1. Images of hope by Rey Halili
Pangako ni Yahweh
. . . ganito ang sabi Yahweh:
“huwag kang matatakot, ililigtas kita,
Tinawag kita sa iyong pangalan. Ikaw ay akin.
Pag ikaw ay daraan,
Sa karagatan, sasamahan kita;
Hindi ka madadaig ng mga suliranin.
2. Dumaan ka man sa apoy,
Di ka maaano.
Hindi ka maibubuwal
Ng mabibigat na pagsubok.
Sapagkat akong si Yahweh
and iyong Diyos. . .
Isaias 43:1-3
Images of hope by Rey Halili
3. Kayo’y inaruga ko mula sa inyong pagsilang.
Ako and inyong Diyos. Iingatan ko kayo
Hanggang sa pumuti and inyong buhok
At kayo’y tumanda.
Isaias 46:3b-4a
Images of hope by Rey Halili
Editor's Notes
The archangel Lucifer, Satan was once free to walk in and out of the very presence of God. But now, Satan was confined to an earth that he did not control. Adam's right to rule was granted by God, and Satan could not snatch that authority away from him. Therefore, Satan's only chance to gain control and thwart the plan of God was to turn mankind against God and to trick Adam into willingly giving his authority to him. Did Satan succeed? On first examination, we would probably answer, yes. However, the Bible tells us that Adam was not deceived by Satan's subtle lies (I Timothy 2:14). No, Adam deliberately chose to disobey God. In his rebellion against God, Adam chose to obey Satan's desires, and in doing so, found himself enslaved to Satan. Be- cause the owner of a slave owns all the slave possesses, Satan took over the earth. Adam committed the sin His Creator had specifically warned him about: the sin of rebellion against God. There could be no instant restoration to perfection. When Adam squandered away his rights and dominion, Satan became the god of this world (II Corin- thians 4:4), the ruler of this world, the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:1-3).
