EASTER MESSAGE: WE ARE ONE BODY

Hello everyone,

I have not been active lately, partly because of what is happening around the globe. My question, since last month, has been; when are we going to have a clean day? When I say clean day I mean a day when there would be no loss of life from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.

Last month, we heard the story of Malaysian Airline MH370 which went missing as it flew from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board. There were some Boko Haram attacks in some parts of Nigeria, where over 100 people died. Central African Republic issues came up where Christian militants were killing dozens of Muslims. Ukraine has also been on the news and nobody knows when there would be peace in that region. Some people were killed in the US, UK and around the globe.

I thought April was going be better but I was wrong. People are dying in some parts of Ukraine where pro-Russians are fighting for their freedom from Kiev. There was attack at a UN base in South Sudan where many people died and some injured. Last Monday, around 71 people died in a deadly attack in Abuja, then on Tuesday’s night over 100 girls were abducted from a school in northern Nigeria by suspected group, Boko Haram. On Wednesday, South Koreans ferry sank, leaving over 270 people unaccounted for. I also read about a young girl who threatened a terrorist attack via twitter to American airlines. Mexico was shaken by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. Time won’t permit me to talk about people dying each day in Syria, Libya, Egypt, and other parts of the world. The news and threats keep coming each day which cause fear and insecurity, especially in the event where world leaders can’t find answers.

What message are we getting from these events?

I believe the message is quite clear. The day of our Lord Jesus is nearer than we first thought. Jesus’ coming is at our door step. As a result, we should get rid of every load or weight that is slowing us from running our race well. Pray that God delivers you from evils that are happening around you. Pray to God for strength to live each day. Friend there is no excuse for you if you don’t make it on the last day. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

What must be our response to the events happening around us?

In the early days of the Church they joined together to pray for themselves. “They all joined together constantly in prayer” (Acts 1:14, NIV) However, the story is different in our days. There is division among the church. Everyone believes his/her church is the best. I hear stories of churches attacking each other. Some preacher boast of the size of their followers, Sanctuary, the number of books they have written, and even compare themselves with others. Instead of coming together as one body, we fight one another. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 12, used the body to explain the essence of the church coming together as one body. In verses 25 and 26, he said “so that there should be no division in the body, but its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.” Verse 27 says “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

It is high time we put our differences behind and come together as ONE BODY and pray for the peace of the world. What we see on TV in other countries can happen in ours as it only takes one action by one or two people to start a riot. A point to note is London riot in 2011. We may not see total peace in the world (as it is a sign that we are living in the last days) but I believe some of the violence and the terror we see or hear could be avoided.

I don’t know who is reading this message but I know that you can make a difference. You can tell believers around you, regardless of their denominations, that it is time the Church come together as ONE BODY to impact change in the world. In James 5:16, we are told that “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” Also, “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT) There is power in Unity. When we are together, we are stronger.

As we remember the death, resurrection, ascension, and reigning of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us also remember what the angels said in Acts 1:11 that “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Are you prepared to meet him if He should come today?

HAPPY EASTER!

God bless you as you share this message with family and friends