GOD IS NOT SILENT!

Dearly Beloved, GOD IS NOT SILENT! “Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still, O God! For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; and those who hate You have lifted up their head” (Psalm 83:1-2 NKJV). Few days ago, a terrorist jammed a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in London, UK, stabbed a police officer, and attempted to enter the Houses of Parliament before the police gunned him down. Apart from the police officer and the attacker, few other numbers of people were reportedly dead while many were hospitalized due to the terrorist attack. This was not the first terrorist attack on unsuspecting innocent people in London and elsewhere in the world. The incessant attacks of Boko Haram terrorist group in northeast Nigeria and other neighboring countries are still fresh in one’s memory. At times, I wonder what these terrorists derive from these murderous and suicide attacks. As a student of peace studies, I have learnt that apart from reasons associated with ethno-nationalism, alienation/discrimination, socio-economic status, political grievances, and accidental insurgent, religion has been the major reason for terrorism. Most terrorist attacks have been carried out with religious undertone. It has been as if these terrorists are seemingly fighting for their religion and, funnily, for the founder and the god of their religion. The fact that the Almighty God is seemingly silent and allows most of these terrorist attacks to be successful makes these heartless people and their collaborators think that they are fighting a just cause. Like many other people, even today, the psalmist in Psalm 83 thought that God is silent to these nefarious acts against humanity and people of God. He, therefore, prayed that God should arise and fight against these enemies of progress. However, God is NOT silent. In His goodness and longsuffering, He is yearning that these heartless people come to repentance. Apostle Paul said, “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4 NKJV. See also 2 Peter 3:9). It may seem as if these perpetrators of evil are succeeding in their evil deeds. However, God will expose them and bring them to judgment one day. The writer of Ecclesiastes said: “For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (12:14 NKJV. See also 3:17; 11:9; Psalm 96:13; Matthew 10:26; Romans 2:16; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15). It may seem as if God is silent now. God is not silent. Are you a terrorist or collaborator of terrorists? God is not silent. Are you a victim of terrorism or any form of evil perpetration? God is not silent. Have you been praying that God should bring an end to all these evils in the world? God is not silent. He will act one day. Nonetheless, when He is acting in judgment, will He commend you or condemn you? Remember, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31 NKJV). God is not silent! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that God will arise and put an end to all the terrorist acts in the world.