Mended Wings
Episode 7
Joel held Ella’s hand as they walked down Crescent Street. The
street was platted in gold. Flowers and ornamental plants adorned the sides of the road. She’d never walked in such a street. Although the sun
had set, the arrayed streetlights made it difficult to believe what the time
was. Persistent fireworks excited the sky. The sight was enchanting. Or was entrancing the perfect word?
Her dress was beautiful, like none she had worn before. Jewellery adorned her hair, ears, and neck. Her steps were punctuated with grace
as she walked hand in hand with Joel, her husband, into the church. The church was overfilled. Everyone rose up to welcome Joel and Ella, and
sound of applause rent the air.
She couldn’t hide her euphoria. They walked toward the altar and a man handed them microphones to teach the church. Just as they
collected the microphones, Kunle emerged from the congregation and stopped them. Despite the cheering from the congregants, his voice was distinct.
“Ella, please come with me, there is a large gaping pit on the altar.
There is no way you’ll mount the altar and not fall into the pit. Come with me. But you must leave him. I can’t take you both. Give me your hands, let’s go,” Kunle said.
“Go where? You liar,” Ella said. She looked intently at the altar. It looked stronger than ever, adorned with precious stones. “Where is the pit? Are you saying the altar of God could harbour a pit? You would be disappointed if you think you could stop me from feeding my flock.
Look at them,” she spread her hand toward the thousands of
congregants cheering them on, “they’re waiting for my husband and me.”
“They’re not your flock, they are the Lord’s. He’ll feed them.”
She sniggered. “You think you can deceive me from reaching
where God has designed for me? You lie. Psalms 16:6 says ‘The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.’Leave me alone.”
“This isn’t a pleasant place but hell. And this man isn’t your
husband; I am.”
“Oh, lying liar.” She ostentatiously waved her left hand, a golden ring, with a diamond gem affixed, glinting on her ring finger. “You see,he’s mine.”
“There’s someone else the Lord has prepared for Joel, the one
whom the Lord will use to break the yoke on his neck. Your place is by my side, Ella.”
“What yoke?” She glanced at Joel’s neck and saw a weighty golden chain padlocked at the joint. “You call this a yoke? This is nothing but a fanciful jewellery. Don’t bad mouth it just because you can’t afford one.”
“May the eyes of your understanding be opened. Listen to me and escape torment.”
She stared at him with contempt, a wretched mendicant was better off. “You, filth. Get away from me!”
Ella, the ways of God are higher than our ways. Please give me a chance to show you how much God loves you.”
“How much God loves me to give me you filth? Leave me alone,”she screamed.
She pulled Joel’s hand and headed for the altar. Suddenly, she saw it. The pit was real, emitting a great force to pull her in.
Ella jumped out of sleep. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead.
It was a dream. A nightmare. The devil must be trying to fool her, she thought. She knelt down and began to pray, casting, binding and rebuking the devil and his agents.
She wiped her face after a long prayer session and sat at the edge of the bed. Kunle was definitely up to something. Did he bring up the discussion of marriage in order to take her from the singles and prevent her from marrying the right man for her? But there was a pit there indeed, she thought.
“How could a pit be on the altar? It’s a lie of the devil. Marrying Kunle is that pit you saw. Won’t you feed your flock? Even Jesus told Peter in the scripture to feed His flock. Can’t you withstand persecution for the sake of the cross?” a voice in her head said.
“No. That is not the will of God for you. The calling of God differs from man to man. Remember, Uriah died despite having a good intention. He wanted to savethe ark from falling but he was not a Levite. It was not his calling. Saul offered sacrifice in Samuel’s place and lost his kingdom. God owns the church and He won’t leave her untended. The glamour isn’t real. Nothing in this world can offer you such glamour. Kunle is your man,” another voice dropped in her mind. That’s a lie of the devil. Remember that the devil can also quote the scripture.
You can’t leave Joel. He has the anointing. He’s blessed and he has all you desire ina man. You’ll be the Aaron for his Moses. And you’ll be celebrated. Why must you accept something of no value in the name of humility or God’s will? Don’t be fooled. Do you think it was merely coincidental that he sat beside you on his first day in church or that he noticed you out of over a thousand women in the church? Are there no better women there than you are? It wasn’t a coincidence that you saw him againimmediately after you cried out your heart to God to direct you. Joel is the man,” thefirst voice added.
“That is not true. Be aware that The Bible in Ephesians 6:11 says ‘Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.’
Ella, do not be ignorant of the devices of the devil. You can fast for hundred days and still come across a device of the devil. The onus lies on you to make decision whether to
win over or lose. Remember, a person might be excellent and yet be bad for you. Godis the best matchmaker. That Joel has a calling doesn’t make him yours. God will show you where to serve Him always. A little with God is might. Do not bedeceived,” the second voice said.
“Ella, an assistant head of department in the church and a sisters’coordinator, marrying an ordinary member of another church. Where will you putyour oil? How will you explain to people? Who will rekindle you when you feel week?
Do you think Kunle who can’t pray for two hours can do you any good? Be wise. Ironsharpens iron.”
“Kunle is a believer. A genuine child of God, who is operating in God’s will.
He genuinely loves you. Don’t forget you got a go-ahead before you started. Has Godtold you otherwise?”
Believer, my foot. Didn’t he try to kiss you one day. If not for your resolution,what would have happened? Joel is the fire. He’s holy. He’s the one you’ll never regret marrying.”Ella sighed and lowered her head unto her palms. Her mind was on fire. She stood up and walked into the bathroom. She had to get acold bath and sleep. She’d leave her decision-making process until morning, she thought.
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