M.M.M

S: Have you taken a look at yourself in the mirror lately?

P: No, I’ve not. Why?

S: *brings a mirror and puts it in front of P*

P: Take that away from me! What the heck is that? That cannot be me. Where did that ugly looking monster come from?

S: I thought as much. I guessed you didn’t know you had become like this.

P: What are you talking about? That mirror must be damaged or something. How can I be that monster?

S: Take a look at this picture.

P: Ahan! What is this creepy looking creature? And why do you have a picture of it in your wallet?

S: 😂 It’s my throwback picture. That was how I looked four years ago. You can see that I was even worse that you are now.

P: Mad oh! So how did you become like this?

S: The first step was realizing where I went wrong. My friend, we don’t mutate and become bad suddenly. It happens subtly. Little changes over time make a big difference.

P: Hmm.

S: But usually, there are times during our transformation when things happen and we realize we are changing. So, brother, what triggered your change?

P: Few months ago, someone spoke ill of me and defrauded me. It hurt me and affected my reputation negatively. After I recovered from the hurt, I decided to damn the consequences and get back at him.

S: Were you able to?

P: Yes, I was. The adrenaline high steward afterwards was so beautiful. I was like an animal tasting blood for the first thing. It felt so good.

S: Then what happened?

P: I wanted more. One was not enough. I needed to get more kills to feel good.

S: Interesting. A few years ago, I heard or read a quote. “Hurt people hurt people”. It means that those who have been negatively affected by circumstances often hurt others that they come in contact with.

P: How does that relate to me?

S: You were hurt, and in a bid to get back at your oppressor, you have become an oppressor. You’ve mutated from Man to Monster.

P: Hmm! So how can I reverse the effects of the mutation? How can I stop being driven by the desire to make sure others feel the pain I felt?

S: I was in your shoes years ago, like my picture showed. Then, I met the Master, Jesus. I surrendered my life to Him. He took me to the feet of the cross and made me whole.

P: Oga, that one na theory. How did he practically make you clean? Because I can’t reconcile the thing in that picture to the person standing before me.

S: 😂 It’s not theory. After I gave my life to Christ, I spent more time in prayer and study of His word. I began to get clarity on my flaws and His nature rubbed off on me.

P: Was it instant?

S: No, it wasn’t. Even instant noodles is not instant 😅 It took years of walking with him for me to get to this place where I am.

P: So you are perfect now, right?

S: Not at all. *unbuttons and rolls up his shirt sleeve*

P: I can still see some of those scales on your skin!

S: Exactly! Those are the parts where I have not allowed the light of Christ to shine on. The areas I’m struggling to surrender. Until I give Him control, He can’t cleanse those parts. My sanctification comes from my surrender.

P: So, cleansing happens when monster meets Master (M.M.M)?

S: Yes o, my friend. Are you willing to come to Christ today?

P: …would He be willing to take me?

S: Yes, no one who comes to Him will He in any wise cast away. He is willing. He’s been waiting.

P: Then, I surrender. Lead me to the Cross.

S: Shall we pray?

…

Iremide: 2 Corinthians 13:5 admonishes us to examine ourselves as believers. In the first chapter of James, we are shown that Scriptures is one way by which we can see our flaws.

Like the character in the story, some people have been hurt, cheated and victimized. In a bid to get even and take revenge, many have become what they condemned. Sometimes unknowing to them.

However, God wants you to know that the change is not irreversible. He is willing to work on you if you are willing to walk to the Cross. He is willing to cleanse you if you are willing to surrender all to Him.

No one who comes to Him will He in any wise cast out. Are you willing to come to Christ today?

…

“And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭