THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol 1, No. 16 – Monday, 24th October, 2016
Gen.25:7-10, 1 Sam.12:3, 2 Tim.4:7
Ever think of that comment that will summarise your life after you are gone?
The edition of this magazine ended last week with the poser: what testamentary disposition otherwise called a Will, will be credited to your attitude after you are gone? Every man’s life is a testament before the visible light of humanity as well as the invisible and unmistaking search light of divinity. What message is the light of your life sending to God and man?
John Wesley, born in 1703 and died in 1791, lived an enviable life of absolute surrenderedness to the Most High. At the end of his stay in this passing world, his biographical account read as follows: “he (Wesley) lead a life of persecution and tribulation but remained faithful to God’. No wonder, his legacy and calling remained alive even afterwards. Further, no wonder that legacy and calling produced a special son after his spiritual, holiness passion about a century and half later in the person of Apostle W.F Kumuyi. lndeed, credited to Westley’ final account was the fact that his devotion to God made him so void of all of life’s pleasure that after his death his Will contained only the following:
1)Set of spoons,
2)Few plates and
3)A group of five hundred thousand converted followers known as the Methodist sect.
Perhaps this edition of the magazine sounds boring to you. Well, this is a sure sign that there is work to be done by you and the Lord in your life. Our salvation is not just an expression of faith. Rather, it is more evidenced and needful in our character-change. The Bible enjoins us in Matthew 3:8 to ‘bring therefore fruits meet for repentance’. The question is, are we?
Dearly beloved, it is said that show me your friend and l will show you who you are. I ask the question then, who is your mentor? Whose life appeals to you the most? What are your basic interests? Do your future plans include God, the feelings of other men about your actions? Are you swift to admitting your fault and often ready to make amends for any wrong? Do you stop a moment sometimes and remind yourself that an invisible eye is watching your thoughts and actions? Consider the mathematical proposition below and let it bless your hearts.
Imagine a circle (round object) in your mind’s eye. Get a ruler and divide that circle into two equal parts. What do you get? The answer is: two halves properly so-called in mathematical terms, two semi-circles. Divide the two semi-circles into two equal parts. What results from that division? The answer is simply four quadrants. However, notice that the four quadrants still contains four curve (at right-angle triangle) because the quadrants originally emanates from a circle. Now, let’s imaginatively trim out the four curves of the four quadrants. What do We arrive at mathematically? The most likely answer is four equal isosceles triangles.
Pastor, what does this mean? Are we now in a mathematics class? Or is this mathematics journal in disguise? Hmmm!
Dearly beloved, permit me to draw a somewhat spiritual philosophy by equating this mathematical proposition with four quadrangular relationships of man and himself, man and other people, other people and man, and man, other people and God. What does this mean? To start with, there are four universal isosceles search lights monitoring you and me. Their spiritual- mathematical calculations on our character more often than not contains no single error.
First isosceles search light: there is what a man knows about himself that humanity (other people) don’t know but God does. Second, there is that which a man knows about himself, other people do and God also does. Third, there is that which men don’t know about themselves, other people do and God does too. Fourth, there is that which no one knows about himself, other people too do not know but God always knows. At the end of it all, you may only hide your character as far as you can but not farther than God.
I am reminded of that poem by Robert Herrick. He says:
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying
And this same flower that smiles today,
Tomorrow will be dying.
The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he’s a-getting the sooner
Will his race be run
And nearer he’s to setting.
That age is best which is the first
When youth and blood are warmer
But being spent, the worse, and worst times still succeed the former.
Then be not coy, but use your time,
And while ye may, go marry;
For having lost but once your prime
You may forever tarry.
To all-and-sundry, this is my plea. Now is the time for re-examination. Now is the time to flag positive change. Tomorrow is too near and may be too late. Please that brother, avoid taking bribes. The Lord is beaming His search light at everyone. He knows what no man knows.
Hymn: Let Others See Jesus In You
Pray now:
O God, forgive me for the sins I have committed against you, against myself and against other people.
O God, let not the devil write the last chapter of my life.
O God my father, break me and remould me into your delight.
O dear father, I am in need and deficient in both spiritual, financial, physical, marital, etc, aspects of my life (list out those needs to the Lord and pray today by 12noon, 3pm and 6pm).
Every power draining my virtues die in Jesus name.
(Isaiah.54:16) You waster, be consumed by fire and die now in Jesus name.
Pastor Mike
