“For by [faith—trust and holy fervor born of faith] the men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a GOOD REPORT.” – Hebrews 11:2 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition.
“The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.” – Hebrews 11:2 Message Bible.
Wow! We are already in the last quarter of this great year, not in our own might nor power, but only by the help of God and having obtained the help of God, we have continued until this day.
The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23 New Living Translation).
The first, second, and third quarter of this year were not void of their trials, tests, and challenges but even truer are the triumphs, testimony, and victories through God`s marvelous help. We are kept by the power of the Lord, and we have come this far by faith.
Thank God that He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57 God`s Word Translation).
What about October 2025? October 2025 is the month of GOOD REPORT! Hebrews 11:2 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition says, “For by [faith—trust and holy fervor born of faith] the men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a GOOD REPORT.”
When the Jascon-4 tugboat overturned off the Nigerian coast in May 2013, it made headlines around the world. Most assumed there were no survivors — until three days later, when the ship’s cook Harrison Okene was discovered by divers inside. Incredibly, Okene was alive, clinging to a makeshift raft in a small pocket of air in the overturned vessel. He was working off the coast of Nigeria when a freak wave caused his tugboat to sink — trapping him 100 feet beneath the surface of the sea. The image of Okene alone in the dark for sixty hours is unnerving!
The 29-year-old had endured what, to many, would be an absolute worst-case scenario. He was trapped almost 100 feet below the water’s surface, with a limited supply of oxygen as swarming crawfish tore at his skin. Yet Okene survived. And, incredibly, the harrowing experience didn’t instill a fear of water in him. In fact, Okene went on to train as a professional diver.
Harrison Odjegba Okene’s story is a testament to human resilience and faith. This tragic incident led to the tragic loss of 11 crew members. Okene, the cook, was trapped for 60 hours in a sunken vessel, facing freezing cold and darkness. Despite the odds, he survived, and his faith in God played a significant role in his survival. Okene’s story is a reminder of the power of faith in the face of adversity and the importance of staying hopeful during challenging times.
Beloved, a GOOD REPORT is impossible without faith because it is only by faith that we are guaranteed triumphs over life trials for everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God]. (1 John 5:4 Amplified Bible). [To be continued next week].
