“My goodness!” he cried and jumped out of bed. “Why? What brought you girls to my house? I… I never expected to see you.” “Does that mean we are not welcome?” Maya chuckled and took the only armchair in the room, leaving Kate to make do with the bed. “Oh, not at all, I’m so sorry,” he apologized. “You are welcome. Please, sit down. Em… what… what canI offer you?” “That’s not why we are here.” “I know, but ...” “You’re looking handsome," Maya said, admiring his dark blue denim jeans and white singlet. She could see the contours of his rippling muscles beneath the singlet. “Thank you," he winked at her and turned to Kate. "What can I offer you, Kate?” “Nothing, thanks." “No, you must take something,” he insisted. Maya rolled her tongue. “We want nothing or is it by force?”  “Yes, it is by force. Or do you want to deny me of my blessings?” Kate giggled. “What does that mean?”  “Don’t you know there is a blessing in giving?” “Oh, that? But…but that’s not why we are here.” “Now you are here, do you want to deny me of the opportunity to be blessed? “Okay, I get it. Let me have Coca-Cola.” He turned to Maya. “Fanta.”
He left and minutes later, he returned with bottles of Coca-Cola and Fanta. Maya scanned the room, wondering where the ashtray had gone. She could not remember ever coming here and not seeing the ashtray conspicuously displayed by the bedside or on his reading desk. “How many sticks have you smoked today?” “Two, and that was before I went to church.” “You haven't smoked since you came back from church?” “I don’t know,” he glared at her. “Yes Jeff, that reminds me,” Kate said. “I saw you in church today, thanks for coming.” He beamed. “I hope you enjoyed the service?” “Yeah, it was great.” “Good. That means we’ll be seeing more of you? “Sure." "So, tell me, what part of the service interested you?” “Too many questions,” he laughed. “Are you conducting research?” Maya giggled. “Maybe.” “The sermon was superb, but the worship session was…,” he shook his head. “I… I… never knew…, well, never mind.” “You never knew what?” Kate was eager to know. “Never knew she’s so good. I felt something when she sang ‘Almost persuaded,” he winked at Maya. “Glad for the experience. You said the preaching interested you, how and why?” “The sermon was great, precise, simple, and factual. It opened my eyes to many things.” “What are you doing about it? Knowing is not all that matters, you know? The real secret lies in acting on the information.” “Yes, Jeff, she is right. You must receive Christ in your life as your Lord and personal savior?” “Receive Christ?” he cried, surprised. “How else do I receive Him? I know Him.” “Well, knowing Him, as in going to church isn’t enough, you must give Him your life, depend on Him and confess Him as your Lord and personal savior.” “Okay,” he nodded. “I’ll think about that.” “Think about it? Why don’t you receive him now? Tomorrow may be too late.” His eyes widened. “Now?” She nodded. “Yes, now.” “No, no, no, no,” he shook his head vigorously. “It’s too early.” Maya frowned. “Why, what do you mean?” “Nothing, but I just don’t want to be tied down now. I mean, I am only 22. I want to make money first, have fun and settle down before I can give myself completely over to God.”  “And you imagine God would be waiting? ”Kate smirked. “Of course, or is He coming tomorrow?” “No one knows when He will come. He may come today, I mean, now.” “I…I,” he stammered. “Have you been sick before?” Kate asked.  “Yes, why do you ask?” “You know, when you are sick, nothing will make sense to you any longer - your education, food, money, name it. Your only preoccupation would be the urge to get well again. You will also realize that you can’t even help yourself even if you want to.” “So, what’s your point?” “The point I’m trying to make is if you lose this opportunity to reconcile with God now, a time will come when you’ll look for it with all your heart, but it will be too late; just like when you’re sick and can’t help yourself, even though you’d like to.” “No, it won’t be late,” he shook his head. “Surely, Christ is not coming now, not even tomorrow.” “Why did you say that?” “Hunches, why? Besides, most of these so-called born-again Christians don’t help matters.” Kate squinted. “What do you mean?” “Many of you preach one thing while you practice another. In fact, the way some of you live your lives sometimes make me wonder if Christ actually controls you or lives in you. There’s no exception, so just don’t try to defend it.” “Putting up a defense is far from my mind. Instead, what I want to say is rather personal.” “What’s that?” “I’m glad you’ve noticed the problem in the body of Christ- the church. You are smart to have done that, but permit me to ask you a very personal question.” “Go on.” “Has it ever occurred to you that you might be that special person God wants to live that exemplary life for others to follow? Have you ever considered the fact that you could be that perfect person, that role model that you can’t find?”
He regurgitated what she said and nodded. “Well, you’re right. You are smarter than I thought. I got your point.” “I’m glad you do." “Gosh,” he scratched his hair again. “To think I could be the one.” “Are you saying God cannot depend on you?” They had him cornered and there seemed no way out of the quagmire. He nodded. “Yes. I think I’d like to do that, but tell me, is it possible to live a sinless life?” “Why, sure,” Kate nodded. “How?” He was still doubtful. “Through Christ that strengthens us. You know, the Bible says Christ was also tempted but was found without sin. We can live a sinless and victorious life by being Christ-like and son conscious, not sin conscious. Besides, his blood cleanses us from all sin.” “There’s a little secret though,” Maya said, her eyes twinkling. “What is it?” “We have a secret code of conduct,” Kate maintained the suspense. “Oh come off it and give it to me straight,” he said a little impatiently, looking from Kate to Maya. “What do you mean by a code of conduct?” “Have you heard the acronym, WWJD before?” “No. What’s that?” “Well, it stands for ‘What Would Jesus Do?’It is a control key or a code of conduct for Christians who want to be Son conscious, not sin conscious. The concept helps Christians to live every second, every minute, and every day of their lives bit by bit and without stress.” He frowned. “I still don’t follow.” “Okay, let me explain.” Kate said. “Now, let us assume Jesus was invited to a party where there would be drinking and smoking and other unethical behaviors, do you think He will attend such a party?” “No.” “Good,” she adjusted her sitting position. “And do you also think if Jesus was a student, He would cheat to pass His examinations or sort His lecturers to upgrade his scores?” “No.” “Good.That is exactly what the philosophy is all about. It helps Christians maintain balance and Bible trained conscience as well as be Son conscious. If you apply the philosophy to every facet of your life, everything will become easier.” “Okay, I got it.” She took his hand. “Are you ready to receive Christ now?” “I… I.” “He is here; He is waiting for you. The Bible says in Romans 10:10: ‘For with heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.’” He hesitated but just then, he remembered the voice saying. ‘Touch not my anointed.’ He shook his head in the affirmative. “Yes." He wants to know that God that protects His own. “Great,” she cried and took his hand. “Now, repeat after me.”
She led him through the sinner’s prayer and thereafter, prayed for him asking God to accept him and cleanse him from all unrighteousness and to give him the strength and enablement to run the race without blemish. “Thank you, Lord, for answered prayers and for forgiveness, in Jesus name I pray.” “Amen,” he muttered. “Amen,” Kate said too. “That’s it. You are now born again, a royal priesthood, a chosen generation. You are a new creature; old things are passed away.” “And you have the righteousness of Christ in you,” Kate added. “There is therefore no more condemnation.”