There was a time I visited a dear friend of mine who had invited me over to his house on arriving from the UK. He was an ordained minister in a church before he traveled abroad but I was shocked to know that he had denounced Christianity during our discussion. In his words, he said, “I haven't prayed to the god of the Jew in two years now and I am fine”. That same day, we were in the car driving to pick another friend of ours. The moment he saw people coming out of the church he worshiped while in Nigeria, he simply said as he shook his head, “These people come to church every Sunday only to be given false hope”. I was shocked that a one-time tongue-blasting and an advocate of seed sowing and tithing could ever turn 360 in such a short moment. It's still like a dream to me today.

Perhaps you have also been asking yourself about what could be responsible for the rate at which modern young Africans like my friend are now denouncing Christianity as you may have also noticed. No thanks to the “prosperity teachers” of this age, they are to be blamed. These “pulpit bandits” actually sold Jesus to our people as a means to a goal and not the real goal. What most Christian do when they go on evangelism is basically to try and entice people to join their church, promising them that Jesus will make them rich, heal them, protect them from calamity, etc. I have heard many end-time preachers say that it is an aberration for evil to happen to a faithful Tither. This is not true! Errors like these have made people shift their attention from the face of God to his hands. It is no longer about God but what he can provide. May God have mercy.

Back to the story of my friend, I remember that he actually left the country shortly after his mother died of cancer. So I believe that the loss of his mum really shook the foundation of his faith in Jesus and sadly, he didn’t survive it. May we not be tested more than what we can bear.

Losing a mother or a close family member can be tough and the pain is best imagined. Professor Dora Akunyili’s son talked about his mum’ last days during his interview with Chude. He talked about how his mum sowed seeds for her healing. Not just that, how she reached out to a lot of men of God only to be swindled. In his words, “My mother’s faith couldn't heal her”. The interview is there on YouTube for you to see.

I have come to the realization that the majority of people in the modern-day church are dedicated to the things of God for a reason. Just like Job in Job 1:5, who made sacrifices for his children in case they sinned against God. Likewise, some are followers of Christ because they have been taught that no evil will befall them when they serve God and keep His commandments. Others are with Jesus for security purposes as they have things that are precious to them like their children, jobs, material wealth, etc. So Jesus becomes useless or no longer fit for purpose when those things are no more.

Have you ever wondered why people do things unashamedly? Go to Twitter and see how women both young and old strip naked and you will wonder if they have parents or family members. Check and you will see that most of these women became wayward the moment they realized that they had nothing again to live for. This is the same for most people who lost touch with Jesus when their reasons for life got taken away. And will you blame such people? Some people were cool headed until tragedy struck. Does this sound like your experience?

May God console the bereaved and heal the wounds of those whom life has hit so hard. May he restore their joy and give them reasons to live again. You see, some pains are best imagined as life can truly be unfair. Again, may we not be tested more than we can bear.

The bitter truth is that the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is a recruitment into God’s army and this is a direct contrast to what is being preached today in many social gatherings masquerading as the church of Jesus Christ. It is never a tea party invite, it is a life of serious contention and self-denial. Can Jesus heal? Oh yes! Can he provide? Of course, yes! Can he protect? Yes he can! But the faith in Jesus is knowing that he can heal even when hasn’t healed you yet, knowing that he can provide even when he didn’t provide for you. Faith in Jesus is finding sufficiency in him (his power and sovereignty) irrespective of material evidence. Apostle Paul said in the Bible, “Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am”. (Philippians 4:11)

The Bible says that, “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small” (Proverbs 24:10). It occurred to me that faith is the energy for life, you only need breath to exist. Apostle Arome Osayi once said, “just like break failure, there is faith failure”. I pray for you today, that in your journey of life, may your faith not fail you. (Amen)

Accepting Jesus into your life is not an exemption against the trials and tribulations of life. The bible expressly stated in John 16:33,“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”. As a Christian, it is important to know that you are already a victor irrespective of the outcomes you get in life. Even if you die in that sickness after trusting God for your healing, there is an eternal victory awaiting you after death. This is the gospel of Jesus. Shalom.

Written by Oyewumi Ifedayo