“Do Not Be Afraid; Fear God And Give Him Glory!”

“Do Not Be Afraid; Fear God And Give Him Glory!”(Gen.15:1-6)
We have taken for granted that the story of Abraham and Sarah should be consolatory to every childless couple, provided they trust in God. That’s not true! The fact that God did it to Abraham and Sarah does not mean that he must do the same for everybody. Children are a gift from God and when he gives them to you be thankful, but if he doesn’t give still be thankful. Abraham had accepted his fate that he may never have a biological son so he adopted his servant, Eliezar of Damascus to be his heir. That was his consolation.
However, his worries resurfaced when God’s word came to him in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am yoyr shield, your very great reward.” Abraham wondered what the Lord could give him when he had not given him any biological child.
The Lord assured him that a servant would not be his heir, and that his own biological son will be his heir. God took him outside and showed him the stars, “Look at the heavens and count the stars – if indeed you can count them. So shall your offspring be.”
Upon hearing this, “Abram believed the Lord and he credited it to him as righteousness.” Faith does not come by sheepish unquestioned acceptance, and doubt is not denial. Abram questioned the Lord and when the Lord explained to him through the imagery of the stars, he believed the Lord. Because Abram believed the Lord, he ccredited it to him as righteousness.
The fulfilment of God’s promise to Abram is the nation of Israel and the global spread of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
For us Christians the founder of our Faith is the most illuminating of the stars which God asked Abram to count. Through him God has fixed the final plan for humanity. His eternal gospel is being proclaimed to “every nation, tribe, language and people” We “fear God and give him glory”(Rev.14:6-7) because we have become Abraham’s heirs by adoption.
Today the PCC celebrates the 64th anniversary of her autonomy, becoming an indigenous church. Sixty-four years ago, the Basel Mission church of the Evangelical Missionary Society (Basel Mission) handed the baton of leadership to Cameroonian indigenes.
The political chaos characterizing this year’s celebration reminds us of the international political chaos that caused the Basel Mission to come take over missionary work from the English Baptist Missionary Society.
This chaos is not fatality. It is an opportunity for us as church to bring Jesus Christ into an erstwhile God forsaken people! It is an opportunity for Cameroonians to “fear God and give him glory!” It is an opportunity to testify of the one who has assured us, “…my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more…” Rather fear God who has power over life; both here and in the hereafter(Lk.12:4-9).
There is strength in numbers, but we are reminded that church growth is three dimensional: numerical, financial and spiritual. Numerical growth and/or financial growth without commensurate or surpassing spiritual growth is like fodder for the fire of gehena. The evidence of spiritual growth is the presence of love, justice, equity, righteousness, truth and peace.
Sunday prayer: Lord I am not afraid and I believe in your word. Glory be to you O Lord Most High. Amen!
Happy PC Day celebration! Have a blessed Sunday! Peace be with you!
Rev. Babila Fochang.