Choices, A True Life Experience

BY EBI ANTHEA U. (MRS)

There is always a reason for situations and circumstances; yeah! I quite agree. The Bible confirms this; “All things work together for good to them that love the Lord…” (Rom. 8v28), “In everything give thanks…” (1 Thess. 5v18).

I can never forget way back in my school days; then the world made more sense and life was worth more than a living.

Way back then, less than N2,500 could buy a passenger an air ticket for a domestic travel, and not more than N500 for an ‘A’ class luxurious bus travel from one long geographic location to another.

I remember being sweet-talked by my friend into making this journey by a night luxurious bus.

E-e-hen, night of all the times! Up till today, since then, I have ever remained and will ever remain grateful to God for that ‘eternal’ experience. About 30 minutes after our takeoff, while I was still struggling within me to preach; lo and behold, this 16-year old young boy stood up.

Believe you me, he so challenged me. His speech that night so enthralled all passengers, even as it ministered deep. I bet you, it was a heralding to my struggled but later-accomplished assignment.

Thank God for that day. Going forward, this young boy alerted that he had not come to entice the passengers with preaching, as usual, but to awaken their conscience.

How? He said that life was all about conscience, a matter of one’s decision, which at the long run, may affect the individual grossly. He gave three basic illustrations, which I later expounded.

• He said God created and established man in his own image and in an excellent condition, but all that was lost when he chose to rebel against his creator. Now who suffers the consequences?

That a young man created in God’s image who CHOOSES to commit a crime would deliberately immerse himself into narcotics and alcohol to get high.

In most cases, he gets higher than he bargained for, and for all he cares, the head can scatter for as long as he has ministered loyalty to the ‘master’ (the Devil).

• Think about a young unmarried lady, who chooses not to heed the advice of her parents/caretakers but sleeps around; predisposing herself to the danger of unwanted pregnancy, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
• Who suffers it? The 20-30 minutes ‘pleasure’ soon disappears, ushering in worry and the fear of the unknown.

The boy/man, whose conscience is already seared with hot iron, moves about as though nothing happened. He may even deny the girl.

• The list is endless. Think about a man whose lying tongue has turned him into a pathological liar.

No matter how professional he has become, he still employs a lot of effort to maintain the series. I bet you, he must need to do a lot of remembering, not to forget the first lies. Whose stress is it?

You can agree with me it is far simpler and stress-free speaking the truth than managing lies.

Manufacturers of cigarettes and some other alcoholic drinks, clearly warn that their consumption is dangerous to health, yet with such a “death sign” attached, still attracts high level patronage by the users.

It is their choice. The choices people make today bear dire consequences on their future. Adam and Eve disobeyed God, it was a deliberate action and the consequences still trail mankind.

The “SIN FACTOR’ in man propels him so much towards evil. The sufferings and strife people go through are all consequences of man’s inhumanity to man.

At the end, we will agree that men sometimes are “masters of their own fate” (Macbeth). Most things we see are consequences of our choice.

However, God has promised that every man’s work will be tried by fire. A lot of people think that God’s instructions are burdensome, let them try Satan’s own.

 God’s ways are rather straight and simple: when you follow it, you will never regret it. It does not impose anything on you, but it keeps appealing that you may see reason.