The Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos Mainland, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the Rt. Rev’d Akinpelu Johnson has described as unfortunate the fact that it took the occurrence of COVID-19 pandemic for people to realise that life is transient.
In his sermon at a church service on Rogation Sunday, Johnson, who observed that over the years, people had focused on earthly things rather than on spiritual things, noted that even Christians are not exempted, as they have chosen earthly glory, which has no eternal value.
He said many believers have chosen to please man rather than God, adding that what people place their trust have failed them, especially in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic that is plaguing the world.
The Bishop remarked that the world is changing and as such, Christians should hold fast to God, rid themselves of sin and put on the new self that is continually being renewed in the image of the Creator. He enjoined them to hold fast to what endures forever; and that through the workings of the Holy Spirit and a daily walk with God, their lives would be restored.
He explained that Rogation Sunday is a festival, where the Church comes together to fast and pray for God’s blessings. According to him, rogation means to ask, and people could only ask aright, when they have made Christ’s will, their own. He said believers must be obedient to God and depend on Him, because without Him, they can do nothing.
Reminding Christians of the Father’s love that is available to them, and the need to ask in His name for deliverance from the pandemic, Johnson said: “From pestilence, from plague, good Lord deliver us.” He said Nigeria needed God’s intervention and blessings and charged believers to ask God for His blessings upon the country.