“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” - John 3:16 (NIV).
On 24th November, 2018 there was a boat accident on Lake Victoria that claimed over 30 lives. Later as news filtered I came to know that one of the survivors was a young man I knew from my extended family circles- Arnold Ssekamanya Ssimbwa, the eldest grandson of Uganda’s first President, Ssekabaka Mutesa II. He was known for a freewheeling lifestyle. Yet having survived those sweeping waters, once out, he did not waste time but go to a prominent Kampala church where he made a public confession of faith in Christ.
In a story he would give to some reporters he shared how on that day he saw people “who had been partying and in one moment they were gone!” He said, “I saw death everywhere and asked God for another chance!”
I talked to him sometime after and while I had been curious with his public confession of faith for Christ, I did not press him on the topic, preferring to talk about other family matters. Then on 28th March, 2021, I got news he had suffered a stroke. I was kept informed of his situation regularly by his concerned father, which was a roller coast. On 8th April, 2021 the grieving father sent me a message, “Ssekamanya has gone to heaven..”
The Bible says that, “Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Ssimbwa did not hesitate to take up that free offer. Unlike the 30 he knew he had been given a second chance, which he took up, gladly.
One may see his case as an isolated situation but the truth is that, all of us, every day, are being given a second chance, to put our lives in order, accept, and make Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I thank you for this life, and the opportunity to know and accept your Son Jesus as Lord and savior of my life, whom I receive gladly today!
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18/04/2024 - 19/04/2024 All day“In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:26-7).
Once a certain gentleman saw a small mount of soil rising in one of his sparsely used bed rooms in his country house. He went back to the city unbothered. Upon his return he was shocked to find that what was once a small soil mount had grown into a huge anthill almost blocking the entrance. How did it get this big!” he whistled with disbelief.
Anyone who has leveled anthills knows that you need to dig up one down to the very bottom and seize the queen ant. So, in this case, it meant he had to excavate to the very foundations of the house. It was a costly venture involving destroying much of the original infrastructure.
So, what had begun as a small foothold in his house almost caused the gentleman to lose his entire beautiful country house. After all was done, he regretted why he had not attacked that small mount of soil the day he had spotted it but then ignored. He would have saved himself all this huge cost.
When the Bible cautions us, “and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:27), it is not speaking of some big and overwhelming sin that is gripping a believer. Just as with that soil mount a foothold starts as a small poisonous seed dropped into one’s life appearing harmless at the start. But ignored it gradually grows into one huge tree with deep roots that to uproot it a life may go with it altogether.
For Believers there are all kinds of footholds. It could be unwholesome little talk spaced with curses. Sometimes it is occasional dabbling into harmful alcoholic beverages or dangerous drugs. There could be that small habit of helping oneself with company funds against policy. There is also that seemingly innocent peep into porn sites, after all, no harm!
Ignored, the once small foothold gradually extends into one huge and terrifying mountain, not that easy to level as it now completely controls its victim. To level it down would come at such a stiff price. For this reason, do not take lightly any temptations that come your way. The moment you give the devil an inch you are in for a long ride!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I pray to guard myself against any foothold the devil might trap me with, to live a victorious life in Christ, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
