PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV)
NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism); BA (Hons)
MA, PhD.
RECONCILIATION IS GOD’S PLAN
“Therefore, if you
are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has
something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go
and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift”, (Matthew
5:23 - 24).
INTRODUCTION
Before
one canvasses for reconciliation, the fact of a broken relationship had
definitely been established. It may be a nation and another nation, husband and
wife, father and son, brother and brother, sister and sister or close friends,
etc. No doubt, something had really happened that open-up an uncrossable chasm
which threatens the survival of the relationship. In such a situation, reconciliation
becomes possible only when someone makes the first move; pays a visit, makes a
phone call, sends across words of remorse or regrets and so on. On this note,
Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, the PDP guber candidate in the April 28, 2007
governorship election in Imo State should be commended for a statement credited
to him at an Easter Sunday reception published on the front page of the
Announcer Express Newspaper of April 23 – 26, 2009 where he was quoted as
saying that he had nothing personal against the Imo State governor, Chief Ikedi
Ohakim, whom he described as his younger brother. Also, the governor should be
praised for his sense of brotherliness, as the same story noted that he had
declared at various fora that there was no victor and no loser at the Court of
Appeal judgement.
Sometimes
also, reconciliation needs to be brokered by concerned friends or citizens in
an effort to off-set a given deadlock. Here, as the story continues, the royal
fathers and other interest groups who tried in vain initially to bring peace
between the two, can now avail themselves the opportunity offered by the
statement of the olive branch offered by the governor and Ohakim being the
younger brother of Araraume, to strike a balance and reconcile the two once and
for all. It would be recalled that Senator Araraume and Gov. Ohakim had been in
court, contesting the winner of Imo State Guber election of April 28, 2007. It
is on the basis of the foregoing and the admonitions of the scripture that the
writer hereby advises the reader to learn that God wants one to:
RECONCILE WITH ONE’S ENEMY
The
biblical expression (in Ephesians 6:12) that stresses that, “we do not wrestle
against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers”… impresses the
heartbeat of God that discourages enmity in human relations. But, for the fact
that human beings err, and in most cases take to misgivings, the scripture also
calls for reconciliation. By way of definition, reconciliation is to bring back
to friendship after estrangement. It is obvious that human struggles, where the
rules of morality are sidelined often trigger-off conflicts that result in
misgivings. These happen in politics, commerce, industry and in every other
field of human endeavour. Experience shows that most politicians hold grudges
to the grave, despite the chant that in politics, “there is no permanent enemy,
but permanent interest”. Most business people go extra miles in destroying the
fortunes and lives of others who may have offended them. Furthermore,
industrial unrests predicated on man’s inhumanity to man have also been a
source of disharmony and enmity in society. However, all these are resolvable
where the principles of God’s word are adopted, and steps taken to ensure that
peace reigns. It is on this note that we are told in the Bible to:
(1) Spot-out our grudges before offering
gifts to God in the church, (Matt. 5:23);
(2) Suspend offering such gifts until
reconciliation is achieve, (verse 24);
(3) Afterwards come back to offer such gifts
with a heart full of love and forgiveness, (verse 24) etc.
RECONCILE ESTRANGED FRIENDS
The
book of Philemon provides one of the best biblical accounts that demonstrates
the reconciliation of estranged individuals by a concerned friend. The story
shows Saint Paul’s
effort that reconciled Onesimus to his master Philemon after a period of
deadlock. His hearty expression towards bringing them back to friendship serves
as a lasting legacy in conflict resolution, and I quote, “I appeal to you for
my son Onesimus who became my son while I was in chains. Formally he was
useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and me… If he has done
any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me” (verses 10-11; 18). This
reveals a divine intent that supports the peace – making spirit against that of
division (Matt. 5:8).
But
today, one notices that most politicians oppose moves that seek to reconcile
other politicians who are at loggerheads, instead of working to ensure their
reconciliation. It is obvious also that during church crises, most pastors take
pleasure in citing the weakness of other pastors as a way of drawing their
members to themselves, instead of seeking ways of bringing them back to love
and forgiveness. Most family members too, take delight in what tear siblings
apart against what keep them together, etc. But, by the Apostle Paul’s example,
one understands that it is God’s plan to:
(1) Reconcile estranged friends, instead of
doing things that hold them apart, (Philemon verse 10);
(2) Bring them back to the path of love and
togetherness against bitterness and rancour, (verse 18);
(3) Plead the forgiveness of any wrong
behaviour, instead of being indifferent, (verse 18) etc.
RECONCILE TO HIM THROUGH CHRIST
The
hallmark of every reconciliation is one’s personal reconciliation to God
through Jesus Christ, since everyone is by birth a sinner, and so, God’s enemy,
(Romans 5:10-11). In fact, our reconciliation is from God through Christ, and
as one becomes reconciled to God, one is expected to become an instrument by
which others are reconciled to both God and estranged friends. Thus, the Bible
notes that everyone in Christ is given the ministry of reconciliation, (2Cor.
5:18). But, the missing link is that most of the people that champion the
course of reconciliation may not have been reconciled to God by way of
repentance and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and personal Saviour.
The
writer points to this fact because reconciliation is better handled by those in
whose lives Christ dwells. This makes it imperative to remark that the reader
be reconciled to God (if he/she has not done so) by way of:
(1) Confessing his/her sins to God in
repentance, (1John 1:9);
(2) Accepting Jesus into his/her life as
Lord and personal Saviour, (John 1:12);
(3) Maintaining a holy relationship with God
and man, (Heb. 12:14), etc.
In
conclusion, let it be noted that this piece is fundamentally designed by the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit to call on the Imo State Governor, Chief Ikedi
Ohakim, and Senator Araraume, the PDP guber candidate in the April 28, 2007
governorship election to reconcile to each other, as well as to God, and also a
means to reach out to all those who may have been at loggerheads with others to
equally repent and reconcile. THIS IS
THE WILL OF GOD.
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