There Must be a Difference Ayanfe...

We time

“We time” for Nkem and I is that that time of the day when we relieve the day’s experiences together on phone. For us it is a culture.  At “We time” for Nkem and I lash out on each other if occasion demands, cry together, laugh over everything laughable, agree in prayer when we can’t handle it, fight each… the rule is that at both end, non goes to bed with any unresolved issue. Duration of the call @ “We time” is not the priorities; top on the list for us is that quality time.

Tonight’s “we time”

“We time” tonight had a unique tone. The tone was so passionate that I could almost touch it. It was phenomena, revealing and deep. After teasing, taunting and laughing at each other, I felt it was time to kiss goodnight.  I asked in a rather casual tone,“Is anything on your mind? “I think I had wanted to say “Can we call it a night?” little did I know that the call was about to begin “Yes baby. I have been mulling over a thought for the past few days. I have been asking myself a very critical question”. Adjusting myself, I asked playfully but really curious “What am I missing out?” “Pardon me baby, I planned communicating it to you after coming to a conclusion. I just came to a conclusion this evening.” With his deep but breathy voice Nkem asked me…

The hot seat

Is there any benefit serving in God? I mean can you really say with all sincerity to yourself that there is a difference between you and that colleague of yours that is not saved?” ‘Dear God! Someone is backsliding’. I thought to myself. Thank goodness he did not hear that, maybe that might have cut the flow. (I forgot to tell you that Nkem was on his way to an all-night prayer meeting in church when we had this conversation). “Hello! Baby, are you still there” he asked me after few seconds of elapsedsilence “Oh! Were you expecting an answer from me? I thought it was a rhetorical question?” I mustered trying to regain composure. “I need to hear your opinion before I share with you my conclusion”. Clearing my throat “What makes me different from an unbeliever is the hope of Christ in me. It is that inner peace that I feel, that eternal hope” I said. “I understand that we have an eternal hope baby” he said sounding unconvinced.“Let’s put it this way” reframing the question, he said “Do you expect to have a different result from an unbeliever? If yes why?“more composed this time, I answered “well, following natural principles, when a person believer or non-believer is diligent, hardworking, committed to a cause, he will certainly be a success just like the law of sowing and reaping, but I will not expect us to have same result with someone that does not know God even if we put in same input because… because I know God”.

“You are close it baby. Let’s assume that I am that your colleague. I am very learned, smart and have the smell success, way more successful than you, but I don’t care about God.   How do you logically convince me beyond reasonable doubt that I need to be saved; that I need what you have?” I racked my brain a little more, sat up this time. “I don’t need to see any visible difference to know that, I just know we are not the same and God knows that also”.  After some moments of silence, Nkem asked in a voice pulsating with energy and fervor “How do you articulate this difference?” 

The Eureka Moment

I held the closer to my ears not to allow any word fall down. “that difference between you and that normal guy out there that does not know God cannot be communicated nor expressed, it is manifested. You must manifest that difference baby. That is ourlogical proof and flag that declares us believers in this smart and paced age that we live in.” God is the father of all, but sons and daughters have that extra. That extra magnifies your natural effort and put you above. You must demand for it baby. Don’t expect to always stand at the same pedestal with every regular child of God. If you don’t know this truth and have it as a deep conviction, you will lose your identity. Expect a difference, demand for it and manifest it. There just have to be a difference! Oh no. I’m being warned that I have limited airtime”. Exhaling “Pardon me love for boring you tonight” “did you say bore?” “We will talk tomorrow Ayanfe, let me quickly goodnight before the service provider does that for me…” “Hello! Hello!” I called out “Oh!  my battery just died” I spoke out loud!...