Shine Bright II

Chris, a 400 level Biochemistry student and the hall president of Diamond Hall in Jasper University planned for his birthday party to be held in the Emerald cafeteria, a restaurant which was situated just opposite the University. It was usually frequented by the affluent people in the University because of its classy nature and how expensive their victuals were. The end of his tenure of office coincided with his birthday and he decided to celebrate it in a very grand style.Fortunately for him, the other leaders consented when he decided to give his last speech as the hall president at his birthday ceremony. Preparations for the birthday were being earnestly made by his friends, Tony and Tunji. It was to hold on the Friday night and it’s Wednesday today, connoting that he had only two days to prepare for this resplendent celebration. The ceremony had been slated to start at eight o’clock pm on the Friday night.Chris’ father was one of the most influential people in the country; he was a politician and also a business magnate and so money was never a problem for his son throughout his education. He owned a lot of companies especially in the oil sector and the banking sector. Because of how easy Chris could get money at his fingertips, he didn’t care the number of people who will attend his birthday party; he would pay the bills of each one of them.The party was to be held till the crack of dawn.For enough fun to be had, he preferred all the bulbs to be replaced with glitter balls. The owners of the cafeteria told him about the importance of having some few normal bulbs in case of any emergency but he insisted on having them replaced. They didn’t argue with him for a long time since they knew he had enough money to change the location and choose a more exquisite place than theirs.The program started and was going well as planned. It was initiated with the adieu service for Chris. It was a beautiful program and soon it was time for Chris to give his valedictory speech. People loved his speeches because of how sarcastic but formal it was, it made one beam with smiles while listening till he was done speaking. He climbed to the little scaffold which had been created for him with his secretary and vice standing beside him to give him a backing support.Chris had an eye problem and had been advised by his eye specialist whom he visited twice in each quarter of the year to avoid reading in dark places and at scenes where the light is not bright enough for reading. He decided not to go by this today since it was a big day for him, “Just this once won’t spoil or affect anything”; he told himself. Meanwhile his specialist had warned him when he went for his previous review that his nerve fibre analysis test indicated how weak his retinal nerves had become and told him to adhere to the instructions he had given him religiously.The organizers could have easily switched off the glitter balls and switched the normal bulbs on but because of what Chris insisted, he found it difficult to read since the light was dim and its colours were changing consistently. Chris’ vice and his secretary turned on the flashlights of their phone but because of how the bright lights were close to him and shinning in his eyes, he still found it difficult to read. The program had to be halted for a while for some few white lights to be fixed before it could be continued.Chris learnt a lesson from his pompous nature.After the bulbs had been fixed, he couldn’t read again; his vision had become blurry due to too much strain he had put on his eyes. His secretary had to continue the reading of his speech. The birthday celebration after the valediction was ended abruptly since he was finding it difficult to see and have fun.At cockcrow, Chris gave his eye specialist a call and grizzled to him the new symptom. He told Chris to quickly see him. Chris didn’t wait for daybreak before setting off. His friend, Tony drove him to see Dr. Cumar. Every intervention to restore Chris’ vision back to normal proved futile. He had to live with a blurry vision for the rest of his life. He was given another pair of glasses to aid him in having a clearer vision but he still faced a lot of difficulties even with the glasses.He was in his final year and was about to write his final year examination in order to complete his first degree but he had been advised against putting too much strain on his eyes so he couldn’t learn as effectively as he should. This drastically dropped his grade point average (G.P.A.) and he graduated with a low class.Chris’ father, Chief Oladapo had promised Chris that he will take over and head most of his companies while his younger sister took the rest once he completed University. This was one of the reasons Chris threw his last birthday party in a grand style; he was going to be a boss on own right after completing school. Unfortunately, because of the problem with his sight, his father was afraid to do as promised; Chief knew some of his workers will start cheating him once they get to know their new CEO has a problem with his sight. Chris was made to stay at home for some time.After a year, his sister also graduated. Chief made his daughter head most of his companies while he gave Chris only two of his companies which were now being developed. He did because he didn’t want to his businesses run at a loss. Chris had a lot of money but could not enjoy life and have all the fun he had planned to have as a result.Placing Chris’ story in juxtaposition with our Christian lives; we are to be shinning lights to our generation but some activities dim our lights; they paint the white bright light in us and make us shine like the glitter balls used during Chris’ valedictory ceremony. It is impossible to read well under these disco lights but one can read well under a white bright light. In the same way. you cannot shine the light of God in you while you indulge in activities that colour the white bright light in you and make you shine like a disco light.
They may not actually be sin but weights.Hebrews 12:1“Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.”The Bible tells us some things may not be sins but are not befitting for us for they draw us back.1 Corinthians 10:23“All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful but not all things build up”They prevent us from shinning bright for others to see the light of God of us rather they make us shine like the glitter balls which are usually used in clubs. This happens when you’re trying to bear more than one nature in you. You can’t bear more than one nature in you. You either bear the nature of God or the nature of the world. When you try to blend into both, the world will prevent you from shinning the white bright light in you by painting you with different colours and you begin to shine like the glitter balls. When this happens, the world begins to praise you that you shine more nice, colourful and are more fashioned than those who shine as white bright lights.One may think he or she is shining but some things we attach to ourselves prevent us from shinning. When you try to live both a godly life and a life accepted by the world, you do not shine bright the light of God; you rather shine like a glitter ball. You shine different lights in you because of the dual life you live. Glitter balls do not even shine like white lights do, they are dimmer.There is also deception when one shines like a glitter ball. A glitter ball changes its colours and rotates making it attractive whereas a white bright light is static; no changing of colours, no nothing; making it boring. The devil makes sin look attractive and pleasing to the eyes but he’ll never let you know its grave consequences right away.You scam your own self when you think living a Christ-like life is boring, “one-way” and you can’t have any fun. The eternal peace and joy gotten in Jesus is nothing compared to what the world gives.John 16:33“ I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”*
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What other lessons can you learn from Chris’ story? Please share them in the comment section.Have a happy weekend 😀