Rev. Dr. V.K. Nuh
“See, I have given you this land, Go in and take possession of the land that the Lord swore He would give to your fathers – to braham, Isaac and Jacob – and o their descendent after them” (Deut. 1:8)NIV.
“Go and take, it is yours.” What a wonderful promise! Promise have to be claimed and you have to go and posses it. The land will not come to you, but rather you have to go and possess it. There are so many enemies you have to fight and conquer to possess the land. Promise is already there but you have to believe that it belongs to you.
What better lesson can we learn from the story of the Israelites? God tested them and gave them lessons to learn; to run a nation and to unite as people. God could have allowed them to enter the land of Canaan along the shorter way which actually takes only seven days walk from Egypt. But He knew that such a young nation will not be able to stand on its own feet. Therefore He took them around for forty years in the desert. They often disobeyed God and thereby, they suffered and were often defeated. And yet they adopted a new way of life. They faced bitter lives but that made them strong.
At last they reached borders of the Promised Land and realized that real battles were required to be fought in order to possess the Promised Land. But the more they depended on their strength, the more they found themselves helpless. When they put their trust in the Lord, God gave them power to defeat their enemies but when battles are won through His help, God want the people to glorify Him. This is the way God taught His people to trust Him. When Israelites put their trust in God they became powerful. When they trusted themselves they became like any other human beings. This is how God revealed His ways through the Israelites. We have heard enough lessons from Israelites, how slow they were to learn despite many miracles from God. They were often rebellious against God that is why their journey to the land of Canaan was delayed.
In the same way we have seen all kinds of tragedies for the last 60 years how Naga people have suffered. But we refuse to believe His wonderful deliverance. We believe that no power on earth can stop us to enter Promised Land. But Naga people rust and rot which is stopping us to get into the Promised Land. We trusted on our own powers and fought to extend the factional supremacy.
We have to remind the growing generations how their forefathers made covenant with God. We have made a Political covenant on 16th of May 1951 to be a Sovereign Nation where 99.9% of the population affirmed with their thumb impression. But forgetting the covenant, Naga People’s Convention was formed on 28th May 1959 which brought Statehood with the 16 Points Agreement against the Plebiscite. Most of the Naga people are involved in the state election, by hook or by crook, to run the government under different political parties.
Another covenant in the form of an Act is to safe guard the interest and security of Nagaland which was adopted on 27th April 1955. But with rebellious motive, a Revolutionary Government of Council of Naga People was formed on 1st of November 1968.
Again in 11th November 1975, Shillong Accord was signed by the Federal Government in the name of underground. Thus, political outbursts began.
National Socialist Council of Nagalim came into being on 31st of January 1980 that ignored the original Naga political institution.
Throughout this, we had gone against the will of people and against the will of God. We must realize that the voice of the people is the voice of God.
Now there are six truths among the factions and all factions claim themselves as defending the truth and because of which they did not hesitate killing each other:
1. NNC leaders must say sorry because they could not hold together National principles in keeping their leaders together.
2. The Federal Government of Nagaland must say sorry because of signing the Shillong Accord that created conflicts in Naga society.
3. Muivah, Isaac and Khaplang must say sorry because they have dismissed the Naga National political institution of NNC by forming National Socialist Council of Nagalim on 31st January, 1980.
4. The public must say sorry because they have forgotten the covenant of the plebiscite and began involving in the State elections.
5. All the state political leaders have to say sorry because they did not fulfill their promises to bring political settlement according to their manifesto.
6. Churches have to say sorry because they lost the prophetic voice to challenge the bloodsheds in the land in accordance to the Biblical mandate.
Besides other tribes, advanced tribes who led Naga people so far must say sorry:
1. Ao people have to say sorry because they led the people and signed the 16 Points Agreement.
2. Sema people have to say sorry because they destabilized the Naga national stand by forming Revolutionary Governments.
3. Angami people have to say sorry because their leadership could not hold together the Nagas in corrective measure.
4. Tangkhul people must say sorry because their leadership brought more confusion in the Naga political stand.
Through all the mistakes and wrongdoings against God and against people, we must come to our senses of penitence. Blaming and accusing each other will not solve the Naga problem until Naga people reaches national repentance. “If anyone of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7) NIV. Is there any Naga left without committing sin against God or against his or her fellow men.
National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Muivah and Isaac group) must forgive and forget other national worker’s deeds for National Reconciliation and to have National Salvation.
When the Lord said, “one of you shall betray me” (Matt. 26:21) NIV, the disciples had enough spirituality that nobody had began asking, “Is it he?” Every one of the disciples said, “Lord is it I?” (Matt 26:22). We want all Naga leaders to have such attitude and spirituality.
National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang group) must forgive and forget the deeds of other national workers and accept national unification, instead of serving quit notice to Tangkhul tribe.
Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, No! But unless you repent, you too will all perish” (Luke 13:2-3) NIV.
Naga National Council and Federal Government must admit the past mistakes and accept other remnant national workers for national rebirth.
“I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?”(Matt. 18:32-33) NIV.
Leaders must have the courage to admit their faults, mistakes, lapses, and shortcomings.
Today, as we see the rust and rot of Naga people, we have no hope of a future till we accept the truth. The only option left for Naga people is “We have to say sorry” with national repentance. The Lord says, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift” (Matt. 5:23, 24) NIV.
With so much divisions amongst Nagas, can you dream of a Promise Land? With so much sacrifices, can we go back again to Egypt? Come let us reason together, and unite as people of a Nation. Deliverance will come from God, not from India!
