The Love Collision: Love is God - Obiora Obiwon

 Obiora Nwokolobia-Agu, mostly known in the music industry as Obiora Obiwon, is an award winning Nigerian singer, musician, songwriter, recording artiste, music minister and evangelist. He was honored as Nigeria's Voice of the Decade (21st century) at the Nigeria Music Awards.  He is sold out to the gospel of Christ and continues to minister this message at various churches, Christian and other secular events. Obiwon is married and has two lovely children.

Facebook: Obiora Obiwon Twitter: @ObioraObiwon iTunes: Buy  here

 

What is your definition of love?

At the risk of sounding clichéd, Love is God... and I’ll explain my own understanding of this.

The day I settled with the whole issue of what love is, does true love exist and all such questions was the moment I came to terms with the fact that you cannot separate the Maker of all things from Love which He created and vice versa.  I had started to really seek and find if indeed there was anything like “love” as we know it and at a point when the love songs I often wrote and sang began to take on a more larger than life presence and meaning. I was also making grave mistakes and having misfortunes with romantic love in my own life. In my curious quest I found God as the ultimate Love I was searching for, the Love Being in whom I could safely and truly experience the highest meaning and expression of love ever possible. I realized and accepted that every other type of love and relationship on this realm flows out of that original Source or has been corrupted from this original. 

Have you had a love encounter with God?

Yes, severally... and I’m having one right now. Remarkably though, the day I truly submitted all of me and my ways to Him and other intimate moments alone with Him since then are exhilarating and unforgettable.

How has that changed your life and your perception of Christianity and what religion has portrayed it to be?

I found a true connection with my Maker. In retrospect I found that you can only hear of this or choose to sneer at it as another trick, until the day you freely decide to try it for yourself and stick at it... then the true encounters with the God of the Universe begin, you wouldn’t want to go back and you would understand why it would seem like others were quite ‘overzealous’ trying to introduce this to you. People being people choose bits and pieces of the aspects of the Christian message and twist and adapt it to suit whatever purpose, and this can scare away anyone who had wanted to try Christ for size. However this doesn’t change the fact that Jesus, the core of his message and all about Him is realer than the air we breathe and the best life ever. Additionally, as a “fly” guy, I had resisted giving all to God because that didn’t seem to be a ‘”fun” lifestyle and there might be certain things I would no longer be able to do. However after I made up my mind to do it, I discovered along the way that the God life is the best, “funnest” and safest lifestyle possible, even if He had to take a little time to change my initial tastes and concept of fun and satisfaction.

How has this love shaped your understanding of who God is? How has this love walk affected your life? i.e Has this love shielded you from trials? If it hasn’t, how have you been able to reconcile the truth of a loving God with the facts of life’s challenges in your face?

I’m learning everyday. Seasons of doubts and anxiety have crept up in the midst of certain circumstances, but I’ve learnt that if one could still believe and trust through these times and challenging circumstances, you would eventually come through to experiencing new dimensions of His love and His person on a whole new level. My claim to the absolute verity of the last statement is my personal experience; it has happened to me over and over again. It’s right in the love encounters that one is reassured of the unfailing and faithful nature of His love, therefore I come to see love encounters with God as a daily necessity for refreshment, strength and reassurance.

If you were given a chance to witness this love to someone, what would you say?

I would say all I’ve said above but probably summarize it thus: The Love of God is the love, satisfaction, rest and meaning that you've been searching and yearning for all your life... and it is personified in Jesus the Christ."

  Here’s Obiwons latest video 'Bunibe'. Bunibe shows a jubilant yet inspired Obiora Obiwon as he sing-dances his way across various situations of everyday life in the city and streets of Lagos, Nigeria. The song seeks to inspire faith and hope through praise in various circumstances.

I think it’s so apt for this post. Only a person who knows how loved he is by God will be willing to praise even when the land lord calls and trials and problems seem to be lurking around. So will you praise Him? Get up and dance knowing He loves you, and His love is bringing you out of every situation. There’s a fourth man in the fire, you wouldn’t be burnt.