SWIMMING AGAINST THE TIDE OF OUR CULTURE

Bishop Sunny Faith Ugbah
Church of God Mission Int'l
Akwa Ibom Bishopric

A young fresh graduate was offered a job as a young bank branch manager. He was the first in his family to be placed in such a high position. It was a big deal for the entire family because that was an answered prayer. The family threw a thank you party for him, and when it was time for everyone to retire for the night, the mother made a small speech and presented this young man with two framed hanging pictures. She told him to hang one in his office and one in his living room. What were these images? They were two single eyes in both frames, and the eye occupied the majority of the frame. The mother told him, “This is the eye of The Lord that is looking.” The young man put one right across his seat in the office, and the other as soon as you opened the door to his house. Things picked up rapidly for him on the new job. In a few years he became a regional manager, controlling many branches. One faithful day, three bank guests invited him to an irresistible deal that would yield millions of dollars. Before he knew it he found himself as part of a syndicate to defraud the bank. He would not need to work for the rest of his life once the plan pulls through. He put all the paperwork together and signed. As he was walking out of his office with all those documents to give to the group that evening at his house, in his conscious he fought against the stirring look of the image that represented the eye of The Lord. On opening his door at home he was shocked to see the eye looking at him again. Sweating and trembling, he locked the door, got in his car and went straight back to the office after hours to return those documents. He did not have the nerve to go through with it, and so, he saved himself from destruction. This guy continued to rise on the job, he became a well-respected leader in the community, and above all he had peace. Yes he would have made a lot of money with the former deal, but he would not have been able to determine how far he would live and how long he would run from the law. He was able to move away from toxic relationships. He was able to shun the approval of people. He realized it can never be too late to make a change, and he never got disappointed at the end of the day. There is a common saying, “If you are always seeking for people’s approval, you are always seeking to be disappointed. One thing that was not made known to him initially was that schemers out scheme themselves, or rather “you cannot out slick a slicker.” Evil men targeting good and Godly people always look for a cover-up to strike mischief, and once they use the innocent as a front, they always leave them hanging dry. Things are not always what they seem to be, but with time you will have better understanding. They already played the man out at the cash out register. The money would come through, but he would receive none of it. So for you, what are your challenges? In which areas do you have to stand your ground? Which occasions make you feel like you are standing alone? And that the majority is flowing against your personal conviction? Many times your stance may be unpopular, and the slogan, “If you cant beat them, join them” becomes so real to you, remember you need not join the multitude to do evil, and the last time I checked the word, Joshua and Caleb brought a minority report where the multitude headed towards destruction, their minority report withstood the test of time. I want to leave you with this advice from I Timothy 6:5-6, “Perverse disputing of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is Godliness: from such withdraw thy self. But Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Explanation? Ill-gotten wealth and get rich quick schemes are not really considered as gain. To swim against this tide of culture you must lean towards Godliness with contentment; that is true gain. My advice is stay focused, be purposeful about it, too, for proverbs 4:25-27 states, “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet, then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left, turn your foot away from evil.” You have been ordained and assigned before your creation. If you stay focused you will fulfill your purpose.
You are already a winner.
Nothing Missing, Nothing Broken!