GOODBYE 2019, HELLO 2020

I wish I could tell you I was a bit more enthusiastic about the classes which would hold for 16 weeks, but goodness, I love my morning sleep and those classes were going to eat out of that, but o well, it was either that or keep procrastinating and never truly becoming a member of the church nor finding my space to serve.

So, there I was, in my first Discipleship Training School (DTS) class wondering what new thing I was going to learn being that I had practically grown up feeding on the Word of God. My Mom had ensured that we started having a good relationship with God since I was a child; that and my pink bible which was given to me by my Sunday school teacher, coupled with 6 years of Baptist High School, Jos, Bible Study Fellowship and learning from wonderful pastors so, in all honesty, I was a bit skeptical I would learn anything new at DTS but since it was mandatory for us to attend before becoming members of the Church then, I was going to comply.

Our first-class was on salvation; a topic almost any Christian would be conversant with, but little did I know that there were so many things to it that we often miss and simply take for granted because for many of us, we were born into Christianity and so we just flowed with it.

Salvation, as we were taught ‘is the total work of God in forging a right relationship between mankind and himself. It is God’s remedy for the fall of man. It is deliverance from sin and death leading to eternal life and happiness. Jesus Christ by his death and resurrection brought salvation to all who believe in him’.

I had almost made it to the end of the class unmoved until I spotted one question that sent my mind swirling and my heart beating. It was a pretty simple question‘what can we learn from the condemnation of Jesus and the release of Barabbas? While I pondered over the question, the Holy Spirit brought another question to my mind 'Serah, do you reckon you can do what God did?

Nailah was barely a year plus and she was my world. I could not picture sacrificing my little girl who brought me so much joy for anyone? I would not be able to bring myself to it no matter what. Even if it meant that millions would die if I didn't do it, then I guess they would all have to die because I simply can't.  If ever such a sacrifice needs to be done and I am the one to do it, then I suggest that each man make his way straight with God at that moment and prepare to meet him and their fate because I cannot do it and I won't.

I pictured Mary, helpless and watching as her little boy was being beaten to a pulp and made to carry a cross, he had no business with and a crown of thorns he didn’t deserve.  The thought of it all appalled me and I could not stomach it or the events that brought about my salvation.

Even though I have two girls now, but I still can't think of anything that would make me sacrifice or let one child go to help anyone. No one is worth that much trouble for me, not anyone. Talk more of doing that for an ungrateful bunch of people who may never truly understand the extent of that sacrifice or what it cost me and they could abuse it? Naa, I can't do it and I respect anyone who can do the things I can't do.

There and then, my spiritual arrogance began to fade and give way to genuine gratitude. Never in all my Christian life had I truly understood what it cost God to sacrifice his only child for me not knowing how I would receive or treat this gift and still going the distance to do it. For the first time, I caught a little glimpse of how much God loved me and what it cost Him for me to be saved.

The thought blew my mind, and in all honesty, I guess it may take you to be a parent or a mother to truly comprehend it, but even as an aunt, I can't think of anything that would make me give up any of my nephews or nieces for anyone; I love them too much.

God loves us so much that He gave up everything just to reunite us with Him. He risked it all on a bunch of ungrateful people who rather than appreciate his gift, whine, complain, grumble, insult and just treat it with so much contempt. Perhaps we never truly get it because we didn't pay for it and by the human standard it is super easy to take for granted and abuse something that costs you nothing to get. Very few people like King David may ever truly comprehend this and that is why he says 'let all that I am praise the Lord; He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies' (Psalm 103:4).

As the year 2019 comes to an end, I pray that you can truly catch a glimpse of what it cost God to ensure that He saved and redeemed you from hell, and hopefully it would prompt you to genuine gratitude and help chart your 2020 to be a year where you become more deliberate in things that concern Him and making the sacrifice count.

When I enter cabs, board a flight, enter Keke (tricycle), wherever and whatever I am doing, you best be assured that I am deliberately calculating ways to make my money, time and God’s sacrifice count. I prayerfully seek ways to throw God into our discussion while silently hoping that I can use my opportunity well enough to just share a little about His love with you. Just seeking ways to make the sacrifice count and to make Him know I was worth it and not a waste.

Amongst the many things I have written this year, I pray you read this post and the one titled ‘terrified’ because those lessons for me are the kind you never want to forget.

Have an amazing new year and see you in 2020 by God's grace.

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