I have been in the church for some time.
Long enough to see the era when the world was different from the church.
I saw the days when the world looked at the church with respect and reverence.
I saw the days when "born again" experience was the sincere bridge through which men cross from the world to the church.
I saw the days of "SU" revival when all truly converted people were so labelled by the world.
I saw the days when men respond to altar calls not with chewing gums in their mouths but with tears in their eyes broken and truly submissive before the altar of God.
I have not been in the church for a long time!
I have not been in the church for a long time.

BUT!!!

I saw the days when men of God were not men of gold.
I saw the days when Reverends were not laughing stocks in the society but men given the honour of the God they truly represent.
I saw the days when men went to church to meet preachers and not entertainers.
I saw the days when the pulpit was not a place for comic reliefs or centers of business discussions but God's holy altars from where holy fire proceeded to consume evil works in men's lives.
I saw the days the Spirit of God would expose the secret evils of men when they came to worship and men would not dare come to His presence with sins not yet repented.
I saw the days when the church was a centre of transformation and God's workshop where men's lives were fabricated and molded after Him.
I have not been in the church for a long time.
I have not been in the church for a long time.

BUT!!!

I saw the days when churches were not business centres and human empires.
I saw the days when humility was the hallmark of Christian service and men of God were contented with that simple life of Christ and will not hoodwink their hungry congregation to pay through their noses for the luxury and extravagance of pulpit business men.
I saw the day when collection of money was never a means for motivating God to answer prayers.
I saw days when men pray lifting holy hands and not 1000 euro notes in prayer meetings.
I saw days when men of God were empowered by the Holy Spirit to raise men and not trained by godless motivational speakers to raise offerings.
I saw the days when Jesus was the centre of all messages, heaven was the centre of all focuses and holiness was the centre of all Christian character.
I have not been in the church for a long time!
I have not been in the church for a long time!
HONESTLY,
I don't know for how long I will remain in the church on this side of eternity.
NAY,
I do not know for how long the church will remain before the harvest of her Lord.

BUT!!!,

But my heart bleeds for the modern day church.
Oh the church of the computer age.
Nay, the church of the ICE age.
The church where men play more than pray.
The church where holiness is a denominational doctrine.
The church where those who speak the truth are extremists and biased.
I weep for the modern day church as I see self-adverts and miracle hawking in the name of ministry.
I weep as I see the church married to the world and the world enjoying the driver's seat of the church.
I weep when I see a church that is a million miles wide but less than a meter deep.
Although I have not been in the church for a long time, I weep brethren for what I see the church turning to in my generation.
I weep because my children and their generation do not see what I saw in the days past.
I have not been in the church for a long time!
I have not been in the church for a long time.

BUT!!!

I notice every day that the Bible is the same in every age and generation.
I have read times without number what is written in 1 Peter 2:9:
"BUT YE ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, AN HOLY NATION, A PECULIAR PEOPLE; THAT YE SHOULD SHEW FORTH THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO HATH CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELLOUS LIGHT".
I keep wondering the peculiarity of the church in today's world.
Well, I have not been in the church for a long time!
I have not been in the church for a long time.

BUT!!!

I have been there long enough to know that the Foundation of God still stands sure and also long enough to know that the Lord still knows those who are His and everyone that is named with Christ must depart from iniquity.
I have been in the church long enough to understand that not everyone that calls Jesus Lord will enter His heavenly home. For said He

"MANY WILL SAY TO ME IN THAT DAY, LORD, LORD, HAVE WE NOT PROPHESIED IN THY NAME? AND IN THY NAME HAVE CAST OUT DEVILS? AND IN THY NAME DONE MANY WONDERFUL WORKS? AND THEN WILL I PROFESS UNTO THEM, I NEVER KNEW YOU: DEPART FROM ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY" (Mat 7:22-23).

Beloved, how long have you been in the church and what gospel have you been made to believe?
I hope it is not one that will put your eternity in serious jeopardy?
Think on these things and heed the warning of God from a sincere believer.
I have not been in the church for a long time but I desire to be with the Master; my loving Saviour and my Lord throughout eternity.

Fr. Olugbenga Olajide is a priest in the Anglican Church of Nigeria