Always & Forever

“Stop staring, Leila.” Abby snapped her fingers to bring her Nigerian friend out of her daydream. She was staring intently at a guy; her mouth was slightly open.

“I wasn’t! I don’t even like him like that,” Leila blushed, her lips curved into a smile, showing off her dimples.

“Just talk to him already. You can never tell.”

They were walking back to their rooms after student fellowship, and they had just passed by Leila’s crush- Michael. Michael was in his final year of college and was two levels higher than they were, but he was pretty friendly with his juniors. Apart from being likeable, he was quite handsome but never really seemed interested in any girl.

“How can you tell if a guy likes you?” Leila stopped to check Michael’s Instagram pictures on her phone.

“From the way he talks to you, maybe what he tells his friends or how he relates to you, but most importantly dear, when he says it with his mouth.” Abby laughed. “You need to stop checking his pictures.” Her friend was really in deep.

“It’s frustrating because we are friends, and I don’t want to ruin the friendship. Do you think he likes me?” Leila made a puppy face.

“I don’t have an answer to that question. But you need to be certain.”

“Tell me something that will take my mind off this, ehen! What was P.F. saying about forgiveness during fellowship today? It’s still hard to comprehend. Don’t we need to ask for forgiveness anymore? So what happens when we sin?”

“When we sin, we have an advocate with the Father already, Jesus Christ and that he dealt with sin for good, when he died for us. Not only you and me but for the whole world.” (1 John 1-2).

“So, we no longer need to ask for forgiveness?” Leila was quite surprised.

“More like there is nothing to forgive. God has already forgiven all your sins”. Abby replied. She knew her friend was a bit confused. She had also felt confused the first time it was preached until P.F. personally explained it to her. Leila sat behind Michael that first time, so she wasn’t quite sure if she was concentrating, or even heard anything said that day.

“If we have been forgiven already, why then do we pray for forgiveness? Why do we get afraid of being judged by our actions?”

“Well, that’s why you are learning about it now. it’s not needed anymore. You must come to the reality of the finished works of Christ. We can now be called righteous by his death and resurrection and our belief in that.”

“So how come we still sin if we have been made righteous? Why does it seem difficult sometimes to stay away from sin?”

“I think that’s because even though we have the spirit of God inside of us, we are still living inside our flesh, which has an affinity for doing whatever it likes. This is why we need to ensure that we keep our faith and grow. The more time you spend knowing about God, and the gifts we now have and can use because of the Holy Spirit, the less appealing sin becomes to you.”

“Ah, I see. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. “Leila asked.

“Yes, you can say that…and God understands, he knows. Which is why he gave us his spirit.”

“To prevent us from sinning?”

“See it this way, it is God who works in you to desire and then do his will” (Phill 2:13)

“So, are you saying that God has already forgiven me no matter what I do? What if I do something terrible?”

“Why will you want to do something terrible?” Abby answered with a question. “Is that a way to show gratitude for a gift freely given to you?”

“I don’t know, my flesh?” she chuckled.

“The Bible says that as far as the East is from the West, that’s how far he has removed our transgressions and keeps no record of. Always & forever.”

“That’s a lot! He did all of this because he loves us? Wow. That makes me feel quite bad. Like I have to pay him back somehow.”

“I feel that way too sometimes, but we can’t actually repay God. This is why we need to be ambassadors for Him, telling more people about this love and what it means and bringing more than people to Him. He desires that all men be saved. All men.

“Yes, it makes more sense now. Thinking about it this way.” Her phone chimed. Michael sent her a message. “Eyy God, he is typing.” Leila picked up her phone immediately and opened the message.

Hi Leila,

“Calm down! see how you are blushing! Omo my friend is gone” Abby shook her head.

“Sorry, I am calm. I am just wondering why he has been typing for so long”.

“Maybe he is thinking about what to say, or hesitating”.

“What do you think he wants to say?” Leila asked giddily.

“How am I supposed to know? Perhaps it’s about the June family day coming up. His birthday is in June.”

“You are probably right. Let me wait for a lit-“

There is something I would like to talk to you about on Thursday after the prayer meeting. There is no cause for alarm, it is just something that has been on my mind.

“What do you think?” Leila showed her friend the message. Her heart was pounding so fast she felt it may pop out of her chest.

“What if he likes you? And he wants to say it before someone else beats him to it?” Abby was also excited for her friend.

“Eyy! Godddd Abegggg. I will finally rid myself of this one-sided crush.”

“I thought you said you don’t really like him.” Abby eyed her friend.

“I was just saying that one to console myself if he ever said the feeling wasn’t mutual.” Leila laughed

“Shaking my head for you. At least you finally have a chance to get your question answered. Please make sure you utilize this your meetup well oh!”

“Don’t go there and be staring at him oh! Abby emphasized. They both laughed hard.

---

As soon as the Thursday prayer meeting ended, Leila remembered her meeting with Michael. Remembered? Something she had been thinking about all week.

“God, I need to get over these emotions before they consume me. Please take control of my emotions.” Leila muttered under her breath as she packed her bag.

“Leila?”

Before she turned, she knew he was the one. His voice was soft yet firm. She walked quickly towards him.

“Hi, Michael” she said briefly, trying to keep things cool.

“I am sorry to take up some of your time; I know your Thursdays are quite hectic. How are you doing?”

“I am okay, it’s alright. You sounded like it was important, so I knew I had to show up.”

Michael seemed a bit nervous. Leila wasn’t sure if it was all in her head or if his palms looked sweaty. He started to say something, then hesitated. He was wearing a green shirt and had his backpack on.

“Michael, are you okay?” Michael had a nervous smile.

“Yes, yes, sorry. It just sounded better when I asked it in my head.”

Leila’s heart was pounding again. What was so difficult for him to say?” Did he rehearse it before coming? Maybe Abby was right! He probably liked her and was figuring out the best way to say it. Of course, he still had to verbally express himself.

“So, I have been talking to my friends about this girl that I like, and I wasn’t sure how to approach so I thought I could first find out if she was available.”

Leila’s heart nearly stopped. Was this happening? Of course, she was available. Leila snapped back; Michael was saying something else.

“I guess what I am trying to ask Leila, Is Abby with anyone? I mean, is she dating anyone, or does she like anyone?”

Poluyi Oluwatumininu (@tumipolz) • Instagram photos and videos