God demonstrates His love for us in so many ways, but often the challenge has been that we don’t recognize it. 

I have met many people who feel dejected and unloved at one point in their lives. These people walk on the surface of this earth, emotionally depressed and abandoned. Often this situation is an after effect of failed ventures. They’re suddenly depressed and plunged into a mentally unstable condition.

It has proven difficult for many to resurrect their sunken souls and spirits to be more positive and joyous. Their optimistic spirit appears shattered forever. Suddenly they can't dream and hope again.  

When people return from prisons, in our traditional setting, hardly do they find their feet. It has been only a few who are able to make something meaningful out of their lives. Psychologists can only do very little in this situation because they don't have the necessary power and ability to bring people back on the trajectory of their destiny.  

In many of these cases, people begin to look for God as their only source of hope, peace and love. And those who become frustrated begin to question the existence of God. Some have become victims of extortion and abuse from fake spiritualists in Africa. Many people are in wrong places seeking answers and solutions to their predicaments. 

Restoring hope, peace and love into people's lives should be the eternal work of the church. When men became slaves to the rule of the devil, God gave us Christ. Christ brought hope for true spiritual victory to human kind. Christ came to express God's love by being a propitiation for our sins. He took our pain and bore our grief. He took our sicknesses that we may enjoy divine health. Christ is an emblem of divine love. He is love personified to mankind.  

The scripture in Isaiah 53:4-5 says, "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." 

Jesus Christ did all that to bring to humanity a life full of hope and peace. And on His ascension he gave to the world, the church. The church has a mandate, and it is to go out and express God's love to the world. The church continues to express the love of God to humanity. The church is not to condemn the world but rather to present salvation to the world.   The Bible said in John 3:17, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." 

The major duty of the church is to preach salvation to the lost and bring hope to the hopeless. The church has a mandate to present faith to the failure. When all seem wrong and everything is in tatters, the church has to be the bulwark of hope. The ministry of the church is called the ministry of reconciliation. Thus reconciling the world to God through Jesus Christ.  Ini 2 Corinthians 5:19 the Bible says: "that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation." 

I will acknowledge the Fitzroy Presbyterian church in Ireland and the Brooklyn tabernacle church for providing services to drug addicts. There are other ministries that have been a great hope for the poor and stranded expatriates in some nations. It is the duty of ministries to proclaim the good news to serve the spiritual needs of the hopeless. The good news cannot be preached without expressing love to humanity. The message is off course when it has no love to the lost. It cannot be compromised. We reconcile the people to God not with the tone of condemnation but with the voice of hope and restoration.  

THE CHURCH IS YOU AND I

Every Christian is a moving church. The Holy Spirit dwells in our body and not the auditorium. So we are the channel through which God's love is expressed to all humanity. Wherever the believer dwells, he should attract men because of his heart of love. Believing in Christ should not dispel men from you, it should rather attract all men to you because you are a harvester.

Jesus himself attracted men of all kind. He sat and ate with sinners and preached to them. That is who we are, children of the most high, full of peace and love.   Scripture in Matthew 11:19 says: "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”  Jesus was insulted by the Pharisees because of His association with sinners.

The truth is, we – all Christians - are sent to sinners and not the righteous. We are sent to present God's love which is Jesus Christ to sinners.  

WHAT IS THE POSITION OF THE CHURCH TODAY 

In Africa, and many parts of the world, the church has been institutionalized as a money making entity. Churches have become businesses for many folks because of their kingdom prosperity doctrine. To some pastors the gospel is all about the money, fame and power.

This is the reason there is something fundamentally wrong with modern ministries. I agree that the pastor cannot be poor, however he cannot be greedy too. Greed and worldly fame has diverted the course of many truly called children of God and their love has waxed cold towards God and humanity.  

If sin is increasing in the world, it should tell you the position of the church. When darkness rules it means the light is failing to shine.

There are too many doctrines and revelations in modern Christianity, yet sin is increasing and many are perishing. This reminds me of my favorite hymn from the Methodist hymn book:   "Rescue the perishing Care for the dying, Snatch in pity from sin and the grave..." 

We cannot fail as a Church! Never!

It is time to become the true voice of hope and love to the world, whiles jealously guarding our virtues and values from sliding out of control.   

CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER 

In Matthew 25:37-40 the Bible says: "Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’" 

This is our social responsibility as a church: feed the hungry, provide water for the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked and visit the sick and the prisoner. This is how God channel His love to humanity. The people God is looking for are right on this earth and you and I should be part of them.  

Be Blessed!  

Rev. Eugene Gyakari 

Contact me via:

Email: eogyakari@gmail.com

WhatsApp: +233244185357