The two secular jobs I was involved in did not require me to go through an interview process. Both jobs were in major companies in the telecoms industry. In one, the technical manager got into the engineering office and told all the staff; “This is Ademola. He has joined us from today.”
In the second, the MD of the company invited me over for a chat. I heard him speak at a conference earlier before that time. After meeting with him, he said; “I’m very impressed with you. You can start work right away.” These experiences taught me a lot about mercy.
Friend, never forget this: merit is good, but mercy is better. Don’t ever think you are going to become God’s best for you, just on the grounds of merit (Romans 9:15-16). While it is important to pursue merit and excellence, always give room for mercy. We are in an imperfect world. Humans and systems are not perfect. Therefore, you cannot have a perfect life depending only on merit.
Heaven is a perfect place, but this world is not (Psalms 115:16). People become frustrated when they expect perfection in an imperfect world. Favour is not fair. Life is not balanced. There are forces beyond your efforts that ultimately determine outcomes (Ecclesiastes 9:11). The earlier you realise this, the better for you.
Some people live an “almost” life, while others live a “most” life. But recipients of divine mercy live an “utmost” life. They live beyond the limitations that life and systems have placed on them (Psalms 102:13). They achieve God’s dream for their lives against all odds. They prosper in the worst of economies. They succeed in the midst of strifes and struggles (Psalms 18:43). They live beyond limits.
Mercy is not only for the weak. Mercy is for the meek. Meekness is seeing the need for divine inputs in your human efforts. It is doing your best while giving room for God’s grace (1 Corinthians 15:10). It is knowing that the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Meekness is leaning on God’s grace even in areas where you are an expert (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Experts do fail. Experienced people sometimes fall below expectations. The strong are sometimes beaten in the battle of life. But the meek would always have God as their backing so they won’t back out in the race of life (Psalms 37:11). When you think you have what it takes to succeed, always remember the place of mercy. When mercy is at work, you are not in the competition; you are in the selection.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria