Editors’ Journal "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."—John 4:16, 17 The litany of troubles which follows this scriptural declaration becomes more and more manifest as each year passes into history. Global conflicts in Bosnia and Rwanda, civil rights abuses in Haiti, the ever-threatening face of Saddam Hussein in the daily press, a rapid increase in drive-by shootings all draw attention to the perilous times we live in. Mixed emotions arise over the peace process in the Middle East. While there is natural rejoicing in any slowdown of hostilities, there is also the realization that the land Israel is trading for peace is part of their God-promised inheritance. One by-product of the uncertainties in today’s world is a marked increase in stress syndrome. Psychologists report a large growth in patients developing mental and emotional problems trying to cope with the realities they are facing. How appropriate this is in light of the prediction of Luke 21:26: "Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken." The significance of these events is highlighted further in the epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians: "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief" (5:1-4). Rather than being a cause for alarm, present distresses should be a cause for rejoicing, for as Paul writes in Romans 13:11: "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." And again in Luke 21:28: "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." World affairs, then, should serve as a motivational tool, a spur to drive us to more zeal and more carefulness in copying the character of our Lord and Master. "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness" (2 Peter 3:11). Our New Cover Thanks to the
generous assistance of some of our brethren in the
printing industry, The theme for the current issue is the holy spirit. No power or influence is more important to the Christian than that of the holy spirit. In fact the Christian dispensation was introduced on the day of Pentecost by an outpouring of this spirit. Through it we perceive the mind of God. By it we are to be guided day by day. Its witness and seal give us the assurance that we are his. Eventually it will be poured on "all flesh" (Joel 2:28). The first two articles, The Holy Spirit in Our Lives and The Power of the Holy Spirit, give us a general overview of the subject. Some of its specific functions are covered in articles on Spirit Begettal, Life in the Spirit, The Comforter, The Witness of the Holy Spirit, and Sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise. The various operations of the holy Spirit are scripturally summarized on page 27 in The Holy Spirit: Its Functions and Symbols. Coming in 1995 Specific themes will be addressed in future issues of THE HERALD in 1995, if the Lord is willing. March/April, in consideration of the Memorial supper, will have Communion With Christ as a theme. In May/June we will take a look at Prophecy Today, while the July/August issue will deal with Living the Christian Life, and September/October will examine the Fundamental Doctrines of Hebrews 6:1, 2. Closing the year, the November/December edition will cover the seasonal topics of the holidays—Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year. Entering 1995, our thoughts and prayers are to the effect that each of us may face the challenges the year holds with true Christian fortitude and courage and that we may each grow more and more into the image of our Master, being rightly exercised by those experiences which God’s providence sees fit to send our way. |