Friday, February 01, 2008

A Preacher's Cross


When Satan launches an offensive, he leaves you in no doubt as to whom the author of your trouble is. Co-incidence will not pass as a satisfactory explanation for the ugly incidences that follow. This is especially so when he is on a mission to intimidate a man whose life poses a threat to him. A man whose business it is to turn on God's revealing light on his dark nature.

To hear the story of Brother Seyi Adelodun, a young message preacher, at a time when people, religious and non religious are superstitious about what experience they have because anything unpleasant is deemed as boding a bad omen for a year about to be birthed, any spiritual mind would have no difficulty discerning that this young man must have stepped hard on Satan's dark toes and Satan is calling for his pound of flesh.

Having worshipped God into the late hours of the night at his humble church, he snapped back to consciousness, realizing that he couldn't make it back home to his wife and suckling boy. So he decided to spend the night there.

It was just five days before Christmas. The mood was festive.
Brother Seyi set out for home just as the Sun was making its cheery climb up the morning sky.
As he pushed his way down the street with a head-load of thoughts, suddenly he noticed movement too quick for the lazy morning:Two men on motorbike rushing at him.

When they got close enough, they pulled out a gun and demanded that he hand over the small leather bag slung on his shoulder. In a matter of seconds the bag had gotten into wrong hands and the robbers may well be said to have dematerialized as they faded out of view in an instant.

Two days later, he went to his parents’ to narrate his ordeal. His dad also being a preacher.He told them about the important documents he had lost to that experience: International passport, driver's license, Identity card, cell phone, his sermon books, tracts and Gospel CDs among other things.

Just as they were giving him their sympathy, consolation and encouragement some men came asking for him. They had with them his Identity card. It turned out that they were policemen. They said a lady was robbed and that the robbers in their hasty getaway had left behind that ID.

It is common knowledge around Nigeria that time spent going to the police to report a crime is not just time wasted but also possibly an opportunity given to them to victimize the innocent, who will not be let out until they have been parted from their money. So it's easy to understand why the young preacher chose save to his breath and look to God for justice.

Like a joke without a funny edge, he was told that he was a suspect. Even though the lady who claimed the robbers left the ID denied that the servant of God was one of them, it made no difference with the police. They weren't going to let him go without parting him from his money ( bail money as it is called: Illegal too because only a court grants bail.)

After close to a week in detention (illegal too because the law says a suspect should not be held beyond a day or so without prosecution) by the crooked law officers the young preacher walked away from his captors hoping to meet a relieved wife and baby happy to be carried again by the strong hands of daddy but that wasn't to be. Satan's hurt had not yet been placated.Instead of a relieved wife, a distressed one was waiting for him. She had in her arms a baby writhing in pain, scalded by hot water!Tender curly baby hair and facial skin badly peeled, lips parted by unending groans and stiffened eye lids.

For a thinking man, the presence of the shadow of death is proof positive that there is a substance of life.
Saints, we are traveling on the right road or satan won’t fight so hard!

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