John ESENE

    Know today that God wants us to keep trying. He never closes the door of mercy. He sent His Only Begotten Son to save us. We must accept this Gift and try every day to live well.

    It is certain that we are witnessing injustices, wanton killings, insecurity, kidnapping and economic hardships. But as Christians, rather than look for respite and solutions in the wrong direction thereby prolonging them, we should look up to Jesus and remember that He has told us that the life we live here is temporary. Jesus told us about life after death: heaven and hell. Jesus died for us to enable us be with Him where He is but if we allow distractions to lead us away from God’s plan for us, we will regret it.

     John 1:14; 3:34-36 tells us “The Word became a human being and full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw His glory, the glory which He received as the Father’s Only Son. The One whom God has sent speaking God’s words because God gives Him the fullness of His Spirit. The Father loves His Son and has put everything in His power. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, whoever disbelieve the Son will not have life, but will remain under God’s punishment.”

    Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us how short our life is, so that we may become wise.” And Psalm 90:10 says, “70 years is all we have, 80 years if we are strong; yet all they bring us is trouble and sorrow; life is soon over, and we are gone.” Every day has its problems as timed and you ought not to leave today’s work undone and pursue those of yesterday or tomorrow. Fulfill today and you will be happy you did.

     And Ephesian 5:15-16 says, “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like ignorant people, but likewise people. Make good use of every opportunity you have, because these are evil days.” Psalm 90:17 says, “Don’t be fools, then but try to find out what the Lord wants you to do.”  So, what are we waiting for?

    God has a plan for us even before He created us. Most of the things we chase daily are for a shot time: they are perishable things of this world. Let us value things for eternity so as to achieve the purpose for which we are created. If the richest man in this world dies today, he will go back to God for judgment without taking his wealth along with him. And those who did not labor for his wealth will inherit it.

     1 Timothy 6:7-10 says, “What did we bring into the world? Nothing! What can we take out of the world? Nothing! So then, if we have food and clothes that should be enough for us. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and are caught in the trap of many foolish and harmful desires, which pull them down to ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a source of all kinds of evil.” Mt 16:26 says, “For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?”

   Jim Reeves told us in his song, “This world is not my home, I am just passing through.” In other words, all that belongs to you now are not permanent but temporary except what is born of God’s Spirit in you. St Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “However, as the Scripture says, “What no one ever saw or heard, what no one ever thought could happen, is the very thing God prepared for those who love Him.”

     Remember that you are not the owner of your life: your life is a gift from God who has a plan for you! Jesus said in John 14:1-3, “Do not be worried and upset. Believe in God and believe also in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s House and I am going to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it were not so. And after I go and prepare a place for you I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am.”

  As we journey in this Lenten Season, let us repent like the people of Nineveh to win God’s mercy and ensure we do not return to our sinful ways. Our individual repentance can influence those around us to turn to God for their full conversion and save their souls also!

    Words fail me, but this season of Lent will give birth to unusual courage in you to see and believe that pushing yourself to a greater frontier as you turn away from your sins and move towards righteousness is necessary. If you hate change, you cannot succeed in fulfilling your destiny. Time and change are twin brothers or sisters. The Only Begotten Son of God died for our salvation, so in appreciation, let us abandon everything like Peter and follow Jesus, the Way, the Truth and Life!

      Do not look for comfort now but be committed to enable you   fulfill the purpose for your creation. Do not allow pride to take away from you, this opportunity. Do your very best and leave the rest to God who loves and cares for you! God gives us the gift of every moment with something to accomplish but we fret peripherals.

      Jesus said in Luke 9:23 “If anyone wants to come with me, he must forget self, take up his cross every day and follow me.” So, for this special call, choose obedience to Jesus and accept the sacrifices involve in it and be faithful till the end irrespective of the difficulties involved. Yes. It means dying to yourself and resisting sin; live fully for God’s will and not your own will. God loves you and gave your life that at the end of your sojourn you may come back to live with Him in His paradise!