GOD IS AWARE OF THIS TIME!

"There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Like.13:1-3.

     It is very important I communicate the whole mind of God to you concerning the current trend in the nation (Nigeria), so that you don't think that some of the tragic and pathetic events that is looming our nation and the entire world at this moment are bye - passing the knowledge of God and strange to His prophets; not at all. God unopposed remain in the control of affairs of nations and determine time and season, either spiritual or physical.

    In case you are not aware, there are two natural things that are common to every nations and kingdoms all over the world, and have both physical and spiritual correlation and consequence to our life, and that is TIME and SEASON. It varies from one nation to another, but it is certain that every nations experience it, either in the natural or spiritual sense respectively.

    It is quite unfortunate, that many of us who are travelers are only masters in studying the natural weather condition of countries and cities of destination presumed by the weather forecasters, but undermine the spiritual weather of those places. That is why some of our expectations into those territories are not met. It is the same reason we sometimes fall a victim of one disaster or another which could be easily averted if we pay a careful attention to the spiritual weather condition of those places.

    Nevertheless, nothing either good or bad comes to stay in every nations and kingdoms by accident; every events and occasions of our life have a prior knowledge and express permission of God.

Looking at an instance from the book of 2Samuel. 24, God was angry with the kingdom of Israel and moved king David to make a motion to count them, an attempt that God detests, so that He can gain an avenue to punish their wickedness. And you know that there is no punishment without sin.

"And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah." 2Samuel. 24:1.

    A careful study of that scenario revealed that David did not have a direct blame on the occasion. It is possible that his right standing before God have even been preventing the wrath of God from coming upon Israel, but since there is no avenue from his end by which God could punish and correct the atrocities that are being perpetrated in his kingdom; He moved him to make a decision that is against His Will. David could not explain what inspired him to come to a resolution to number the children of Israel without willing to heed the advise of anyone against the same. It was after the deed had been done that he came back to his senses and acknowledged that he had made a foolish attempt.

    Sometimes it is not about leaders who invoke evil, it is about God who allow such to come to stay as a means to punish our wickedness and draw us back to Him.

    "Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey...can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth where no gin is for him... Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it? Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secrets unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? The Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy? Publish in the palaces at Ashdod...for they know not to do right, saith the Lord, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces. Therefore saith the Lord God; an adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled." Amos. 3:4-11.

    Let me quickly make this imprint on your impression, that, every sociopolitical and economic situation of a particular geographical location is orchestrated and characterized by the people in that environment. Also, every sociopolitical and economic situation of a society is initiated and influenced largely by their political and religious leaders respectively.

    However, following the instance from my golden text, there was a season in the history of Galilee that just sidled out prior to the time of Jesus manifestation which held so much grief and left an unforgettable scars and indelible mark on the remnants of the people of the land. It was such a pathetic and most disheartening period of their life as it claimed a large number of them and turned their economy upside down. Many of the survivors hardly balanced and got rid of the damage the disaster brought on them.

    This period was the time of Pilate's reign as their governor, and too many atrocities were committed in his palace, the entire kingdom, and unfortunately under his leadership watch. It was so terrible that Pilate himself had to mingle human blood with his sacrifices to the strange god and involved in power rituals. Human life had no value to them, as everyone turned away from the love and fear of God. There was no one worthy to convey the warning message of God to them and correct their ungodly practices; every seers and prophets were not free from the clutch of sin and wickedness, they all corrupt themselves until heaven was shut against them for any definite and significant voice and instruction from God. As a matter of fact, a new season of hardship, poverty, murdering, suicide attempt, insecurity, terrorism, and disaster both natural and artificial was set on them.

    Nevertheless, the remnants who survived the crisis cried to God in prayer until God sent His only begotten son, Jesus Christ who led them back to the right path and invoked the reopening of heaven for a new season of abundance and peace. It was at this point the people recounted their ordeal and narrated them to Jesus in their order, how Pilate maltreated them and used his political power to infused strange activities into their political system, brought their territory under a siege and draw dawn the fury of God upon them.

    The answer of Jesus to their ordeal betrayed their expectations in its totality, as they demanded a sympathetic reply from Jesus, but His reaction to the pathetic experience was quite the opposite.

Jesus told them, "Do you think that this 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."

    This invariably implies, that, their sin is what responsible for the strange and unpalatable experience. When sin takes dominion of a domain, evil activities takes its free course and brings the occupants of such territory into a ruin. We never can imagine what we sue for when we eschew the way of righteousness and make lawlessness a norm and the order of the day, community notwithstanding, we are simply inviting the terror of God.

    When a society acknowledges God and walk in His ways, God turns the hearts of kings and nobles to do what is right. Because, the hearts of all flesh is in the palm of His hand and turns it wheresoever He wills. Our leaders are not the problem, we are. We determine their attitude by our attitude to God and His will.

    When the children of God are taking the matter of sin for granted, and a society is more occultic than sacred, we can't expect the grace of God to abound. God's protection, provision and preservation is not meant for an evil society. God is so magnanimous that He always send warnings ahead of His intending wrath to any society that cares to listen, but once we turned a deaf ears, the only means to call our attention is to permit events that would have a direct negative effect on us...so that we could remember and return to Him and listen to His voice when the pain becomes unbearable.

    In other words, the best approach to tackle the current predicaments in our nation and bring the menaces to a perpetual halt is to repent from our individual and national wickedness and cry to God for forgiveness.

    I don't expect anyone to be caught by surprise with the current state of our country, neither do I expect people to raise an eye brow, after all, we are the ones that raise a voice for government to stop the practice of prayer vigil and open air gospel crusade because the noise is too much; churches are being sealed up without any regard for the One behind the sacred settings, just because they use loud speakers; we demanded the annulment of early morning evangelism because they are causing noise pollution and obstructing our sweet dreams, but we can cope with men in the night club who make the most noise with music that neither contribute to the development and betterment of our society, nor encourage anyone to be heavenly minded; the observance of sabbath and fellowship of brethren in our various offices and formal settings are being discouraged through the development and improvement of our organization operational policies, thereby living independent of God. 

    

    So, since those voices are too inconvenient for us to endure, we shouldn't be disturbed by the noise of bomb explosion, mass killing and burial, and different disasters that currently engulf our national resources and propensities.

    Personally speaking, I have studied following my little experiences in different places, that, if you don't surround yourself with activities and resources that promote the serving of the Lord, the rate at which social vices are being increased and advanced in our society and the entire world can easily set ones heart astray and quench the fire and zeal of God's love. However any society that refuses to promote the serving of the Lord will soon invoke the indignation of God.

    We that grew up in the eighties and nineties only know of bomb blast and incessant gunshot killings as an horror film. We pay money in most cases to watch them in the cinema house, but now, it is no more a movie we have to pay for, it has become a reality, because, we have imbibed some foreign cultures that doesn't promote godliness and enhance peaceful coexistence.

    Notwithstanding, Jesus answered those Galileans and said, it is your sin and wicked practices that brought Pilate to the throne in the first place, and you shouldn't think you are better than those who fell victim of the crisis because you escaped, should you continue in your wickedness, terrible incidences are still ahead that will claim your life too. I will still stir this Pilate to do more harm than good.

    In the same vein, we wonder how God allowed wicked leaders who use their political will to perpetrate heinous activities ruled over us and go unpunished. We wonder how terrible incidences and inhuman atrocities are being committed without God plunged into action and intervene. We wonder why God fold His arms, seeing His course being threatened and persecuted in our hands, but the answer of God is very simple, return to me with all your hearts. Cease from your wickedness and I will deliver you. Go back to obeying and observing my ordinances and statutes. When I asked you to bring all tithes into the storehouses, is it not to avert incidences like this? When I command you to create a purse for the widows and orphans in your midst and provide for the needy, is it not to avoid a day like this? When I command you to honor my Sabbath day and make my holy day holy, you said it is a primitive idea and old fashion practice, but all of these are what prevent evil from your dwelling.

"Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it can not save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity." Isaiah 59:1-4

May the Lord grant everyone of us a repentant heart and wing His word into our hearts in a clear cut manner in Jesus name.
Shalom!

#BABATUNDE ISRAEL