The Unguarded Hour

THE UNGUARDED HOUR

BY

WIZEKING IKWOR

We need to first and foremost define the used words: unguarded and hour.

The word unguarded as the word entails is the direct opposite of the word guarded. And what does it mean to be guarded ???. To be guarded means to be very conscious of things that happen to us in any way.

An hour on the other hand as we all know, is the time in which something is done.

Since we have the correct definition of being guarded.

The unguarded hour is a theme I came up with during my last visit to Enugu. I came across a unique family. This family at first glance was perfect to behold. Although not all the members were Christians quite alright, but there was this unique bond they all shared. They could laugh, play and gist freely amongst themselves. But God in His own economy was about to prove to me that not everything was as it seemed. Something happened to me that warranted my staying with them for the rest of my stay.

On getting to the house, I discovered that there was this cold disposition between them. There was this disparity amongst them I can’t really explain fully. There was this coldness hanging around them. This coldness or disparity I was told was as a result of the troublesome woman one of the sons of the family got pregnant and as a result, had to marry. From what I was told, the entrance of the woman into the family brought about the disparity amongst the siblings. The parents who were wise, admonished these siblings to tread carefully and prayerfully but these children won’t listen. Amongst these siblings, was the last girl; a Christian who no matter what the “troublesome lady” as many called her did, kept mute all the way. She always guarded herself all the time.

But, a time came, when she wasn’t so guarded after all. The quarrel got to its heights and there was almost a fight between the siblings and their brother and his wife. Still this lady kept her cool. But it came to a point she just couldn’t bear it any longer and she went all “anger maniac” on her. Now, this act of hers pained not just me but her parents as well. This led to a story told by the father about a certain Christian lady who was hated by her neighbors for no just cause. These “evil neighbors” took this woman to an occultist and wanted to kill her but no matter where they went, they couldn’t do her any harm. On one of their visits, they were told that this woman was guarding herself every time and as long as she remains guarded; there was nothing they could do to her that could succeed. The herbalist or witch doctor told them that all they had to do was to make her drop her shield and attack her at that self same hour. This means they should annoy the woman to an extent that she would speak out in annoyance. These people went to this woman’s farm and started burning and cutting all her crops and trees. The woman in annoyance started raining abuses on them and in that hour which she wasn’t guarded, her spirit was summoned and she was truck dead there and then.

Now, it’s not so much about the story I was told any way; but the significance of this message to we Christians. I’ve seen so many Christians with the complaint: I can’t take it anymore; he is playing on my calmness; her cup is overflowing already. I’m here to admonish you or rather to remind you of the words of our savior himself “… verily I say unto you … but until seventy times seven times”. Listen and be wise my dear brethren for your “adversary the devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour”. He would stop at nothing to make sure that you and I don’t make the pearly gates and we must fight for our place there.

No matter what the ungodly ones in this wicked world does to us, we should not dwell on that rather we should rejoice that a day cometh when our savior will “wipe all tears” from our eyes with a golden handkerchief!! What a glorious thought. We are going to walk the celestial city, the street of gold and the other things we were promised. By the time our minds are crowded with these wonderful thoughts of heaven’s glamour, we won’t have need for the anger that comes with what anyone in this world can do for us or to us to annoy us. Please my dear beloved brethren, our time here is almost done so let’s not let our crown be taken from us because of carelessness or anger or anything at all. Remember that it is “he that endureth to the end” not he that started or endured at all or that ran almost all the way that will be saved. So “hold the fort for I am coming; Jesus whispers still”. Until we see the savior’s face in glory….. Remain blessed and remember: LEAVE NO HOUR UNGUARDED!!!!.

GOD BLESS YOU.