The impossible life

So this last week my husband had this bizzare experience with an unknown neighbour. When he told me about it, I was upset but then he found a way to chanel the event into an article which I found deeply inspiring. Sometimes life throws unexpected things at us. How we chose to see and interprete it, that's what really matters.

Original blog post found here:

https://sooahinc.com/the-impossible-life/

On the morning of August 29th, I woke up a bit late and hurried to get to work. Before I left home, I opened my bible and read Romans chapter 12. After my quiet time, I kissed my wife on the forehead and departed for work. The first thing I saw when I got outside, was that my car tires had been booted/locked by the car towing company. This is usually done when someone parks without a parking permit. The consequence is a $95 fine to get the car unlocked. Immediately I saw this, my heart swelled with unhealthy unhappiness (putting it very mildly).  A notice had been left on my car that the fine was assessed because my car tires crossed the lane in which I was parked. Rightfully, they gave me a ticket. After 6 years of living in the apartment complex, and being an outstanding tenant, I was deeply hurt to come outside my own home and be charged $95. To make matters worse, the tow company (which are almost never nice to you) said that it would take about 45 minutes to 1 hour before they could remove the boot. Arrrrgghhh! (Calm down Ayo) At this point, my unhealthy unhappiness had grown into disgust and anger. I tried to reason with the apartment managers, but they explained to me that they couldn’t help me and they were really sorry. 

Thus, I sat down for one hour waiting for the tow company to come release my car. I couldn’t even tell my wife because she was going to be furious. In that one hour, I went through many stages of grief and anger. I contemplated whether to analytically dismantle the tow company employees for punishing a resident so severely, or to plead and kindly ask for the boot to be removed. Another part of me said, just pay the money and say absolutely nothing, while giving the company guy a stern look. I was reeling in the loss of $95, and being late for work.

In this one hour of contemplation, I acknowledged my principal emotions to be disappointment and anger. My anger soon grew into bitterness not long after. When the tow company driver arrived, I calmed down a bit. I am too much of a sucker to stay angry. In my conversation with him, he explained to me that my neighbor had called them at 3.00am to come boot my car. Now, this almost dissolved all my anger towards the tow company, realizing that they weren’t being petty. However, my emotions quickly redirected to the neighbor who chose pettiness instead of coming to my apartment or leaving a note. Needless to say that this happened at 3.00am, a very unnecessary hour to call the tow company.

Well, this write up really isn’t about the tow company or my neighbor. This is about me. As bitterness swelled in me, the word of the Lord dropped on my heart; “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice” (Ephesians 4:31). Don’t you hate it when you feel justified in your emotional response to a bad situation, and then the word of God comes and bursts your bubble? It occurred to me that the Bible does not give exceptions as to when we can allow bitterness. A Christian must be Christ-like, every single time. We must love always, rejoice evermore, be kind always. Is that even possible? What if someone does pure evil to you? Jesus says “Pray for them who mistreat you”. What if someone knowingly dampens your joy? “Rejoice evermore!” What if someone slaps you? “Live peaceably with all men!” What if you’re right and they’re wrong? “If thine enemy hunger, feed him!” “Allow yourselves to be defrauded” (1st Corinthians 6:7). These little trials and temptations, hand us little victories that help prepare us for greater challenges. Imagine if David couldn’t overcome the lion and bear, or if Daniel couldn’t say no to a little bit of food at the king’s palace. God’s interest is that we are perfected in him. Being a Christian isn’t simply in our ability to pray aloud, nor in our piety. Being a Christian is most seen in our ability to exemplify Christ’s meekness, gentleness, forbearance and kindness to all men, at all times. 

Having said all that, being a Christian is absolutely impossible without God’s Grace. The reason why God punishes sin, no matter the cause or how little, is that He has provided that which can see us through any sin, His Grace! His Grace is a deep well, it doesn’t matter the level of aggravation, or temptation or persecution you face, God’s Grace is so much more. Jesus lived in God’s Grace and he was able to suffer the cross, even going as far as healing the soldier’s ear, and saving the thief on the cross, while carrying the sins of his killers. Perhaps Jesus is too high a standard? Consider therefore old Moses and how many times he had to put up with the Israelites for many decades. I don’t think there were a more difficult people since existence than the Israelites, yet Moses loved and lived on Grace. The Grace of God teaches us to live soberly, righteously and godly (Titus 2:11) no matter the circumstance. 

The night before my car incidence, I had read a video title that talked about the devil’s activities in the middle of the night. My attitude towards the title was dismissive, not because I didn’t believe it, but because I believe a Christian should always be prepared no matter the time of day. However, this little incident gave me a new perspective. The scripture says in Matthew 13:25, “But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way”. At 3.00am, when most people were sleeping, a neighbor called the tow company to boot my car. The devil is cunning and opportunistic. He looks for little deviations, and compromises in our lives, and takes advantages. Often times, those deviations happen when we are tired and asleep. That night before I made the parking error, I was the most tired I had been in a long time, and had slept very little. But that is all the devil needs; when we are legitimately tired, and justifiably unable to pray or read God’s word. Moses was tired of 40 years of Israelites’ murmuring, complaining and sinning at every turn. That’s when the devil tempted him into striking the rock instead of speaking to it. Therefore, please be sober (even when tired), be alert: your enemy the devil is never tired. He is incessantly seeking whom to devour. 

Finally, as I got home and reminisced with my wife, we joked around about how she would have reacted, and that is when Romans chapter 12 echoed in my ears again. I once spent, 3 straight weeks in Lagos, after being gone for a long time. I came to Lagos, smiling and bellowing with joy. By the end of week 2, I was sun-bitten, flat-lipped, and fear-smitten. My joy wasn’t so plenty, again. Kudos to all those who have to overcome Lagos everyday. However, the word of God is clear and encouraging. We MUST be a living sacrifice (vs. 1). A sacrifice is fully consumed and burned up. None of itself is left. When we are fully consumed by God, the Christian life becomes possible. A burned sacrifice can not take itself off of the altar and begin to run, its burned up. We must also think soberly (vs 3), and love without pretense (vs.9). We must be patient In tribulation and pray always (vs 12). Now here is the hardest part; bless them that persecute you (vs 13), DO NOT repay anyone evil for evil (vs 17), and if you have an enemy, and he is hungry, even while he is your enemy, you feed him (vs 20). At this moment, I think of all the hurt I have gone through and some I have caused, and it is near impossible to live above anger, bitterness and hurt.

But the Christian life is possible! It is possible with a constant dose of God’s word. Goodness and kindness in ALL situations may go against your every inkling and desire, but we must be Christians. For by our strength, we have no chance of overcoming the world (1st Samuel 2:9). Our angry reactions may be justifiable, our bitterness towards a brother who stole from us may be the only possible human reaction there is. Our dislike for a sister who speaks ill of us may receive the support of our peers. Yet, we must overcome good with evil. Think deeply of what God is trying to achieve in you. Consider him (Jesus) who suffered such contradiction of sinners (Hebrews 12:3). It’s not going to be easy, in fact, it’s not going to be possible, except for God’s Grace. In conclusion, the bearer of God’s Grace is the Holy Spirit. Do remember, that God promised us that He will send us the Comforter. If you’re going to do your own fighting, you don’t need the Holy Spirit to comfort you. That morning, before I stepped out my house, the Holy Spirit expounded the word of God to me, preparing me for the challenges ahead. And when the challenges came, he brought the word of God to my remembrance (John 14:26). God will not suffer your foot to be moved (Psalm 121:3). Finally, Let God’s word dwell in you richly in all wisdom (Colossians 3:16). Then and only then can we overcome! 

    “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

    ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:9-21‬ ‭KJV‬‬