MAN DOWN

It was just another sunny day in the heat-ridden city of Ibadan, nothing special; same dusty roads, arguing agberos, extorting police officers, overspeeding vehicles – nothing new, same old, same old. Ola and Bisi were walking down Oyo road on their way to a birthday party -the two had known each other since childhood and had even made their way through the same university, they could be practically considered brothers save one key difference.

Bisi talked about the stomach upset he experienced while Ola had his fun, teasing that it was the communion wine he and his church people drink. No sooner than the laughter stopped that they heard the terrifying high-pitched screams of people on the opposite side of the street followed by the dismaying site of a truck with a failed break crashing into the side of the road, breaking through the parked vehicles and ramming into the roadside shops.

The two friends looked at each other in horror, and without a word, they ran towards the crash to help anyone they could. Up close the scene was even more pathetic as the thick smoke oozed out of the vehicle, mixed with the panicking cries of people from all directions, the minimal visibility and the eerie sight of blood stains -this is bad, really bad.

Ola noticed Bisi was dragging out an unconscious man from one of the wreckage, he entered one of the shops and noticed a little girl crying, all huddled up in the corner, he went towards her gently re-assuring her and scooping her in his arms, as he walked out; one hand clutching the child the other covering his nose, he heard what sounded like a sharp but piercing sound, his attention was drawn upwards and through a crack in the roof he could swear he saw a man on the horse ride past a cloud -this smoke must be getting into my head said Ola wiping his eyes. He ran out of the house, and only then did he notice the weight of the child he carried was unimaginably lesser for some reason, he looked down and saw it was only an empty dress that was now clutched to his chest. Ola was about to scream in shock only to hear the even louder screams from all over the neighborhood.

Ola was beginning to feel like the lead character in a blockbuster horror movie he did not apply for, the crash of the truck now looked like the smallest of problems in what was looking like armagaddeon unfolding before his eyes -cars all over were loosing control and crashing, where people once stood now stands pieces of cloths -a mother on the side is frantically searching for her baby, clutching just the clothes of the baby, a husband looking for his wife claiming she just disappeared while in the car, panic everywhere with questions and no answers.

Bisi! where’s Bisi? Ola turned around and there on the floor was Bisi’s black top and Jeans -oh no, Bisi is gone too. Then like a flash in the mind, he remembered Bisi’s religious rant, something about a rapture -could it be, oh no, no, no!

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While this fictional story might sound just like fiction, it’s actually closer to prophecy, closer to an accurate telling of a soon to be world-wide future.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 1 Thes 4:16,17

Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Matt 24:40-42

so the question is, who will you be, Bisi or Ola? Your faith in Jesus or lack of it is the answer.