On the 9th of December 1982, a woman was raped and stabbed in her home in a well-to-do neighbourhood in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. Unfortunately, the real perpetrator escaped and 22 year old Archie Williams, who also hails from Baton Rouge, was arrested for the crime. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Twelve years into his wrongful imprisonment, Archie Williams heard from a fellow inmate about the Innocence Project (a free-standing, non-profit law organisation devoted to freeing poor people who will otherwise die in prison for crimes they did not commit). Archie wrote to them for help and they took up his case. It took 24 years, but on March 21, 2019, after a judge ordered a review of the fingerprints found at the scene, Williams was found to be innocent and for the first time in 37 years since his wrongful imprisonment, Williams at last breathed the fresh air of freedom.
The truth is, nobody is exempt from the trials and troubles that come with life. In fact, our Lord and Master told His followers: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV). That does not in any way mean that we should expect troubles or trials, but whenever we encounter them it behoves us as God’s children to trust Him to see us through.
There is no gainsaying the fact that the entire world has been through turbulent and unpredictable times since the onset of this year. The emergence of the strange disease COVID-19 has swallowed up practically every realistic plan or expectation. Not even the most developed countries were prepared for the troubles that have overtaken the world. And our country Nigeria has seen its own fair share of troubles these past few weeks and months, in addition to the global pandemic.
In the midst of the prevailing circumstances however, God is reminding us of His enduring mercy. Remember, it is because of His mercy we are not consumed. And the Bible puts it so well: “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not” (Lamentations 3:22). The same things that have shaken the world and swallowed up the best of lives, organisations and even nations could have overrun us but for His mercy.
It was Charles Spurgeon who said, “God’s mercy is so great that you may sooner drain the sea of its water, or deprive the sun of its light, or make space too narrow, than diminish the great mercy of God.” So, as we draw close to the end of this eventful year, never forget that the same mercy that has kept you this far is still very much available to see you through to the end and even beyond.
In our theme scripture for the month, God said concerning His servant David, “My mercy I will keep for him forever, and My covenant shall stand firm with him.” Today, you are in better stead by virtue of the covenant in the blood of Jesus. And God’s promise of mercy to us does not have an expiry date—it is forever. There is nothing that you can possibly be going through or will ever go through that can bring it to an end. As F.B Meyer said, “Never forget that, when once God has entered into covenant with a soul, He will stand to it, till the heavens be no more.”
So whatever you might have lost, whatever you are going through, whatever mountain is standing before you, be assured that His mercies will prevail for you. There is great restoration coming your way. His grace and mercy will fill every breach in your life and lift you up wherever you have stumbled or fallen. You will have double honour in every place you have been put to shame. God will cause everything created to converge and release their blessings upon you, your household and your business or career, all because of His mercy. His blessings on your life will overflow to all around you and even future generations in Jesus name.
If you require counselling or want us to prayerfully agree with you, feel free to send me a mail at pastortaiwo@tfolc.org.
God bless you.
Pastor Taiwo Odukoya
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