FROM THE ISLAND OF PATMOS

A LETTER FROM THE ISLAND OF PATMOS

To my dearly beloved brothers round the world .The coming of Lord as we have thought seem to tarry, He himself before the very eyes of those who saw him ascend spoke of coming soon  - Those words did comfort there heart that in no time they will be with him. Today, these words of our lord has gradually fade away –not holding much than mere words [to the perishing]. 

I write to you brothers noting how much you must have suffered in the flesh even as our very own brother who labour for the lord had suffered preferring death. I thought I could be of some comfort to you writing unto you, but not as much as the very departing words of the master when he said I am with you always even to the end of the age. I commend the grace of God in you and how much of help you have been to the saints, seeing that though you have little, yet have use of that given you, diligent in the vineyard labouring among the saints in reaching to the heathen. 

I urge you to be blameless and perfect before all men even the saints, putting away every work and life of imperfection for He thus commanded be ye perfect for I am perfect. These are not the words of an idle man or an extremist or a joker or one drunk with wine, but they are those of your brother. For you know how much of the grace of God had been given to me and how He, the lord had call me to labour among the saints. Brother I admonish you to likewise labour fervently among the saints and to keep the trust that the lord did give to his church for in this there is profiting. Weary not with the age for we have seen how the world runs on competition, how the love of many is waxing cold and men becoming lovers of themselves, how believers are becoming entangle and the man of lawlessness is taking it place at the heart of the society, how that the woman Jezebel has enter the church to pollute it, how the sons of God are drinking of the cup of her fornication and falling prey to her seductions, how men are gaining the world and losing their souls, how the wolves have crept in silently among the flock, how the voice of men multiplies and the voice of the Lord fades. This indeed you need not be told is the last days; knowing that the evil one labour even harder but we know how the lord had made a public show of him, we are victorious.

 I admonish that all be constant in prayers, rejoice in persecution and trials, and do the work of the evangelist, for those are our inheritance from our fathers. Have nothing to do with the wisdom of this world, to seek its riches and fame. It is true as it is said among the saints how some of you bear your cross and burden under its weight. I have heard also of your zeal and genuine love and compassion for the brethren and the lost. In this I rejoice greatly, thanking the father of our lord Jesus Christ on your behalf. Continue in the grace, contend for the faith, strive for the mastery that Christ may gain even as we loss. We been the slave of Christ redeemed from our sins and purged by the blood of the saviour glories in His redemption; partake in His suffering; identify with His cross and live in His victory, are sure to sit with Him at table at the final feast. Let us not forget that whether it be riches or lack, famine or surplus, employment or unemployment, economic meltdown or build up, rejection or acceptance, academic glory or failure, nothing can separates us from the love of Christ Jesus. For the patriarch before us where men of like passion as we, but after serving their generation by the will of God, fell asleep. I send my greetings to all saints, those who’s labour counts or do not, the recognised or not recognised, the family of Christ and everyone who is still waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ: the day of His coming draws near than when we first believed. With many words I exhort you brothers, but with this I exhort the more:    

12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

13 But EXHORT one another DAILY, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Emphasis mine Hebrews 3:12-13) Grace and peace be with you all. Your beloved brother yiga.