A fool's paradise
By: Adeolu Oluade
FIRST LOVE RECOVERY MINISTRIES
A fool's paradise
Gal.5:26(The Message) "That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original." Rom.12:6(The Message) "let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't. If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else;" 1 Cor.15:10(KJV) "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." Psalm 139:24(KJV) "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." Prov 22:2(KJV) "The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all."
The common folly of mankind is to exalt the creature above the Creator. One result of this folly is self-centredness that gradually or suddenly leads to the destruction of self and others. When one tries to be what God has not made one to be or when one tries to be what God has made one to be without God's help,one is really living in a fool's paradise! The fool's paradise is that virtual world in which one wants and works to be 'a clone' of others(inferiority complex) or where one wants and manipulates others to be one's 'clones'(superiority complex). 'A clone' is a person who is re-inventing himself/herself to conform to the image of someone else,the latter could be a pop idol or a charismatic leader or a local hero/heroine. In other words,the former is trying to fulfill the destiny of the latter instead of his/her own unique and original divine destiny. This subtle and cruel process of 'cloning' sends the destinies of the former(victims) into the graveyard after their originalities have been deformed. Each person has a divine destiny that is unique without being superior or inferior to that of another person despite differences in background. Each one should celebrate the divine destiny of another person without envy,pride,or bitterness.
But there is still hope for anyone with a so-called lost or dead or buried or imprisoned destiny! All it takes is a personal encounter with Jesus Christ who is the resurrection and the life(John 11:25). It is only Jesus Christ who can give life and freedom to the real person within these victims so that their originalities are restored and they can fulfill their divine destinies. The first step is to repent of one's sins and receive Jesus Christ as one's personal Lord and Saviour(John 1:12).
When one is in Christ,one has to be Christ-centred as empowered by the Spirit of God so as to preserve and demonstrate one's restored originality in conformity not to the world system around(Rom.12:1-2) but to Christ within(Rom.8:29)upon the throne of one's heart.
For those favoured by God to be mentors or role models for others,the love and fear of God within is the only force that restrains one from making the latter(proteges) into clones(1Cor.11:1). The proteges should be encouraged to fulfill their own destinies primarily to please their maker(the Lord God) who has entrusted them to the mentors. And if one is guilty before God their maker for any kind of manipulation,one should repent now or face divine judgment later(Rev.20:11-12)!
For those who have their destinies restored,God's love and forgiveness should be humbly and graciously extended to those who had wrongfully 'cloned' them(Eph. 4:32)!
Finally,now is the right time for anyone to leave the fool's paradise and through the Lord Jesus Christ enter into one's real divine destiny!!!
Rev. 4:11(KJV) "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
A British-born Nigerian Christian writer living and working in London,UK with website:www.firstloveministries.org.uk
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