DON’T LOSE YOUR PEACE

DON’T LOSE YOUR PEACE

Let’s assume you’re on transit. You’re in a passenger bus heading to Europe. That’s a joke! You can’t drive from Africa to Europe. Barring other conditions -you may not be able to drive all the way. Nearly all the continents are separated by large bodies of water. So? 

So! :) :) :)

Please disregard the lines above. This article is not about Africa, Europe, ocean etc. 

I am here to write about a young believer who falls into the hands of some lunatics; trigger-happy terrorists. The terrorists were determined to kill every one passenger in the bus. Why? They wouldn’t repeat after the lunatics - who were pointing guns to the travelers - some statements from one “holy” book. The armed guys want their new victims to “change” their faith by certain words they were compelled to speak.

When the vehicle the boy was transiting in was forced to a screeching halt by this bunch of dangerous extremists. The driver, failing to discern the moment appropriately, screamed to his passengers ``Ole,ole”. The word “ole” translates to ‘thief’. 

Noise, shout, wail, cry was the new rhythm in the bus. If it was possible to disappear, melt or hide behind a needle; the bus would be empty just about time the terrorists got close. 

Give all you have [your money, your jewelries] or risk losing everything [including travelers’ lives]. 

The passengers waited to hear this from the armed guys. But they were dismayed to hear the god of a popular faith being hailed, instead. The extremists hail the name of their god with a shout; the god of a popular faith in the world today. They hail the name two, three, four times.

Some of those traveling in the bus who were of the same faith with these guys, have finally met their “leaders” in the faith. :) :) If the terrorists use the same “holy” book as the others - then, one group should no longer read the book when the weather is too hot. The implication as we’ve seen in the new world order is weighty.

It would seem that the non extreme members of “this particular faith” have the rest of their days on earth to deal with false allegiance, forced cohabitation, misrepresentation and confusion. 

Back to the matter: The bandit who had just forced a passengers’ bus to a halt; meant business. “You fail to hail the name of our god, we pull the trigger on your head” PHOA! Remember the slang? ‘No time to check time’

I could imagine two or three people struggling to control their bladder. They WEE on themselves as they march [at the extremists’ command] in a single file into the bush.

Show me a Christian who has never pictured one of these moments. A gun pointed to their head: Followed by a threat to denounce their Christian faith. 

If you find yourself in such a situation, are you going to shiver; and simply go with the flow. I hear someone say they would do what needs to be done to escape such a quagmire.

God forbid that it happened to you. Right there in your mind; you’ve probably wished at one time that if you ever find yourself in such an entanglement - and you know that merely claiming allegiance would suffice to secure your freedom. You’ve prayed before now that as you say or do what the terrorists command; you’re immediately set free. You’re not about to waste anybody’s time...

To say or do what is commanded is not your problem. Or could never be an issue. The problem is, terrorists cannot be trusted. And, you know it! No one partnering with the devil gets a fair share.

About the young believer; he took a bullet to the head! The young chap held on to his Christian faith till the end. The boy’s faith was tested and found to be true.

The discussion around [denunciation, allegiance or forced conversion of faith-to-faith] is long underway. When I hail the name of a god especially under false pretense: Have I, under such a circumstance, done something wrong. Should I begin to lose my peace [even] now; seeing that my Christian faith has not really been tested yet, in a similar context. 

This would not happen. But, for the sake of this write-up, if you find yourself in such a situation, it seems that the direction of your pendulum, with regards to your decision, is foreknown. Except guns were not involved.

In 2nd kings 5, Namaan, coming out of a plight, had seen the God of Elisah manifested in his life. Namaan said to prophet Elisah; from this moment, there’s one God worthy of worship, honor, adoration and praise - The God of Israel. He was saying: I believe in God…  And in Him I rejoice: To Him my praise is given forever. I shall live for Him till the end.

Then Namaan remembered something. Please read verse 18 of 2nd kings. I could see Namaan in deep sorrow, as he remembered that there would be moments he might not be able to help himself. The helpless him might be dragged to bow before a lesser god soon. 

I could see Namaan swear to Elisah, that he would never deliberately bow before ‘god Rimmon’. He may have done it before, but not anymore.

So sad that Namaan who doesn’t want to be involved in anything contrary to serving the one true God. The God of Israel. The God he had come to believe; may find himself at gun point with threats to his life. 

Namaan’s state was not even as bad! 

Namaan’s situation was: He had a master who served a lesser god. 

Namaan was his master’s right hand. The master leaned on him at the temple of god Rimmon every time a sacrifice was to be made to the goddess.

Namaan, at this point, knew better. Disinterested in serving other gods, he asked Elisah if he would be judged under such a circumstance. Namaan was saying to Elisah, I promise you that when I bow before god Rimmon it won’t be from my heart. It won’t be because I want to… it would solely be on the premise that I have to. “Condition wan make my crayfish bend”

A Christian who believes that members of the other popular faith do not worship the same God. And he/she is convicted of this, has not judged the matter wrongly. When he/she is forced to denounce their true faith and swear allegiance to the faith of their captors at gunpoint, they are just as helpless and hapless.

Do you know what Elisah said to Namaan: Go in peace! 2nd kings 5:19. In other words, when this happens - keep your peace.

When Apostle Paul returned to Jerusalem in Act 21; something of notice happened. Before this time, Paul had had a successful ministry outside Jerusalem. The God’s servant did the Lord’s work amongst the gentiles so well. Paul, in company of others, preached the gospel nonstop to non Jews and other Jews who lived outside Jerusalem. He performed signs and wonders too. 

Today, the message that leads to salvation has been preached to all nations, tribes and tongues. The name Paul would never be forgotten. Himself and others brought salvation to the ends of the earth.

The one who is in Christ is a new creation. The bible says that old things have passed in the life of this person, all things have been made new. 

Religious rites, tradition and old customs are no longer necessary in the scheme of things. Christ is the author and finisher of the Christian faith. Hebrews 12:2. 

In other words, Christ is the beginning and the end of the salvation that’s come to man. Circumcision or not is now baseless. To offer sacrifice with the blood of an animal is needless; as a matter of fact, this could call to question the sincerity of your faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Let the one who engages in activities unrecognized by the New Testament’s bible tread with care.

It should not be Paul, after much revelation and insight into the death and resurrection of Christ - and all about the message of the Cross, it shouldn’t be Paul who would now go into the temple to observe one rite or the other. He has spoken against these things amongst the gentiles. Romans 3:20, Romans 8:2-8, Galatians 2:16 etc.

The satan we know would not have allowed this to slide. That Paul would shave his head in quest to perform one purification rite. And the enemy would not ask Paul in his mind if he truly believed that we are justified, simply, by our faith in Christ. That Satan only folded his arms and watched this played out - may not be true. But pause! To observe the words Apostle Paul had written in many of his books in the bible; to observe carefully is to also note that the Paul we know in the Holy book would never have wished for ACT 21:23 to happen.

James, in company of elders, compelled Paul to observe a tradition that was no longer necessary.  Act 21:23. Paul knew such purification rites and other activities powered by the Law of Moses were no longer needed. Romans 3:20, Romans 8:2-8, Galatians 2:16. God's servant simply allowed that moment to pass.

Go in peace Brothers and Sisters. The words of Elisah.

Boluwatife Adekunle