“New Life In Jesus Christ!”

“New Life In Jesus Christ!” (Jn.5:25-29).
There is a brand of Christianity in South Africa that can be traced to Nongqawuse. She was an illiterate village girl who heard a confusing message concerning the resurrection of the dead. She asked her Xhosa people to kill all their cattle. She said all the cattle shall arise and increase many fold. It is estimated that between April 1856 and May 1857 about 85% of Xhosa adult males killed their cattle and destroyed their corn in obedience to her prophecies. It is also estimated that about 400,000 cattle were slaughtered and about 40,000 Xhosans died of starvation.
All these because of the prophecies of an illiterate village girl. Nongqawuse only heard titbits of the Christian message from her uncle who was a cook to white people in another town. Yet she commanded such force in her prophecy that men listened to her and brought dissaster upon Xhosa land.
What we hear and how we hear it is important for our salvation. Nongqawuse heard it right that the dead shall arise, but to prophesy that all cattle be killed and corn destroyed was a distortion of the gospel message.
Indeed, all the dead will arise because “all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out – those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.”
We already know that salvation is a gift from God in response to faith. True faith in Christ shows itself in changed lives as we now live in obedience to Christ as Lord.
We are therefore expected to live life in such a way that at the resurrection we shall live again. In other words, your residence in eternity would depend on how you build it here by they way you live.
Do good here and now to have life in Christ now, and so that you shall rise to live in eternal bliss.
Prayer: Holy Spirit help me to hear the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ in clear accents and in response to live doing good. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!
Rev. Babila Fochang.