THE STRANGE PROPOSAL
Part 10
©Franca Uwuigiaren
The moment I entered the house, everyone knew I was excited. My face radiated peace and joy.
“What’s happening, dear? It’s like your hustling paid off today to compensate for yesterday,” my wife said, trying to have eye contact with me.
I just laughed.
“My hustling didn’t pay off at all, but what I got today is more than gold, more than riches.”
Oroma’s countenance changed.
“You mean you didn’t make any money today?”
I brought out all the money in my pocket and handed it to her. I watched her count the money, and she looked at me.
“This is nothing, Obiama.”
“I know!”
“Then do something…go out…”
“Chill, Oroma. Let me narrate my experience today at the motor park, then you will understand better.”
She wiped the tears that ran down her cheeks. She was disappointed and emotional because her expectation was cut short.
Without looking at her teary eyes, I went ahead and narrated my experience.
“The river goddess is frustrating me. She’s blocking every opportunity for me. I’m sure she’s the one making it impossible for me to get another job despite all the letters I submitted to the different companies.”
She sighed deeply.
“But today, my life changed.”
I told her my experience at the church too. I went ahead to tell her how God used our neighbors’ children to speak to me.
“It’s only Jesus that can save, Oroma. Only him! Salvation is not in anywhere else except him.”
My wife was quiet for a long time before talking.
“So how are we going to get transport to the village? I don’t want to die, Obiama. I am useless in this house. I can’t even help myself…I smell…I may not perceive it, but I stink. My kids are sick…and what if you fall sick too?”
She grabbed my hand.
“Obiama, you told my family you love me. You tell me every day you love me so much.”
“Of course, I love you, Oroma. You’re my sunshine. I have never looked at any woman except you.”
“You don’t love me, Obiama. No, you don’t.”
“I do!” I almost whispered.
She shook her head angrily.
“If you do, you will save me and the children.”
“I can’t save you, dear. Only Jesus can.”
“That’s not what I am saying…I mean, save us by hustling for the money to send us to the village. Papa called me this morning when you left. He wanted to know what’s keeping me here in Lagos. I was too ashamed to tell him it’s money. My parents need to consult the deity of…”
“Stop it, Oroma. Stop it! I made a mistake when I went and kissed the head of an animal, and today I asked God for His forgiveness over my sins and mistakes. I’m not going to make that mistake again.”
“What are you saying?”
“What I am saying is this; I am now a genuine Christian. I will not compromise my faith. So, even if I have that money now, I can’t send you to the village to consult one deity. How come you didn’t listen to all my explanations about my experience today?” I asked, looking exasperated at her.
“I will call my family for finance…”
“You’re free, Oroma, but I won’t let you go…”
“You want us to die…so it’s your plan for us to die here. Have you ever put yourself in my position? Obiama, put yourself in my shoe. Your children are lying there sick, and I am sick. Look how swollen I have become. You think I don’t notice?”
“You will not die, Oroma. Nobody in this family will die.”
“Ah, Obiama is not serious. The goddess has blinded his ears from listening to me,” she lamented.
I knew I was wasting my time talking to her. Oroma wasn’t listening to me. How do I explain to her that only Jesus can save? How do I explain that I have surrendered my life to Jesus and won’t be caught going back to the old life?
I left her to the children’s room and sat there, trying to find out how they’re faring. From there, I could hear my wife’s voice crying and lamenting, yet I didn’t leave my children’s room until it was time to cook dinner.
I boiled potatoes served with vegetable stew. Oroma refused to eat. I ate absent-mindedly, then fed my two sick children. I went to the bedroom to try to talk to my wife.
“Just because you heard children say that only Jesus can save, you decided to change your mind from taking me to the village. Was this Jesus not there when things went against us? Where was He when you lost your jobs?”
“Oroma, I wasn’t genuinely repented then, but I did so today. I surrendered my life to Him. I told you how that woman I bought water from told me that I am exposed…that I am open….that there’s no edge around me. I think you too should surrender to Jesus…you should allow Him.”
“I’m a Christian…”
“No, you’re not.”
“We go to church…well, once in a while.”
“Well, it still doesn’t make you a Christian.”
“So you’re judging me.”
“Come on, my love, I am not. I just want you to be on the right track.”
Oroma didn’t say anything. She stared at one direction, refusing to talk. Then I begged her to eat, but she refused. I left her to my children’s room. I told them my experience at the church, and surprisingly, Alabo said with teary eyes and a weak voice, “Daddy, I am tired of this sickness…I am weak, but can I talk to Jesus about it? Will He hear me?”
“Yes!” I said. I was touched as I watched him close his eyes. “Jesus, you died for me, and I am sorry I didn’t take you seriously, but my dad said He spoke to you today. I want to be your friend, and please be my friend too. Since I was born, I know I have done things that may not be pleasing to you, but forgive me. Please! Daddy said it’s only you that can save me. Please come and save me…I don’t want to die.” He said, crying.
I got another surprise when the other two prayed the same prayer. In that room, I told my children all what I heard from our neighbors’ children.
“I want to be able to go to church. Since Jesus can save…can I ask Him to save me?” Alabo asked, so concerned.
“But you have asked Him to save you.”
“I want to ask Him again.” I smiled at them, then went outside to sit in hope that my neighbours’ children would come out to practice their drama. I sat there for a long time until it was very dark, but I didn’t see them. It was then I believed that the previous day’s episode was orchestrated by God to speak to me through them.
Since I didn’t see the children, I made up my mind to speak to one of the parents of the children. I sat outside for a long time with many unanswered questions. The satchel water vendor talked about my spirit being weak, so how do I strengthen it? How is Jesus going to save me from the River goddess?
Exhausted, I carried my chair inside and, after checking on my family, went to sleep. My night was characterized by cries, groaning from my wife and children. It was almost dawn when I finally fell asleep. It was my second son who woke me up to cook. I first went to the bedroom to check on my wife. She would not greet me or talk to me despite my efforts to chat with her.
I left her to check on my other kids, then assisted them to bathe. I thought my wife would not allow me to carry her to the bathroom, but she did. I bathed her, then took her back to the bedroom to take care of her.
“Do you know you’re a wicked man, Obiama? So you would prefer I and the kids die.”
“My darling, no one is dying.” I said.
If she could slap me at that time, she would have done it. The way she looked at me…
I brought her food to the bedroom and ate with her there, despite the smell. I felt the goddess made her smell to break the bond between us, to make me run away from her. Well, after taking care of my family, I slept off. I didn’t rest well the previous night.
It was later that I eventually left the house. I didn’t bother going to the motor park to hustle. I went straight to the church, praying that I find it accessible. God helped me as I met it the same way I left it the previous day. I went to the altar and prostrated. I experienced the same love I felt the previous day. I was just there enjoying His love when I felt I was not alone in the church.
I stood up, and truly, an elderly man was sitting on the chair. Perceiving he could be the pastor of the church, I greeted him.
“You’re Obiama. The Lord sent me to you. He told me to hurry up that you’re on your way here. So I had to hurry…”
“Wait! Jesus sent you here…I mean, to come here because of me?” I asked incredibly. The pastor nodded.
“My name is Pastor Moses, and I am the pastor in charge of God’s flock here.” I stared speechlessly at him.
“Please sit with me.” He instructed.
I sat beside him, but because I wanted to see his face when he was talking to me, I carried a plastic chair and sat opposite him.
Without waiting for him to talk, I said: “I thought I have always been a Christian by just going to church.”
He smiled.
“A Christian is someone who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and this relationship is marked by a conscious choice to follow Him. Becoming a Christian isn’t just about being born into a Christian family or cultural background; it requires a deliberate decision to turn away from sin and towards Jesus. The Bible teaches that Jesus is the Son of God who came to save us from our sins, and that He died and rose again to make this possible. When we put our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside us, making us new creations in Christ. But how can we be sure that we’re really living as Christians? The Bible says that if we know Jesus, we’ll obey His commands.”
“Hmmm!”
“Obiama, the Lord Jesus told me certain things about you, and that’s why I am here. I want you to listen attentively to me. Without Jesus, you can’t win any battle. Listen, marine powers are real and worshipped in most parts of the world. Many have made trans-generational covenants with these powers. Many have been initiated into the marine kingdom from their mother’s womb, even without their knowledge. Some people had ancestral covenants with marine powers; their ancestors worshipped the marine spirit and vowed that their generation unborn will worship them. There are various ways that marine spirit can enter a person’s life to afflict, oppress, and even possess them. They include consulting marine agents posing as false prophets, ministers, and pastors, evil dedication to marine powers, through s*x. There are many ways, Obiama.”
I didn’t know I was shaking my legs.
“How do you know signs of marine spirit attack? You will experience dreams of water or rivers, one would have a spiritual spouse, attack by marine snake, hardship, unexplainable failure where there should be success, particularly after evil s*x encounters in the dream, miscarriages, and barrenness. There are many signs or symptoms. When you hear people’s stories, you will marvel. Obiama, when one is facing these, such one has to repent from all known sins and flee rebellion, such one must surrender life to and rededicate life to God, renounce and break all evil initiations and dedication, raise prayer altars against them. Bombarding prayers is required. Such one must ensure living a holy life, and that their material is not in such one’s possession.”
I was fully grabbing everything he was saying. How many times have I had dreams of playing with snakes?
“I thank God you have surrendered genuinely to Him, and I tell you, there’s commotion already in the kingdom of darkness. They know you have a backing now. But I want you to build your spiritual life. Your spirit is too weak.”
It was as if he knew what was on my mind. I planned to ask him how to strengthen my spirit.
“You’re weak…we need your spirit man to come alive and be active. A weak spirit is a defeated spirit, Obiama. The major issue of a carnal man is that the soul is leading the spirit. That’s an error! Our spirit should be in control. A weak spirit is an easy prey for manipulation. The Bible says it is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
“So what should I do?”
“The word of God is the first unit of strength for your spirit man! You want to win this battle, you must ensure your spirit is strong. You should not grow in body while your spirit remains deficient. God’s word is the strongest and perfect tool for spiritual development.”
“Okay, sir!”
“The words that we read build us, and the one that we declare and confess with our mouths builds us.”
As I sat listening to Pastor Moses, I knew I was going to have a long day, but I didn’t care. There was a flaming fire in my heart. I was hungry for the things of God, and I needed to be satisfied.
To be continued…
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