“On Being The Nation That Keeps The Faith!”

“On Being The Nation That Keeps The Faith!”(Is.26:1-6).
“In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: ‘We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts. Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith. You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. He humbles those who dwell on high, he lays the lofty city low; he levels it to the ground and casts it down to the dust. Feet trample it down— the feet of the oppressed, the footsteps of the poor.'”
Here is another song intended for a future time when the land of Judah will be fully established and her oppressors trampled down by they who were oppressed.
The text has been intentionally chosen for May 20th, which is Cameroon’s National Day. This day sincec1972 celebrates the country’s unitary move from a Federal Republic. A federation that was established on 1st October 1961 when Southern Cameroons joined The Republic of Cameroon. History makes us who we are. When we choose to ignore or erase the past, we suffer from amnesia. Amnesia apart, the scar is always there to remind that there was once a wound.
A few hours before writing, I was chatting with a friend in the South West Region. He asked me, “wuna di enjoy ghost town?” He told me that life was normal where he was. My worry then is why are we different in the North West Region? The big question: If all this is because we want to get to Buea, now that Buea is not interested, who will be there to grant us access?(Pardon my naivity in these things).
For many years now, this day is characterised by trepidation in the North West region, and even when celebrated, the celebration is often a facade. This gangrene could have been stopped from spreading if only we stopped deceiving ourselves that “there is no problem in the problem!”
Judah failed to see that she was the reason for her strenuous relationship with God. God sent enemies to attack and subdue her. But the LORD’S anger is temporary and easily transforms to compassion.
Isaiah forsaw the time of restoration and how in that day the people will sing to exalt the LORD.
The song can be our song if we rid ourselves of the “tohoowavohu” that we have unwittingly become!
Let us become “the nation that keeps faith.”
The three contexts of reconstruction are needed for the restoration of our fellowship with the LORD: personal, ecclesiastical, and social reconstruction is our dire need – not some fanfare facade! “The LORD will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever…” He is the Rock eternal. He brings down the high and mighty, and he raises up the low and weak! With the LORD tides changes with the times. He has made salvation our walls and ramparts. May we be intentional in the reason for this May Day so that it does not transform to mayday!
Prayer: Holy Spirit, direct our steps on the route of trinitarian unity through the purification of our hearts. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
20/05/2025.