I know this is coming late, however, it's better late than never: HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!!! to all: - The Great grand pa's - The Grand pa's - The Daddy's - The Husbands - The Soon-to-be husbands(i.e, The Engaged) - The Single Men - The Boys....
So, that was how I was on my way out in this keke napep(a.k.a Maruwa).... When we got to a stop point to pick more passengers, KASALA burst(*i.e, Wahala).
There was this keke in our front, our driver told the driver to move out a little and repark, so, we could find where to park. As the gentle looking driver was trying to repark, like swarm of bees, from nowhere, LASTMA just came and surrounded us. They collected the keys of the other driver, as our driver was trying to explain that the man was just reparking not carrying passengers, I just heard "Abi, Ori yi ti daru ni" (*Translation: Or, has your head scattered).
The fully decked clergyman that was sitting beside me came down, I thought he was running away...I was about to duck out when I saw the clergyman going to explain the situation to the LASTMA on behalf of our driver. They let us go, but filled up the other driver's keke, straight to their station, I guess...
I felt so sad for the man because he was on his own, safe, until we came and only for him to enter trouble, because there was no one to defend him, only God knows how much fine, he would pay that sunny afternoon. This word came straight to my heart: "Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life."(Isaiah 43:4, NIV)
and then, I remembered this verse that says: "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One."(1 John 2:1, NIV)
Then, I also remembered this verse that says: "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth..."(John 14:16,17a.NLT)
*advocate: One who pleads the case of another; defender
Just because we had the clergyman in the keke, he stood as the advocate for our driver, while, the other man had none. God has made Jesus, Our advocate, while Jesus has made the Holy Spirit, Our advocate, so we are not helpless and defenceless.
So, the next time you find yourself in a "helpless" or "hopeless" situation like the other driver or like Hamaan & Mordecai. Just call out to our everlasting advocate because we have the promise that He'll never leave us till Christ comes back and He will be there to defend you, fight for you and help you.
I pray that as you start this new week, "God will give people in exchange for you... You will not enter trouble while trying to help and if you do, The Holy Spirit will arise on your behalf and defend you, fight for you, in Jesus MIGHTY name, Amen! Shalom....
