Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo's Blog: THE QUICK-FIX SYNDROME

‘’Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us get rid of every burden and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with patient endurance the race that is laid out for us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is the author of our faith and the one who brings it to its goal……' Hebrews 12:1-2 (EHV)

In a steamboat race, one of the leading boats suddenly began to fall behind. The coal in the oven had been exhausted. Then, the sailor took some of the ship’s cargo and tossed it into the oven. When he saw that the cargo burned like coal, he fueled his boat with the materials he had been assigned to transport. Although he ended up winning the race, he burned his cargo.

Life is a steamboat race and many people are running to win at all cost. The spirit of competition and quick-fix syndrome has made many sailors devise several ungodly means of surviving and keeping their vessels going in a such time like this. Many are ready to cut corners just to win their race and be applauded. Like Esau, they are willing to mortgage their souls, forfeit their birthrights, and throw their integrity in the waste bin for worldly riches and gains that are transient (Gen 25:29-32).

Beloved, I hope you have not burnt your cargo/luggage like Esau. Hope you have not misplaced your priorities in life like Esau. I hope you have not thrown your birthright and right standing with God into the trash just for a single meal like Esau. Remember how he wept bitterly to claim it back, but the damage was irreversible (Heb 12:16-17). His cargo had been burnt by the strange fire in the oven of ungodliness and profanity.

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world [wealth, fame, success], but forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"- Matthew 16:26

Your life is too precious to be wasted, so don't throw your soul into the oven of hell for any reason. Don't let any worldly competition make you deep your hands into things that will cause you to cry like Esau when you reach the golden shore. Your cargo may look like coals but they are not coals. Don't throw caution into the wind nor embrace the "quick fix" approach. But, rather go after God wholeheartedly and your story will change for good.

Friends, are all your cargoes still intact? Are your cargoes of salvation, consecration, sanctification, and holiness still intact, or have you thrown them into the oven? Have you thrown your virginity, dignity, and integrity into the oven? What about the seven locks of hair on your head? Where is the aura of God's glory and presence you used to carry? Are you sure you have not offloaded it into the oven? If you have, I urge you to please retrace your steps to where you lost them. Repent and plead for mercy today because without genuine repentance, I'm afraid your ship will soon capsize in the middle of the sea of life.

This special song below reiterates the question that our saviour asked in Matthew 16:26:

WHAT WOULD YOU GIVE IN EXCHANGE? By F. J. Berry

Brother afar from the Savior today,

Risking your soul for the things that decay;

O if today God should call it away,