My Reply To A Female Friend Who Expressed Sorrow After Reading Yesterday’s Article -By Joe Dauda

Since you do not know this friend (and I will never tell anyone who she is) I believe it’s within the boundaries of ethics to share my conversation with her. Besides, I have secured her permission. First is her response to my chat, followed by my attempt to encourage her. I pray you are encouraged also. 

Her response to yesterday’s piece begins here: [7/26, 6:46 PM] Hmmm

[7/26, 6:47 PM] I won’t lie, I run away from reading your pieces sometimes. I think that would be just ignoring the obvious truth [7/26, 6:48 PM] It also tells of how I have fallen far. And I am struggling to get back to where I was in God in 2015 [7/26, 6:48 PM] It scares me, I won’t lie. [7/26, 6:48 PM] Current happenings and all [7/26, 6:48 PM] Very scary [7/26, 6:48 PM] And I know it is part of the time but I’m finding it hard [7/26, 6:49 PM] Some years back, my prayer was for God to not harden my heart. Now, I don’t even pray anymore [7/26, 6:49 PM] May God help me. I can’t let myself go, suffer here and suffer again

Below is my reply to her. Because I did not edit it, you may notice some grammatical blunders. Please ignore these blunders and try to get the message. Thanks. 

Hmm. My sister. We need to do a one on one. But for now, hear this: just because someone is being used as a loudspeaker does not mean he is better than the people under the shadow of his voice. Hmm. It is only those on this race that understand why Jesus Christ said going to heaven requires taking it by force. If you can remain in the race — no matter how unworthy you think you are — you will get there. It’s a marathon and finishing is the goal. The fact that you’re still alive means you have not finished. Giving up is the biggest mistake and yet we think our sinfulness qualifies us to give up. We even think given up in such a circumstance is an honest choice: it’s like saying, if I can’t be perfect, why am I wasting His grace and wasting my time. That’s what Satan wants you to think. The spiritual journey is more complex than that. As long as you stay in the race, you will prevail. Getting discouraged is easy. And this is where the violence that Jesus Christ talked about should come in. The day must come when you say something like this to yourself: So I’m a sinner. Ok. There is nothing i can do about my past sins other than to repent. And although I cannot change my heart to stop loving sin, I have decided to believe John 3:16 where Jesus Christ Himself promised that, whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish. I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that He died and rose again and that His blood can cleanse me from my sin. How and when my heart will actually change from loving sin to loving righteousness is not my business. And this kingdom of God, I must inherit it. I must enjoy this eternal vacation that has been fully booked and fully paid for. I will not be cheated out of this free package bought for me by Him Who is so merciful He did not condemn a woman caught in adultery. Rather, He said unto her: go and sin no more. And to a genuine thief who had been caught and sentenced to death and was moments away from certain death and eternal damnation, He compassionately promised: you will be with me in paradise. This was no ordinary thief; and yet he will spend eternity with Jesus Christ. So what’s my stress? Why do I want to give up? Is it sin? But sin is not a good reason for ending this heavenly journey because the Bible says:

1 John 1:8-10 [8]If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

[9]If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10]If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Is this then a license to sin? What’s the deal?

1 John 2:1-2 [1]My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: [2]And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Ok. I get it. I will not go out there and sin with impunity. But if (for whatever reason or group of reasons) I sin, what God requires is for me to confess and He is faithful and just to forgive me. So sin is not strange to God. 

1 John 1:6-7 [6]If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

[7]But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

So walking in the light involves a cleansing by the blood of Jesus Christ?  

Wonderful!

So this heavenly race is so full of the grace of God!

Proverbs 24:16 [16]For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Hmm. The real deal is to stay in the race. It is impossible to honestly repent and continue in sin without sorrow of heart and God cannot be mocked as per those who believe they want to use and abuse His grace. God knows your story and He cannot be mocked. Focus on running your race and don’t be bothered about those who might want to abuse God’s grace. Satan is warned not to rejoice when you fall. Did you know that? Note the reason why he is warned not to rejoice. 

Micah 7:8 [8]Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.

Yes, there are people out there who are not serious about inheriting the kingdom of God. And they sin casually and go along, declaring that they are saved by grace. But it is impossible for a genuine child of God to be in this group. The child of God has the Spirit of God and that Spirit is antagonist to the canal, sinful nature. So a child of God may sin but cannot continue to sin. 

1 John 3:9 [9]Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

In other words (especially if you consider 1 John 1:9; 2:1) whosoever is born of God (born again) does not continue to sin. Here is the reason. 

Galatians 5:17 [17]For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

So the Spirit of God in you is the “seed of God” referred to in 1 John 3:9 and it is the reason why genuine children of God, even if they sin (1 John 2:1) cannot continue in sin. 

So be of good cheer my beloved sister. The grace of God is real. But no matter how much of it God pours out, some people will still not be saved by it. I perceive you are not part of these people. How do I know that? Because you are sorrowful about your sinful condition. But remember, blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Are we to think that Christ was promising the kingdom of heaven to anyone who is bereaved? Oh no! The mourning in blessed are they that mourn is the mourning for sin. God’s best friends are those human beings who mourn for their sins. You have no idea how blessed you are at the moment. I know that Satan will be making you feel unworthy. I have been there. Just ignore Him. And rather pay attention to your Father. 

Isaiah 57:15

[15]For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Psalms 34:18 [18]The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Psalms 51:17 [17]The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

A contrite heart (that is, sorrow for sin) is a big deal with God. That’s why I know your heart has been melted by God’s grace. Now do not allow Satan input guilt on you. Or have you forgotten the words of 1 John 2:1 so soon? 

1 John 2:1

 And if any man (any woman) sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Stay in the race!

To the glory of God, my friend replied to the above. Here are her exact words: [7/26, 8:55 PM] Thank you very much for this [7/26, 8:55 PM] Kind of comforting.

When a 21st century lady tells you she is kind of sad, it means she is sad. By the same token, when she says something was kind of comforting, it means that thing was comforting. 

Glory to God!