Ejike: Omoh! This year been no easy at all.
Ola: My brother, no be lie. Even to feed my family na case.
Musa: The thing been just tire me. Upon all the hustle wey I do, nothing comot.
Ejike: E be like say God dey vex with us oh?
Ola: Why you go talk so?
Ejike: You no see as even rain no gree fall. Money no dey, food ma no go dey?
Musa: One of my neighbors tell me say world go end for year 2000.
Ejike: Chineke meeeeeeeeeee.
Ola: Musa, you sure of wetin you been hear.
Musa: If you think say na lie, follow me make we go the man place make you hear from him mouth.
Ejike: Ola, na true story Musa dey talk oh!
Ola: Na hell fire get me be that.
Musa: Haba my guy. The man been tell me say the solution na to do new year resolution.
Ejike: That means I go stop to dey cheat my customers for this new year.
Ola: Hmmm! Me and lie, don divorce today.
Musa: Abeg, na so una dey always talk. When una dey go church for crossover, I go follow una make I go give my life to Christ. I no too sure of this new year resolution mata wey una dey talk. People go do new year resolution and before January finish, dem don break am all.
The above conversation is a fictional dialogue that portrays what happened in the year 1999 when its curtain was drawing to a close. Rumors started spreading that the world was coming to an end in the year 2000. This created fear in the hearts of many who were held down by the power of sin, which was demonstrated in the book of Romans 3:23 that says, ‘All have sinned and come short of the glory of God’.
As usual, many people tried to do it by their own power and might. This prompted the massive attendance at churches that was witnessed across the world during the crossover night. I equally though young, was also held down by the shackles of sin and was seeking for an avenue to do my resolution.
After the crossover and ushering in of the year 2000, people who used to steal before had stopped stealing, while those who were John Cena’s on our streets became meek. Even agbero boys and touts in the markets who used to harass traders and customers suddenly turned over a new leaf. Many people enjoyed this momentary change in character and wished it were permanent.
When days began to roll by, there were whispers from different quarters questioning why the world had not ended. Many encouraged people to hold on till the end of January 2000.
By February, when there was no sign that the world will come to an end, people started discarding their new year resolutions to take up their former life. The sudden good deeds that were enjoyed in the first month of the year began to melt away like snow under the rising heat of the sun. I, too, went back to my bad character. This was in line with Romans 7: 15 which says, ‘For that which I do, I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I’.
This repeated cycle of doing halfhearted New Year's resolutions without repenting from my sins and committing my life to Christ continued with me through primary school down to secondary school.
In 2013, when I gained admission to study at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, I tried to still keep my new year resolutions but failed woefully in the face of temptation.
As the thoughts of Romans 7:24, which says, ‘O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?’ started overwhelming my being, and I began to desperately seek a solution.
My hunger drove me to visit pastors for prayers, conduct personal prayers and cry secretly. God ought to have delivered me, but the problem was on my side. I failed to genuinely repent from my sins, even though I wanted to enjoy true freedom from sin.
On the 17th of November, 2014, I went for a Bible study where the word of God was to be preached. The message for the day centered on faith and the need to exercise it towards God. Around 8pm, when prayer was been made, I confessed my sins to God, forsook them sincerely and surrendered my life to Christ. Since then, God has been giving me victory over sins.
As I end this story, I want to emphasize that a new year resolution, which implies repenting is good, but failure to complete it by forsaking sin and believing on Jesus Christ for salvation will make it to amount to a fruitless endeavor.
I know you may be reasoning in your mind and saying, 'But I have been sinning all my life and nothing happened to me'. Hmmmm! friend, 2 Peter :3:9 admonishes that 'The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.' Why not give Jesus a chance today.
For those who sincerely wish to follow in my footsteps. I encourage you to sincerely confess your sins to God from your heart. This is backed up in 1 John 1:9 where the scripture says, ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’. After that, forsake them and believe in the Lord Jesus.
Say this prayer with me: Lord Jesus, thank you for your love for me. I am very sorry for all the sins I have been committing. I have tried to be free, but could not. I repent of my sins and promise never to go back to them. I accept the sacrifice you paid for me on the Cross and invite you to be my Lord for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Feel free to contact me via messenger if you need help and counselling regarding how to walk as a Christian. May God bless you all in Jesus name, Amen.
Happy 2026.