May 9, 2015.
Main Auditorium,
Christ Love Church, Ibadan.
Ronke stood at the altar, before the Lord, her pastor and all witnesses to say ‘I do' with peace in her heart and gratitude to her Lord. She glanced at her slightly taller, cinnamon-skinned, attractive groom. The wait had been worth it. Toba deserved her body of all the men she had met.
He actually proved it; he was a God-lover who showered her with that same love. He always said she was God's daughter and so he had to take care of God's possession. How lovely hearing that was. She couldn't imagine how she would have felt now had she allowed the other guys to sleep with her.
He deserved the gift tonight…all of me, she thought as the groom removed her veil in preparation for their first kiss.
"Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body." 1st Corinthians 6:18
"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." Philippians 4:8
Discussion Questions
Use these questions for individual reflection or for discussion with a book club, teens’ club or any other small group.
1. How do you think Ronke was able to stand her ground not to sleep with Segun?
2. Are there really brothers in Christ who are active in church, know the Scriptures well and yet still flout God’s instruction on no sex until marriage?
3. "But you need to understand I am a man, I have needs, I have urges. It's becoming so strong and my love for you is not making it easy either." Those were Segun’s words in trying to convince Ronke. Are these reasons enough to indulge in premarital sex? How do you think Segun should have handled the pressure?
4. What kind of materials (books, films, magazines) does God expect his children, both single and married, to feed on?
5. What risks are associated with sexual sin?
6. Have fun with your group by imagining Ronke’s wedding ceremony. What colour(s) is her wedding bouquet? What colours are the bridesmaids and the groomsmen sporting? Is her groom wearing the conventional suit? If no, what colour is he wearing? What song was played for the couple’s first dance?
Author's Note
Dear reader friend, I hope you enjoyed reading this story. I enjoyed writing it. Ronke’s story really touched my heart, but I’m glad she was courageous enough to listen to our Heavenly Father. The Lord desires for us to wait until marriage before we have sex, because he knows that sex is sweet only when we wait to marry the right partner. You can make a new decision today to stay pure and live for Jesus. I would love to encourage you even as we both live for God. Contact me at
[email protected] I will be waiting!
About the Author
Adeyinka Oresanya's passion for the Lord, His Word and writing has birthed more than ten short stories and two novels. She is the editor of The Daughter's Inspiration Fiction Pamphlets which has blessed a lot of young people. When she is not writing, she is reading, reaching out to teenagers or tending to her sons. Adeyinka and her husband, Tijesunimi, live together with their twin boys in Abeokuta, Nigeria.
Ring Rush
Silent Tears
Behind the Dazzle
Connect with Me Online:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/deyimikami
Facebook: www.facebook.com/deyimikami
Website: https://www.adeyinkaoresanya.com
Dedication
This is to All Struggling Virgins.
Hang in there, for there is a reward.
Acknowledgements
No book is ever a reality without the help of a lot of people.
I would love to thank you my best friend and husband. Tijesunimi, this short book is alive today because you continued to nudge me to start that blog and let out the messages of redemption and grace God has placed inside of me for his people. You are indeed a fine son of God. I love you, darling.
Ibukunoluwa Oyeleke, it’s good to know I have a virtuous friend in you. You remember those times on campus when we would sit up late into the night to talk about purpose and the future God has for us? Well, I think it’s unfolding, dear. Thank you for being my friend in purpose.
Thank you, Tobi Meroyi, for being a loving sister. I really appreciate your help in reading this story and for providing the discussion questions. God bless you.
Demilade Oluwasina, thank you for wrapping my stories in stunning parcels. I’m always looking forward to working on the next book with you. You are the best.
I will always thank you, dear reader, for picking up my books to read. I hope you enjoy it all the way.
I give You all the glory, Heavenly Father. Without You, there is no me.
Excerpts from Adeyinka Oresanya’s other Books
Ring Rush
Sewa Akinmurewa was on the third chapter of Kenneth E. Hagin's The Believer's Authority when Sade and Jacinta burst in. They were Tomide's friends and regular visitors to their room. Instantly, an exotic fragrance wafted into the room, creating an aura of elegance and class around the girls. Sade was the taller of the two while Jacinta was fairer, prettier but less friendly.
“Sewa, what's up?” Sade greeted as she flung herself on Tomide's bed. Jacinta just waved at her and followed suit.
“Good evening,” she replied. “How was your day?”
“Fine, thanks.” Sade responded on behalf of the two and returned her attention to Jacinta.
The girls continued to chat about their day. They were obviously waiting for Tomide, her roommate, who was a final year law student. Trying not to be irritated by their intrusion into her quiet moment, she turned her attention back to the book she was reading. This was the school hostel where privacy was next to impossible anyway.
The room contained three beds placed at each corner of the room with the last corner leading to the kitchenette. Each ‘corner’—as the students liked to call their bed space—had a reading table with an overhead bookcase filled with books of various subjects, depending on the course the occupant was studying. Typical of girls' rooms at the Obafemi Awolowo University campus hostel, each corner was furnished differently according to the occupants' tastes and pocket size.
Sewa's corner had a blue rug covering her floor space. Teal-blue curtains graced the window and her bookcase had a mixture of microbiology textbooks and Christian motivational books unlike Tomide's which was decorated in shades of wine, had a bedside fridge and a TV. The lower layer of her bookcase held different brands of cosmetics ranging from Mac to Victoria’s Secret while the upper layer had some law textbooks and novels.
The third occupant, Ronke, didn't bother to furnish her corner as she rarely stayed in the room because she had a room off-campus. Sewa had often wondered and even asked why she wouldn't give it out to a student who needed accommodation but Ronke had always insisted that she was keeping the room for the rainy day.
Nevertheless, Sewa was grateful that Tomide, like Ronke, didn’t also spend much time in the room, affording her periods of much desired quiet and privacy which she usually spent on her quiet time or studies without having to go to the university library.
She turned to the next page of the book she was reading and tried to rush over the few paragraphs remaining. The book was compelled by her fellowship president for all EXCOs, and she needed to finish that chapter because they would review it at the EXCO meeting that night. Anyone could be called upon to discuss it, and she wouldn’t want to be embarrassed by her inability to contribute well if she was called.
Just then the door opened and Tomide waltzed into the room, and her friends screamed in delight.
“Hey, Tomide baby! Tomi bride! Timi Payne’s one and only.” Sade hailed as she wiggled her body from left to right.
“Yea, baby!” Tomide high-fi
ved the girls, all the while giggling.
“Come on, we've been waiting like forever!” Jacinta said. “Please, spread that hand and show us those diamonds.”
Tomide grinned and brought out her left hand. Sitting majestically on her middle finger was a sparkling ring. Sewa sat up unconsciously to take a look. She wasn't sure how many carats that was but it was obvious that the ring was expensive.
“Wow!” The girls chorused, their hands flying to their mouths.
“Timmy really outdid himself this time. Babe, this is the real deal,” Jacinta purred.
Tomide just kept giggling, basking in the ohhs and ahhs of her friends.
“Is this silver or diamonds?” Sade asked.
Jacinta slapped Sade at the back. “Come on, girl, don't embarrass us jo.” She chided. “This beauty here,” she raised Tomide’s bejeweled middle finger, “is what we call white gold.”
“Whatever! But wow, this is surreal! Please come and gist us, how did he propose?” Sade asked.
“Yea, how did he ask? What did he say?” Jacinta added.
“Ha ha, girls, relax now,” Tomide replied, “I will gist you but let's toast to my new life first.”
“Yea, baby!” they cried.
“Congratulations, Tomide.” Sewa, who had been quiet all the while, spoke up.
“Thanks, Roomie.” Tomide smiled as she bent down to take a wine bottle from her bedside fridge underneath the reading table.
Sewa hid behind her book and continued to stare at the scene before her. Some girls are just plain lucky to have everything working for them, she thought. They come from rich and loving homes, meet and fall in love with eligible, handsome guys on campus, and then go on to have a fairy-tale wedding. Things just happen to work out for them, and sometimes they aren't even serious Christians. She shook her head.
In her heart of hearts, she really wished she could have it all like Tomide—the elegance, the perfect parents, the perfect boyfriend turned fiancé—but with Christ in her life.
She heaved an inward sigh.
As a final year student at twenty-two years of age, she was yet to be engaged in a serious relationship. It wasn't that she wasn't good in the looks department—dark skinned with an average build, Sewa possessed curvy legs and a smooth, pimple-free, acne-free face that many had told her they found beautiful.
However, as a committed Christian, she couldn't just date anyone and she couldn't go all out to propose to a guy, no matter how she felt. Any relationship she would get into would be a serious one that would lead to marriage. But frankly, she was getting impatient. She was in her final year for Christ's sake.
She knew God's time was the best but it seemed everyone was getting engaged except her. Just two days ago after Bible study, her friend Kemi had excitedly told her the good news—she had finally said ‘yes’ to Bro. Tayo.
Bro. Tayo, who was the choir director of their fellowship, had been on to Kemi for a session now, but she had made him wait so that they could pray and seek counsel in order to know if they were God's will for each other. Anyway, after all the protocols, they were officially engaged.
Sewa remembered the glimmer of light in her friend's eyes as she talked about her fiancé. She was happy for her though. Kemi was a committed child of God, and she deserved a good thing.
Now, her roommate, who practically lived with her boyfriend and rarely went to church, was also engaged. Sewa could see the same light that she saw in Kemi's eyes in her roommate's eyes—a shimmer that came from being in love. Everyone was getting it right except her.
Actually, it wasn't that she hadn't come close to getting engaged. There was someone she'd felt was God's will for her. Bankole was her classmate and they attended the same fellowship, God's Arrows Fellowship. They had met on their matriculation day when a mutual friend had introduced them to each other, and eventually they had developed a strong friendship, going to classes and fellowship programmes together. Bankole never missed her birthdays and would even take her out, giving her a special treat on those days.
Over time her feelings for him grew, and when she knew, after praying, that she would be getting married to a spiritual leader, she was not surprised when Bankole became the vice president of their fellowship in their third year. She'd been sure it was going to be Bankole, and so she'd patiently waited for the day he would propose to her.
To her dismay, things changed between them after Bankole became vice president and she became the Ushering and Decorating unit head. Bankole’s schedules changed; he had to attend more meetings and sit with the Pastorate at the front. He started coming late to class and often had to leave early. He stopped spending time with her and in time they grew apart.
Recently, she had started to see him around campus with the female vice president of Livingwaters Fellowship. But then, it might just be that they've been paired together for some assignment by the Joint Fellowship EXCOs.
Sewa took their separation badly. Bankole was her best male friend. She missed reading and discussing topics with him in the evenings. She started walking to classes alone and sitting in the fellows hip by herself or sometimes with Kemi. She prayed to God about how she was feeling and had received a word from the Scriptures, Habakkuk chapter two verse three, during a fellowship programme.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
She had felt a connection with the passage and was certain that God had meant it for her. The Scripture became her anchor and comfort for that semester but afterwards, she began to grow lonely and yearn for male friendship. That was when she met Demola, a prompt answer to her loneliness.
Sewa smiled just thinking about him. Having Demola as her best friend had helped her put Bankole out of her mind. She'd gotten to know Demola for about a year now, during the protracted university strike. They had gotten so close that she found herself falling in love with him, and she felt strongly that he had feelings for her also.
There were so many things to love about him. He was a tall, handsome, intelligent and hardworking man who took his job seriously. But Sewa was especially happy because he was a Christian and a church worker at The Latter End Church in Lagos. To top it all, he was fun to be with. They could sit for hours and talk about anything. Sewa always enjoyed the various fun places they visited anytime she was home.
She knew she loved him enough to marry him if he would ask, at least they had been friends now for a year. Her only worry was that she wasn't sure where they were going with their friendship. She knew Demola had feelings for her but then she felt he needed to openly declare his love and take their friendship to the next level because his words sometimes left so many things to be considered. For instance, anytime they talked about the future, he would say that the girl he would marry would have such and such qualities but would not refer to her directly. This always left her wondering if he saw her as the girl he could marry.
She had actually been praying about him, and up till that point, she was yet to hear a clear word from God on whether he was His will for her life. She’d asked God to take away her feelings for him if he wasn’t His will for her but the feelings kept growing stronger day by day. Above all, he'd recently told her his dream of building a mega church for God. Wasn’t that falling in line with the conviction she had in her spirit that she would get married to a man set to serve the Lord, a man God would use mightily in his generation? Definitely God must have a plan for them together, she thought.
Looking at Tomide and the glittering treasure on her left hand, Sewa decided she had to take deliberate steps to steer the course of her friendship with Demola in the right direction, and that would start with having a serious talk with him.
Thank God, the semester had just ended. She had just finished her exams but was only waiting in school for the semester’s final EXCO meeting. She would see Demola during the five-week break, and she would get hi
m to put their relationship on a clear path. Who knows, she might be donning a ring too by the time she came back from the break, she concluded with a shrug and an inward smile as she glanced at her wristwatch. It was almost time for the meeting. She stood up from her bed and began to dress up.
Meanwhile, the girls clinked their glasses in toast to their friend’s happiness as they settled down to listen to the gist of the romantic proposal.
Silent Tears
They were at his off-campus, single-room apartment. The smell of cigarette mixed with the mild fragrance of Airwick potpourri lingered in the air. He was staring at her, his eyes blazing like a pot of coal rekindled. Ireti's heart first turned cold and then hot until it became molten, threatening to erupt through her mouth, as goose pimples sprang up rapidly like weeds on her arms.
She knew what was coming.
At the speed of lightening his left hand collided with her right cheek, and her skin tingled. Burned. Her eyes first saw a flash of white light and then a spectrum of colours. She staggered a little but caught herself in time.
“Who was that guy holding your hands at your department?” His voice was dangerously low.
“He is my course mate, Yomi. He...he is just a course mate.” She stammered through her words, a big lump sitting determinedly in her throat. Her cheek still singed from the slap she'd just received.
“Your course mate, eh? What business does he have holding your hands? You think I didn't see the way he was looking at you and you grinning stupidly at what he was saying?”
“Please, Yomi, he is just a friend. He was just joking about something and I laughed, nothing more.”
“What was so funny, eh? Liar! You are just a liar and a whore.”
He unbuckled his belt. Ireti backed away, fear rising from the pit of her stomach. Unfortunately, the door was locked and the music booming from the home theatre was loud enough to drown her cries. No one would hear her. Even if they did, they wouldn't come to her rescue. It wasn't their business.
“Please, Yomi. Please...”
“If you think you can cheat on me, Yomi Johnson, you'll have to think twice. I won't be taken for a fool on this campus, not by you, not by any girl.” He landed the first blow on her, then another and then another until she crumbled on the floor. Satisfied, he stormed out of the room leaving her on the floor, weeping and moaning from the pain. Her world caved in and smashed into tiny pieces. Again.
This wasn't the Yomi she knew. This vicious beast was different from her Yomi whose warm cocoa-brown eyes had made her melt, whose smile had always sent a tingling sensation that started from her toes and ended up in tight curls in her stomach.
It had all begun at the backstage of the Obafemi Awolowo University Amphitheatre, during Resound 2010 organised by God's Love Fellowship. His popular dance group, The Recabites, her fellowship choir, and some other groups had been invited to perform.
The Recabites had just finished performing and receiving loud applause as usual when they stepped to the backstage where her group was waiting to be called. Tall with a molten chocolate skin, his lithe body moved with dexterity as he shook the hands of the guys hailing him, and she had stared. As if he sensed that someone was staring at him, he raised his head and his eyes found hers and stayed until she looked away. When he finished talking with some guy, he strode towards her.
“Hi.” His voice was as warm as his eyes.
“Hello,” she replied, looking about self-consciously. All the choristers' eyes, especially the ladies’, must be on her now.
He smiled. “My name is Yomi Johnson.”
“I know.”
He gave a grin that showed he expected her to know. “Can I have your room number?”
“W1 room 208, Akintola Hall,” she blurted.
“Thanks.” He smiled again and left.
And that was it. At nineteen and in her second year, she’d fallen in love and so hard that in the first month of their relationship, she’d tossed her faith aside and allowed him make passionate love to her, in this same room. Even the feelings of guilt that followed after were drowned in her love for him. She'd at first been uncomfortable with Yomi's habit of smoking and his lack of remorse about their indulgence in forbidden pleasures, especially since he professed to be a Christian and was a gospel dancer, but she got used to it as time went by. People weren't perfect, were they?
She was still in love when she received the first slap that she waved it off as a mistake, but when the slaps became accompanied with punches and belt whacks over the smallest argument, she wondered if they were really in love. Yet she found herself unable to let go, hoping desperately that it was just a phase in their relationship that would soon pass.
Get out now, Beloved! This is not my plan for you. Come out of this and I will heal you.
To where? She had nowhere to go. Her life was nothing without Yomi. She was herself only when he was with her. He was her first and would be her last.
This isn't my best for you. My plans are good, to give you a future and a hope.
No! She used to believe that voice, knew that voice when she used to read her Bible constantly. When she was fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Not anymore.
She wasn't worth the good plans anymore, God could keep it to Himself. All she needed now was to have her Yomi back, for their relationship to go back to the way it used to be—sweet and honey-filled.
Shall we then continue in sin and expect grace to abound?
She burst into tears afresh. She willed the voice to stop but it seemed to be stronger even in her confusion.
The door creaked and she nearly jumped out of her skin. Yomi stepped in and looked at her, his eyes soft and repentant. He bent towards her and gathered her in his arms.
“I'm so sorry, pumpkin. I won't do this again.” His voice was so soft and tender, shaking like he was on the brim of tears. “I just can't take it, you smiling sweetly at another guy. I can't afford to lose you. I love you so much, and I don't want any other guy near you.”
She whimpered. “You should have just told me that and allowed me to explain, not hurt me like this.”
“I won't do it again, I promise.” He gazed at the welts he had made on her skin and began to kiss each one as he sobbed. “I'm so sorry. This will be the last time.”
He unzipped her skirt, slowly caressing her skin and she began to melt as always, her pains momentarily disappearing.
He loves me. And I love him, too. So much.
Yet deep within her heart, she knew it happened this way the previous times and this wouldn't be the last.
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends