The Destiny Killers

Evil won’t last long.

It may look enticing at the moment, but you will face the wrath of judgement. 

God’s promises in our lives are sure; let’s not give the devil room to poison our minds against God’s goodwill and intentions for us.

If we give the devil a chance, we will lose our lifetime blessings.

Most times, when we think of destiny killers, we think of people around us.

Author: David Oletu (DCM)

Most times, when we think of destiny killers, we think of people around us.

Our insecurities always make us assume everyone around us could be our enemies.

We never fully realise how much we can be our own enemies and destiny killers. 

Perhaps when we are asked to pray against our enemies,

we should not forget to pray against those abstract enemies that operate in our subconscious minds. 

The Destiny Killers

My name is Lati. I am a 20-year-old man, full of vigour.

I lost my parents to the cold hands of death when I was 15.

Consequently, I lived alone in an inherited rat-infested one-room cubicle house—its roof was rusty, sagging under the weight of despair.

The walls cracked and crumbled, whispering tales of forgotten joy and stifled aspirations. 

The wooden door was worn out, hanging limply like a defeated sigh, exhausted from the countless times it had been pushed by the winds of misfortune.

The air was filled with the scent of stagnation, clinging to every surface like a bad omen. 

Anyone who sees me will think I am lazy.

I wasn’t lazy.

My resilience to cater for myself from the age of 15 without the help of any family members is a testament to my vigour. 

However, despite how hard I have been working, the stench of poverty hovers around me like the oxygen I breathe in daily. 

I ran like a hamster on a wheel with furious purpose, yet I remained stagnant. 

My eyes always sparkle with flames of fire in determination, but every passing day, the winds of circumstance always threaten to extinguish the flame. 

My life was like a puzzle I couldn’t solve, no matter how hard I tried. 

Each step I took forward was always matched by two steps back like I was in a dance with an unseen partner that made me breathless and bewildered. 

The Destiny Killers

However, despite all, I remained that ‘wretched titan’ of tenacity who kept toiling so hard, refusing to yield to the crushing weight of my circumstances. 

One day, while I was walking down the street in the hopes of getting a job that would cater to my daily needs,

I was fortunate to find a vacancy poster resting on a beautiful gate. 

‘MALE HOUSE HELP NEEDED URGENTLY

APPLY WITHIN’

The moment I read the vacancy, there was a fresh air of hope that danced around me.

I felt my search was over, even if the role was menial.

What option does a poor man have? Anything that comes my way, provided it feeds me, I accept.

Out of a selfish desire to ensure that no one else saw the poster, I removed it from the beautiful gate and knocked on the gate, anticipating a response. 

Having knocked on the gate multiple times and getting no response,

I stopped, felt disappointed, and made a move to continue my journey in search of my daily bread. 

Just as I was about to take my fifth step away from the beautiful gate, I heard the gate ‘creaking’.

This triggered a tiny portion of hope in me. I paused my step without looking back.

The Destiny Killers 

“Young man! Were you the one knocking?” a baritone voice asked.

“Yes! oh Yes!!

…-Yes, sir,”

I responded swiftly and with excitement as I turned back to face a man who peeped out of the gate.

“Alright. What can I do for you?” the man asked.

I brought out the vacancy poster from my pocket, showed the man, and said, “My name is Lati, and I am here for the job, sir.”.

“Oh, I see,” the man responded, nodding his head while staring at me from my head to my toe, observing my innocent-looking face and tiny body. 

He was a very tall, slim man in his 60s. His name was Mr. Tayo. He lived alone in the big mansion.

According to him, his wife and children had relocated abroad. He remained in Nigeria to manage his businesses. 

Due to his inability to fix his needs at home, he required the assistance of a house helper who would specifically help him cook and clean his house.

One would wonder why he preferred a male.

Perhaps he was trying to avoid the tempting attractiveness of a female housemaid so as not to cheat on his lovely wife. 

“Come inside,” Mr. Tayo said, welcoming me into his abode. 

The moment I stepped my feet into his living room, I felt like I was already in heaven.

It was a completely different world entirely from mine! I had only seen, but I had never touched luxury in my life.

The Destiny Killers 

“You may sit down,” Mr. Tayo said, pointing towards his couch.

I sat down on his soft couch like a king, forgetting that I was there to serve as a maid. 

Mr. Tayo seemed to be a very nice and understanding man.

Rather than frown at my weird act in his home, he laughed over it, like he already knew about my poverty-stricken background. 

“So, can you cook and clean a house well?” Mr. Tayo asked. 

“Sir, I can do anything for you!” I responded immediately. 

“Calm down!” Mr. Tayo said, having observed my desperation.

“This is how you all put yourselves into trouble.

Your desperation makes you say things you can’t do and do things you shouldn’t do.

How do you mean you can do anything?

What if I tell you to do something bad? Will you do it? For the money?

Be careful. I only asked a simple yes-or-no question. Don’t lose your guard in responding,” Mr. Tayo admonished. 

His words were like a heavy slap on my face that made my head reset. I truly wasn’t thinking.

But I was only obsessed with his luxurious mansion, and I couldn’t wait to start staying with him. 

My poor living condition was a thing I endured all my life, but deep down, I wished I could avoid it.

Though My cubic house only served as my shelter during the night, but during the day, my feet were out to seek survival. 

I sought comfort, and I saw Mr. Tayo’s house as my last bus stop,

so I felt every urge to impress him, even if it meant telling lies about my personality.

The Destiny Killers 

“I am sorry, sir,” I responded to him, having calmed my nerves down. 

“It’s okay.

You don’t need to apologise. It’s just for your sake.

You are still young, and an unguarded desperation can make you do anything.” he said. 

 “Well, that’s, by the way. Could you tell me about your background?” he requested

“I am the only child of my parents,” I began. “My parents left me to the world beyond when I was 15.

Although it wasn’t their fault, society failed them. 

My father was a poor farmer who didn’t even possess the tiniest land in my town.

His father left no inheritance for him, so he needed to struggle on his own.

He worked on the land of a very wicked rich man, who bossed him around. 

One day, during the harvest period, the wicked boss observed that a tuber of yam belonging to him was missing.

So, he gathered all his workers, my father included, and questioned all of them. 

Every one of them denied stealing the tuber of yam;

however, one of the workers pointed accusatory fingers at my father to just end the whole drama. 

The moment he accused my father of stealing the yam, every one of the workers agreed unanimously to the accusation. 

And my father, being a quiet person who hates fighting with people, couldn’t say much to prove his innocence. He was dumbfounded. 

The workers used my father’s weakness against him to avoid the wrath of their wicked boss.

Or, could gentleness and not fighting for justice be a sign of weakness in a man?

My father’s experience with his colleagues got me thinking. 

We don’t know how else to express ourselves in society again.

If we are gentle, it’s a problem for some.

And if we are the kind who stand our ground even if we are the only ones, it’s also a problem for many.

What exactly does society want? 

Out of anger, the wicked boss took justice into his hands and asked his men to stone my father.

They all stoned him to death and burned his remains,” I narrated in grief. 

The Destiny Killers

“I’m so sorry all these things happened to you,” Mr. Tayo said compassionately. 

“But how did you know all these things? Were you present at the scene?” Mr. Tayo asked curiously. 

“No, Sir. It was one of the workers who narrated the ordeal to my mother. I overheard everything.” I responded.

“Oh! I’m sorry once again,” he said. “How about your mother? How did she die?” Mr. Tayo asked. 

“My mother loved my father so much.

It was as though their hearts were connected.

If one heart fails, the other will be affected.

My mother couldn’t bear the pain of losing her first love. She died a few months after my father died.

And I was left alone!” I said and broke down in tears. 

“Oh!” Mr. Tayo exclaimed pitifully. He stood up from his couch, walked towards me, and patted my shoulder. 

“For the sake of your parents and all you’ve been through, I will employ you and take you as my son.” Mr. Tayo declared. 

There was an unexplainable joy that filled my heart at that moment.

I lay on the ground immediately, with hands wrapped around the feet of Mr. Tayo, appreciating him continuously. 

“It’s okay, Lati. Rise.

And I believe your parents can now rest in peace because you won’t lack any more. I am proud of you, Lati.

Also, I am proud that, despite all you’ve been through, you never thought of committing a crime out of anger or frustration.

Or have you?” he asked.

“Ahhhh! No Sir!” I responded with my two hands up while on my knees. 

“It’s okay.

Just maintain your very best behaviour while you work with me.

You have seen an opportunity on a platter; how you handle it lies on you,” he warned. 

“I promise, sir, I will give my best behaviour to work,” I assured.

“You may start work tomorrow,” Mr. Tayo said.

“Can I start today, sir?” I requested, with a shy smile on my face. 

Mr. Tayo smiled back at me and went upstairs to his room without saying a word. 

I jumped in excitement, laid on the soft couch, and sighed in relief. That felt like home!

The Destiny Killers 

Two years later, after my dedicated service to Mr Tayo,

He, (Mr Tayo) called me and informed me of his intention to leave the country in the next two weeks to settle abroad with his family.

I became sad.

Because I didn’t want to be left alone anymore. And I didn’t want him to leave.

However, I knew I was selfish at that point, but how can I survive alone again without my master?

Who will meet my needs?

Where do I go from there if he leaves?

I thought all manner of things. 

“Don’t worry, Lati. I am going to settle you,” Mr. Tayo assured. 

“But sir…” I was about to say something when he cut in.

“Lati!! Don’t worry.

I understand what is going through your mind now. But take my word. I will settle you.” He assured me again. 

“Okay, sir,” I responded, feeling sad once again while my master kept smiling. I wondered what thoughts and intentions he had for me. 

I went to my room to reflect deeply.

But I was scared of going back to suffering. Because I had already grown used to luxury,

and going back would be like a living hell with a heightened flame that would get me burnt to a point where I would seek death, but death wouldn’t come. 

Different thoughts began to pass through my mind—the good and the bad!

“STEAL HIS MONEY. KILL HIM. LEAVE NO TRACES. RUN. AND ESTABLISH ON YOUR OWN.” A voice whispered into my mind. 

That was a brutal thought, but it began to sound like a good idea to me.

While I tried to resist such evil thoughts, my subconscious mind began to give me so many reasons I should steal from my master, kill him, and leave no traces. 

Mr. Tayo could keep millions of new naira notes in his house. I knew where he kept them all.

So, I felt that if I took all the money, I would be able to start something meaningful for myself. 

Ignorantly, I assumed that what Mr Tayo intended to settle me with wouldn’t be half of the money he had in his possession,

so what was the point of relying on his promises?

Stealing may just be the best option.

But what if I get caught? I thought.

Then, that was where killing him and leaving no traces would come in.

No one would think I’d ever do such a thing; he was hypertensive. I would say he slumped. That may be valid!

I felt smart at that point; I never knew I was only blinded by the luxury I got obsessed with. 

The Destiny Killers

The evil thoughts in me, sudden lust for materials, and insecurities made me forget how good Mr. Tayo was.

So, I poisoned his food and killed him!!!

I took all the bags filled with money and ran back to my rat-infested home.

My path to escape was clear because we were living alone in the big house. 

As wealthy as he was, he never thought of employing a security guard. Perhaps he thinks he is safe, being a nice guy. 

I think I used his niceness against him, just as my father’s gentleness was used against him. 

But I felt heavy guilt while I possessed all the money for myself.

However, I was still keen on using it to settle myself in my way.

I lacked the patience to wait for his plans, which I assumed wouldn’t be as big as I wanted.

Two months later, after the death of my master, I was arrested by the police for murdering my master. 

I thought I left no traces, so I tried defending myself with lies,

telling them that I travelled with my master’s permission and never knew how he died.

And I cried crocodile tears to make the police pity me and believe me. Also I shared my past with them to enter their emotions. 

But they seemed like folks who didn’t care about my past story.

To avoid an argument, they showed me the full video clip of how I poisoned my master’s food, went into his room to steal his money, and ran away, leaving his corpse rotten.

“So, what do you have to say about this video clip?” the police chief asked sarcastically.

My head was lowered in shame.

I couldn’t say a word to defend myself anymore. I never knew there were hidden cameras in the house. Mr. Tayo didn’t inform me!

“You are a thief and a murderer!” the police chief said to me. 

“What a shame! You didn’t know what you had until you lost it,” the police chief said pitifully. 

The Destiny Killers

“What did you do with the money?” the police chief asked. 

I remained silent. 

“Will you speak up now, before I lose it on you?!” The police chief said, in anger. 

“I used it to buy a car to start up a taxi business,” I responded.

“Just imagine! Foolish boy!!” the police chief remarked provocatively.

“For your information, young man, according to your master’s lawyer,

your master had plans to hand over all his business and properties in this country to you as he embarks on his journey abroad.

He wanted you to manage it all for him while he moves to settle with his family.” the police chief revealed.

“He took you in like his son and trusted you so much with his properties.

But see how you lost it.

The worth of what he had in store for you was greater than what you stole.

How much is a car compared to what you would have inherited if you had maintained good faith and thought amidst the evil thoughts that ran through your mind?”

The police chief said, painfully.

My heart melted. My eyes rained tears of pain and regret.

I realised I didn’t just kill a man, but I killed my lifetime fortune with my hands!

It wasn’t anger or frustration; it was my lust, insecurities, and anxieties.

I allowed myself to be used by the enemy—the devil!

Oh! How do we kill our destiny?

Mark 7:21 KJV

[21] For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

https://bible.com/bible/1/mrk.7.21.KJV  

Lessons:

~ Evil won’t last long. It may look enticing at the moment, but you will face the wrath of judgement. 

~ God’s promises in our lives are sure; let’s not give the devil room to poison our minds against God’s goodwill and intentions for us.

If we give the devil a chance, we will lose our lifetime blessings.

Most times, when we think of destiny killers, we think of people around us.

Also Read: Choices: Two Ways to Live – Diademng (thediademng.org)

The Destiny Killers