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MUSTARD I – Ch. 29 | KT OLLA

ALUKHO had the answer ready. And Moro wanted to know it too – why his life had been a long hard toil.

The younger one spoke.

‘It is simply because the powers of darkness are constantly at war against humanity.

‘Now if a soccerer or something choses to cause harm just because he likes to show power, then what can someone do about it?

‘Well, maybe you’ll say they should appease him in whatever way they could. But what if he is not appeased?

‘Then what do you do if it is no soccerer dealing with you but the demons they serve? How then can you conquer darkness?’

Moro breathed a small sigh.

‘You’re right on this thing,’ he said – ‘we are just helpless. That is why we all say and hope everyday that we don’t meet trouble!’

‘K’á má k’àgbákò,’ his listener repeated, musing on his last words.

He went on from there. ‘So like I said, the world is home to the Devil and this evil presence is always at war with us.

‘And that is a greater warfare we cannot win ourselves!’

Moro spoke up. ‘You see, I want victory over all forms of war! I don’t want to continue reaping other people’s evil, too!

‘But what can I do; tell me what I can do to escape trouble!’

Alukho looked at him and thought to take things one step per time.

‘You are to believe in the Maker of heaven and earth, the Creator of all mankind,’ he said.

‘You are to believe in God Almighty – not in graven image.’

Moro was surprised. ‘I do, my good friend!

‘Who wouldn’t know there is a Being in heaven who made everything here. I believe, Alukho!’

The preacher gave more.

‘Then you are to love and serve Him in truth.’

The older man shook his head. ‘That is where the problem lies, my friend!

‘The Almighty is too high up, how can one reach Him... let alone love and serve Him?’

Alukho answered, ‘Well, the Most High knew this too, and that’s why He sent a part of Him to walk this earth.

‘A part of Him?’

‘Yes, God sent his Word to us. Then this Word left the glory of God’s Nature to take our lowly form.

‘He came to earth and was called Jesus the Messiah.’

‘Is that so? Where is he? Do you know where to find Him?’

The preacher smiled. ‘I am coming to that—

‘For, in the true sense, God became man so He could bear our pain and carry our sorrows. Then end our toils once and for all!

‘He said in his words:

Come to Me all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.

‘That is His promise,’ smiled Alukho. (He had quoted the Gospel according to Mathew XI. 28 – 30.)

Moro was hearing these things for the first time, and those words touched him.

‘Oh, He said all that? Please take me to Him—I will serve Him!’

The preacher wasn’t through, so he told him.

‘That is not the only thing, he actually went on to conquer man’s foe. That is, the powers of Sin, Satan, and Death.

‘He took the blame for all our sins, even though He never sinned through life.

‘For He was nailed to a tree like a sinner. And through the symbol of his death, he tasted doom for everybody... I mean, the penalty for evil.

‘But then He rose again the third day, to rescue man from the bondage that the fear of future has caused us.

‘The fear of here and the hereafter. The fear of the great morrow.’

His listener understood now. He bowed his head to think.

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