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A new year has just unfurled, according to the calculations of man. In reality, there is nothing to it.
This has been our tradition. Every 12 months, we task ourselves laboriously, celebrating a new year while foolishly spending our financial reserves on cyclic festive activities.
Many people are mourning. They lament over unfulfilled dreams like they did last year. They mourn as if time has stood still, and no more opportunity for advancement.
It is not true because there are always opportunities to still achieve your purpose. Even if you don’t, there are still many years ahead. If this year ends, there’s another by the corner. So, don’t give up. It’s not yet over. Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo used to say it’s not over until it’s over. Football fans will tell you the importance of seconds. Seconds can alter any game. Until the referee blows the whistle to signal the game is over, anything can happen.
Why do you want to end your game when the Referee of referees has not blown the whistle on your life?
The devil is a notorious prankster. His aim is to frustrate mankind. He comes to steal, kill and to destroy (John 10:10). However, he only succeeds with those who let him.
Job refused and triumphed. Joseph could not abandon his dream despite the luscious laps of Portiphar’s wife offered on a platter. Daniel held on to his faith and ravenous lions became his playmates instead of devouring him. Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego became fire eaters because they held onto their God.
So, why are you worried?
Because you have so limited our God and confined him to our ways. However, your God does not operate by man’s calendar and clock.
Abraham got his son, Isaac, breaking biological barricades. Last week, Nollywood actor, Gogo Hassan, announced the arrival of his first child after 24 years of waiting. At the gate of the city of Nain, the widow received her dead son alive when all seemed over because the Prince of peace encountered the pall bearers and death ran away disgraced (Luke 7:7-17). The widow of Zarephath came into sudden wealth after surrendering her last meal to the prophet of God (1 Kings 17:7-15). Lazarus was four days in the grave when the impossible happened and death was overthrown by the Lord Jesus. Peter toiled all night and caught nothing, as all the fishes deserted the net of the adept fisherman. Suddenly, the Master of the universe appeared and gave the command; all the fishes obeyed the summons and overfilled Peter’s barren net.
The Israelites at the Red Sea were seemingly trapped but ‘Julius Berger’ arrived to construct an expressway in the middle of the sea. At first, Moses was even confused. He told the people to stand still when they should be moving forward. But truly, move forward to where? The Red Sea was in front; the Egyptians at the back and forests and mountains round about. He didn’t see the road through the sea until God’s angels came to construct it. The Wall of Jericho didn’t fall until the 7th trip round it (2 Kings 17:7-15); Naaman didn’t get healed until the last dip in the Jordan river (2 Kings 5:1-14).
You can only worry if you don’t have God or you lack faith. You can only have God by both confessions and actions. A lot of us claim they are God’s but God does not know them.
Even for the prodigal son, it wasn’t over when he seemed to have met a dead end.
How many of us are like this prodigal son? How many of us have abandoned our rich heritage in pursuit of the varnishing allure of the world? How many are ready to return home?
On this journey back home, don’t allow anything to distract you. I perceive fellow slaves tried to discourage the prodigal son from going back to his father. They told him he would never be accepted back after his prodigal and profligate lifestyle. But he was undeterred; today the rest is history.
Sadly, his brother was as angry and bitter as some are or would be today. But he never cared to dissuade his brother from taking the wrong step. He wanted him out of the way in order to inherit everything. So, when the unexpected happened and his brother returned, he took offence.
How happy are we when that brother or sister goes astray? Have we tried to bring them back to faith or do we become emergency broadcasters, announcing their downfall? We forget that we are publishers of good tidings, not fake news purveyors. Even if the news is not fake, what do you gain by broadcasting it? Beware.
Do not forget that you must give a good account to render about your stewardship. We have been bleeding under schizophrenic and manic rogues in power. They are kleptomaniacs looting the nation blind. They are unfeeling profligate winebibbers, who care less about the people’s welfare yet occupy front oews in churches and mosques. Whether you are a leader or the lead, repent today. You must account for how you lived your life, and for every kobo or talent entrusted to your care.
This is not the time for compromise. Don’t blame your wife, husband, child or friend for your failures. Don’t blame the pastor either. You are responsible for your actions. The Pope just stirred shock and trouble in Christendom by approving blessings for same-sex couples. Some Catholic bishops were bold to challenge him. Some of the faithful said he is infallible and cannot be questioned. However, the truth is that a day is coming when his infallibility shall be judged by the King of Glory. That day, we shall know who is truly infallible but it shall be too late.
This new year is old already. The race has begun. It is a cyclic thing, going and coming, going and coming over and over again like ogbanje. So, what is new about the New Year?
Get off the starting block with speed and forget the ritual of New Year resolutions. The one you made last year, how far?
The only permissible resolution is to serve the Lord; to repent and return home like the prodigal son whose father is standing longingly at the gate with arms outstretched to welcome him back home. Don’t you feel the pining of the Lord, as he stands at the door of your heart, knocking? That is why Psalm 1 tells us to be wary of sinners.
In this New Year, be wary not to consent to the enticement of sinners as Proverbs admonishes in chapter 1:10. Furthermore, Psalm 1 warns that we should be wary not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly; be wary not to consort with sinners; be wary not to sit in the seat of the scornful. That way, you will blossom and be evergreen throughout the year, lacking nothing. HAPPY NEW OLD YEAR!
