Ambrose.J. Chakre
[dropcap]F[/dropcap]ight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1st Timothy 6:12
The fight for power and supremacy should be ended because the process of reconciliation has now begun and the outcome of it will depend on the attitude of our leaders. As long as the warring groups continue fighting, the stance of the enemy forces will further be strengthened because of our disunity. In political matters like this, the opposing forces will always have something to write against each other, that their stance can be further strengthened through their political write-ups. The purpose of this write up is solely to promote the virtues of reconciliation which is fundamentally based on the Word of truth.It is always difficult to take the first step when it comes to shaking hands with our enemies. But the present situation gives us hope that inspite of the sufferings and betrayals, the era of peace has now begun and we should pursue it earnestly. If we talk about peace with hatred in our heart, the evil in us will reign supreme in our lives and in the lives of our brothers and sisters. The covenant of reconciliation which was signed on 13th June 2009 through the initiation of the FNR is a history in itself. And when the same was reaffirmed by the representatives of the different factions, the people gave a sigh of relief because of the positive nature of the situation. However, the reality of the situation actually betrays the people’s aspirations because of their renewed attacks against each other. The Covenant of reconciliation was signed with a purpose to heal the old wounds, but rather than healing the old wounds, the wounds are being infected by the diseases of satan. It hurts to see that their old rivalries are being renewed and if this continues the end result will not only destroy them but it may also hinder the cause of our movement. The truth is if we renew our relationship with sin, we renew our relationship with satan. The vice of hatred will only lead us to hell and if we keep inviting it, we shall ultimately be condemned because of it. The stance we took in the presence of many witnesses was heartening but if we step back to our old ways, our condition will only worsen. The resolution was taken with an aim to cease all hostilities against each other. But the prevailing situation tells us that it is not so. I believe we took the first step to reconcile out of reverence for God. And we will only be accountable before God if we continue to dishonour Him through our acts of betrayal, deception and hatred.
If we led the old, old man remain in us, the Word of God will have no place in our lives. It clearly shows that we are still not in Christ; for the old sins and the old rivalries still remain ( 2nd Corinthians ). Regarding the fundamental doctrine of reconciliation the scripture states “ all this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation ( 2nd Corinthians 5:18-19 ). After all that Christ had done for us, if we continue killing our likes, the punishment for our sins will be severe. The Word of God tells us to be kind and compassionate to one another , forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave us ( Ephesians 4:32 ). The political differences should be solved only through Christ, and anything beyond that will be likened to wild beast seeking shelter in the houses of the hunters. If we want our people to trust us, we have to maintain our integrity by keeping our promises and by fulfilling our pledges of commitments. The Word of Life clearly states that “Blessed are the peace makers, for they will be called sons and daughters of God ( Matthew 5:9 ). This is one of the beatitudes’ which we are all familiar with and the blessings of it can be ours only if we abide by the truths of it. The harsh truth regarding this verse is that we shall become the sons and daughters of satan if we sow the seeds of discord and division. Where there is a will there is a way. And where there is Christ, unity prevails. The powers are in our hands. And God’s eyes is also on us. Fear God and keep His commandments.
