There was something distinct in the way he answered the questions, his voice ringing with authority as he shared his views. I found myself asking how it is that there seems to be a peace around some of these old-time Christians, a joy that seems almost impossible to grasp in these days.
I listened as he shared his testimony on when he lived at Allen Avenue in the 90’s, an area notable for its red-zone (prostitution centre) at Opebi, Lagos state. He said they lived in their company block of apartments with some other families beside a hotel. It was very difficult to raise their children there and they thought of relocating but he remembered who he was in Christ and knew he could change the environment around him. He then called the other families and they began to pray daily.
They were discouraged initially but persisted and six months after, the hotel was closed down and the building was used for something else.
Ntiense Ubon-Israel, an engineer, is the director, International board of the International Christian Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) and has been involved with Intercession for Nigeria for three decades and carries a burden to see God’s purpose for nations come to pass both politically and also in the marketplace.
He is widely travelled in the pursuit of this vision. He is also the MD /CEO of Victomation Services Limited, an information technology (IT) and communications private company.
We spent 15 minutes together and I left encouraged, challenged and thankful that we have elders we can look up to who stand up for the truth and nothing less.
KT: How can we stand as Christians in these dark days?
NU: You know Jesus taught us that we are the light of the world and light would be of no value if there is no darkness. The more light we carry, the more we are able to dispel darkness. Darkness sometimes is a mirage, until the light comes. This room that we are could be in total darkness but once the light is switched on, the darkness flees. So, if we understand why we are here, then the light we carry will definitely dispel darkness. I quoted a scripture earlier on, in John 1:4 it says of Jesus, “In Him was life and the light was the light of men”, then he says “…light shines in darkness and the darkness could not comprehend it”.
The thing is that many believers do not even know that they are carriers of light, maybe nobody taught them, or they haven’t experienced it. Yes, the bible is clear that this world that we live in is going to get darker and darker, there’s no question about it but I think it is in Isaiah 61 where it talks about “arise and shine, for the light has come….” So, whereas darkness will continue to cover the earth, God expects his people to shine. In fact, the more darkness, the more the people should shine because of what they know of God and experience of Him.
KT: But, what are the practical ways one can shine?
NU: Really, it is because Jesus said, let your light so shine before men, it is about what you do. Light is not an abstract idea, it is the fact that you are carrying the nature of God, which is goodness, compassion, kindness, fruitfulness, reaching out to touch others, living beyond your own needs, this is how light is shone. I’m sorry to say, so many of us in the church have imbibed the gospel of self, “God will bless you! God will meet your needs”. It’s all about you, no, no, we are called to be able to serve.
You work in an office, live in a community, what do people know you for? That is how people are able to say, “but you are different”. So let your character shine forth in what you do. You work in an office and everyone is looking for a shortcut, you do the right thing and then they will eventually know that you are different. Life is supposed to be lived practically, it’s not academic. It is not like a school where you come to be asked questions or cram (notes) in your head. No, you live it out.
The world is in desperate need of all the people carrying light to meet people’s needs and deal with issues. Even at personal levels, I have been involved in dealing with corruption and engaging in that space. Putting it in summary, this is what I mean, live a life that is bigger than yourself and your needs then God can use you. You can’t even begin to put it in a box on the rules of shining your light, or give a formula; it is working with God as the opportunities come for you to be a carrier of light.
KT: Growing up as a Christian youth, I have discovered that we have so many unanswered questions and there is a disconnect between the older and younger generation of believers. So many youths today are becoming atheists or traditionalists. How then do we bridge the gap and carry on when most of the older ones have passed?
NU: God will undertake for Himself, when you read the bible you see that the Kingdom of God will prevail. What we don’t know is with each generation I hear the cry of the young people and this is what I have to say; our generation encountered God in quite a different way. When I got born again, there was a move of God’s spirit (and you just knew) captivating young people and they now knew “I want to live a life that has meaning”.
I hear your worry about what will happen when this generation goes? Will it all go away? No! What I believe God will undertake and I think that there is a need for an outpouring of God’s spirit on your generation. The young people need to encounter God not through (and yes, thank God for) the elders and such but they need to encounter God in a special way where He defines Himself to them and they can say, “our God has showed up for us” and that becomes the article of their own faith. Without that, the darkness (will continue to spread).
Look! In some parts of the world everything has been reversed, marriage is now redefined. Divorce is no longer a serious thing; in fact I think they said in the West, the divorce rate in the church is higher than those outside. Why is that? It’s because darkness has encroached inside the church and so there is no academics, what will solve this is the Spirit of God which was left on the earth to help us get the job done.
My answer is, let’s ask the Lord to pour His Spirit on the church again, particularly on the young people, and many young people are full of confusion because they hear one thing here, and another there. Even the things they see someone preach they see him live a totally different life and so they are full of conflicts. Is this all real or are they just making up stuff? But it is real! The spirit of God needs to come again upon the church, the young people, let them encounter God and let no one put limits on them as to what can be achieved
There is a scripture in the book of Job, Elihu, a young man, makes a profound statement, and said, “Behold! God is great but we know Him not”. Every time I quote that scripture, I say to a young person, “Don’t allow anyone set a limit on God for you”. Yes, appreciate God for the people that have gone ahead but pursue Him yourself. Who knows what He will reveal to you in a way he hasn’t revealed to anybody.
Now in the West they have redefined sexes, today you can wake up and feel that you’re a man and that is what you are and then tomorrow you feel like a lady and that is what you become. Really! Think about a child growing up and doesn’t know the distinction, this is a nightmare! So in the midst of all that, yet, the bible also is clear in the book of Daniel in the last days he said “those who do wickedly will really become wicked but those who know their God will be strong and do exploits”.
My challenge to the young people is encounter God and there is no mechanism about it or formula but pursue Him and let Him reveal Himself so you can do exploits in your generation. There is still so much to be revealed (in terms of) revelation and creativity.
There are so many young people that God is expecting to bring creative solutions to the challenges facing us and all this is an encounter and a walk with God. This is what I recommend to the young people; don’t be limited by what the generation before you has or hasn’t experienced. Pursue God for yourself and let him show up for you.
KT: In terms of missions, I have observed that there is a disconnect between eastern/western believers and believers in the North (of Nigeria). How do we correct this?
NU: You know the bible says that God planted a garden for Adam in the book of Genesis and I said during my session that each one of us has (the garden is just an allegory for assignment), an assignment and, if your assignment includes that you will reach out and be involved in the North for goodness sake, go there. You know what? The problem is that we have imbibed a selfish gospel. Many Christians in the South are very selfish, very selfish! Even the concept of sacrificing is no longer taught. When we got born again, we were taught that this thing can cost you something including your life and that’s what the bible says.
Oh, but we’ve got a gospel that tells us that we are not prepared to suffer, no inconvenience, everything around must be blessed and all kinds but this is not the model of Christianity Jesus left for the people before us. Think about the people who brought to us the gospel in Africa, what they had to endure. They would say that they would come, die of malaria and yet more would still come because they felt a calling and an assignment of God.
The church in Nigeria, I can tell you that, if we continue like this particularly in the South, God will allow persecution to come here and then people will be forced. So, I talk like this because I grew up in the North before the war and I also still have links. I go to Benue State a lot (the Middle Belt) because God opened a door there. Why would any Christian live a life solely for his comfort? That is very dangerous! If God wants you to go, then go! Safety is not the absence of danger; it is the presence of the Lord.
When I travel out to the West people ask me if Nigeria isn’t dangerous (to live in) and I ask them about the random shootings that could happen anywhere in their country. Come on! It is the presence of the Lord that guarantees safety and there is no way the church in the South can continue with the pretense.
My wife mentioned to me one day the fact that we go to church every Sunday and as if we live within the four walls of the church, there is no mention of the crisis in the North or at least a call for prayers, a request for needs to be met, not to talk of calling for volunteers to go and even if they don’t go, send some relief package to help.
We don’t have the luxury to operate like this, Christianity is an unselfish one, it is supposed to be living for others and the church in the North needs real empowerment, one of them being spiritual empowerment because sadly, they (the North) are very weak spiritually. Just look at the state of the church. Perhaps that is why the enemy is able to rampage it so well. Having said that, the church in the South must see it as our calling and mandate and even if they were not part of Nigeria, we still owe them because Jesus also died for them and there must be people who see it and say, ‘This is my calling’.
When we were younger, youths had a way of being enterprising. I remember people would go on excursions, go to check out places. Maybe it is a generational thing to become self-centered so you don’t want to take any risk; you don’t want any inconvenience. I’m sorry, that is not what Jesus came to teach us. He came to teach us that if you lay down your life you will get it. This is the gospel and what is the biggest problem is not being preached on the pulpit. Instead it is ‘bring everything here, let’s operate with it and God will bless you. It is faulty, it is not God’s model and I guarantee that if we do not change God will bring persecution.
I am not saying anything that someone who is sensitive does not know, it has happened before. Jesus left the church and told them to go into all the world to preach, but they all stayed in Jerusalem. And (remember) it’s not your agenda, it is God’s agenda, so God sent persecution and they all scattered. That’s how the gospel spread, we don’t need to wait for that. We better feel what God feels so that we can go wherever it is He wants us to go. Danger is not the basis to determine where we are supposed to go; it is where the assignment is that we are to go to.