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It’s a big small world !
Never before has the world been such a confusing and fearful place. Everything now is on a global scale and produce situations where many people fear for today, never mind tomorrow. 2 months ago I visited a village in central Nigeria that armed Muslim gangs had tried to destroy the previous year. It is situated only 12 miles from a large town that has been taken over by the Muslim people and messages are sent quite regularly to make the villagers afraid, they write things like – expect an attack next week. 3 weeks ago they did attack. It was little wonder that all the men of that village were walking around with axes and machetes in their hands.
In the UK there is also a lot of fear, no one knows how many poison chemical stockpiles are stashed all around the country. In America it is no better, they do not know what to expect next. On the continent several countries have huge ethnic communities and there is a sense of walking a knife edge, tensions are so high that many airline flights are cancelled and people are left stranded.
Nigerian refugees in Plateau State.

In that Nigerian village I spoke to the headman and his elders and sympathised with them in their predicament but told them that while I could hardly appreciate their problem, I told them of many people with serious problems especially within Nigeria. I told them of my own experience while on a journey with 2 friends; we drove into an ambush and very gingerly drove past 10 men with an array of weaponry. I am convinced that is only God who got us through without being robbed, but it is indicative of theworldwide situation,no one is really safe.
My colleague warned the chief and his men not to do like some of the Christian villagers had done in other areas, where they had decided to defend their villages, but had gone to the witchdoctor for fetishes, amulets and all the paraphernalia which will make them invisible to the bullets in battle. We might laugh at this but it is very real and very frightening. We told the village meeting that the only true security is in the message of the gospel. Only Christ has all the answers and a security that lasts for eternity. Jesus tells us - to fear Him who has power over the soul, not those who only have power to kill the body, Matthew 10v8. There are plenty of bullies around, whether they are in the school playground, or whether they brandish an AK47, or a bottle of Reisen, their power is very limited. God’s power is unlimited and he will carry out judgement on all bullies, in His own good time. Until then we can be assured of His help to have our own power, so that we need not be afraid, for the Bible tells us that – perfect love casts out all fear; 1 John 4v18. When we put our faith in Christ He is able to deal with every possible situation for us, He has been there before and can give His own the strength and the grace for every need. Even more, He gives us a sure and certain hope for eternity, that puts the true perspective on our little lives in time, we are only here as a preparation for the great tomorrow. I feel as safe in Nigeria as I do home here in west Wales, because I have Christ’s assurance that He is with me and that is enough; that is the best security anyone can have.