Eternal Gain

Eternal Gain

“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit . . . .” Isa. 48:17. Yes, God be praised for time and eternity! Jesus Christ and the New Testament have done this thoroughly! They have taught us to love God with all our heart, carefully keeping all the glorious laws and commands of the Spirit of life to the utmost with great rejoicing, and viewing all this as pure advantage and true gain for time and eternity!!!

This is brought out with all clarity, and emphatically, in Isaiah 48, verses 18 and 19: “Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then [if you had done this with a living interest and in all seriousness] your peace would have been like a river [deep, broad, and quiet—not like a little stream] and your righteousness [your personal righteousness in your daily life] like the waves of the sea [in power and might when they come rolling in like huge hills.]”

Verse 19: “Your descendants [spiritually speaking: true followers!] also would have been [countless] like the sand!” This is not the usual pattern when it concerns revivals and movements. Instead of Jesus’ followers in truth, all they produce is some adherents. This is of course only a substitute for true followers.

Unfortunately, people lie and brag, but God’s Word is absolutely true. The Lord be highly exalted! If we love only God so we keep His commandments, we have only income, only true gain, only advantages, only peace, only victory, only virtue, only joy (see James 1:2). Then everything—whatever comes our way—works together for our best (other translations)! This simply surpasses all our understanding! This is precisely why it is so fitting for us to do as it is written in the next verse, Isaiah 48:20.

“Go forth from Babylon! With a voice of singing declare, proclaim this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say, ‘The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob [us]!’”

Let us continue to do this, all of you who are faithful servants of the Lord, more than ever before, with greater strength and fervent zeal! With triumphant joy and rejoicing in this living hope! As much as possible and as good as possible! No dithering! Do not spare! Be courageous! Start rejoicing! No nonsense! This is wartime! We stand to gain everything; we have nothing to lose! No cheating! Speak clearly and concisely! No mumbling into your beard! Don’t stand there and walk around like a dry stick! Alas, alas! Make use of all the opportunities! No unnecessary pauses! No complexes, thank you very much! The matter is clear! Victory is ours! No doubting! Only full speed ahead! Pray, speak, and write! Both husband and wife! Don’t be like a sieve! Do not drift along with the current! No more strife! Only give! And absolutely no more wasting time!

Work, for the night is coming! Soon there will be eternal summer! Let the words of truth and righteousness flow forth! All the words of life! Speak with great boldness! Let it be heard so it resounds in the heavens! Do not sit there like a dumb beast, but be always on fire! Be aggressive and enduring! Hold out! Lay into the oars! Row for your life! Soon we will disembark on the other shore! Hallelujah!

Your devoted fellow brother—