“By righteousness a nation is lifted up, but
sin is a cause of shame to the peoples” (Proverbs 14:34, Bible in Basic English,
BBE)”.
The challenges we face as a nation are not
unconnected to the truth that the land is defiled and filled with corruption
and blood. Yes, the sins and errors of our fathers past have been forgiven, but
every sin carries its consequence, and what have confronted this nation
hitherto may not be far from the consequences of some of those iniquities. And to
know that iniquity still abound only tells us that we are not ready for the
dawn of restoration that we seek and pray for.
But God’s solution to a hurting nation has not
changed. He says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves,
and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear
from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2
Chronicles 7:14).
The way to healing still remains in the light of a
nation that will seek God. The Bible says that any nation that forgets God
shall be down. “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget
God. Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and
there be none to deliver” (Psalm 50:22, Psalm 9:17). This is the end of
any nation that forgets God, including Nigeria, except there is repentance. God
will not change His standard because of Nigeria...He is no respecter of
persons.
The land is filled with so much wickedness by
terrorists and the military alike. There is so much bloodshed in the land.
Corruption thrives in the land. Rituals, murders, occultism, homosexuality,
lesbianism, drunkenness, etc...These are heavy sins in the land. I tell you the
truth; we are miles away from peace unless the wind of repentance blows through
the land. Truth!
The problems of this country will not be solved by
all the national prayer and fasting rallies...the problem will only be overcome
when we are ready to repent, both leaders and followers, for “we
cannot continue in sin and be praying for grace to abound; God Himself forbids”
(Romans 6:1).
And who should lead the national repentance? The
number one citizen of the country should take the leading role, for until it
starts from the head it cannot flow down the body. Daniel prayed and confessed
his sins and the sins of the people. The leader that will champion the cause of
national repentance in Nigeria is the one that can lay the platform for the
much needed peace in the land. But unfortunately, the President of Nigeria is
yet to accept that there is corruption going on in his government talk more of
championing a restoration cause. He has not shown the potentials and desire to
fight corruption the same way he is unable to do anything about the continued
slaughtering of human beings by Boko Haram and allies.
Then the other time he stopped saying amen to a
fiery prayer session because the Pastor was praying fire against corruption and
corrupt leadership. Later when quizzed, his aides claimed there is a number of
times the President can say “Amen” and that Mr. President already exhausted
that. What a Constitutional and National Blasphemy!!!
I read how the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni
led the country in a prayer of national repentance as Uganda celebrated 50th
anniversary of independence from Britain. Below is an excerpt of the prayers
said by the Uganda president:
“I stand
here today to close the evil past, and especially in the last 50 years of our
national leadership history and at the threshold of a new dispensation in the
life of this nation. I stand here on my own behalf and on behalf of my
predecessors to repent. We ask for your forgiveness,” Museveni prayed.
“We confess these sins, which have greatly hampered
our national cohesion and delayed our political, social and economic
transformation. We confess sins of idolatry and witchcraft which are rampant in
our land. We confess sins of shedding innocent blood, sins of political
hypocrisy, dishonesty, intrigue and betrayal,” Museveni said.
“Forgive us of sins of pride, tribalism and
sectarianism; sins of laziness, indifference and irresponsibility; sins of
corruption and bribery that have eroded our national resources; sins of sexual
immorality, drunkenness and debauchery; sins of unforgiveness, bitterness,
hatred and revenge; sins of injustice, oppression and exploitation; sins of
rebellion, insubordination, strife and conflict,” Museveni prayed.
Next, the president dedicated Uganda to God.
“We want to dedicate this nation to you so that you
will be our God and guide. We want Uganda to be known as a nation that fears
God and as a nation whose foundations are firmly rooted in righteousness and
justice to fulfill what the Bible says in Psalm 33:12: Blessed is the nation
whose God is the Lord. A people you have chosen as your own,” Museveni prayed.
This should be a model for Presidents and leaders
in government, and I hope President Jonathan sees this and admits that like in
Uganda, the sins of tribalism and sectarianism; sins of laziness, indifference
and irresponsibility; sins of corruption and bribery that have eroded our
national resources; sins of sexual immorality, drunkenness and debauchery; sins
of unforgiveness, bitterness, hatred and revenge; sins of injustice, oppression
and exploitation; sins of rebellion, insubordination, strife and conflict
abound in Nigeria also if not even more. And then, he should take the path of
national repentance as the panacea to national healing and restoration.
National prayer rallies are good, but until there
is national repentance, the healing streams Nigeria needs will remain flowing
underground.
(Dr. Bukola Williams,
www.drwilliamsbukola.blogspot.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment