...Discovering Purpose, Fulfilling Destiny

Growing up as a child was very exciting for me. I am sure it must have been a nightmare for my parents. As a child I was very mischievous. My sister used to call me an SMD (Short Man Devil). I hated being dared. Whatever you dare me to do I would just go ahead and do. I remember once a visitor gave me N10 (a crate of soft drink cost N5 then) and my sister dared me to flush it. Without hesitating I tore it into two and flushed it. Of course I got a good spanking afterwards but I just could not be dared.

A week would hardly go by without me getting spanked either at home or in school. I was full of mischief. I opened practically every appliance in the house – from the blender, to juice extractor, fan, radio, video, computer game, etc. Of course I never got around closing them back properly. In most cases they either had to be taken to the repairer or replaced. Looking back now, I wonder what was going on in my head. I am sure my parents could not just wait for the SMD to grow up. What amazes me now is the fact that my parents still loved me despite all the pain I caused them. I knew they had unconditional love for me and I took them for granted. Although I knew what I was doing was wrong I still went ahead and do it. Yes, they beat me but they never failed to tell me or show me that they loved me at every available opportunity. Then, it did not count for much but with hind sight I truly appreciate the fact that they did not give up on me. People say you cannot understand the love of a parent for his/her child until you become a parent.

Now I am full grown, working and living on my own. I noticed that my relationship with my parents has changed. As a child, I saw my father as one who was there to meet my physical needs, provide protection from my elder ones, help me make decision, instruct, teach and correct me. Now, I see him in a whole new light. We relate at a higher level. We have now become friends. I have grown to respect him, not because I fear that he would spank but because I love him. I do what is right always and do things I know will make him proud of me because I appreciate all he did to ensure I turned out right as an adult. Now we make plans, discuss investments, family matters and other pressing life issues together. He introduces me as his son – one ready to carry on the family name. He is counting on me to do what is right and bring joy and glory to the family. I cannot let him down. He has invested over 30 years of his life in developing this product called Deji which has no substitute. It will be wicked of me to let him down.

Sometimes I wonder what difference it would have made if I had not turned out well – If I had refused to grow up and be a responsible young man; if I had dropped out of school or gotten involved with drugs. How would it have affected my father? Would it stop him from being who he is? Certainly not! His heart may be saddened but he would remain himself. Sometimes children fail to realize this and they go ahead to misbehave thinking they are punishing the father or getting at him. What they fail to realize is that they are actually harming ourselves. Most father will not disown their children when they misbehave but this truth should not be a license to live carelessly. Only a child would think like this. But a son (a child who has grown to maturity) would use the assurance of his father’s love as a spring board for living right and achieving great things in life.

Now, this truth applies in our relationship with God, the Father. Having heard the good news that believing Jesus is the Son of God and confessing him as Lord and savior is our ticket to heaven (a very difficult truth to accept) many people who have accepted and practiced this have refused to grow up. They only seem to see God as the lamb – the friendly, loving God who cannot resist them when they sin. He still accepts them back with a warm embrace, a feast and may be a little rebuke later – the Father of the prodigal son. They take this as a license to indulge themselves until it is difficult to differentiate them from a normal worldly person 15 years after their rebirth experience. Remember the nursery rhymes Mary had a little lamb? Some of us like Mary have refused to grow up. We still have our lamb nicely tied up with a bow round its neck – our little pet given to us by the Father to make us happy.

To get a right balance and attain to this position of sonship, we must remember that He was also referred to as the Lion in the book of revelation; depicted as Aslan in the Chronicles of Narnia; referred to as the Commanding officer by Paul in his letter to Timothy; the righteous Judge in James and the King of kings in the book of Revelation. All these title sound to me like some serious business minded Father looking for sons to move his kingdom business forward.

Now just as we grew up from childhood to adulthood (Sonship) when we were trusted enough to be involved in the serious matter of the family, so must we develop from being little children who did what came to mind because of lack of self control to sons who have been trusted enough to take control of the entire family business. It is at this level of sonship that we can be invited to rule over the jungle with the Lion (the king of the jungle); It is then Aslan can share and include us in his plans on how he will overcome the white witch in his final fight for the souls of men. It is then the commanding officer can promote us and put us in charge of a battalion entrusting us with the authority to go out there and conquer the enemy. It is only then that He can invite us into the council of kings to discuss world problems and be assigned specific roles to play in the alleviation of these problems. Why remain a child and have your estate administered by servants when you can rise to sonship and be the administrator of the Father’s estate. Sonship is a noble place to be. It has great benefits but it also comes with responsibility.

When you become a son you come to a realization that you are not living for yourself. You realize like David that a simple census of your fighting men can cost you the lives of several hundred thousands of your kinsmen. Or like Joseph that your refusal to forgive your brothers or Portiphar’s wife may result in the almost the entire world population being wiped out by hunger during a famine that is bound to come. Or like Moses, your refusal to humble yourself and learn in Pharaoh’s palace would result in 30 extra years of slavery for the people you were born to save. At that point you realize how much ground you would lose if you give in to that plate of porridge; that sexual sin presented on you on a platter of gold in a land where no man knows you; that fraud  or that lie that may never be discovered. Armed with knowledge you damn the temporary pleasure and stand for righteousness. People around you cannot understand why or how you were able to. But you have a goal to please him, a focus, a crown set before you.

At this stage you don’t need a spiritual leader to pray over your problems or prophesy over your life because you have received the authority to address problems – yours and others. When your spiritual leaders prophesy they are only confirming the things He told you in your closet. You will become a wellspring of life attracting many thirsty souls from all over world seeking to drink from your water. Have you ever wondered why people travel from far and wide to attend meeting and conferences organized by great teachers and spiritual leaders? It is that wellspring attracting them not the person. It’s the water he has to offer! That is sonship!! Yours may not be in the church but in the field of business, arts, leadership, music, etc. It can be anything.

It sure is exciting but I must warn you that it comes with responsibilities. A child is free to do what he likes, how he likes it, when he likes it, where he likes it. But a son does not have that privilege. His code of conduct is stricter and regulated to the minutest detail. The higher the level of sonship the more detailed the regulations are. Look at the Zadok’s boys who understood the principles of sonship and refused to misbehave when Israel went astray. Their reward was more instruction. He started with their dressing, then their hair style, their drinking habit, personal conduct, kind of company to keep and acquisition of property.

God told them

“You must not wear any wooly stuff; I don’t want you coming into my presence sweating. Linen will be just right for you. No afro no shine head, just keep your hair moderate and well trimmed at all times. I need you guys looking corporate and professional. During disputes, no one should take sides. No east coast, no west coast. Instead you show them what to do using my instructions. No hanging out with bad guys except they are your family members. And when you do let it only be because you were in the house when they were perpetuating their evil acts. No acquiring and accumulation of property at will. I will be your sole provider. No junk food. You are to eat only grains and things without fat in it. I don’t want a bunch of obese people ministering before me. Congratulations sons… I am really proud of you. Here…”

He hands them golden access cards.

“These give you direct access to me anytime and anywhere. I look forward to working with you.” (Ezekiel 44: 11 – 31)

To the other kids who just couldn’t resist the temptation of going astray with the rest of the crew he said

“Well boys, you know I am just and fair. I will not send you out of my corporation but I can’t entrust anything serious into your hands. You guys can stay and take care of routine jobs that need to be done in the outer office. Receive guests, help them out and give them direction on what to do and where to go. You know… Do the administrative stuff around here. And if there is any serious business that needs my attention talk to the Zadok boys… They’ll know how to reach me. Alright boys get to work… I got some serious business to do with my new executives. So long” (Ezekiel 44:10-14)

What a world of difference!! To the Zadok boys he gave 21 verses of instruction while the others he gave only 4 (If you look at it closely they actually had only 2 verses of instruction because He repeated himself). It may seem as though you are losing grounds on the outside when you operate in the place of sonship but that is where the real power resides. It is better to have power than riches because with power comes the ability to create wealth.

So what are you waiting for? The father is still looking for sons. You were born to be one! All you need to do is make that decision to become one and make your intentions known to Him. Only then will He pick you up from the play pen and place you in the throne room where he has prepared a throne for you. Then He will begin to instruct you on the things you need to do and the step you need to take to sit on that throne you were created to occupy.

Go ahead. The Father is waiting son.

Have a lovely week ahead.

Deji Olatunde.