Since man's expulsion from the Garden of Eden, God has spoken to humanity in various ways. One of the first people to hear the Lord directly was Cain, before he killed his brother Abel: So the LORD said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? (Genesis 4.6). But the young man didn't even heed God's warning. As a result: he became the world's first murderer. Cain acted like a monster!

There is no biblical record of anyone after Cain and before Noah having listened to God's voice. Noah was known as a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5), ministered for around 120 years, but the people didn't listen to him. In his day, the world was given over to carnality and lust (Luke 17:26,27; 1 John 2:15-17). Noah heard the voice of the Most High warning him that the end was near. At the time, people sold and bought, married and gave in marriage (Matthew 24.38), but none sought the Lord!

God instructed Noah to build an ark so that he and his family could be saved. So he did, gathering food for himself, his family and the animals. It was said to him, “Then the LORD said to Noah, 'Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen you righteous before Me in this generation (Genesis 7.1). God's servant faced difficulties, as the devil tempted him to forget the divine message, but Noah persevered!

The Lord communicated with the patriarchs, prophets, and kings directly, as well as through angels, dreams, and visions. With the coming of Jesus, the Most High again addressed those who saw the baptism of His Son and with whom He was on the mount of transfiguration. He also spoke when some Greeks asked to see the Master (Matthew 3:16,17; Mark 9:2-7). The Master heard about the Greeks' interest, prayed to be glorified, and the Father immediately replied that He had already glorified Him and would do so again (John 12:28). The Lord always speaks!

According to the basic verse of this message, in these last days God addresses His faithful through His Son, His Word (John 1.14). Because He is Lord over all things, God is not limited to this last means. If He wishes or the situation demands it, the Father will reveal what is good for us and convey His message, using whatever He wishes. Now, today, the Lord is showing us His will through the Scriptures. He always does what is best!

The prophet Joel was used to speak of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as happened on the day of Pentecost, when the 120 who remained in Jerusalem, obeying the Lord, were filled with power from On High (Acts 2). Remember that there were almost 500 people, but many prioritized other things instead of persevering before God. As a result, they missed out on the fulfillment of the promise. Joel said that the old would dream and the young would see visions (Joel 2:28-32).

It doesn't matter what method the Most High uses to convey His message to you. If you persevere in your faith, you too will witness God's glory shining upon the Church. Those who do not persevere will hear, but will not have the privilege of being an eyewitness to the work that the Almighty wants to do in these last times on behalf of humanity!

           In Christ, with love,

           R. R. Soares