By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
As Christians celebrate Easter, the bishop of Ibadan-North Anglican Diocese, Rt Rev. Williams Aladekugbe has affirmed that there’s hope and victory for Nigeria and entire world through Christ’s resurrection.
Aladekugbe made the remark in his Easter message made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Ibadan.
Aladekugbe remarked that there was first of all hope of eternity for all who believe in the power of Christ’s resurrection.
“Though this world is now ravaged by materialism, violence, corruption, faithlessness, though we are in the age of a revolutionary change, the finger of Christ is seen everywhere; our hope of redemption is not lost.
“Take a look at our country Nigeria, where things appear to be disintegrating on a daily basis. Life is grossly uncertain; death comes so easily through the hands of assassins and kidnappers without remorse, yet, Christ says through His resurrection that there is hope for those who believe in Him.
“Our country shall yet bounce back. How it will bounce back is known to God only. That is why we must not nurture the kind of hope which Socrates had, the hope that is uncertain; rather, we need to have Walter Raleigh’s kind of Hope – “From this earth, this grave, the dust, my God shall raise me up”.
“We can say boldly with faith in Christ from the platform of the Church, that from the condition of our nation, the Lord shall raise us up.
“Your joy at Easter is not that you are saved alone, but it is that Christ is the hope of the world. Your major assignment is now to go, tell the story, act the story, live with the story,” he said.
According to him, one of the lessons of Easter is that ‘Jesus is a life-charger’, the world is at the crossroad and it is only the risen Christ who can make it better and bring back its lost hope.
Aladekugbe emphasised that Christ’s resurrection meant and signified the vindication of righteousness.
“Jesus was innocent of all charges, He was crucified to silence Him, but God raised Him to life in order to be vindicated.
“Easter signified the defeat of death, the spirit of the grave was silenced; truth can be suppressed but cannot be killed.
“When you are persecuted because of truth, be sure, like Jesus, that you will triumph. All believers will be raised to life eternal by God because of Christ’s resurrection as stated in the Bible.
“We must therefore be happy that He lives, and because He lives, we have the hope of tomorrow for our country, for the world and our biggest hope is for eternity,” the anglican bishop said (NAN)
0 Comments