I woke up one fateful morning, feeling the whole world was on top of me.
I felt pressure from all sides.
I had been job-hunting for years; my parents did nothing to help my plight. Instead, they were pain in the neck.
They were bent on marrying me off to any Tom, Dick or Harry, who had a fat purse. They were convinced that marriage to a wealthy husband
was the solution to our financial difficulties.
To add to the list, I woke up that morning with a severe pain around my left rib. What could be worse? I mused.
I remained in bed, wondering why all these were happening to me. Just then, my phone rang.
I wasn’t eager to pick the call, but I did anyway.
The news I heard caused a hot wave of excitement in me. I had just been invited for an interview in one of the oil companies around.
I momentarily forgot the pain in my rib. I quickly dropped on my knees and prayed frantically, “Oh Lord, let this one be mine. As soon as the sole of my foot step on…”
“Christine! Christine!” mother interrupted my prayer. She wanted me to know that I will be hosting a visitor in the evening. Of course, I knew
it was going to be a male visitor, having mentioned that she wanted me to look presentable.
From time to time, my parents would invite all kinds of people to the house for lunch or dinner; they would insist I do the cooking and then
shower me with lots of compliment in the presence of the guests.
I had tried to make them understand that I would rather remain unmarried than marry outside God’s will for my life. I of all people understood the consequences of unequal yoke, especially in marriage.
Although I had been accused of being a narrow-minded fanatic, I had held my ground by the grace of God. I knew there was going to be a
showdown that evening, so I committed it to God in prayer.
Around 7:30 p.m., after dinner, we were all seated with our guest having small talks, when my parents discreetly excused themselves, leaving me
alone with the visitor.
I used that as an opportunity to preach the Word of God to him. I persuasively talked about heaven and hell, holiness and a deeper relationship with God. By the time I finished, the visitor wouldn’t
allow me see him to the door.
My parents were puzzled; they wondered why he left abruptly, without saying good-bye. My mother gave me an unpleasant look and went to her room. I was not bothered.
I had an interview to prepare.
I didn’t tell my parents about the interview. I didn’t want to raise their hopes.
The next day, I was at the company as early as 7:00 a.m.
I was so excited!
Something told me I was going to get the job. After waiting for three hours, the interview began.
It was a rather strange interview. I introduced myself and talked about how the company would find me very useful in its corporate affairs
department.
The chairman of the panel looked at me and said, “We know about all that. We know you are qualified for this job.
As a matter of fact, you were recommended by a very reputable source.” I wondered who the source could be.
“But we have a situation on our hands right now,” he broke into my thought. I became uncomfortable. I shifted in my seat and sat at the
edge of the chair. My heart was pounding so hard in anticipation.
The chairman continued, “We want you in our team, but we can’t have you except you reduce your age by five years. It is our policy to employ people within the age bracket of 20-25 years old.” Noticing the shock on my face, he quickly added, “It’s no big deal! We already know your real age, but for the records, you go on, swear an affidavit, reduce your age, and no one will raise an eyebrow. I suddenly felt very weak.
I got up slowly, cleared my throat and said, “I know someone who will raise an eye brow.” “Who?” inquired two members of the panel, as if
on cue.
“My God will. He’ll be very displeased with me, and I can’t afford His displeasure!”
They were all shocked by my words. In an apparent reaction, one of them retorted, “We’re all Christians too, young lady. We just
want you to have the job.”
I left there with a broken heart. The tears came unbidden, and this attracted curious stares from passers-by.
Why is God allowing all these unpleasantness in my life?
How is it that those who cheated and bribed their way through school were the ones with great jobs, and people like me who studied hard, relying on God don’t have any job to boast of.
On and on, the thoughts kept coming.
I dreaded the thought of going home. I decided to walk so that I could pull myself together before facing my parents, although I wasn’t going to tell them what had transpired.
As I trudged along the bumpy road, the words of those interviewers kept ringing in my head, “It’s no big deal… We’re all Christians too… We’re
not asking you to tell a lie… It’s a mouth-watering package any one would kill for…” Unconsciously, I started reassessing the situation,
“Since they are the one asking for it, why can’t I do it? After all, they know my real age.”
I was beginning to brighten up with this idea when I heard someone singing an old hymn across the street.
The lyrics made me stop on my track. I just stood there listening,
“Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin. Each victory will help you some others to win. Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue, look ever to Jesus. He will carry you through.”
The tears came back. I could hear God warning me through this song.
I was already going astray in my thoughts. Right there by the road side, I asked the Lord to forgive me. I said to Him, “If you don’t give me
the job it means I don’t need it!”
Then I squared my shoulders and headed home
.
Two weeks later, I started attending a school for fashion designs. I needed to do something. Ignoring my parent’s criticism, I encouraged
myself that I would in the future have my own fashion design outfit.
On the seventh day of resumption, an anonymous caller rang me.
He wanted to know if I was the same person that attended an interview in their firm. I answered in the affirmative and was asked to report at the
same company the following day.
On getting there, I met a man, I recoginsed him as one of the interviewers. What he said startled me. He told me he had been a free thinker and never really believed in God or religion. He confessed that he was, challenged by the way I held on to my belief and rejected the big pay package they offered me.
According to him, he couldn’t comprehend such devotion and sense of integrity; hence, he want to learn more about my faith.
I gladly preached Christ to him and the Holy Spirit took over. He repented with tears and I prayed with him then went home with great joy.
The following day, the man called and asked me to resume work immediately. Apparently, he was the chairman of the company but not the chairman of the interview panel.
I resumed at the Corporate Affairs Office as the firm’s Customer Care Consultant. I was barely two weeks old there when I was sent oversees for a three-month training course. The allowance from the programme was more than enough to pay all the debts my parents owed.
All these were too much for my unbelieving parents to grasp.
They soon started following me to church and even brought their friends along. Today, they are both born-again and proclaiming the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
You might be reading this right now and find yourself relating to my story. Your situation may even be worse than mine. I tell you this: there will never be a good reason to turn your back on the Lord.
Tell me, What can separate you from the love of Christ?
Your business, your spouse, your academic
pursuit, who you want to marry, your job quest?
“…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:37
That moment you want to yield to temptation, that moment you want to compromise your integrity, please remember the following things:
That your precious salvation. A gift so many don’t have.
That free thinking sinner, who the Saviour wants to save through your integrity. Those mockers/scorners of your destiny, that will become your top fans.
That happy ever after, that enshrines the end of the Lord and the fulfillment of His promises.
And, that eternal bliss prepared specially for you.
“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” James 5:11
P.S: People, please note that this write up was copied. I only shared it to
inspire us to hold tight to godliness. God bless you all.
