THE GODS ARE ANGRY

I remember those Nigerian movies I watched during my childhood days. In alot of them, I would see this setting: The king and his elders would be in the Palace,discussing. And then all of a sudden, the village Chief Priest would storm into the palace, with his staff landing on the floor heavily, every now and then. The King and his elders would look at each other with fear in their eyes. The Chief Priest did not often come like this, and when he did,hmmmmmm....

'Hope all is well', the King would ask or something like that.

'The gods are angry', the Chief Priest would reply with a very solemn look on his face. This was often the reply. The gods were often angry. Either because somebody stole from someone's farm or somebody had traded on a holy day or the gods had not been given enough yam to eat. It was either one thing or the other.

Now that I think of it, these 'gods' seemed to thrive on anger. They were always angry. So petty. And I pity their worshippers.

And then again, when I listen to some preachers in some churches, it sounds as if they are talking about those ever-angry gods. Not the God I know.

'Your business is not doing well because you have offended God'
'Your child died because you spoke against God's anointed'.
'Your expensive car was stolen because you refused to sow that seed.

The members are forever begging God not to be angry with them. They keep coming out for altar calls every time because they are not sure whether after getting angry like that yesterday, they are still God's kids. He may have disowned them.

And there are people who live good lives, help so many people in need, and yet there is a gaping emptiness inside them. Uncertainties about life. A gaping emptiness that Someone only can fill, not good things.

I think of all these and I am filled with gratitude to God. That he isn't like those petty 'gods', always looking for something to be angry at. He is the God Who forgives our sins always (Psalm 103). The One Who doesn't punish us as our sins deserve. The One with whom there is forgiveness. The Infinite Creator Who suffered the penalty for the sins of his finite, sinful creatures. The anger of a holy and righteous God against sin was satisfied forever on the body of God the Son. Thus he could say, 'it is finished'. (John 19:30).

I will forever be grateful for a God like Him. FOREVER!