By Gideon Lyomu: A student at Kenyatta University, Main Campus

Contact: gmnyomu@gmail.com

Pilgrims on a journey to a great destiny, whose good descriptions we cannot exhaust. This is a short description of the Christians. On a journey, which like that through a thick forest is full of uncertainties. But why uncertainties? Because there are things we encounter each time a day dawns and before the sun sets,its indeed a lot. Encounters that move us to tears, fear despair and even try so much to kill our hope.

The interesting part of it is that though we are faced with uncertainties, our journey is a different one since there’s always hope. Hope of light no matter how great the darkness may be. But as said earlier, what grieves much is that this hope faces much opposition and is always at the verge of being destroyed.

Though we look up to our destiny; heaven, we can’t ignore the fact that there’s a land where we are sojourners and this is our nation, or country to say.

But our place of sojourn has been turned into a place of deep sorrow, sorrow as see our nation go up in flames of corruption, tribalism, injustice. The list is endless and the smoke that rises form this is so great. Great to behold! Innocent lives are destroyed, those who stand for justice are executed and the doers do it in impunity.

That which we held to as normal has been eroded and new normal has cropped in. Corruption is now the new normal, the order if the day, a language in every place. Sexual immorality too, land grabbing, exam irregularities,injustice, inauthentic leadership, industrial boycotts from one sector to another and from time to time, tribalism and what surprises, in the house of God, gospel for money, faking of miracles and much more. This is surprising because those who ought to the light of the world have confirmed to the darkness and rottenness. All these is what one encounters as you watch news on television, listen to news on radio or even read newspapers. As we encounter them, a major question crosses our minds every moment: Is there hope that this will come to an end one day? Is there hope for a better nation and a better life,? From this then rises another major one; Are there an answers to these questions? Definitely, there is. And the answer is: yes, there is one.

In the bible, as we go through the book of Micah, we find that the same situation we are encountering prevailed at that time and God works His judgment upon the people due to their sin but towards the end of the book, we see another face of God. This is the face of love, mercy and readiness to forgive. We have to agree that if at all we want to fight against the prevalent social evils and win, there’s a weapon we must never put down. This is HOPE. Take note that I said, fighting. This is because it is not just about sitting down, wailing and waiting upon God to come but RISING TO ACTION. Clearly speak of the evils to those who are doing them and confidently confront it.

In the midst of all voices that are ever rising, many of which are discouraging, there is a voice; that of our Almighty God which whispers to our ears, “THERE IS HOPE” But only if we cry to our God, trust in Him and act according to His desire will we receive His restoration. No matter how loud other voices may sound, we ought to turn our attention to this small still voice, to hold on to it. As we hold to it, we shouldn’t forget to firmly stand against these evil even if it will cost our lives. But since it is for the a just reason, it isn’t a loss but great gain, for if we sit down and silently watch the evil continue, great is the punishment that awaits us, both who are doing evil and the righteous. The only voice by which we are assured of a better life. THE VOICE OF OUR GOD… THE VOICE OF HOPE.