One hot afternoon, early in September 2007, a number of students sat under a tree in the Faculty of Arts, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria, waiting for the arrival of the time for one of their lectures. Somehow, one thing led to another, and they found themselves discussing love and relationship. I happened to be there, and the various ideas and idiosyncrasies they mouthed on the subject pressed me to also put in a word or two. The entire group but one found my opinion so weird, absurd and impossible that one of the ladies told me point-blank that if I should continue to hold on to my belief on the subject, I may never find myself a wife. I was unmarried then, and an undergraduate. I laughed and replied with the absolute confidence of one who knew his onions, “There just have to be one lady out there with exactly the same belief; but even if she doesn’t exist, I’ll stick to what I know is right!”
The popular opinion on that fateful day was that there was no way one would be in a relationship without having sex. To some, it was even the reason for going into the relationship in the first place. To others, even though it wasn’t the reason for going into the relationship, the relationship would eventually boil down to sex. As far as they were concerned, we live in a world where sex is a game, the ‘in-thing’ when a man and a woman come together to have any relationship. To them, sex was inevitable whenever you have a couple. I that day stood for otherwise. Suffice to say I eventually met that lady with the same mindset, and we are happier than ever!
The discussions on this occasion, and also the various relationships I have had with the opposite sex, have prompted this vision. Even before and after that time, after making several mistakes of my own and coming back to and reconnecting with God, I still strongly believed – and still believe – it is absolutely possible for a man and a woman to be in a relationship and not engage in sex except they are married.
These are some of the things we are going to be discussing from time to time on this blog. I strongly believe that for every post here there is a word of encouragement for you. Believe in yourself. More importantly, believe in God. Believe that He loves you as you are and is ever willing to cuddle you in His arms and show you the kind of love you never knew existed, the kind of love you have never felt.
Also, your comments and suggestions as well as questions are most welcomed, and by the Spirit of God, we will do our best to proffer answers to you from life experiences to scriptural proofs or opinions on any matter. God bless!
I decided to publish here the mission statement of Back to Eden Inc. (Ezekiel 36:34-36). This is to enable everyone of our readers know what our focus is.
THE MISSION STATEMENT:
“To raise a God-oriented generation of believers who are spiritually grounded in the deep things of God; a generation of spirit-filled, devil-resisting people who have consciously and permanently decided to consistently say no to the wiles of the devil, particularly and especially in the area of sexual sin; and are now reconciled to God through the preaching of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ unto salvation in a teaching-learning atmosphere."
The truth is life can be so beautiful in that relationship, not a torment, not a nightmare. Life can be so colourful, the many colours of the rainbow, not a gloomy, regrettable, lamentable anguish. But this can only be if Jesus is the centre of it all. He can fix it all for you only if you let Him.
