WHAT'S NEXT AFTER MEETING JESUS?

It's a new year, and I'm starting out by letting us know what exactly is next after meeting Jesus. This article has been written by a dear friend, it's quite long, but it's totally worth it. Read below:

WHAT’S NEXT AFTER MEETING JESUS

I’ve been summoned as a witness to give my account of what was next after meeting Jesus. I see myself as though standing in the witness box before you all with the solemn promise of telling “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”. The following experience has been lifted from my journal sometimes ago. It might be unusually long but please bear with me.

I woke up about two or three days ago with this song on my mind “O Happy day”. I picked the book of sacred songs and solo and sang alone in my room the whole hymn.

Not too long did I realized that it was another year; that the 1st of July marked the 9th year after giving my life to Christ. I remember how stubborn I could have turned out to be (and the troubles I had caused my parents) but thank God for the lovely parents that disciplined me. I was tamed but it didn’t stop me from lying (in the least not to mention other atrocities), neither did it caused my mind to be transformed.

I’ve spent most of my years in school, away from my parents. So every morning that a preacher comes especially on Fridays, reminding us of our sins – our iniquities – then I answer the altar call. This week again and in another assembly the following week. It went on that way and many of us were in the same shoes. Sunday was the most holy day of the week for us. Preachers come and we’re reminded how much we need Jesus in our lives. We yield again to the call. The whole Sunday then was one with sobriety for us and me especially. But through the week, Monday to Saturday, we’ve already gone down the lane; from another word of abuse to mockery.

“Not a curse…! ‘Twas just a question!” That was our usual response when we were reminded that we are Christians when we respond in anger to situations around us with statements such as saying “Are you mad? Are you Crazy or stupid?” Things like that and many more. 

Just about the time we started our Junior Secondary School Certificate Exam (JSSCE), I remember we had a meeting at the upper room – the then JSS3 block. It was wonderful with that brother from town. (Not Bro. Monday this time nor Bro. Friday. We call some of those preachers by the name of the week they often show up because we don’t know their names). Obviously, I had given my life to Christ the umpteenth time again but this time for a difference.

This time around I had to sustain it with nothing else but the word of God. There were a few seniors I could look up to who were truly Christians – not those who stand to preach and then are disobedient to the school authority thereafter. I remember Sister Ase Motunrayo, Sister Adu and Sister Shittu. I suppose they would have given birth to their own children by now! They were there for us as mothers to give us the milk necessary for our growth.

But beyond that, the word of God was the major thing that has brought me this far. I made it my duty to read my bible at least then, though I might not have studied well compared to now and I tried at all cost to see that I obeyed it. There was a time, I remember, I was not reading the scripture as I used to.

A morning came when Mrs. Oki came to call us for an emergency bible quiz that will be starting that morning organized by “Youth for Christ”. It has been the usual trend to be called for such emergencies. On our way to the hall, she asked us about our quiet time that morning but to her disappointment, we didn’t have any. And I just but had to choose to tell the truth other than lie that I did have. She counseled about the value of this precious time spent with God.

Of course, we dropped out in the 1st round of the quiz. And that was how my digging in into the scripture began. I might just have read daily a chapter from the New Testament especially the epistles, but I took those words to heart and seek to practice them. The epistles, as it were, then gave me directions about this and that rather than getting lost in the Old Testament but later on, I learned to take the word of God as a whole. 

The year I spent at home while waiting for admission was a transforming one because it really dealt with brokenness in my life. It was such a good moment for my faith in God to die out because the setting was kind of perfect from such but God wouldn’t allow it. I joined a bible believing church and I was comfortable there, hearing the truth which I held unto. 

Moreover, my mum must have noticed my desire for God was burning because every little change that comes my way I’d like to invest it on Christian literatures. She offered borrowing books from genuine Christians in her work place for me to study. I was so glad. Her previous magazines named Christian Mirror, I sought for them and I really found it to have assisted my growth despite the fact that I was not a godly woman as it was spelt out on the back page that it was dedicated to them.

One way or the other, I found myself to be where God has assigned someone to help in building up my faith. When I came into the university, I served in different capacities however little but I do not count this as an achievement, although it might have founded the basics or assisted the pre-existing. I joined the gathering of brethren some of which their faith challenged me and some still make me marvel long after they’ve gone ‘home’. Here, I came to know of what they called discipleship. 

Some couple of friends who were brethren introduced me to it. I was made to realize that it was God’s agenda of forming Christ in the hearts of believers by placing them under tutors and governors of the kingdom to watch over our growth and development until we become like the son whom He loves. Gal 4:1-2, Heb. 12:7-11. This is God’s family training scheme. It is discipleship.

Ever since I’ve become a conscious participant of this God’s agenda, my life – I must confess – has never remained the same. So all through those tender years, God has been using those people for me as tutors and governors, though I might not have known. The Senior Sisters, the Esaias family (who took me in as their own child after the sisters left), the Juliana’s family (whom under trust I spent my awaiting year with), not to mention my parents with whom barely spend more than three months with each year because of my education. 

What I’m saying in essence is that the next thing after meeting Jesus is discipleship. That is what - I perceive - has been the focus of this blog from the onset. I’m a witness to this and I’m asking you to come join me in this experience… the next thing after meeting Jesus – discipleship.

Yours in Christ,

Tope