By Agbortem Jean Claude I like any committed Christian, do ask myself the kind of world we are living in. We are living in a world where human dignity and integrity has given way to perversion. The truth has given way to lies and good for evil. All these in the name of human rights and freedom.
Man has lost the sense of reasoning and discernment to the rule of model and trial. Man no longer question his actions talk less of evaluating them to see whether they are right or wrong. Moral doctrine and traditional values are consider outdated and are no longer respected irrespective of their strong positive impact both to humans and the society as a whole.
In front of my tv set to watch the pope’s visit to Spain, one thing amazed me so much. The homosexual population of that country decided to gather along the path that the pope was to take to go to the Holy Family Cathedral of Barcelona to demonstrate their perversion while the Holy Father was passing. This they did in front of the world’s camera and with all pride and joy. According to them they are fighting for gay rights. On seeing this, I remember the word of St Paul; “they feel proud of what should be their shame”. (Philippians 3:19) What a mockery to the creator of heaven and earth who created man in his own image for his glory. What kind of generation are we?
Each time I read the word of God in the Holy Bible, I refrain from blaming some of the people mentioned in it for their behaviours toward God; because I consider that they did not have the opportunity we have today. We have the church and her pastors who do their work on daily basis to teach us the right way to follow yet we do worst than them.
Time has come for us to be alert of this generation and be on our guards. Addressing the new converts on the Pentecost day, St Peter spoke these words to them; "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." (Acts 2:40) This warning of Peter is supposed to be our motto if we want to be saved on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our generation is not different from the generation Peter was talking to. What matters here is our decision to be saved and this can only be done if we enter into the school of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Understanding the purpose of Creation: From all indications, nothing happens without someone or something behind it. Nothing can create itself. Any creature has a creator behind it; something can only be created by something superior to it. Therefore all creation came from someone supreme to all; God. Nothing exist that does not owe its existence to God the Creator (CCC 338) As nothing is created for nothing, so was man created for something; man was created for a purpose and that purpose can only be defined by God his creator. (Genesis 1:26-31). God created everything for man but man in turn was created to serve and love God and to offer all creation back to him. (CCC 358). God did not create man for perversion, he did not create man for fashion and model, he did not create man for homosexuality, he did not create man for corruption, hatred, nepotism, egoism, favouritism, you name them. He created man to give meaning to creation and for man to be the custodian of creation. Then, whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Knowing Jesus Christ: We can’t know our Lord Jesus without knowing his role to humanity. He said he came that we may have life and have it to the fullest (John 10:10, John 3:16-17). Jesus came not only to die for our sake on the cross of Calvary but to bring to us the good news which is the truth of God. He came to give meaning to humanity and to shape humanity thereby restoring our human dignity given by God from creation. He came to rebuild what Adam destroyed by disobedience. In order to be saved from this perverse generation, one must know and accept the truth of Christ through the church. (John 8:32) The Holy Spirit will help us to know Jesus more so as to serve him in truth and in spirit. (John 4:24) Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). No one is destined for destruction or hell and God wants all of us to be saved.
Loving Jesus: After knowing Jesus, we should love him with all our hearts. Jesus said; “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15) Loving someone is doing what pleases that person and what he commands especially when such commands leads to eternal life and God’s blessing. The life here on earth is shorter than the one we may live in heaven and Jesus wants us to be there with him. All he wants from us is to love him the way he loved us to the point of dying for us. “In my Father's house there are many rooms. Otherwise I would not have told you that I go to prepare a place for you. After I have gone and prepared a place for you, I shall come again and take you to me, so that where I am, you also may be.” (John 14:2-3). To love Jesus is to accept his truth and do that which he asks from us on daily basis. To love Jesus is to do what is right even when the world considers it wrong. To love Jesus is to always evaluate our actions with what Jesus requires. To love Jesus is not to follow the majority to do what is wrong. Do not follow the majority when they do evil (Exodus 23:2)
God created man an independent being and gave him the power of choice. Man is responsible for the choices he makes. “See, I set before you on this day life and good, evil and death. I command you to love Yahweh, your God and follow his ways. Observe his commandments, his norms and his laws, and you will live and increase and Yahweh will give you his blessing in the land you are going to possess. But if your heart turns away and does not listen, if you are drawn away and bow before other gods to serve them, I declare on this day that you shall perish. You shall not last in the land you are going to occupy on the other side of the Jordan. Let the heavens and the earth listen, that they may be witnesses against you. I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life that you and your descendants may live (Deuteronomy 30:15-19)
Though we live in world of perversion, we should no make choices that will not lead us to destruction. We can make a difference wherever we are if we listen to that small voice of God talking to us in all we do. "Do not be ashamed of testifying to our Lord, nor of seeing me in chains. On the contrary, do your share in labouring for the Gospel with the strength of God." (2 Timothy 1,8). God bless you!
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