It is more than a month now that the nation Nigeria has been in a pensive mood concerning the over two hundred young school girls that were kidnapped in Borno State by the Boko-Haram sect. This has led to calls for the release of these girls from various groups like the Christian Association of Nigeria, Muslim Council in Nigeria, human right activists and different countries of the world.
It is heartbreaking to hear people wailing
and weeping at the loss of their loved ones. In my heart I hear the echoes of
our children saying ‘Please let us go back home’. As the adage goes, ‘the
directly concerned know exactly what the experience is’. I am sure that most of
us are eating, drinking and laughing, but the relations of these girls find it
difficult to eat or even sleep well. If care is not taken we won’t only be
talking about loss of lives of the girls but also of their family members which
may result from anxiety disorders and high blood pressure.
I therefore seize this medium to
appeal to as many that are God-fearing, that it is time to arise and call on
God to intervene. God can use anybody not only to deliver these girls, but also
to restore peace to Borno State and the nation as a whole.
The king’s
heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he
will.
Proverbs 21:1 ESV
From the above bible verse it means
that God can turn the hearts of the leaders of Boko-Haram. If the word of God
never fails then let us call on Him. God will act in Jesus’ name. If Saul
became Paul and God has not changed (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8) then He is
bound to do it again. He has the authority to end it all. However, God can also
use this occasion to EXALT Himself as He did before in the case of Pharaoh the
ruler of Egypt (Exodus 15:1-7). The cry then was ‘let my people go that they
may serve me’. But Pharaoh refused. At the end God proved that He alone rules
over the affairs of men.
Nonetheless, every group has a reason
for what they do, be it positive or negative, but whatever these reasons are,
let us remember that love covers a multitude of sins. Moreover, when you love
your fellow man, you will not want to hurt him/her. No one that truly cares
will kill his neighbour. Let peace reign
again. As Yakubu Gowon, a former Nigerian Head of State once said “there is no
victor no vanquished”. I believe it is time to embrace this statement again
because every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. Let us
think of our children.
Uprightness
and right standing with God (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and
relation) elevate a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
Proverbs 14:34 AMP
Any country that nurtures sin is in
danger of reproach/disgrace. Righteousness must be promoted. Nigerians should
be in right standing with God. However, for these to be done, we
need to ask God for forgiveness of sins committed and make restitutions. Spiritual leaders should engage moderation in
all they do (Philippians 4:5) and our focus as Nigerians should be ‘Peace and
Unity’ as declared in our National Anthem.
Peace! Peace!! Peace!!! This is the
cry of passion. Let us return to God and He will give the country rest in
Jesus’ name. SHALOM.
Come to me,
all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 GNB
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