The Nemesis:


It was slowly catching up with her. It was coming so close that she could smell the stench. It was the smell of condemnation. The smell of guilt. The smell of regret, and alas...death.

She was at the middle of the market place. It was loud and boisterous, because market sellers were shouting in their stalls, adamantly refusing the bargain suggestions from their customers. She was holding her shopping basket and walking through the stalls, some of which were towards her left and others to her right. A man on her right was practically screaming that this was his one-hundredth time here, and therefore he was an established customer with associated rights and privileges. "Haba madam! I be your loyal customer!"

She finally reached the end of the path. She was just about to make a left turn when all of a sudden, out of no where a motorcycle ran into her. "Jesus!!! My leg, my leg," she screamed. People had already began to gather. Some men seized the okada(1) man and demanded an explanation. Her basket was flung out of her hand in the process, and there were tomatoes, ata rodos(2), onions, and tatashes(3) sprawled all over the ground.

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As the people shouted and caused a scene, all she could think of was, "Ne...nem....nemesis has caught up with me." And she began to cry...
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She had done something terribly bad last night...

(1) Okada: motorcycle
(2) Ata rodos: Habanero chile peppers
(3) Tatashes: Bell peppers

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Have you ever heard the phrase, "Nemesis shall catch up with you"? Or have you even ever thought that a bad happening is a result of the punishment of past sins? Well, the idea is not too far fetched for "God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." (Galatians 6:7). But yet, there is restitution...
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It is true that there are consequences for every action, yet if a man goes to God in truthful repentance, God will forgive him.

Now, there are some consequences that happen right on the spot. For instance, unprotected premarital sex can lead to pregnancy a few minutes after. And even if God has forgiven, the woman involved would still wind up being pregnant. Therefore, some rules are like the rule of gravity that is constant no matter what changes occur on the surface of earth.
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Why am I even writing about nemesis? I am writing because I know there may be someone reading who needs to go to God and ask for forgiveness. No matter how hard it may seem to change, it is possible to change your ways. I met a man at the bus stop the other day who said I was beautiful. He then proceeded to sing me a song in Spanish about how meeting someone like me was once in a lifetime. No, he did not know who I was and had never met me before. Maybe he was just a little drunk and felt like singing. Anyways, I asked him if he was a Christian. And he said that he drinks excessively and he wants to change before he goes to church. I told him that sometimes you cannot change before you go to church, but you can change after you go to church and meet God.
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So my point is that "Nemesis does not always catch up with you." When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, his life was changed. The nemesis of all his murders did not catch up with him. So if there's anything in your life that you're doing, contrary to what the Word of God says, it is time for a change.

This is not supposed to be a popular writing, it is supposed to save that one person who thinks nemesis is catching up with them. And that person might just be you.

Photo by Variablesoul750 (Photobucket)

33 comments:

bumight said...

...sometimes you cannot change before you go to church, but you can change after you go to church and meet God.

very true, i like the way you put it!

Remi, United Kingdom said...

2nd.... kai.. mist first.. okay back to comment properly.. :-))))

Chris Ogunlowo said...

I like this. One thing I've learnt... those pepper translations! ;)

Remi, United Kingdom said...

Jaycee...WORD!!!!! Pondered on this for a bit and then thought, you know what Remi, sometimes Nemisis does not catchup with us, why? Well because God is merciful and graceful God. He creates opportunities for us to Repent and then avert onset of Nemisis. And that is one of the reasons we call Him "The ever merciful God" Even in the bad situations we sometimes put ourselves in, he still works all that together for our own good..hence warding of the anger of nemisis! Like I said...Word!!!! Much love..xxx

Shubby Doo said...

'And he said that he drinks excessively and he wants to change before he goes to church. I told him that sometimes you cannot change before you go to church, but you can change after you go to church and meet God.'

-one cannot always do it by themself but one can acheive anything & everything through God

? said...

Glad you found my blog...thanks for stopping.
I would like to suggest you check out that book...it's a mix of satire, realism, art, magic, religion, history all interwoven considering your mixed romance for books and pictures...

aloted said...

this is profound!

Jesus is THE LORD!

thanks for this. God bless!

Chukbyke.Okey,C. said...

Thank you.
great letters

Anonymous said...

Good, good word. We were just in bible study talking about the fruit a tree bears. It can be good or bad. What you sow, you shall reap.

Again, good word.

Jennifer A. said...

Bumight...In the past, I too tried to change my ways many times, but it wasn't until I pleaded for God's help that I did actually change my ways (become stronger in God)...

Aloofar...lol @ learning the pepper translations...me too...he he...I didn't know ata rodos were "habanero chile peppers"...now I can run my mouth and sound sophisticated...

Remi...that's why the bible describes God as being both "JUST" and "MERCIFUL." He can simultaneously use a sword to dethrone His enemies, while at the same time embracing His children who turned away from Him but are seeking His face once again...like the prodigal child.

Shubby doo...Ditto! Is there anything too hard for God sef? Is there any person that He cannot work on? He IS indeed the Master Potter...and the clay cannot tell the Potter what to do, or how to mold it.

Red eyes...thanks. Glad I found ur blog :)

Aloted...hi Aloted. God bless u too :)

Chukbyke...you're making me sound like Paul, as he wrote letters to the Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians, and Philippians. I haven't reached that level yet na...lol. But of course, u're welcome *smiles*

Jewells....True...God is not fooled, whatever a man sows, he shall reap. That's why we must all go to God to forgive our past rotten seeds, and start sowing good seeds from now henceforth...

Abujamaiden said...

Thanks for this post. And the premarital sex part speaks to me so much people forget sin has consequences "NEmeSIs"!

My first time commenting here!

Anonymous said...

Hey, Jen. Great to be back. I have to read your latest entries and come back and comment. But as for the issue of 'Nemesis', it's interesting becaue you hear others say, 'Karma'. Yet, God's way of reasoning and doing things is a world, planet and such from the reasoning of Man. God Bless. :-)

Jennifer A. said...

Abujamaiden...thanks for commenting. I'm happy for the path that you've chosen, I know it is an excellent path...

Aworan...yes, God's way of reasoning is different from ours. Let's face it, His ways are not our ways. The way we think is different from the way He thinks...but when we begin to think like Him then we will understand Him better.

@ everyone...this post may not be for everybody, it may even be for someone anonymous...I don't know who it is for, but I pray that it will change the life of that one person who has been dilly-dallying with important choices to make.

olusimeon said...

hey jen(smiling)...pls more unpopular writing jo...
i thank God for His mercies

Afronuts said...

Jaycee I dont know how u do it but u're so good with ur illustrations!

That was a powerful intro to illustrate ur point and it made sense

debunking the myth of nemesis made so much sense...

islander said...

writing doesn't have to be popular to have an impact! just keep at it.

Olay said...

I love the 'breakaway' song playing on your blog and I love this post about Nemesis even more!!! I so agree that nemesis does not always (have to) catch up with you and Paul is an excellent example. Thanks for putting this out there. Godspeed honey!

Straight from the heart said...

This is popular my dear, this is what is needed for a time like this when we are faced with so much to contend with, we unknowling slip away from the secret place but we need to repent and go back. Yes he forgives, but some times we have to serve the sentence, like the pregnant woman, the pregnancy is the consequences, so she has to go through with it.

Beautifully put. Loved it.

Jennifer A. said...

Simeone...:)

Afronuts..."debunking nemesis" is a good way to put it. Fear cripples a lot of people as they think of what may be their fate...thank God for GOD!

Islander...I already told you how I reflected on what you wrote this morning...:)

Olay...you love "Break Away" by Kelly? Me too...lol. I'm glad that we both associated Paul as a classic example...:)

Debbie...you summarized it best when you said, "Yes He forgives, but some times we have to serve the sentence..." "SOMETIMES" is the ultimate key word of this entire reflection...sometimes...

*Sigh*...I just really thank God for being forgiving, & merciful...but most of all, for being a Master Potter, with the entire capacity and ability to REMOLD us into new beings, as a Potter does his clay...

The Life of a Stranger called me said...

Every day I wake up, I wake up rejoicing in my heart not just because that day is a new day, but because of the saving knowledge of Christ and that I am bound for Heaven Express, non-stop to heaven. I shyly smile to myself, secretly thinking to myself, what would have become of me if by some chance, I did not board this train. And I guess, whatever situation I face, what keeps me going is that the Lord God Jehovah is my God, and the enemy can never take that away from me..

Have a super week, and thanks for reminding us all, whatever happens, make sure that you get all your affairs right with God.. praise God I have, I just need to convince more people to join me, because I aint boarding that train by myself.. I need people to joke and be laughing with on the non-stop express journey..

Walking said...

Some people will argue that Nemesis still caught up with Paul.. he sure could not minister in some places as a result of his past... still very nice post.

Writefreak said...

Nicely put and it's so right! Nemesis does not always catch up but yes, we sometimes have to bear the consequences of our sins..you gave a good example. If you have a wound, the scar will always be there although the wound heals!

Jennifer A. said...

The Life...I like the way u said u needed people to joke with u on the ride...lol...I actually was concurring images in my head of people laughing and cracking jokes along the way...he he...

Walking...I totally understand where they would be coming from, Paul did suffer actually...

Writefreak...how profoundly spoken..."If you have a wound, the scar will always be there although the wound heals!" I think this is one of the best illustrations I've come across concerning this topic...thanks...

Lady A said...

Whenever in doubt or confused, also go back to the bible. Refer to the bible, for those who may not know or understand. Thanks!

Mak said...

miss J,

It's me Mak. I could swear you forgot me. And I wasn't even gone too long.

Im joking. I'm a poet-musician now. That's a status upward, sometimes too demanding. But I have these beautiful songs I'd love you to listen to; you will love them. Promise. hope to have your comment.

Mak said...

miss J,

It's me Mak. I could swear you forgot me. And I wasn't even gone too long.

Im joking. I'm a poet-musician now. That's a status upward, sometimes too demanding. But I have these beautiful songs I'd love you to listen to; you will love them. Promise. hope to have your comment.

Mak said...

miss J,

It's me Mak. I could swear you forgot me. And I wasn't even gone too long.

Im joking. I'm a poet-musician now. That's a status upward, sometimes too demanding. But I have these beautiful songs I'd love you to listen to; you will love them. Promise. hope to have your comment.

Zoe Believer said...

jaycee, thanks for this word. We always need gentle reminders like this to keep us in line. Remain blessed

Unknown said...

Talk about forgetting people. What up guys? I'm back.

Jennifer A. said...

Lady A....thanks...

Mak...I couldn't possibly forget. I see you're carrying out the dream and vision you had. Once upon a time you were battling with decisions. This is a testimony...that you're getting established step by step...*smile*

Emmanuel...welcome back :)

Yankeenaijababe said...

@Jaycee...you have been tagged with the "I LOVE YOUR BLOG AWARD."Cheers!!

Lindah said...

Thanks for the inspirational post.
You made my evening.

Ade Adeyemi said...

retribution really is a b*tch... I have however wondered... when we repent does that mean we 'wont reap what we sowed',...