A Word of Hope

 

A crowd of heavenly beings praised God saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

 

It is hard for me to read international news about Africa.  The news does not report the Africa I know.  It is full of terrible stories. 

  • Mugabe seems not to care as over 1000 Zimbabweans die of cholera. 
  • Rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army, after chasing East Congolese civilians from their homes and killing them, are now being hunted down by the armies of DR Congo, Uganda and Sudan. 
  • Nigerian businessmen killed a dozen infants by bottling automotive anti-freeze and selling it on the street as medicine to help teething babies’ mouths feel better.  Ethnic and religious strife kills hundreds in Jos, Nigeria. [More on Jos Story - Click Here]
  • Thousands of adults and children have been made slaves in Sudan’s Darfur region. 
  • As Ethiopian troops plan to leave Somalia in a few days, other nations want no part of peacekeeping – not the AU and not the
  •  UN. (The UN head says there is no peace to keep.)  International ships are hijacked and held for ransom off Somalia’s coast. 
  • Some aid organizations are threatening to pull out of such places as Somalia, Sudan and DR Congo because attacks have targeted them as they bring food and medical care to people in desperate need. 
  • Guinea’s government is in disarray. 
  • Far too many Africans are living in refugee camps. 
  • And of course, the HIV/AIDS crisis continues but is so well known it seldom makes headlines anymore.

 

The word “hopeless” comes to mind.  And yet there is hope in the Africa I know.  It is my prayer that the AfricanPathway website will be a pathway to hope.

 

You see, the world was in a hopeless condition when God sent his son into the world.  God’s anger against lawless people was easily seen.  God’s anger was stored up for people who have a law and do not live by it.  (Romans 1 and 2)  Paul the missionary concludes the bad news by saying, “All people have sinned and are not good enough for God’s glory.” (Romans 3:23)

 

Both in Paul’s day and now, God does not leave us in a hopeless condition.  At just the right time, God sent his son. (Galatians 4:4)  Many are celebrating Christmas, the coming of God’s son, Jesus, but the full effect of his coming has not been realized in the lives of those who continue to cause great suffering in Africa.

 

Let us look again at God’s way of announcing the coming of his son.  He sent an angel to shepherds, common people.  The message?  Don’t be afraid, I have GOOD NEWS that will make you happy!  Is such a message needed today?  Yes, we need good news, especially if it will help us overcome the problems we encounter in our daily lives!

 

The angel explained that on that very day in David’s village mankind’s savior was born and that he is Christ, the Lord.  He told the shepherds how to find him.  Then the angel was accompanied by many other heavenly beings who praised God saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

 

But how can a baby born two thousand years ago possibly save people living in Africa today?  The problems listed at the beginning of this article are very complex and solutions seem impossible.

 

I believe the answer to this question explains why the Africa I know is different from the Africa I read about in the news.  The Africa I know best is filled with friends who have chosen to follow Jesus. 

  • I know of Christians who have sheltered Muslim families during unrest when their lives were in danger. 
  • I know of a church that openly accepts a husband and wife who have HIV/AIDS, that takes care of them during sick spells and that continues to help them live productive lives. 
  • I know of an evangelist who puts Bibles in ten different languages under his arm as he goes from shelter to shelter bringing hope to and capably sharing the good news with displaced people from many tribes in a large refugee camp. 
  • I know of countless Christian men and women who have lost loved ones in death but who do not grieve as those with no hope because they are confident that the departed ones have gone to an eternal home with Jesus.

We may never read these stories in international news, but believe me, everyone who is involved in these stories understands the difference Jesus can make in peoples’ lives.

 

As the numbers of practicing Christians rise, I hope that the effect will be seen even on the international stage.  We pray that God will grant the continent of Africa more times of peace and good will through his son, Jesus.  Glory to God in the highest!  He sent his son and our savior to earth to show us a beautiful pathway, the only pathway to Him.

 

If you would like to share a story about the good effect that following Jesus has made on you or someone you know, please submit the story to hhuffard@africanpathways.org.  We may feature your story in a later posting or broadcast.

 

Our prayer is that you have a merry Christmas and a happy new year.