It’s not worth it!

Today, I heard the sad tale of a ‘Christian’ woman who joined the Civil Service at 40 years old, and was advised to cut her age to 35 so she could ‘serve’ longer in the Ministry. She did. Five years into her employment, she died in a road accident. Her elder brother was the first to arrive at the hospital, and when he was asked to give the details of the deceased, he gave her real age, 45. And, that was the age put on the death certificate.

When her husband, a ‘Pastor’, came in, and saw the age on the death certificate, he sought to see the doctor. Stammering, he explained to the doctor, that they would need to alter the age on the death certificate. When the doctor asked, “Why?” He explained that 45 was her actual age, but 40 was her official age, and the certificate must carry her doctored age if they were to successfully claim her entitlements from the ministry.

The doctor was so alarmed, that he rebuked the man sharply, “And, you are a Pastor! Instead of repenting, and renouncing this sin, you want to perpetuate it, even now, that your wife is dead! I won’t be a party to that! I’m not even sure if your wife is in heaven!”
What many Christians of today do is far worse than what Ananias and Sapphira did, but the Mercy of GOD has not allowed us to ‘fall down and die’ like they did. There’s no man/woman (BELIEVERS and unbelievers) who does not sin, but to refuse to acknowledge, and admit evil to be evil, is a terrible sin. Perpetuating falsehood is evil, and satanic!

If you keep lying about your age (and many Civil Servants are), your marital status, your background, your credentials and qualifications, just to get the ‘good life’, how long do you plan to do so before the TRUTH, or death, catches up with you? Hear me, it’s not worth it! Cars crash, houses collapse, jobs fail, businesses crumble, qualifications become obsolete, and life is very transient. Why destroy your soul and eternity for things that are so ephemeral and unsatisfying? Why?!
Perhaps, you may need to restitute.
Hmm, that’s a hard pie to swallow. But, you may need to do it, if necessary, and prompted by the Holy Spirit.
Live for JESUS!
Live for the TRUTH!
That’s what matters!

KEEP SAYING IT!
How did I get to know, and be impacted by Acts 19:20? It’s because Pastor Chris Oyakhilome had it recorded, and kept repeating it, over and over and over again, in his broadcasts. He’d say, “Keep saying it! For so MIGHTILY GREW THE WORD OF GOD and PREVAILED!” The WORD OF GOD will always PREVAIL if we keep saying it!

Look at the world, beginning with our own country, NIGERIA, and see how far we have deviated from the WORD OF GOD.
How did the LGBT group become so bold and audacious to the level of attaining international prominence today? It happened because the Church had not pronounced, proclaimed and professed enough of Genesis 1:27, “So GOD created man in His own image; in the image of GOD He created him; male and female He created them.” And Matthew 19:4-5, “And He (JESUS) answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made a them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?”
GOD made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve! If it is GOD’S WORD, don’t ever stop saying it!

How did wicked and unproductive leadership, terrorists, insurgents and kidnappers take over NIGERIA? It happened because the Church, and good people, kept quiet, and refused to teach, and enforce Scriptures like Psalms 125:3, “For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the RIGHTEOUS reach out their hands to iniquity.”
It’s on the news as I write this piece, “Not even Abuja, the nation’s capital, is safe anymore!” If it is GOD’S WORD, don’t ever stop saying it!

There are many highbrow schools in Nigeria, and other nations of the world, where corporal punishment and caning have been outlawed. This is anti GOD’S WORD. Search the SCRIPTURES for the word ‘ROD’, and you’ll see GOD’S OPINION on caning, chastising and correcting our children, sensibly. If it is GOD’S WORD, don’t ever stop saying it! GOD’S WORD is neither antique nor modern, it is ever CURRENT and RELEVANT to all of life’s challenges: yesterday, today and tomorrow!

Now, we’re hearing a subtle lie on the pulpits, from some prominent preachers too. We’re being told, “If a man has to say to his wife, and children, ‘I’m the HEAD OF THIS HOME!’, then, there’s something wrong with that man!” And, “Man and woman (husband and wife) are equals.”
Hmm! That sounds so good, and sensible, especially in our modern and gender equality world, but it is a demonic setup, and sponsored lie from the pits of hell.

Those two statements above, among several others, are very much anti GOD’S WORD. There’s no place in the SCRIPTURES where GOD, JESUS, or any servant of GOD, equates man and woman/husband and wife. Not one place! While the man is not to lord it over his wife, and loved ones, GOD made, called and appointed him THE HEAD over the wife and children, and the final decision and veto rest with him. If he says, “I’M THE HEAD!” out of frustration or contention for his headship/leadership, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that! Besides, he’s only reiterating the WORD OF GOD.

That something is popular, sensible and acceptable to the world, doesn’t mean it is right, and it certainly can’t negate GOD’S infallible WORD. If sayings like those become more popular on our pulpits, then, get ready for more turbulence and divorces in Christian homes; and things are already very bad as they are now. I know that I’m walking on very thin ice, writing on this subject. But, GOD’S WORD is the TRUTH, and it won’t bend for popular opinions.

In an age where more and more women are leading countries, international organizations, blue chip companies, etc (and, there’s nothing bad in that), the man’s headship is under serious threat and contention at home, and only THE WORD OF GOD can help us maintain sanity where the world is headed!
If it is GOD’S WORD, don’t ever stop saying it! At the end, it is GOD’S WORD that shall stand, prevail, and judge us all.
I align with GOD’S WORD, and will ever proclaim it, no matter what! Remember, “The LORD gave the WORD; Great was the company of those who PROCLAIMED it:” – Psalms 68:11.
Selah!

WHATEVER YOU DO, DO IT WELL!
I’m in class, everyday, between 7.30am to 11.00am. I’ve been taking this class for almost three years now, and I’ll continue to take the class, at home, on the road, as long as the ‘School doors’ remain open. My class is ‘The Polity: The Dailies/Newspaper Reviews’, on Petals 102.3FM, with Maestro (Mr. Dotun Saseyi).

I’m not the only one who is so enthralled with this daily class, no! Several hundreds, and possibly, thousands of listeners, tune in to learn from the depth of Maestro’s knowledge and analysis of the NIGERIAN State, and situation. The man is so good that many listeners call him, “My teacher! My mentor! Professor! Professor emeritus! Vice Chancellor! etc” He often laughs off all the titles and appellations, but the accolades, sincere praises, keep coming in from callers, daily.

And, that’s the reason for my piece this morning. Our universities, polytechnics, technical and secondary schools, are filled with lecturers: professors, doctors, and other grandiose title holders, many of whose classes, are more boring, and colder than deep freezers! No life or insight or spark of ingenuity in what they teach, or have taught for donkey years! Few lecturers bring life, depth of research, and conviction of what they teach, to their classes. Few indeed! And, that explains why there are little or no breakthroughs, inventions and genuine innovations, on our academic landscape, and country. ‘O bad gan!’

Same reason why many pulpits are dead, and push more Nigerians/Africans into pits, rather than pull them out – no conviction, depth and insight!
Likewise, tell me one politician in NIGERIA, or Africa, in the last seven years, who commands any serious attention when they speak, write, or try to rally people towards action. I know none, no, not one! They can’t even read correctly what is written for them. ‘O wa shameful!’

Let’s all take a cue from Maestro of Petals FM; let’s learn to research our subjects, vocations, careers and businesses well, and thoroughly, and DELIGHT our customers, listeners, students, associates, etc, whenever we interract or interface with them. Let’s not just live, or work, for money, comfort and fame alone. No! Let’s live and work for IMPACT – making real and genuine difference in people’s lives.

For anyone to hold Dele Aina (who, himself, has been called ‘Scribe, Text Messenger, Baruch of our Time, The Man of Truth, Baba Olododo’, etc, by readers) spellbound and glued to his radio (home, phone and car), for three straight years, that person must be a genius – someone who has something new, something worthwhile and insightful to offer, daily. And, that’s what Maestro does, everyday. Everyone of us can do same, too.

Whatever you do, do it very well, become a reference point for good, for GOD! Take to heart Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.”
Selah!

GOD WANTS TO DO YOU GOOD!
Many years ago, I read a very interesting story in the book, ‘More Hot Illustrations For Youth Talks’ by Wayne Rice. There was a car theft in California, in 1981, that made all the headlines and was the lead story on the evening news. Why did that particular car theft, among several thousands, get so much attention? The owner of the stolen car had informed the police that on the front seat of the car was a box of crackers laced with a deadly poison, which he had planned to use as rat bait. So, the police were desperately trying to find the thief – not to punish, but to save his life. They were afraid he would eat one of the crackers and die.

That’s exactly how our Heavenly Father, GOD, pursues us, not to punish us, but to save, heal and help us. GOD is always looking out for us, saints and sinners alike, not to condemn us, but to rescue us from ourselves, and the devious devices of satan. He loves us too much to think or wish any kind of Ill-will towards us. No!

This morning, I heard Joel Osteen say, “When our children are learning to walk, and they take their first four steps without falling, we excitedly call family and friends to tell them, “He’s walking! She’s walking!” But we don’t tell them about the seven thousand times they wobbled, stumbled, and fell. Likewise, GOD doesn’t focus on all our sins, faults, and weaknesses. No! He looks out for our strengths and good deeds. He’s not looking for reasons to punish or afflict us. No! He’s looking for reasons to bless, and do us great good.
If GOD could forgive the sins, evil and wickedness of Manasseh and Ahab (two very terrible kings Israel/Judah ever had), there’s nothing you have done that He can’t/won’t forgive.”

Seek GOD, ask Him for Forgiveness and Mercy, and discard your guilt. Satan is the accuser, not GOD! The Saviour doesn’t only FORGIVE our sins, He gives us FREEDOM from them too. Receive GOD’S Forgiveness! Receive His Freedom!

Dele Aina

ABIDE WITH ME – THE SONG OF THE MOMENT IN NIGERIA!
Our prayer this morning, at the family devotion, was taken from Luke 21:36, “Watch therefore, and pray always that YOU MAY BE COUNTED WORTHY TO ESCAPE ALL THESE THINGS that will come to pass, and to stand before the SON OF MAN.”
May the LORD GOD count you, and me, and our families, WORTHY TO ESCAPE ALL the evil and wickedness in Nigeria, and the world, in JESUS NAME. Amen.

We said that PRAYER after singing the Hymn, ABIDE WITH ME. As we sang that beautiful Hymn, I could see our bewitched NIGERIA in virtually all the lines of the Hymn. If you read the sorrowful words of the father of the slain/murdered Greenfield University student, and the recent accusations/allegations of Governors Samuel Ortom and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, of Benue and Enugu States respectively, you will know, beyond all reasonable doubt, that the entire leadership of this country, is heavily and deviously compromised, and complicit to all the evil in the country.

The truth is, nobody is safe in today’s NIGERIA, except the one whom GOD counts WORTHY TO ESCAPE and KEEP and PRESERVE. Apart from GOD’S ABIDING PRESENCE, there’s no safety or salvation for anyone in NIGERIA, presently. As I wrote last year, ‘ABIDE WITH ME’ is more a Hymn about Life and Guidance, than death and funerals. DEAR LORD, we pray, “ABIDE WITH US, AND KEEP US FROM ALL evil, IN JESUS NAME.”
Amen!

THE HYMN……. Meditate on the Lyrics.
“Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see.
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.”

IT’S NOT IN SIZE!
I stumbled on a Nat Geo Wild ‘Fearsome Fights’ recording two days ago, and I’ll never forget what I saw on that program. Some five honey badgers were running towards their holes; lurking in the grass was a pride of five lions, waiting for the kill. Two young lions ran after the badgers, and cut off one from the bunch. They started jabbing the badger around with their strong paws. Disoriented, the poor little animal tried to run, but they kept beating it down. Then, they tried to hold it by the jugular, and kill it. That’s when they got the fight of their lives.

Somehow, the badger spun around and bit the lion in the mouth, which made the ferocious cat to spew it out immediately. The second lion got the same shocker when it tried to kill it too. Two other lions joined the fray, and the badger kept fighting. Then, the lioness, the fiercest hunter in the pack, moved in to terminate the badger. The badger refused to become lion food. It kept wriggling, and swirling and biting.
Eventually, believe it or not, the lions gave up on the petit animal, and the badger, wounded, walked away from the terrible predators.
The narrator concluded with the words, “The lions know they’ll need to return to Badger 101 Class.”

And, how does this apply to you and me? When life (challenges, daunting situations, evil and devious people) happens to us, don’t just give up or resign yourself to fate. No! Put up a fight! Throw in your weight, however small or little that may be. With GOD on your side, not even the ‘lions and jackals of life’ can kill or stop you, because the GREATER LION is in you. It’s never in the physical size of a man/woman. No! It’s in the size of your heart, courage, and determination to live, to breakthrough, and get to the other side.

Remember Psalms 27:1-3, ‘The LORD is my Light and my Salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the Strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, my HEART shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this (My JESUS) I will be CONFIDENT.”
Hallelujah🙌

“………..and on the first day of the FIFTH MONTH he came to Jerusalem, according to the GOOD HAND of his GOD upon him. For Ezra (Dele/your name) had prepared his HEART to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel (Nigeria).” – Ezra 7:9-10.
May the GOOD HAND OF JEHOVAH come upon us this month, as we seek the Law of the LORD (which is LOVE), and TO DO IT, and to teach HIS statutes and ordinances in our country, and everywhere we go, in JESUS Name.
Welcome to May (Marvelous Advancement for You and me).
SHALOM.