I was returning home from an evangelistic trip to Lagos,the commercial capital of Nigeria in West Africa on January 26,2012.I boarded an intra-city Marcopolo bus operated by the state government.In the bus were many stickers pasted on the inner wall giving different information.Two of them caught my attention:
The first reads,'No hawking,preaching,advertising'.This impaired my effort at giving out the Printed Preachers (tracts) that I had in mind to give my fellow-journeymates.The title is 'Nearer than ever';you can read this at www.4thlink.wordpress.com.
The second sticker reads,'Please,stand away from the door. Please hold to the GRAB-RAILS for your safety'. Standing or sitting in the bus,you have well-constructed,rod-like galvanised iron near you to hold on to in case the bus negotiate a bend or moves over 'speed breakers' on the road that may displace you.
The first part of the sticker advices that every aboard should 'stand away' from the door of the bus.
Do you know that this is relevant to your journey in life as a Christian? This was the reason for my interest in the message contained in the sticker.The message is in two parts:
1) PLEASE STAND AWAY FROM THE DOOR. This simply informs you that you must stand away from anything that is of the devil but stand with things of God,your Maker.No matter what happens,do not loiter in satan's corridor. Read this from I Peter 5:8(New International Version),
8 "Be alert and of sober mind.Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
Is it wise on your part to move near to be devoured by him? To be secured,move away from satan's territory.
2) PLEASE HOLD TO THE GRAB-RAILS FOR YOUR SAFETY.
In the journey of your life as a Christian,you are in Christ as your 'bus'.New American Standard Bible (c 1995) renders 2 Corinthians 5:17 as
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ,he is a new creature;the old things passed away;behold,new things have come."
Therefore,your safety is very important to Jesus ChristAs a result,He has made RAILS for you to GRAB as you go on in the journey of this life.This is the reason Apostle Paul says to the Colossians first,and to every Believer in Christ,in his epistle to them in chapter 3:16
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all in all wisdom..."
In summary,as those two sentences on the sticker started with 'PLEASE',I also appeal to you to stand away from every door of satan because this can claim your life;and HOLD ON TO THE WORD OF CHRIST,your Grab-Rails for your safety.Whatever happens,you will be secured. Stay blessed.
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