What could be the greatest cry of our generation today? Would it be a partial deliverance from the struggles we face daily? Or would it be the socio-political problems we encounter at every nook and corner?Holistically speaking, I reckon that the greatest cry of our generation today is to ‘help our unbelief.’ A multitude of problems are apparent today, and the government, churches, and various organizations are working tirelesslyin order to eradicate the social evils in our society; but, how many of us are truly concerned about the ‘belief’ an individual possesses? Is not the absence of belief the root cause of every evil?
Less importance has been bestowed upon the people of other faith, even though Christians are fully aware that their misconceptions require thorough clarification. No doubt, reasoning and debating is the order of the day in the 21st century. But there is an urgent need to integrate Christian reasoning into daily conversations and debate with unbelievers about the only Way, Truth and Life!
There are a host of ethnic groups in different parts of the world, where many people have been ill-treated over the course of time. In the past, when religious intolerance was practised, religion was used as a tool for war and many people were slaughtered in the name of religion. Racism is another factor through which many innocent lives were adversely affected; these scars are carried even today. The poor being oppressed and exploited by the richis a reality we know all too well; it is rightly said, “The poor are the lost and the lost are the poor.” The horrors ofdropping atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is still seen through the eyes of the descendants of the ones affected by radiation. The nightmares of the World Wars are still fresh today; the wars between nations, tribes, states, brothers... are they notevident today? The victims of all these struggles are crying for deliverance – they cry for someone who can come and rescue them from their nightmares, and whisk them away from their miseries. They cry for love, peace, joy, deliverance and salvation.
Can you and I grant them their innermost desires? Which therapist, doctor or philosopher can offer an antidote for the problems in the world today? What are the means for eternal deliverance? Our cry cannot be answered, fulfilled or satisfied by a finite being. It has to be an infinite being – God alone can rescue us from the bondage of sins and the chains of evil which surround us!
There is a recurring theme which runs through the Bible that says God hears the cry of the people crying out to Him.Today, living in a world full of pain and suffering, there is an anguished cry in every soul for deliverance from their sorrows. If only we cry out to God, He will deliver us. He is the same yesterday, today and forever; His love everlasting and unconditional.
A wise statement made by a friend really inspired me; it says, “once we completely surrender our lives to Jesus, then everything in our life comes to order.” This statement intrigued me, and as I ponderedupon it, it led me to the realization that believing, knowing and walking with Jesus is the one true solution to the unbelief that hovers around our environment today.
Jesus Christ is the sole key who transcends space and time, lifts us high above the stormy seas and unlocks the unbelief of our souls and sets us free so that our eyes will be opened to the Truth and we will be assured with the fullness of our belief; this, in turn, is designed to ultimately lead us to salvation and eternal glory with Him. All anyone ever needs to do is to simply believe in Him. If we truly believe, we will love Him; if we love Him, we will keep His commandments; if we keep His commandments, we will reign as co-heirs forever. Since the beginning of time, every act of God has been for our good; all He wants in return is for us to believe in His Son. And it is not enough that we alone be saved. Armed with this Truth, we are duty-bound to spread the fragrance of Christ to every unbeliever because our Lord has commissioned us this task of making disciples of every nation. Another divine chain reaction will occur here: with the belief in Christ, all things will start to work for the good of the individual; a committed person will influence his/her family; a saved family will radiate the beauty of Christ and bring their respective societies to believe. Inevitably, love, joy and peacewill replace hatred, sorrow and terror. It is thus evident that a single person’s change of heart from unbelief to belief in Christ will convey innumerable blessingsand bring forth a glimpse of heaven on earth. May ‘I believe’ be the victory chant that resounds loud and clear among us!
Husezo Rhakho, Bible student.
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