“You Are God’s Choice!”
I gather some meaningful theological content from the Nigerian skits on judgement. In one of them the devil was very crossed because the person who was judged admitted his crimes but pleaded that it was the work of the devil. The devil said he was pained the way human beings were assassinating his character on earth When they are caught in their sin they say it was the work of the devil.
This dualism that equates the devil with God gives the impression of a powerless or helpless God who is not able to stop the devil. Far from it, if God allows the devil to go roaring like a ferocious lion looking for whom to devour, it is tolerance on God’s side and not weakness!
God is not unjust. God raised up Hitler and the Nazis in the same way he raised Mussolini; he raised up Idi Armin in the same way he raised Pharaoh, for the very purpose of displaying his power in them so that his name will be proclaimed in all the earth. “Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he harden.” Everything is about God’s choice and decision. We humans cannot talk back on God, in the same way that a clay vessel cannot ask the potter, “Why did you make me like this?”
If God decided to allow Hitler, Bonaparte, Mussolini, Idi Armin and Pharaoh etc, it is simply that he chose to show his wrath and make his power known as he bore with patience the objects of his wrath – prepared for destruction. And “he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory – even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles”(Rom.9:14-24).
Some take home points:
- You are God’s choice as you are. If Nelson Mandela spent twenty seven years in prison it doesn’t mean God was not merciful to him.
- Do not envy the tyrants, they too are God’s choice for the purpose of revealing his glory when he destroys them.
- God is never unjust!
- God does not act to suit our whims and caprices, so it is not for you to question his decisions and choices.
- God’s patience with the wicked is to bring them to repentance, so do not continue to sin because grace abounds!
Weekend prayer: Lord, I am not skilled to understand your ways. Let your mercy and patience bring me to repentance. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!