From human perspective, events occur by chance. It does not appear so with God; everything that happen are in God’s plans and they serv n e a purpose of God. It is therefore important that we do not lose the lessons every event in life, good or bad may teach us. Those who fail to learn from the past would always repeat the errors of the past. And to those who know and acknowledge God in their lives, life becomes better when they pick n lessons from issues around them because they are able to see God in every situation. It may seem odd to us that God knows about bad situations too; but the story of Job and the interactions between God and Satan, should tell assuredly that nothing ever happens that God does not know about. Our inabi n lity to understand the position of God on issues particularly when it is bad poses a problem for our feelings and thinking. But whichever way we think, God remains God in all situations. The world especially with regards to human relationships is not getting any better, rather it is getting worse b n y the day and there is no hope that it will get better. The people of the world are becoming increasingly wicked and full of venom as humanity goes against itself. The type of multiplicity of wickedness that grieved God and made God to wipe almost all the living out of the planet is here again. It i n s instructive that such is happening when the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is drawing very close. Satan is working surreptitiously, recruiting many people into his fold and unfortunately, he is getting many ‘Christians’ on his side also. In the United States of America, there is a defi n ned line between the so called ideological ‘left’ and the ‘right’. The opposition within the political divides in America is so fierce, and regrettably has entered the body of Christ, and Christians now engage in political arguments and altercations in Christian gatherings. The critical issu n es of faith and the gospel is relegated. What seem to matter are our social, political and economic feelings as against the spiritual implications of the sides we are taking. This poses the question as to the direction in which the church is heading. We are fired by political ideologies and we think n nothing else matters because it is politics anyway.
American Christians invested time in prayers corporately and on personal basis in a troubled confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanagh. We did so not for political ideology but because we believe that the role the courts have played over the yea n rs in creating problems for our Christian faith and practice in the United States of America can no longer be taken lightly. I believe the ideology for any Christian in politics, home and work or anywhere and in every situation should be Christ and Him crucified. We cannot but give thanks to God mos n t High for the outcome of the situation. Our knowledge that the well-intentioned clauses of the constitution which guarantees safe practice of Christian faith are being ripped off by ungodly judgements from the courts through Judges who are biased against Christian faith is very instructive. The rig n hts of Christians are being violated everywhere in the world and in recent years became an issue in the United States of America. Christian faith which is based primarily on the teachings and person of our Lord Jesus Christ has not been attractive to the world because the gospel of Jesus Christ is o n pposed to unrighteousness. Satan, the father of lies and sin is driving the world into disaster and utter darkness. The word of God is light which is opposed to the darkness posed by evil. Satan is therefore opposed to the Church and has recruited into his fold, army of demonic intellectuals, philos n ophers and lawyers who he equipped to attack the Christian faith, and promote sin. I want to remind Christians that while we go through these processes, we must always remember that Jesus had prepared His disciples and the church to the fact of these impending attacks on them when He said, “if the n y hate me, they will hate you also”. (John 15:18)
The experience of recent years in America showed that Democratic led administrations have nominated Judges that more often gave judgment according to the social changes in the world. Hillary Clinton, the 2016 defeated presidential candidate n on the platform of Democratic Party who herself is a lawyer had at one time advocated that the Bible should be changed to align with the changes in the world. That was very troubling to Christians because the words of the Lord in the Bible are the only antidote to the destruction of good values that n the world witnesses on daily basis. The alignment of the words of God with the social changes in the world and its attendant depraved human behavior and wickedness will only spell disaster for the world. Any society without the Bible would be a dunghill. The constitution of America was crafted by t n he founders based on Judeo-Christian principles taken from the Bible to address the prevailing human depravity. The founders of this nation had greater allegiance to the God of the Bible. They were not perfect people but they believed that their imperfections could be made right through following di n ligently the words of God in the Bible. You can imagine the world without the Bible. We therefore have no reason to continue to play into the hands of Satan using past or present misdeeds of people to continue to create divisions in the nation along the line of race. Sin is universal and not about r n ace. Satan only uses race to further its grip over God’s people. No one in this world is free from sin. David said, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5). The world of sin requires a high level of guidance to live a purposeful life. There n is no better alternative to laws based on the principles of the words of God, the Bible. The alternatives to the Bible are there for all to see in countries all over the world that have not embraced God’s word, the Bible.
The ideological differences in the two major political parties in th n e United States of America have since degenerated into bitterness and personal hatred. Everything in the nation’s polity has been affected by the new wave of hatred and bitterness among the political foes. The confirmation of a Judge to a higher court used to be performed with patriotism and a com n mon goal of society’s good and to create a virile nation. This process has been thrown into bitter politics. The past politicians in spite of their political differences, were agreed on giving the nation a good direction free of the evils common to communist nations. The current political climate n depicts clearly that any judge nominated to supreme court vacancy by president Donald Trump would not have the blessing of the Democrats. Brett Kavanaugh just happened to be the man on the firing line. It would be recalled during his first confirmation hearing, that a Democrat Senator had asked the n nominated Judge why he should think of being confirmed when he was nominated by Donald Trump. In other words, it was not the nominated candidate but the person who nominated him that they had a problem with. Everyone had expected that Democrats would look for any dirt against Brett’s nomination. A n nd in their ingenuity, they invented the “me too” saga to obstruct the confirmation process. “Me too” has become a phenomenon in the United States experience and has been used to damage the personal and political reputations of many people. While there is no doubt that wrongs were perpetrate n d in the past by men against women, it should be noted that such sins are not associated with men alone. The “me too” issue has been hijacked by evil men and women to promote their political and personal agendas. They have used this unfortunate issue to create emotional trauma for innocent people. It is particularly worrisome when events of 30 years back are used to destroy people without considering their lifestyles in subsequent years and in disregard to contributions such people have made to society. The United States of America is inventing a world without past wrongs, which is the highest level of hypocrisy. Most people who sit to preside in judgment over the accused of the “me too” are themselves guilty of heinous crimes they have been involved in which are not known to the public. It is a life of hypocrisy clothed in wickedness being used desperately and thoughtlessly to destroy others.
Sin is an issue in the world. It was the reason that brought Jesus Christ our Lord to the world to sacrifice His life on the cross to rescue mankind. Had God held each of us to the sins we have committed, no one would survive. The mercies and grace of God have always been our savior. Even in the great anger of God, when He destroyed the world with a flood, He still showed His mercies on Noah and a few others not because they were free from sins, but only because of His grace and mercies. Paul said, “The times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). Jesus told the accusers of the adulterous woman who was caught in the act and brought to Jesus to be condemned and to be stoned as prescribed by the prevailing law, that anyone of them who had not committed such sin should be the first to cast a stone at her. There was no one who was bold enough to do so because they were all guilty of sins. Though their sins were not known publicly, they were convicted by their consciences. But more worrisome are people lying against others to achieve an objective. One of the Ten Commandments in the Bible is “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Exod. 20: 16). King Solomon in the Bible counselled us of things God hates, “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. “(Prov. 6:16-19). All these characters are prevailing today in human relationships and in America’s political processes.
The Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation process and the dirty issues that followed were very bad but we should not lose sight of the great lessons that come with it. The Bible says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8:28). It is good for the nation as young men and ladies have seen the direction in which the world is heading and recognize through this confirmation saga that they need to watch what they do, kinds of groups to be involved in and kind of events they attend so as prevent falling into the hands of people that Satan may line up to use to destroy them and their future goals. It is also a lesson to all of us no matter our status to watch our steps, our utterances and the relationships we keep so as not to give room for any future assassinators of our character. The Christians may also have learnt to be politically alert in voting and electing godly senators and congressmen who will do what is right. Shying away from our civic responsibility of voting may result in ungodly men and women taking ungodly political decisions for our nation. I believe Judge Kavanaugh also may have some lessons to pick from the whole episode. We know and we believe that the sexual allegation could not have been sustained because it could not be corroborated. But the issue of drinking early in the Judge’s days made him vulnerable for his accusers to pound on him. I was particularly worried when responses to questions showed that the Judge still drank. As a Christian, I cannot be categorical that drinking is forbidden. But I can say that the effect of drinking poses collateral damage to anyone as it almost did in this case. The Bible says we are a peculiar people in the world; we therefore need to give up some practices for the sake of our name and purpose in life. The decision of Paul to stay away from certain things, though not offensive but for the sake of the calling on his life is worth emulating. Paul said, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.” (1 Cor. 10:23). We can do away with habits that may inhibit our goals in life and above all so that we can please God with our lives.
Early in my high school days, I was associated with a group of alcoholic drinkers (more like a palm wine drinkers’ club), though I attended the Christian fellowship on campus. By 1973, when I was in 10th grade, I decided to quit drinking and left the group because I realized drinking had given me an ugly image. I recall that in family meetings, and among friends my contributions to any discussions were often derided because I was always considered drunk and not capable of making any useful contributions. I was never taken seriously even when I expressed myself candidly. I later understood the effect of drinking habit, particularly of alcohol. I became a born-again Christian in my 11th grade and was mentored to do studies of the Bible, which was a turning point that changed some of my remaining harmful habits. Drinking alcohol may not be forbidden but may not be advisable for anyone who looks forward to a great future in life. Solomon, one of the wisest Kings known on earth said, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” (Prov 20:1). The mother of Lemuel, another King in Israel had warned her son (the King) to stay away from alcohol because it could destroy the purpose of God for his life. The godly woman said, “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes intoxicating drink: Lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted. Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitter of heart. Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. (Prov 31: 4-7).
We thank God for the confirmation process, and for all people who stood up in the time of need for critical prayers. The devil is capable of using our habits to get us in to trouble, and he may have planned to use this to derail the process many people looked forward to. And I say this by the Spirit of God that it may be time for the Honorable Judge to consider quitting the habit of drinking beer altogether. Habits sometimes may be difficult to get rid of, but faith in Christ is the required tonic and energy to aid in bidding goodbye to unprofitable habits. The truth is that God speaks to us in diverse ways. When the Lord wants to get our attention, He could use the most demeaning thing or even animals to do so. This may be God’s attention getter for Justice Kavanaugh; and also, for Christians in America to take political processes seriously going forward. One other request that I have for Justice Kavanaugh from my spirit is the need for him to create a large heart to forgive. Forgiveness is a difficult thing particularly to forgive those who tried to ruin one’s life and career. But the Lord Jesus Christ would forgive those who took Him to the cross and nailed Him there. “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do”. Would you please consider forgiving all those who conspired against you and from your heart as if they had never offended you? God forgives us not only because He is merciful, but He is bigger than us. The fact today is that you are bigger than most of those who wronged you during the confirmation process. They may never be able to attain where you are now. One day in the nearest future, it will be said that what the enemies of Judge Brett intended to use against him actually turned out to be for his good. Accept my congratulations Justice Brett Kavanaugh. We pray that God will use you for His glory in the United States of America’s Supreme Court.
Michael Jolayemi is an author and Bible teacher. He has written two books on social issues: “Saving America: The war we can’t ignore”; and “Sheltered through the storm: the travails and ultimate triumph of the Church.” Check his blogs and look out for his next book.
www.conservativevoiceofreason.com www.michaeljolayemi.com