by Evangelist Elder Elvis Abenga
In this world, I have come to realize that man cannot survive without
connections. I have more and more come to appreciate the influence,
necessity and benefit of having connections. Nowadays, one cannot get a
job without connections. One cannot even get a job interview without
being connected to some high person somewhere. Even in the arena of
education, all that a student would need to have to pass an examination is to be sufficiently connected to some high person in the institution.
The world has reached a stage where even the people you relate to are determined by the nature and extent of the connections you have. Success has nowadays been removed from the domain of hard work and discipline, and now all people seem to be talking about more and more, and focusing all their energies and attention, is on making the relevant connection, to the relevant persons in high places.
The economists, illustrating the lack of connections as a factor in poverty, came up with a theory that was latter known as the "Vicious Cycle of Poverty", which is to the effect that, I am poor because I was born poor. And since I am poor, my children and grand children would also probably be poor....and the cycle goes on and on. Thus, according to them, my poverty, is due to lack of adequate connection to a well endowed person.
As I ponder on this concept, I realize that the concept of connections can be found in the Word of GOD. Satan, in one of the temptations that He tempted JESUS, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world with all their splendor ( Luke 4:5). He then told CHRIST that he would surrender them all to Him if only He bowed down and worshiped him.
In short, Satan offered the world to CHRIST on condition that CHRIST made a connection with him, by worshiping him.
I glorify GOD that CHRIST never made such a fatal connection...
The same temptation is thrown at Christians every single day. Satan makes an invitation to connect. "Connect with me" he says, "and I will give you all that your heart desires" he invites.
In the Garden of Eden, the serpent tempted our first parents to disconnect with GOD. As I read through Genesis 3, I realize the essence of the temptation could be simplified as follows,
"GOD doesn't want you to be like Him, that is why He denies you the forbidden fruit! He knows that if you eat it, you"ll be like Him (Genesis 3:4)."
Satan convinced our first parents that they did not need GOD to survive. He enticed and deceived them to make disconnect with GOD.
By sinning, man lost the vital connection with GOD...and by losing the connection with GOD....he got connected with the enemy of all souls.
CHRIST came to undo the effect of sin, and to restore man's connection to GOD.
At the cross, the vital connection between man and GOD was restored. At the cross, GOD was reconciling the world to Himself ( 2 Corinthians 5:19)
The good news, is that because of Calvary, and the Cross of CHRIST, man's connection to GOD is infinitely stronger than it was at Eden before man sinned.
To this end, the apostle exclaims a question " Who shall separate us from the love of CHRIST?"...then he answers "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35-39)
Thus we are called to make the vital connection with GOD. In John 15:4 CHRIST says "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me."
The only way we as Christians can bear forth much fruit, is by being vitally connected with CHRIST, just like the branch is connected to the vine. In Romans 11 we realize that we, who through sin had been disconnected and cut off from the vine, have now been grafted through the grace of GOD in CHRIST JESUS.( Romans 11:17-24)
Once we have made the ultimate connection with GOD, all other things will fall in place ( Matthew 6:33) and we need not have any other connection.
This day I invite you all to make the ultimate connection.
The world has reached a stage where even the people you relate to are determined by the nature and extent of the connections you have. Success has nowadays been removed from the domain of hard work and discipline, and now all people seem to be talking about more and more, and focusing all their energies and attention, is on making the relevant connection, to the relevant persons in high places.
The economists, illustrating the lack of connections as a factor in poverty, came up with a theory that was latter known as the "Vicious Cycle of Poverty", which is to the effect that, I am poor because I was born poor. And since I am poor, my children and grand children would also probably be poor....and the cycle goes on and on. Thus, according to them, my poverty, is due to lack of adequate connection to a well endowed person.
As I ponder on this concept, I realize that the concept of connections can be found in the Word of GOD. Satan, in one of the temptations that He tempted JESUS, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world with all their splendor ( Luke 4:5). He then told CHRIST that he would surrender them all to Him if only He bowed down and worshiped him.
In short, Satan offered the world to CHRIST on condition that CHRIST made a connection with him, by worshiping him.
I glorify GOD that CHRIST never made such a fatal connection...
The same temptation is thrown at Christians every single day. Satan makes an invitation to connect. "Connect with me" he says, "and I will give you all that your heart desires" he invites.
In the Garden of Eden, the serpent tempted our first parents to disconnect with GOD. As I read through Genesis 3, I realize the essence of the temptation could be simplified as follows,
"GOD doesn't want you to be like Him, that is why He denies you the forbidden fruit! He knows that if you eat it, you"ll be like Him (Genesis 3:4)."
Satan convinced our first parents that they did not need GOD to survive. He enticed and deceived them to make disconnect with GOD.
By sinning, man lost the vital connection with GOD...and by losing the connection with GOD....he got connected with the enemy of all souls.
CHRIST came to undo the effect of sin, and to restore man's connection to GOD.
At the cross, the vital connection between man and GOD was restored. At the cross, GOD was reconciling the world to Himself ( 2 Corinthians 5:19)
The good news, is that because of Calvary, and the Cross of CHRIST, man's connection to GOD is infinitely stronger than it was at Eden before man sinned.
To this end, the apostle exclaims a question " Who shall separate us from the love of CHRIST?"...then he answers "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35-39)
Thus we are called to make the vital connection with GOD. In John 15:4 CHRIST says "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me."
The only way we as Christians can bear forth much fruit, is by being vitally connected with CHRIST, just like the branch is connected to the vine. In Romans 11 we realize that we, who through sin had been disconnected and cut off from the vine, have now been grafted through the grace of GOD in CHRIST JESUS.( Romans 11:17-24)
Once we have made the ultimate connection with GOD, all other things will fall in place ( Matthew 6:33) and we need not have any other connection.
This day I invite you all to make the ultimate connection.
Amen
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