Posted by By Opile Lazarus on
We discussed few days ago about Jesus and the worst sinners, the Tax collectors. Jesus had a good time with the worst sinners, the tax collectors. He eat, and drank with these class of neglected human beings. That is Jesus the Saviour of the whole universe.
We discussed few days ago about Jesus and the worst sinners, the Tax collectors.
Jesus had a good time with the worst sinners, the tax collectors. He eat, and drank with these class of neglected human beings. That is Jesus the Saviour of the whole universe.
Are you a tax collector? Are you at the custom check point? Then you are a friend to Jesus and a fiend to the masses. Police, bribe and Jesus may not be different from what we heard from this column some times ago. The police claim that Jesus is in support of their collection business. The police force as any other force has so many personalities in her. Some police officers are pastors, some are Bishops, others are deacons and deaconesses many have their own churches. Almost all of them are Christians. Most of them go to church more than some of those people who accuse them on daily basis. Some police officers are better than most self acclaimed righteous priests and pastors who are full time ministers in this Port Harcourt city. I am sure of what I am saying now, and I can prove this. The groups that have tarnished the image of the police force are daily being flushed out of the force. This I can also prove.
I was arrested one evening along Ogbunabali road at exactly Amadi Flat junction by Ogbunabali road at about 8.15pm. The policeman was from Akwa Ibom, Number and name withheld. He off loaded my passengers and declared my vehicle a stolen vehicle.
I told him that the vehicle belongs to my Pastor and that I know who sold the vehicle to the Pastor; therefore it could not be a stolen vehicle. The policeman shouted that if I don't drive the vehicle to the station, he would bore a hole on my foot and drive the vehicle to the station.
I pleaded, don't bore a hole on my foot I will drive you to the station. He said thief. And we drove in dead silence to the station. It was old GRA police station. On arrival the station officer shouted and came to us. He was busy adjusting his gun. I told my story to the station officer an elderly man from Akwa-Ibom also. He the station officer asked me if I was a Christian? I said, and then I could not have stolen a car. He now said that, Jesus said in Luke 12:58, 59, thus:
"As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. I tell you, you will never get out till you have paid the very last copper." This he quoted and read in the darkness outside the GRA police station. I took a deep breath and asked; what do we do now? He said, he cannot prove what he is saying. Don't park you vehicle here, besides here is a very small station. Go with your car, only find us something. I asked what? The elderly station officer quoted another place again. "What your eyes have seen do not hastily bring into court; for what will you do in the end, when your neigbour puts you to shame? Argue your case with your neighbour himself, and do not disclose another's secret; he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end. A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.
Proverbs 25:8-12." He said since he has brought you here, I must share in the butty because Isaiah said; "seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55, 7." Papa said, give us money and go with your car. God said settle us. We are not willing to take you to any court. Only give us our own cut, no more, no less.
The psalmist lamented; "therefore let every one who is godly offer prayer to thee; at a time of distress, in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. Psalm 32:6."
Amos said that; "For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: "Seek me and live; seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be with you, as you have said.
Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of host, the Lord: "In all the squares there shall be waling; and in all the streets they shall say, "Alas! Alas! "They shall call the farmers to mourning and to wailing those who are skilled in lamentation, and in all vineyards there shall be wailing for I will pas through the mist of you, "says the Lord. Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! Why would you have the day of the LORD? It is darkness and not light; as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house and leaned with his hand against the wall, and a serpent bit him. Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it? Amos 5:4, 14-20."
At the UTC traffic light was a mobile court one day. Our vehicle was checked and the policeman said settle me and go. The driver said, "I am a Pastor, I can't do that. The policeman said what of Mathew 18:34? The Pastor said what? "And in anger his Lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt." The Pastor asked which debt? The policeman without a word took his papers to the magistrate and said all his papers are expired. He has all tyres worn out and no spare. The Pastor could not help shouting, WHAT? The policeman left him there and came back to the road again. Even a serving Pastor could not understand Bible as much as a police constable. That is incredible.
At mile 3, just at the Texaco filling station was an accident involving a taxi and a bus. The taxi driver called the policeman aside and settled him. The policeman came back to the bus driver and got his statement and drew sketches. Got the address of the bus driver. After one year, the policeman served the bus drive a summon who was now an applicant, to appear in court over and overnight case as he put it. The brother of the driver asked what happened the policeman said that the driver was not a Christian. He did not close the case; therefore he must go to court.
He said; "you will seek me and you will not find me' where I am you cannot come." John 7:34 why now? Asked the brother. I will be the prosecutor tomorrow. At the zoo park junction was an accident between a 34-sitter bus and a water truck pusher, and Okada driver. The water truck pusher settled, the bus drivers settled. The Okada driver argued and the policeman said; "At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation." Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in any one's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry. II Corinthians 6:2,3."
Some of the policemen actually have churches and preach very well, and they bring their knowledge of the scripture into their office or work as we may say. The Police Pastor also said; "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, when you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness. Hebrews 3:7,8." When police come, settle and avoid trouble, it is allowed as the Bible has said.