Recently, in my devotional reading through the prophecy of Jeremiah I came across this text which ‘grabbed’ my attention:
  “Oh land, land, land, hear the word of the Lord!” (Jer 22:29).

The context reveals that this is a particular declaration of judgment against Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim (609-597 BC) during the years when the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar was already in the process of conquering Judah and Jerusalem. Yahweh had consistently warned His people at many times through His prophets that His patience with wayward Jerusalem would run out. Jehoiachin had only been king for 3 months when the end of his rule was announced.

The triple repetition of the summons makes it a solemn and important
announcement:
  “Oh land, land, land, hear the word of the Lord!”

This passionate appeal to ‘hear the Word of the Lord’ is written upon the entrance of one of the most beautiful church buildings (which is also a tourist attraction) in the heart of Windhoek.  As far as I know, this church does not exercise a sound gospel ministry.  And yet it has this amazing prophetic verse that speaks loudly to so many people that walk through the doors of this church building every day.

I believe that the churches that constitute SOLA 5 must have this Word written upon the tablets of their hearts.

One of the five SOLA’s, “SOLA SCRIPTURA” reminds us that it is our God-given duty to let the word of the Lord sound clearly and authoritatively in our southern African lands (and beyond) so that the nations shall see, hear and believe that Jesus Christ is Saviour and Lord.  We passionately believe that the Word of God that is in our hands and in our hearts is life giving and powerful to save.  We are confident that the Lord has many sheep that must yet be gathered into the fold before His return.

The Scripture leaves us in no doubt that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Living Word, will return to judge this earth.  As surely as Nebuchadnezzar was appointed by God to conquer and destroy Jerusalem in 586 BC, and as surely as the Roman general Titus was appointed to conquer and destroy Jerusalem in 70 AD by appointment of the Lord God Almighty, so also the Lord Jesus is appointed as the faithful and true Judge who comes to strike down the nations (Rev 19:15), and judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42; 17:31).

Before that great and terrible day comes upon those that are yet unreconciled with God, we have the privilege and duty to preach the word “in season and out of season”, wherever God has planted us in southern Africa. We are called to preach that Word to the land whether it is warmly received or not. Jeremiah preached in a time when no one listened to Him, and yet he fervently and uncompromisingly continued to preach the Word of the Lord.

We trust then as you read this edition of the Sola 5 Chronicles, that you would sense with us that we have the Great Commission imprinted upon our hearts.  Sola 5 is committed to spread the word of the Lord in southern Africa and beyond through churches that are committed to authentic Christian living. This we hope to accomplish through promoting God-centered theological training, deliberate missions and church planting efforts and conferences.

I would also take this opportunity to remind our churches that central to our spiritual vitality lies the discipline of fervent prayer.  The apostle Paul writes in conclusion of his letter to the Colossians:
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should. (Col 4:2-4).
– Joachim Rieck