Christian Living

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One of the situations I observe everyone living on earth will do everything possible to avoid is a disgraceful situation. Truly, it is not an enjoyable experience or something that anyone will desire its continuity as I have experienced a couple of such situations too.

Disgrace could come in a variety of ways and all matters of life. For instance, it's highly shameful for a man caught in the act of a sexual affair with his daughter. Being rejected as a friend or a member of a group due to one's outlook, personality, or style in the public can be disgraceful too. Poor performance on a stage where expectations are high is another example of such disgracing moments. Think about how you'll feel to have an extra year in a college or university; that is, not graduating when your mates are graduating.


All these, and many related cases, are situations that you will agree with me are quite disgracing. However, these are not my focus here, because many such moments can be avoided by hard work, proper preparation, and/or common initiatives at times.


Now, let's move a bit closer to my desired direction. Isn't it shameful also, for a child of God to be tormented by demons? Isn't it disgracing when we flee from the devil when the Bible we carry says, resist the devil and he'll flee from you (James 4:7)? Is it not shameful when we live in fear of gods, diseases, death, and perhaps the future when the Bible says we were not giving the spirit of fear, but of power and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)?


Is it not disgracing when someone threatens us with a name when we have been given a name that is above all names, and at the mention of that name that every knee should bow (Philippians 2:10)? Is it not shameful for us to be under the slavery of sin when the Bible says sin shall not have dominion over us (Romans 6:14)? Is it not disgracing when someone uses a charm on us and it works when the Bible says no weapon formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17)? What can we say to the fact that darkness has overshadowed us when the Bible says we have the light of Christ and that the light in us shines and the darkness comprehended it not (John 1:4-5)? Are we on the same page?


Is it not disgracing that we're no different from unbelievers in all ramifications except that we go to church on service days? We can go on and on, but the truth of the matter is that they are all disheartening and highly disgracing cases, as they bring reproach to us as Christians, and even Christianity at large.


It is quite shameful that the kind of Christianity practiced these days does not showcase the power, authority, and dominion allotted to it in the Scripture. Christians nowadays live like a child of a butcher who eats bones. We claim to be a son or a daughter of the King of kings, but we are still taken as captives; how come? Isn't it a slap on our face when demons laugh at us when we call the name of Jesus to wage war against them?


You'll concur with me that there is nothing disgraceful as these abnormalities in Christianity, and the fact there is no signal that the situation will change for good in the nearest future unless something drastic is done quickly is a great concern. The question is, what needs to be done that we may no longer suffer disgrace?


Nehemiah 2: 17;


Then I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer disgrace."


This Bible verse gives a simple but direct answer to the question of overcoming disgrace. It simply says, builds the wall of Jerusalem, and you will no longer suffer disgrace.


We may wonder, what has the rebuilding of the fallen wall and gate of a city got to do with putting an end to these issues of disgrace in Christianity? Yes, you're right! I thought as much too before the Spirit enlightened me. You, therefore, will do well to read on as we trust the Holy Spirit to interpret.


The writer insinuated that there is trouble in the land because the gate and wall of the city lie in ruins. That's alright and understandable.


But what Jerusalem has to do with curbing disgrace remains a great concern. This led to my vigorous research, and I found out that Jerusalem means "a holy city". I equally discovered that the city was named after a holy temple. Somewhere else, it was regarded as "a city of peace". In summary, I found that Jerusalem is a city where there is peace, rest of mind, holiness, righteousness, happiness, love, and nothing unclean or whatsoever should be found therein. A place where the fullness of God is to be experienced. It is a place where the holy God resides.


However, as at the time the writer was making this statement, all these characteristics were no more. So, Jerusalem at that moment was a city where there was no peace, happiness, and love, and sin; wickedness was prevalent instead of holiness and righteousness.


There was great trouble in the land. And this was because unclean things have, one way or the other, find their way into the holy city. Why? The gate and the wall of the city have been destroyed. After all, a city without a gate and wall is prone to an attack of any sort. So, uncleanness has taken the place of holiness in that Jerusalem. In a nutshell, the disgrace crept in because the supposed dwelling of the Holy God is now the dwelling of sin.


How then does this apply to us as believers? It occurred to me that the Jerusalem of many Christians is no more in its holy state, it has been seriously jeopardized. Immorality has taken the place of holiness in our Jerusalem. Jerusalem in this context simply means the heart.


The heart of man is the seat where God is expected to dwell for out of it comes the issues of life. That's where the true nature of man is determined. If a man is wicked, it's because there is wickedness in his heart. If a man is righteous, it's because there is righteousness in his heart. It is for this reason that the scripture admonished us to guard our hearts with all diligence.


Guarding our hearts means to watch or keep the gate and the wall of our hearts against the invasion of sin. Our heart is supposed to be our Jerusalem, the abode of the Holy One. And if we do not guard our heart against sin and shield it away from all manners of uncleanness, the simple truth is that reproach and disgrace are inevitable.


This is because all the promises of God are meant for those who are genuinely free from the bondage of sin; that is, His genuine children. The Bible says anyone who sins is of the devil (1 John 3:8).


The wages of sin is death, but you see, before sin kills, it tortures with things like disgrace and reproach. We cannot remain in sin and not expect disgrace, they are inseparable.


Paul asked, shall we remain in sin and expect grace to abound. He said God forbid. A fact we can deduce from this is, 'if we're not graced, disgrace is inevitable.'


Therefore, if we want to put a hurt to the reign of disgrace and reproach in our life, it is time we started rebuilding our heart - the abode of God that has become polluted and perverted. God will not abide in the heart filled with sin.


Persistent and intensive study of the word of God is one way to rebuild our Jerusalem. The Psalmist says your word I have hidden in my heart that I may not sin against you. When we spend time with God in His word, His nature crystallizes on the border of our hearts, thereby preventing any form of invasion from the world of sin.


You can as well visit any Church close to you where the kingdom of God is preached, it'll also help.


I pray for you, as you are ready to rededicate your life back to God in holiness and righteousness, you shall experience a speedy recovery from all the lost glory in Jesus' name.


Your throne of reproach shall be turned to the throne of glory in Jesus' name.


Your Brother,


Olufemi Fakeye

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