God's Wrath was Satisfied

God's Wrath was Satisfied
Preach the Word!!

Friday 28 November 2014

THE MOST ABUSED AND MISUSED PHRASES PART 1

On the African soil we have so many ways in which people conduct funerals. It is also evident that some countries outside Africa have a unique way in which they conduct funerals. In recent years I have observed that some African countries are slowly conforming to the western culture of handling funerals. Nevertheless, there is one phrase that I keep hearing and seeing from people in Africa and from those in the other parts of the world when people lose a loved one. Sometimes I wonder why someone would make such a statement. Maybe its failure to understand what death really is.

Before I can state this most abused phrase during these emotional moments, let me try and unpack the meaning and definition of death. Death is the separation of the soul from the body. One example I can give to support this definition is the death of Christ. Remember when Jesus was dying? The Bible says in John 19:30 that “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” So you notice that Jesus died and gave up his spirit. In other words, his body was separated from his spirit when he died. I could site many other passages but that verse should do for now. Not only is death separation of the soul from the body but it is also separation of man from God. Remember when Adam sinned against God? He was at that time separated from God. Sin separated him from God.

The other thing I must mention before stating one of the most tortured phrases is the destiny of those who have died. It is clear from the Scriptures that when people die without having repented of their sins in faith towards Christ then their destination is hell. Hell is the place where they will spend eternity. A good example for this is the story of Lazarus and the Rich man. I am sure you know that story well. Lazarus ends up in Abraham’s bosom while the rich man ends up in the place of torment, a picture of hell. Why will such people end up in hell? Because they are Adam’s descendants and Adam, remember, died (was separated from God) because of sin.  And in the story of Lazarus and the rich man we have a good picture of someone who is separated from God. Each one of us is Adam’s descendant and we are destined to die and go to hell if we are not saved through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.


So here is my question now. If what I have said above is true and makes sense then why do people say, “May his soul rest in eternal peace,” during a funeral, when they do not even know whether that person was saved? This is abusing the phrase. In fact it is torturing the phrase. How can someone who lived in sin, cursed God and denied the Lord Jesus Christ even to his death ever rest in eternal peace? How? For all I know as the Bible says is that, “There is no rest, says the LORD, for the wicked” Isaiah 48:22. Could this be an African phrase or something from the western culture or Europe? Or is it just some people trying to be kind?

Thursday 13 November 2014

DON’T DESPISE THEM

The human mind in its sinful nature is framed in such a way that it considers certain creatures and realities of life to be more important than others, more powerful than others, more intelligent than others and even more beautiful than others. Strictly speaking, it is true. There are certain realities that surpass others when there is a comparison. There are those who are more gifted than others. That’s a fact. There are those who are more beautiful than others. It’s a reality. However, when these comparisons become more important than the eyes through which God sees human beings then notice the red light flashing. The light is a warning.

King David was the youngest of his brothers and so was Joseph who was only followed by Benjamin. Moses was rejected by the Israelites. Rahab was a prostitute. Ruth was an outcast among God’s chosen people. Hannah bore Samuel after years of being barren.  Our Lord was the son of a carpenter. He lived in Nazareth. There are a lot other people I can mention. When you go through the lives of these people as you read Bible history, you wouldn’t tell from the beginning that they would have achieved anything in future. David, the last born of seven sons, became King. In Jewish tradition being the last born meant you were the least of all according to the birthright rule.  That is why Joseph’s brothers even hated him more when he told them of his dream which seemed to suggest that they (his brothers) would in future be his servants. This reality came to pass. Do you see that in the eyes of man these people were less important, less gifted, not courageous, proud, cursed and despised? Being barren was not something that was easily accepted in those days. It was believed to be a curse. So you can imagine what Hannah was going through and what the people thought of her.

Why does God do this? Isn’t he the all powerful God and God of all wisdom? Shouldn’t the people he chooses to use display power. Listen to what he says in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29; “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.


We are human and at times we will fall into the trap of considering others to be inferior.  However, we have no clue what God has in store for them. What shall we do then? How can we better the situation? Firstly, we must pray that God shows us the best way to assist and accommodate such people. That is what Samuel did when he chose David to be King. He sought the LORD’S approval even though he was looking at the outward appearance of David’s brothers. God told him they were not the ones. Secondly, be a channel of blessing for such people. When you have prayed and God answers which I am sure he will, find ways of helping such people. Talk to them. Pray with them. Thirdly, God makes everything beautiful in its time. That building which looks so ugly when the foundation is being laid may be a different site when you see a copy of the finished architectural design. Fortunately it is God who has the finished product so we should not judge and change anything. Fanny Crosby, a hymn writer, became blind 6 weeks after her birth. Who would have known that she would write more than 6000 hymns which we still enjoy to date? Hymns like “to God be the glory” and “Blessed assurance.”  Have you noticed the way blind people are treated in some places?  What about the deaf, the lame, the gay and lesbians, the mentally sick, the introverts and the weak. It’s heart breaking. Let it not be so with you dear one. Let your love be genuine.