“ Pastor, what advice would you give a fresh graduate as he begins a new life?”
- Oh, you came right on time. Just last Sunday, God’s servant Bishop David Oyedepo shared 3 keys that will help any man make the most of this life. So, I’d just elaborate on that. Ready?
1. LIFE IS A JOURNEY
That’s right! Life is a journey that has a destination which you’d only get to if you go through the expected path.
The word “journey” means a set amount of traveling or trip, seen as a single unit. That’s right, single unit, which means you only have one life and one destination! Even before you were born into this world, God had customized or written the journey you’re expected to cover. And just so you don’t get frustrated on the way, this journey also has a designed path you must follow to reach your destination in good time.
If you’d recall, at age 12, Jesus already knew the path he was supposed to take. His parents didn’t seem to know it, and that’s why he had to tell them in Luke 2:49. The English Version says, “… Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”.
They went to Jerusalem on pilgrimage, but Jesus had a different agenda. Making religious visitations would derail him from his destined path. Just because we all studied computer science in the same class doesn’t mean we’d all end up as computer scientists. Just because I have a great voice doesn’t mean I have to make musical albums. Many people don’t understand their path, and that’s why it appears as though they are struggling, even though they are gifted.
Imagine that Jesus went to everywhere life pushed him and honored every request that life made towards him. Imagine that he discovered his path at age 50. If you add 21 years to that, it means he’d save the world at age 71. And chances are that he won’t even succeed, because the strenght required to endure the cross won’t be available at that age. Jesus’s experience teaches us that it’s not about how long you lived, but how well you lived.
Remember how the children of Israel spent forty years on a journey that should have taken forty days. Just to get to Canaan, they kept going from one nation to the other, instead of using the destined path. The thing about going through the wrong path is that you may eventually get there or retrace your steps, but it may be a little late.
This is why I’m very particular about young people, ladies especially, who just want to have fun. Life is not a fun fare, it’s a journey; and the earlier you start, the earlier your impact begins to speak. At age 12, Jesus already knew the kind of education he should have. Unfortunately, even university graduates still don’t know the purpose of the 5 years they spent in the university. Some of them even struggle to get employment in blue-chip companies, because they believe they’d be fulfilled once that happens.
Unfortunately, if working in a blue-chip company isn’t needed for your journey, you’d only be wasting time there. That’s why you see alot of people who seem to have achieved alot career-wise feel vacuums they cannot explain. A great career can never measure up to your written destiny, except the career path will lead to your destiny. Bill Gates began with Information Technology, but today, he’s into humanitarian services.
As I conclude this first point, do you know where you must be and what you must be doing? If you don’t, let Proverbs 3:5-6 guide you. It says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths”. That’s right! In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.
2. DESTINY IS A PROCESS
As mentioned in the first point, every life has a written destiny, something you are expected to do.
In God’s prophetic agenda, the plan has always been to move the people of Israel to the promised land. But to get that done, think about all the difficulties they had to endure. First Joseph was sold into slavery by his own blood brothers. God helped Joseph and he became second in command in Egypt. Via his influence, he was able to secure a place in Egypt for the same brothers who sold him into slavery. They enjoyed Joseph’s influence for many years until a Pharaoh that didn’t know Joseph arose. And so they were in captivity for 400 years. Please note that this was the written path.
It looked like they failed during those 400 years, but no, that captivity was path of the process that will get them to their destination. Just because you failed yesterday doesn’t mean you are a failure. Fast forward to 430 years, they were on their way out of Egypt to the land of Canaan.
Before I found my purpose in Christ, I couldn’t work in any organization where I wasn’t a teacher. I’d probably work for a year or two and then something will happen that will force me to leave. Each time I left a company, I noticed I’d always go back to the company where I worked as a teacher to pick up from where I left off. The pay was really small compared to what I could earn for my qualifications, but I just wasn’t fulfilled doing anything that wasn’t teaching. I had to endure the inconveniences just to stay on the right path. It felt like a setback to some of my friends, but today, they all consider me to be a mentor.
As long as you’re on the right path, then endure or follow through the process. It’s only a matter of time before you begin to see the light.
3. PROGRESS IS IN PHASES
On the journey to destiny, you’d make enviable progress at various points, but don’t ever let the weight of any result determine your end. The mistake most people make is that they forget the blueprint of their destiny the moment they begin to experience comfortable results.
Comfort is a threat to destiny. The moment you notice you are too comfortable, it means you’ve over-celebrated your progress. It’s time to move to the next phase.
Before Winners Chapel moved to Canaanland Ota, they had crowds gather every Sunday to worship at Capernaum. The community around where the church was endured alot of road blocks and traffic jams weekly. Imagine a situation where chairs were arranged on the road just so that worshippers can sit. The church was always full in and out, with several services every Sunday.
That was progress, and that could bring a sense of arrival to any man. But thank God Bishop Oyedepo understood this secret, and that’s how the church moved to Canaanland. Just when we thought that Faith Tabernacle is the last of it, another project is coming up which is called THE ARK. Believe it or not, the ark project won’t be the last. Progress is in phases.
Bill Gates did a great job with software, but he had to move to humanitarian services. Progress is in phases.
There’s so much to say about this, but the article is already too long.
I hope this has brought enlightenment to someone.
Remain ever blessed, in Jesus precious name!
#EmekaAnslem
