The greatest challenge of the modern man in the advent of civilization; stampeding technological, human development and increasing knowledge in our global village and difficult times is not really the “noun” but the “verb” thing. Is not about who he is but rather being who we claim to be! Being the real thing. “Are you the real thing?”
I remember as students we used to spend sleepless nights with our books but often with an attitude. This have been the proverbial concept of many a student and syndrome of our systems. Spot a group of students with their book and you will be shocked to know that their interest is not really for the book to go through them but to go through the books!
That’s how the system works. It is not the real thing! Unfortunately our societies are being shaped in this manner. Chew and poor! Students show such brilliance and hope, we do well in academic work, get promoted and our status change. Gain new respect, praise and leadership. We become so proud and happy about our progress.
But there is always a moment of truth. In recent times there has been media information about some student in our tertiary institutions for the wrong reasons. Fraud. They had defrauded their way into higher learning and had been caught. They are not the real things. The world system is structured such that you are not shape to confront the future with the confidence of a real man or woman but rather with the weakness of a weak man.
And, when the moments of truth dawns you we are found wanted. It has come to a point in time when as Christians we be a true witness of our professions. When you talk to human resource persons you will be amazed at their interesting reports.
The reports are disappointment from job seekers. Most job seekers are over qualified with A+ rating and superfluous CV designs but a good number are unable to prove themselves.
The CV job seekers can make you guilty and wonder if you are the right person to view and consider their replacements. But indeed do papers and letter do the job? The real job is accomplished by skillful understanding of the subject matter.
This is the challenge. These are worrying signs not only for business, education and the economy but Christendom and our eternal security. We are caught up with the system and so familiar with it that we apply the same principle of dishonesty in the practice of faith with God. We love the feeling and the practice of religion and yet deny the power of it.
God is not like the politician who needs your vote to be in power. He is power. God is power! We can not play politics with God. We feign faith. We say I love you, I give my life to you but do not follow hard at what we say. We love the sound of being born again and the wonders of being filled with the spirit and speaking in tongues.
We like to hold the bible, preach to others, sing praises lifting our hands and dancing to songs but pay little attention to the vibrating word of the spirit. We say pastor preach on! But oh, not because the word convicts us but rather because the word is for somebody next door.
I have come to realize most of the things we do in our practice of faith, are not out of actual conviction of the spirit and the love of God but are emotional expressions and outburst. We like to look good and attractive, we make sure we wash 3 times a day, keep clean clothing just to keep appearance to satisfy the self and boost the esteem and also as win the confidence and affection of others but fall short of keeping a decent and pleasant spirit in the inside.
We don’t care about looking good and decent before God. We are not careful to please God but hurry to please ourselves and others. We behave like the proverbial school boy, we do chew and poor and after the exam we forget it. We don’t know God with our hearts and spirit; we only have intellectual knowledge of God. The activities are “lip service” and without touching base with God.
If we know God it will show in our considerations for we can not profess to know God and not cosider God. The psalmist " I will praise and I will praise God with understanding. Where is our understanding in praise? Where is understanding in worship and in giving and in service?
God help us to be the real thing! Be the real thing.
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