By Prophet Timothy Abass Arabambi
As a minister of God and a stakeholder in the joint project called Nigeria, I want to congratulate Christians and Nigerians in general for witnessing this year’s Christmas (2022), as Nigerians witnessed different challenges in this outgoing year, 2022, such as, hunger, rising unemployment, Fulani herdsmen, mindless killings, kidnappings, devastation, recession, inflation, overwhelming fear, distress, high cost of living, insecurity, sorrow, among others, resulting in the death of many people, hence the need for us to go down on our knees to adore God.
I want to underscore that Christ is the reason for Christmas which is a celebration of God’s love to mankind and God’s presence, hence Christians are expected to stand firm in faith and also show love and concern to one another.
Christ is the greatest love from God to humanity, because since we sinned in the Garden of Eden, what the sin was saying is stand outside and perish; Romans 3:23, but for the love God had for humanity, alas, man loses this love by sinning, but while God was passing the judgment, He has mercy for humanity and after about 4,000 years afterwards, Christ was born, the greatest man in the history of the whole world, the message and lesson of Christmas must, therefore, be appropriated to the salvation in our land. We must see hope that Christ brought to the world and must rise together to overcome our challenges.
The angel that proclaimed Christ’s birth (Luke 2:14) said: Peace be onto the earth, for God so loves the world, so, we are celebrating love and God is Love, Peace, Blessing etc (Romans 5:8). While we were yet a sinner, Christ died for us, and God gave us the best, which is Jesus Christ, Christ gave us the best – Holy Spirit (John 16:7-12, John 14:15-end).
Christmas also underscored love. God gave Moses 10 commandments, when Christ came he summed them into one (Love God with all your heart, soul and mind) and (Love your neighbour as yourself). So, it was this love that got lost in the Garden of Eden that brought killing (when Cain killed Abel). So, we have to love other people, whether a friend or enemy.
I also want to stress that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah, who brings every willing person into a new covenant relationship with the father, that Messianic hope is still available in our day, through the one, who came, died and rose again to save us and those who have received Jesus Christ as savior, have an unbreakable covenant relationship with God and the promise of eternity with Him (God).
Also the period of Christmas celebration offers us an opportunity to reflect on our bad ways and to turn a new leaf so that we can become true ambassadors of Christ on earth.
Advise to Government: On the increase of fuel pump price, the Federal Government need not aggravate the suffering of Nigerians, as it will lead to hike in the prices of commodities and its like, and also heightens the hardship of the people in the country.
Also, I want to admonish the government to do all it could to revive the four ailing refineries in the country, with a view to ensuring they operate at optimal level for a lasting benefit for the country and its people.
The Christian body should always support policies that would enhance good governance, as government should put in place tangible palliatives measures that could ameliorate the hardship being experienced.
On the 2023 general election, Nigerians of voting age should go out and vote for candidates of their choice for credible leaders to emerge.
• Prophet Arabambi, (Assistant General Evangelistic C.A.C Worldwide) writes from Ibadan, Oyo State