LOST IN THE PAST

When I was about completing my first degree in the university, I spent a lot of time praying about the next phase of my life asking God to reveal what His plans were to me. Though this became major prayer point for me immediately after my 100 Level and I stayed on that prayer point till my final year and beyond. However, I increased the intensity in my final year. After writing my final paper, on a dark night, I did a prayer walk from my hostel to my fellowship venue. I climbed the gallery and was praying in the midnight. I was all alone in that vicinity or say i didn't see anyone in sight, most students had gone home. That period, I was waiting to defend my project. From the dark, a young man walked to where I was, stopped my prayer and told me he was sent to give me a message in response to my requests. He told me about how an angel instructed him to reach out to urgently.

I was not moved by the "angelic message" but I was curious to know this person better. He was not a brother in any of the fellowship on campus but I know his face because I've seen him several times on campus. I decided to enter into a conversation with him to know him better. As we discussed, he began to say things like 'when I was on fire for God' and other statements that showed that he had a solid walk with God in the past. Actually, he had God's call upon him and I sensed it right there. Himself told me about God's assignment for his life but he became sexually immoral and lost his place. He spoke from the standpoint of a man with a bitter heart. In fact, from that conversation, I discovered he was actively involved in ministry in the past doing exploits but he strayed. He wasn't a student of our school but he had business on campus. He told me he was trusting God to get back into the ministry but I won't forget a statement he made, "When I was on fire for God." That statement pierced my heart deeply and since then one of my prayer points have always been "May I not become once upon a time in the faith".

There are champions of yesterday still basking in the glory of the past. They are still walking, talking and may even be honouring invitations here and there but all that is left in their walk are stories of past exploits. At some point in the past, they got lost and missed it but haven't been restored. In my little time on earth, I've seen this. I knew God permitted me to have that encounter so that I see the possibility of regression. I also learnt that Satan doesn't respect height reached before bringing a man down, only men with depth will remain in this race. From the scripture above, Job had the secret of God upon his tabernacle as a youth but he didn't tell us if he still had those secrets as an old man. I don't want to be a story telling christian at my old age. There are good stories to tell at old age but I don't want to tell those stories from the standpoint of a man lost in the past. I don't want to tell people 'I was a preacher'. God forbid! To avoid being lost in the past, consistency in our daily walk with God will keep us on track till the end. People miss it in their walk with God at the point of 'it doesn't matter' and from there, they dwell in past glory and miss out on God. We are not of them that draw back, our aim should be to finish strong.