Sometimes, life prepares you for the twists and turns that come your way, and there are times when you are caught off guard and unprepared, with no sense of navigation or direction.
Talk about being clueless…
The scenarios don’t match the dreams, neither are the developments looking aligned with the promises.
Today a leader in your dream, tomorrow a slave sold by your brothers (Ask Joseph).
Today, a member of the 12G cabinet of the most powerful Man on earth, tomorrow you are back to fishing all night and catching NOTHING.
‘Wasn’t it yesterday we were arguing about the greatest of us all? Who is the strongest, or most intelligent of us all? Yea, yea, he answered our question with a kid in the middle, we get it, we get it, doesn’t mean anyone here has got my oratory prowess though, neither is anyone as committed as I am! If they all deny the master, I won’t!’
‘A cock is going to crow 3 times that night? Then I’ll kill it before it even gets to sneeze!’
Talk about ‘oxymorons’ and ‘hyperboles’.
But it happens…. it does…..twists and turns that make you feel like you’ve landed in a different space other than planet earth. Happenings that jolt your mind so fast, you don’t even have a second to make sense of what it is going on…
It happens…
How It All Started…
I was taking a leisurely stroll through the Father’s Heart one morning when I found myself on a street with a sign post that read “As He Said”. I read it casually and I kept walking, but those words were too strong to ignore.
I backtracked, and I read the words again, “As He Said”. No I don’t get it.
So I sat on the floor, and I kept looking, I kept gazing until I was pulled into that night, that dark unforgettable night.
The council was seated. With their regal caps and cloaks. They’ve got this crusader and there is no escape for him this time.
Witness after witness came forward to pin a false accusation on him. This is hard work, because the man being arraigned is blameless. They tried really hard, until they found something…
‘This man said he would destroy the temple and rebuild in 3 days! Fallacy!! Treason!!’
Huh? And so? He said! He didn’t even do it!
At this point, reason had been sent out of the hall in exchange for the tyranny of darkness. The kingpins and ‘principos’ of the dark world were seated and this game must end in their favor.
The plot thickens…
So…what’s the verdict for saying what he said?
“Crucify him!”
What?! That’s moving from zero to a million! For what?
“Crucify him! His blood be on us and our children!”
Oh My God, where have I entered? I kept looking with my eyes bulging out of their sockets…. this is happening for real! They slapped him, spat on him, and ridiculed him, this blameless man.
At some point, I couldn’t take it anymore, so I ran out of the hall, and I ran smack into a weeping adult. More like an agonizing man. You would think he was planning to weep (more like whip) out his heart with his tears…
In that moment words won’t do justice, so I sat on the floor beside him.
Then I heard… I heard his heart…
“How did I get here? I thought I would never betray the master! I loved him with my life! I still do!! But see how my life has turned out…. just as he said!!! Oh God! Please forgive me!”
O boy… there’s nothing I can say about this…
I muttered some words of prayer to comfort him….and I left.
Now I’m standing behind some women, looking at the cross in great pain and disbelief.
“No, we fed this man. One of us even wasted her costly jar of oil on him. He said glorious things to us, painted dreams before our hearts, brought us into another experience of Living.
No, it can’t end here. The story cannot end here. He told us of a kingdom that cannot be shaken! He spoke about a government above the earth! He talked of powers, of angels, of eternity!
He said he is the resurrection and the life! No.
No… this story can’t end here. It can’t! But what can we do now? Nothing”.
I collapsed on the floor, heartbroken and pained for these ones….and for myself too…
How many times have I screamed in the dark seasons…’this is not what you promised me! This is not what we discussed!’
‘You promised me a future and a hope!! So much for promises, this doesn’t look like it!’
Talk about inner turmoils and quagmires…
But the story has not ended…
It hasn’t…
I found myself on the road to Emmaus, behind two men, who were looking sad and dejected. They were silent but their raging thoughts were loud, so loud that the resurrected king could not ignore.
“This man was supposed to be king!!! He gave us hope. Finally, we thought the books were being fulfilled. What were we even thinking? Placing all our dreams and aspirations on the line for this one man crusader? But we believed, I mean we still believe, but this does not add up.
Now some women are telling us he is risen. Risen to where?
This is too much to handle. His death is disappointing enough, but to paint pictures of false hopes before us…. that’s a rollercoaster ride we are not ready for right now.”
Then I felt the nudge, ‘never mind, leave them, the answer is on the way’.
Great! These guys need it so badly. So I left, navigated my way out of the road, connected via Phillip express, and I was in a room.
Members of the 12G cabinet, huddled together, heads bowed in confusion and disbelief. ‘Yes he told us this would happen, he told us trying times would come, but…we don’t even feel prepared for this’.
The last two days have thrown them into turmoil and agony. They are caught between mourning for the loss of their best friend, the shame of their disappearance in his hour of need, or the disorientation that has left no room for one intelligent thought in their minds right now.
Talk about plain confusion…
He said he would rise on the 3rd day….what if it doesn’t happen…what if?
Then it happened….the unexplainable happened. It happened. An uninvited guest entered the room! Without opening the door!
Jesus!!!
First shock, then wow! The rush! The hug! The excitement! Incoherent chatter! I knew you would come! I didn’t know! I can’t believe it! Is this you! My Lord! Rabboni!
In that moment, every question disappeared, doubts were cleared, hope was released, and an otherworldly courage could be felt in the room. This Man. This King. This Lord.
I stepped out, and I found myself back at the sign post “As He Said”
I smiled. Now I get it.
Seasons will come in our lives when the scenarios don’t seem to match up with the script we have written in our heads.
When the narrative doesn’t make sense anymore, and the turn of events has no comfort to offer.
We have burnt our bridges and stepped out on a journey, holding on to his promises as our map and compass. Then we hit a roadblock , telling us there is no way out, in fact, there is no journey, we have believed a lie, nothing is happening!
In that moment we have a choice, we either believe the roadblocks, pack our bags and go back the way we came…or we allow ourselves to be guided by the map etched within us, in the place of communion and fellowship.
There is only one destination on the journey of Faith…. As He Said.
There is only one end to the story fashioned and authored by God…..As He Said.
There is only one conclusion to the narrative of your life….. As He Said.
So what are the sayings you have received? What are the promises given? What are the dreams he has painted in your heart?
Never mind that you are navigating a tough bend right now, let the vision of a predetermined end strengthen you.
Let the unquestionable character of God embolden you.
Let his undying love comfort your heart and give you peace.
You can rest…. the narrative of your life can only go in one direction: AS HE SAID.
Matthew 28:6a He is not here: for he is risen, AS HE SAID
Your Friend,
Omo Oba.