11th February, 2022.

AVOID TRIGGERS OF UNGODLY ALTERNATIVES

Hebrews 6:12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

I remember my Eba and egusi joint at Pram junction in Greater Accra, Ghana. When i became home sick during my COVID-19 ordeal, I asked around for a place where I could get Nigerian made meals. The type of rice I ate in the community where I resided stirred serious longing for home-made meals. I remember vividly that I was frequent at the spot where we bought pap in nylon for 50 pesewas. I rarely take pap as breakfast but there was nothing I could do under the condition I found myself. All that stirred my desire for better meals. Though I was infected, I was saddled with the responsibility of caring for my travel assistant who could barely help himself. Unfortunately, our request for isolation in the government hospital wasn't granted. I fellowshipped in a church where there were Nigerians. After one of the Sunday services, I asked where Nigerian meals were sold. Someone gave me a good description. I didn't know it was a familiar place along the route to church. While in that restaurant, I got talking with the Nigerian lady who managed the place. In our conversation, she spoke about traveling through some illegal border routes to Nigeria. She told me some persons were using the route without hassles. That sank deeply. Another brother in church said something similar. That was where my eagerness to explore illegal alternatives started from before it graduated into seeking for an escape route via the water ways. That was my last resort.

I heard a transport company was helping people cross the border. I called the front desk officer of the transport company. He said they have links at every border post. He promised to carry us to the border between Ghana and Togo then some bike men will pick us from there to the border between Togo and Benin republic and from there to Nigeria. It sounded good but I had a check deep in my spirit. I stayed with a wonderful brother who calmed my anxiety with his soothing words. His teachings during our devotion and perspective on issues were my inspiration to stay on the right track. Thank God my patience paid off and God proved Himself as our provider. Any lesson in this concise experience I shared? When you relate too long with people who see nothing wrong with exploring ungodly alternatives, you may be influenced. I almost came under the influence of those whom I heard talking about using illegal routes.

While waiting on the Lord during your trying times, do not associate with men who point you to or offer quick fixes. If you stay long with or around them, you'll come under their influence. Every man on the face of the earth is a product of influence positively or negatively. Even Abraham, the friend of God was wrongly influenced by his wife, Gen16:2. His wife told him to go in to Hagar so that he could have a son and he did. We didn't know the number of times Sarah pointed Abraham to that alternative but I'm sure that repeated exposure was what triggered Abraham to do what he did. Today, the outcome of Abraham's action is part of the problems facing the world. Abraham didn't live to see the havoc the descendants of Ishmael have wrecked in the world. Today's ungodly quick fixes to our challenges may solve some problems temporarily but may create a long standing problems for the next generation. This is what Abraham didn't realise when he went in to Hagar. If he had known, he may not have explored that option. There's only one way to obtaining the promise: Faith&Patience. What you'll get with ungodly alternatives are things that looks like the promise but not the promise itself. Wait on God patiently, your time is coming.