Written by Nathaniel McClain, Email:mcclainnathaniel23@yahoo.com
Monday, 30 July 2012 00:38
Liberians, the Bible which contains the holy words of God reminds us that Christians or the followers of Jesus Christ are the salt of the earth, and equally so we are the light of the World therefore both elements are critical to our survival as a nation and people.
We all know the importance of salt and light in our daily lives. Salt as we know adds flavor to most of the food we eat, and without it our food becomes tasteless and less satisfactory for consumption.
The Christology of salt is therefore synonymous to natural salt. Jesus’ reference to his followers as salt of the earth means that, as Christians especially Christian leaders, our lives must portray the sweat fellowship we have with God and His son Jesus Christ will cause the unbelievers to accept the invitation that says “come taste the Lord and fine out how sweat he is”.
Also, light enables us to see clearly especially in darkness and without it we cannot undertake any activity under such condition. Therefore, when Jesus said his disciples were the light of the world, he meant that they should live righteously. This is to say that our Christian leadership must emit light in a nation darkened by years of social, economic and political neglect. Hence, the leadership of our country must shine forth with such nationwide brilliance that will draw those who have dwelt in the darkness of poverty, ignorance, and disease into its beautiful radiance of freedom from these human maladies.
Thus as salt and light of the world, we are obligated to make every possible positive effort to live together as responsible and productive citizens and stewards of God’s kingdom. Our failure to do so would mean our inability to obey God and to do His will.
What we must do to exercise “love and concern” for our country and its people after the Independence Day and onward is that love must be practiced by all Liberians irrespective of religious background.
Let us live by a young biblical character Nehemiah who had a humbling spirit, love and respect for God.
The story is narrated that Nehemiah homeland was destroyed. His heart was broken when he got the news. Though he was in a privileged position, the spirit of the Lord moved him to do something positive for his homeland particularly the City of Jerusalem.
For fourteen years, we destroyed our country and all provincial cities and major towns throughout the country but we refused to protect them, and we are not sad about what we did to our country.
Taking into account the human tragedy, untold sufferings, and massive destruction which plagued Liberia for more than fourteen years; and the ongoing political developments, this is why I decided to introduce Nehemiah first and foremost. Nehemiah was a loyal and respectful man of God who was not a so-called believer in God like many of us. For example, many politicians of the past and even of the present have promised to lead Liberia to God’s honor and glory, some using the church pretending to have love and faith in God but their love and faith usually disappear after being elected.
Nehemiah never failed his people, he was a man of good character, a brilliant planner, a great organizer, and spiritual motivator and besides, he was a true patriot and that was seen in sincere love and concern he demonstrated for his people and country. These excellent qualities made Nehemiah a good political leader. As an outstanding political leader, he led his people from disgrace to grace. He did not use his political power to mislead his people, or misused the resources of his nation and the sacrificial donations of his people for his personal glory.
In other words, Nehemiah was not a selfish, dishonest and corrupt leader instead; he used the scarce resources available to him to rebuild Jerusalem.
My brothers and sisters, what have our leaders done with our resources of our country? Nehemiah did not work in secrecy, but kept in close contact with his people and his leadership was transparent. he did not use his home as the country’s Central Bank; he did not put his Children In strategic financial areas to siphon or control the country’s money but he said “regardless of prestige, honor, and security my concern is to love Jerusalem only and nothing else.”
Bad leadership over the years had caused us to take up arms against each other, but thanks be unto God that through Jesus Christ, and with the help of the international community, the weapons are now being taking away from our brothers and sisters and peace is now proclaimed in the name of our Lord. However, we ask President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to be like Nehemiah who only cared for his people and the country. Madam President, the Liberian people elected you to lead them to prosperity and they too have the honor to respect you and obey the laws of Liberia. Hence, let the inequalities, backwardness and stigmatization stop and move the country forward. Be like Nehemiah. Happy Independence Day, my fellow Liberians!
