors and sacrifices
Members
of the Church of Christ give value to the labors and sacrifices of
God's messenger by remembering him and holding on to the teachings he
taught to them (I Cor. 11:2). And we prove that we hold on to the
teachings taught to us by the Messenger when we put them into action or
obey them: 3 "
"Dearest friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to put into action God's saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. ... "Hold tightly to the word of life, so that when Christ returns, I will be proud that I did not lose the race and that my work was not useless." (Phil. 2:12, 16, New Living Translation)
This
is what the brethren today are doing under the leadership of the
pres¬ent Church Administration; we strive all the more to faithfully
hold on to or obey what the Messenger endeavored to teach us even though
he is no longer with us. In so doing, when Judgment Day comes, he can
be proud of us when he finds that his labors and sacrifices—for our own
salvation—have not been in vain. Clearly, if we want to truly benefit
from God's purpose in sending His messenger in these last days, we
should stand firm on being obedient always.
Indeed,
the commemoration of the birth anniversary of the Messenger of God in
these last days this month of May would be more relevant and meaningful
if we reaffirm our commitment to God that with unflinching resolve we
will constantly obey His commandments and follow the rules and
regulations being implemented in the Church every mo¬ment of our lives.
In addition, Apostle Peter stated how the obedient can be identified:
"[Live] as children of obedience [to God]; do not conform yourselves to the evil desires [that governed you] in your former ignorance [when you did not know the requirements of the Gospel]." (I Pet. 1:14, Amplified Bible)
The
obedient are no longer found in any act or conduct that conforms to the
evil desires they used to have when they were still ignorant of the
will of God. Thus, for our own benefit on the Second Coming of Christ we
must rid ourselves of any wicked deeds or behavior; for our salvation,
we must completely renew our life, which is expected of those who have
been taught by the Messenger. Truly, remembering the works and labors
of Brother Felix Manalo would not be complete if we do not manifest in
words and action our firm resolve to cast away our old, wicked ways and
walk in the newness of life.
Remaining steadfast
Moreover,
faithful members of the Church of Christ who truly value the labors of
the Messenger are willing to suffer and endure as well—remaining
steadfast happen what may in their lives—to be worthy of salvation:
"We proudly tell God's other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. But God will use this persecution to show his justice. For he will make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering." (II Thess. 1:4-5, NLT)
And
so, we should never give up our membership in the Church of Christ.
Amid temptations, hindrances, and misfortunes in life, we should do what
it takes to remain inside the Church of Christ. Also, if we remain
steadfast in the faith, it would be as if the Messenger of God were
still alive, as Apostle Paul put it: "For now we live, if you stand fast
in the Lord" (I Thess. 3: 8, NKJV). This is because just as the fruits
of the work of Apostle Paul were the seal of his apostleship, so are we
the seal of the authority of the Messenger of God in these last days (I
Cor. 9:2). Hence, if we stand firm in our membership in the Church of
Christ, then it is as though the Messenger of God were still alive
because we are the seal of his being sent by God; we are the result of
his work for the Lord (I Cor. 9:1).
In short, no one among us today could have become a member of the
Church of Christ or a Church officer—a deacon, a deaconess, a choir
member, a secretary, finance officer, etc., had there been no messenger
who preached and brought us to the true Church. All of us are the fruits
of the labors of the Messenger of God in these last days, no matter who
instructed us in biblical doctrines, as Apostle Paul who was the
messenger to the Gentiles attested:
"For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." (I Cor. 4:15, NKJV)
'Time of testing'
Without
a doubt, all of us became members of the Church of Christ that emerged
from the Philippines as a result of the preaching function of Brother
Felix Y. Manalo. However, it is not enough that we are the result of his
work and sacrifices; that we are now listed in the Church registry.
What is expected of us is to continue steadfast and strong in the faith,
always trusting God, obeying the teachings we received through His
Messenger, and remaining righteous before His sight. To such faithful
servants, God assures His abiding guidance, help, and salvation:
"But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in time of trouble. And the LORD shall help them and deliver them, because they trust him. Though he fall, he shall never be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with his hand." (Ps. 37:39-40, 24, Ibid.)
Thus,
as we look back on how the messenger of God in these last days spent
his life for our salvation's sake, may our God Almighty see in us our
heartfelt desire to value the labors and sacrifices of His messenger.
That even if the "great time of testing" may come, when life becomes
more complicated and difficult because of trials and tribulations, we
will patiently obey—inspired by the Messenger of God in these last days
and the present Church Administration—to ensure God's protection and
salvation that is at hand:
"Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. Look, I am coming quickly. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown." (Rev. 3:10-11, NLT) *
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