THE GHETTO 2

Some of the people he preached to gave their lives to christ while others pretended to and still went back to their old ways of drinking, smoking and gambling. Blackie would sometimes joke and chat with them. As much as he does this, his mind was focused on what he came to do. He would tell them severally how his days were numbered and he would leave them to go back to where he came from.

There came a day he was provoked by one of the ghetto boys and they fought so badly that two strands of his dreads were pulled off. The whole ghetto gathered around them that day hailing them and betting on who would win. He felt so ashamed of himself that his converts scolded him. He apologised to everyone and claim he was fighting for the gospel and God.

Blackie continues his early morning cry, sometimes he was weary ànd tired of the place that he felt was time to go home. Later, he became so at ease in his environment that he began to sugarcoat the scriptures to suit the people in the ghetto just because so many of them weren’t budging to the word of God. He would tell them that the Bible says too much of everything is not good, so, therefore, don’t drink, smoke or steal too much. He also claimed that wisdom is profitable to direct. He kept on with this and his protege would caution him most times. He would talk about how he converted him and that it wasn’t his place to teach him what to say and what not.

He kept on with this behaviour and was loved by everyone. Who doesn’t love ice cream?

On a fateful day, Blackie had gone out for his early morning cry as usual. He came back to his shelter to meet some guys eating at the entrance.
He had become so friendly with them that they would eat together and sometimes they would tease him to try small cannabis or marijuana. He would gladly decline and told them it would ruin his ministry.

As he was about to enter, he told them he was coming back to eat as he was famished. He came out shortly and they gave him a plate of noodles, little did he know it was mixed with cannabis sativa (igbo). He finished the plate of noodles, thanked them and entered his room back.
Blackie slept throughout the day, at first, his convert thought he was dead but he was still breathing so he was at peace. When he realised something was definitely wrong, he fought so hard with the guys that committed the atrocities, saying if anything happened to Blackie, they would be arrested.

At dawn, Blackie woke up, staggering, he saw his dead mum and dead sister, and he began to weep. He had missed them so badly, then he wept loudly again when he suddenly didn’t see them again. The wind that rushes in through the window got his attention, then he went outside.
He screamed because he stood alone in the middle of an ocean. Was he walking on water as Peter did? He turn as if he wanted to carry his legs again, and then the water disappeared.
‘Who did this to me? He screamed, something was wrong, and he knew this within him. He shouted this time and the whole ghetto came out at dawn.

The ghetto which would normally mind its business came out to the shout. Everyone was perplexed, they began to murmur amongst themselves as they switch on their torch to see who had disturbed their precious sleep. ‘Blackie, wetin naa? someone queried. “Who did this to me,?blackie asked. His convert came out to see what was happening, he tried to take him inside the shelter but he was restrained. He kept on asking ” who did this to me? The whole ghetto concluded he had run mad.
His convert got the boys arrested as Blackie didn’t get better even weeks after. “Who did this to me, Was the only sentence he kept uttering. He was taken back to his church to be taken care of.
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Are we at any time undiscerning the situations around us? Do we seek directions from God before taking any steps?
Or compromising Godly standards just to suit the world. In Blackie’s case he didn’t ask for directives and he preached the gospel to please the people. He lowered God’s standards and the repercussions affected him. God who sees the beginning from the end has a lot in stock for us, so when he says NO to a particular situation. It is because he has our best interest at heart.
Isaiah 30:21 Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

As much as we would want to eagerly work for God or do the things of God we still need directions from him. And when things don’t go our way, rather than lower God’s standards or what the word says to suit the world. We should go back to the drawing board and meet with God. That is where we go in the place of prayer. To obey is better than sacrifice.

God is merciful and kind yet he is a consuming fire.

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