ABUJA (SundiataPost) – President Goodluck Jonathan has said bumps and obstacles on Nigeria’s road to promise land is not meant to defeat her but she will definitely surmount it and get to the promise land.
He said this when he led his family members to thanksgiving service at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp, Gwarinpa on the successful wedding ceremony of his foster daughter, Ine to her husband Simeon.
Jonathan. who said they came to thank God that both the traditional and white wedding went well and to pray for safe journey back home for their numerous guests who honoured them with their presence, said just like the Israelites made it to the promise land from Egypt despite the challenges, Nigeria’s own won’t be different.
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He said, “I’m not here to make a political statement but only to thank you my brothers and sisters and to continue to pray for our great country.
“This is a period in which the whole world is being challenged, just like some of the passages we read. Whenever I think about all these happenings in Nigeria I remember the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land. When God promised they were going to be given a land full of milk and honey, ordinarily one would have expected them to walk in and get the milk and honey. But they had to cross the Red Sea that was a challenge; they had to meet people like Annas and others, that was a big challenge but because God wanted them to be there they were able to get there. Surely we will get to where we want to go as a nation. We may have the road bumps, we may have the obstacles but we will crush them and pass them. All what we request is your continued support and your prayers, and we promise we will continue to do our best”.
The church’s Sub Dean, Ven. Emmanuel Adekola, in his sermon titled “Times of stress and the second coming of Christ” taken from II Timothy 3:1-5, reminded the congregation that currently live in perilous times.
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Adekola said at this time when men have turned away from all that is good, the word of God remains the standard for the judgment of all standards.
He recalled that deviation from the scriptures and corruption of the word of God as currently being witnessed had been in existence before now.
He warned the congregation to be weary of fake prophets that will be masquerading as messiahs in their quest for solutions to what is happening in the world.
The clergyman said, “Many people will be perturbed with what is happening in the world and false prophets will set in because people are looking for answers.
“People masquerading as messiahs have come up. We must not be swept off our feet by speculative teachings.
“Killing in the name of God is ongoing. But the word of Jesus is for us to hold on to our faith.
“We are witnessing insurgency in the North. People are suffering for the sake of their faith. France had its share last week when some journalists, security agents and hostages were killed.
“Darkness cannot overshadow light. Evil cannot prevail over good. The promise of Christ’s return will surely come to pass, no matter how long.”
Adekola urged the congregation to live holy and godly life, saying that is what the nation needs at this time.
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He said while all Nigerians could not be pastors, they can decide to be Christian bankers, politicians or any other profession they found themselves and as light and shinning examples to others as they await the second coming of Christ.
The clergyman also urged them to be watchful and be on their guard as they anticipate His coming, which he described as the glorious hope of the church.
The Epistle for the service was read by the wife of the President, Patience, from II Timothy 3:1-5.
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Prayers were rendered for the President, the church and the nation.
The President was presented with gifts that included the church daily devotional books and the church calendar among others.
In Jonathan’s entourage were his mother, Eunice; the new couple; his Chief of Staff, Gen. Jones Arogbofa (retd.); his Chief Physician, Dr. Fortune Fiberesima; his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati; and the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr. John Kennedy-Opara, among other top government officials and presidential aides.
