Consider this for a moment. You are on
the soccer pitch in a capacity filled stadium. You are about to take the last
shot in the finals of a game that would be determined by penalty shootout. The
hopes and aspirations of a whole nation rest on your shoulders. The game had
been intense. Both teams have put in their very best for 120 minutes without a
winner. Now, 80,000 fans at the stadium, and several millions watching across
the globe are all focusing attention on you – some hoping you’ll score and
others praying you’ll miss. You place the ball on the penalty mark, and take 3
steps backwards. The noise in the stadium is deafening and your heart beat is
doing a double somersault! What a moment this can be! Whatever happens, your
name will go down in the history books as the one who took the game winning
shot, or as the one who caused the country to lose. It is a defining moment.
Our lives are a series of defining moments, strung together by passing time.
Every one of us, at different point
in life and career, are faced with defining moments! A lot depends on how we
handle our defining moments. A lot depends on what we do at those moments, or
what we don’t do; our decisions and indecisions. Our lives are a series of
defining moments, strung together by passing time.
I was faced with such a defining moment
sometime in 1996. I had just finished my Ordinary National Diploma in one of
the polytechnics in Nigeria. I was privileged to finish as the best graduating
student in my class, winning the Rectors’ Award for that year. Shortly after, I
was interviewing with one of the best oil companies in the country and was
offered a job. The salary (as of then) was intimidating to say the least. I
thought to myself “this would solve my financial problem and my family’s
forever”! In the same week, I got my admission letter for a direct entry to a
University, and was faced with a big dilemma. You may not understand how big
this decision was if you didn’t know my family background. I needed the bucks
so much at that time and any good way to get it would have been great. It was a
big defining moment. I was going to play a shot that would later determine a
lot of things in my life and career. Looking back retrospectively, I am glad I
put the shot far beyond the reach of the goalkeeper (lol). Defining moments
really defines. One way to better maximize your defining moments is to be
“principle based”. When you live your life on principles, especially scriptural
principles, you are better positioned to succeed.
As a science student in secondary
school, I was fascinated by how our world was governed by laws and principles.
These laws were no respecter of persons, tribe, age, colour or what have you.
We were all subject to them and life is governed by them. We still are. Take
the law of gravity for example. Anything that goes up comes down (except when
a higher law is at work). It doesn't matter if it's in Australia or in Korea,
in Africa or in the Caribbeans. Speak in diverse tongues for all you care, if
you jump up, you are coming back in only one direction. I also learnt over time
that principles don't change. Methods and techniques may change with time and
technology but principles remain. The principle behind the automobile engine is
still the same till date. However, the methods and techniques of building cars
have evolved with time. If you stay put with a technique or method, you will
soon become outdated. If you stay put with the principle, success is
guaranteed.
When you live your life on principles, especially scriptural principles, you are better positioned to succeed.
Principles give us direction in whatever
circumstances we find ourselves in. They are applicable to any given situation
and will determine our direction. Those who do not have permanent principles
will find themselves drifting along and making decisions that are personally
expedient, short-term oriented and usually bad for their long-term success. May
I submit to you then, that there are no better principles to live by, than
those commanded by our Lord, who also lived by those principles? If you want to
make the best out of your life and your existence, then, you’ve got to build
your life on scriptural principles.
Here are some examples to think
about:
You reap what you sow
If you play now (short term benefits),
you will pay later.
If you want to be great, you’ve got to be
a servant
Godliness with contentment is great gain.
Feel free to share on some other
principles that has helped you live for God and succeed in life. God bless you.