Recently, I saw a news report about Syrian refugees escaping from their war torn country via land mine-infested borders to the refugee camps across the Turkish border. What struck me the most was a young ex-soldier who painstakingly used his genius and experience to incapacitate the land mines via very unorthodox means. Subsequently he led as many that trusted in him across the border for free. As many that followed him had a guaranteed passage across the mine fields.
However, some people didn’t notice him, while others totally ignored him. These ones passed through land mine-infested route and they had horrific experiences. Some died, some were maimed and some actually crossed over unscathed, but in all it turned out to be an unmemorable experience for them. It would have obviously been better if they followed this unique ex-soldier who literarily gave himself to defuse the land mines and lead others across the border, all for free.
The ex-soldier who literarily gave himself to save his fellow compatriots serves as an allegory of Christ in this story while the mine field serves as an allegory of the world with all its uncertainties and unpredictability.
We live in a world full of uncertainties and lopsidedness, where change is ever constant and events swing faster than the pendulum. There’s a strong possibility that a very wealthy person becomes so poor overnight by making a singular bad business cum investment decision. There’s also a strong possibility that a person can win a million dollar lottery. There’s a strong possibility that you’re born into a wealthy and a royal family with all the requirements to have a guaranteed successful life. There’s also a strong possibility that you could be born into very poor family in a war torn zone where the chances of survival if any, are very slim. All these are left to time and chance.
In Christ, we have the guarantee of a Savior who is God; the Maker of heaven and earth. To this extent, we are guaranteed of a thorough passage through this uncertain world, unscathed. The bible says, “So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? (Roms.8:31-32 THE MESSAGE)”. His only requirement is that we trust and obey him so we can allow him lead us assuredly (Prov.3:5-6) the same way the Syrian refugees who trusted and followed the ex-soldier had a guaranteed passage across the mine fields.
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 NIV)”
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1Pet.5:7 NIV).”
-Emeka Ofia