The book of Malachi 3:1 presents words that tells of "My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me." Here, Jesus was working with His church that would prepare them to recognize His coming when He should be born of a virgin. Malachi received this vital truth from the Lord hundreds of years prior, longer than America had begun forming as a nation. Malachi faithfully shared the burden of truth the Lord had given him, saying:

I have loved you... Yet ye say, wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? Saith the Lord of host: yet I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau, and laid his...heritage waste. Whereas Edom saith [Esau's descendants] We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the Lord of host, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and The people against whom the Lord hath indignation for ever. (Malachi 1:1-4)

This reveals the hatred Heaven harbors for all that is wicked. Esau clung to his wicked ways while Jacob manifested a life, allowing his Father in heaven to bring him up in the admonition of the Lord.

Heaven works in the atmosphere of truth. Truth applied to the heart cuts deep. This is necessary for "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it" (Jeremiah 17:9).

It can truthfully be said that Jesus knew the heart of Peter, also that of Judas. Each did precisely what was said of them. This is our reality. Only our Father in heaven knows what wickedness is lurking in our heart, as it waits for an opportunity to do or say what we adamantly deny, that which is definitely possible. Personal relationships take time to establish. It is no different with the one-on-one Jesus desires to have with those who have experienced wickedness lurking in a heart, professing great righteousness. Each of these articles found in this book covers topics that are meant for spiritual growth in learning the truth as it is in Jesus.