Advent Devotion from Sudan

 Second Week of Advent

As we move into this second week of Advent, many Muslims across the world will celebrate the Day of Sacrifice (Idul Adha).  The day is a time of remembering when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son.  At Mosques everywhere, goats and cows will be sacrificed and the meat distributed to the poor. 

The last few weeks remind us of the great tension between Christians and Muslims in our world today, particularly in places like Nigeria and the Sudan.  Today's devotion from Ramadan Chan, a CISF supported scholar from Sudan, speaks to the great need for the Peace that only Jesus can bring.  Christmas is a time when we remember that Jesus came not only as a baby in a manger, but as the final sacrifice for all time, bringing peace with God, and giving us hope for peace with one another.

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The Peace of the Prince of Peace We Need

 

"I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world." (John 16:33)

 

Salaam alek is the Arabic greetings which means "Peace be with you." But I don't think it always means what it is supposed to mean.

 

Between1989-1998, I was arrested nine times for political/religious reasons.  In every one, the Islamic militants would first take positions with their machine guns aimed at me, greet me ‘peace be with you' before ordering the arrest. In one of the arrests, they surrounded the house I was in at night, forced their way into my room and greeted me Salaam alek followed by gum fook "get up!"

 

My crime had been the proclamation of Christ the Prince of peace! I had just come back from Nigeria then where I completed my undergraduate in theology. My country has not experienced peace in terms of the absence of war for the last fifty years. Part of the conflict is religious (Islam and Christianity). I happened to have grown up in an Islamic dominated area. At this time, all the pastors and evangelists had run away for their lives. For the last three years the area had been declared a ‘no go-zone' for Christian ministers.

 

My passion for the Good News would not let me stand the ‘decree.' I decided to plan a surprise outreach to the area with Jesus film in four languages, public youth conference, and evangelism training. Joining with a few colleagues of like mind, we went to the area expecting the worst, with the slogan "Rank for Jesus."

 

I was fully aware that James, my elder brother was tortured to death a year before for the same reason. Three days into the program, I had just come back from presenting Jesus film and was ready to sleep after a long day full of activities, when my door was forced opened. I did not mistake the subject or the intention. "Salaam alek," they shouted, "Aleikum asalaam (peace be with you as well)," I responded. "Gum fook," they ordered, I got up and went to barrack escorted by five heavily armed militants.

 

With hail of insults, slaps, kicks and hits, I was interrogated for about two hours. I was then dumped into a small cell of about 2 by 3 meters filled to the capacity with about twenty or more detainees some of them brutally tortured and seriously bleeding. "You will know us tonight when we come at one o'clock. You will never see the sun again," they threatened as they locked the door. "Don't worry, I have seen it (the sun) enough and I know where I am going," was my response. One o'clock was the time they drove the detainees to the Riverside for execution as was confirmed by the detainees. I had no reason to doubt them because that was the order of the day that ended the lives of so many innocents including my own brother!

 

"Do not let your heart(s) be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me," were the comforting words of the Prince of Peace to me as I waited for the cruel hour! These precious words gave me the inner peace that only the Prince of Peace could give. I was empowered, enriched and energized to meet the Prince of Peace to the extent that time was not moving fast enough!

 

It is important to have peace in terms of the absence of war. That way there is no destruction of innocent lives and properties. It creates an atmosphere of order and prosperity. We should remember to thank God for the gift of such peace. We are all called to be peacemakers reconciling humans to their Creator.

 

There is also need of peace in terms of stability of all kinds; economic, social, psychological, etc. because this comes with the security we need to enjoy live. We also need the stability and security to better serve God and make him known among the nations.  

 

But the ultimate and lasting peace comes by knowing and living for Christ. He graciously incarnated to redeem us from the bondage of sin and to reconcile us with the Father. Therefore, war or no war, security or insecurity, it is only the peace of the incarnated Prince of Peace that we need. Knowing him and the power of his resurrection gives as the assurance of the eternal life which in turn encourages us to boldly rally others for it.

 

Prince of Peace, please make me an advocate

for your ultimate and lasting peace to those who need it the most.

Give me the courage to share your victory with the victims of injustice.

 

 

Ramadan Chan serves as the leader of the Gideon Bible College in his native country of Sudan, training pastors and church leaders serving in the midst of religious tension in Sudan.  He is currently working on a PhD at Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (NEGST).  His research and writing focus on themes of justice in the book of Amos, helping the church live redemptively  and minister in the midst of the fighting and injustice in Sudan.