ỌJỌ́ A BÁ KÚ LÀÁ D'ÈRE

[Adawebs]

ỌJỌ́ A BÁ KÚ LÀÁ D'ÈRE

By Favour Adéwoyin,
October 5, 2018

Don't be surprised to see 2018 on the date above. That was the date I wrote this article as a tribute to my brother, Bolaji, who left this world after few months of carrying him about in different hospitals in Lagos.

Today marks five year I wrote article and I stumbled on it again today and I still think I should share it to provoke a thought in our mind with a view to challenge each of us to live while we have the opportunity to do so and prepare for eternity after we are no longer on this planet earth.

I saw my brother in the mortuary and, later, in a casket. Then, the undertakers brought his remains in the same casket to church, now dressed in the same clothe he wore few months before for his retirement.

The difference was he lied down lifeless and he wore gloves or it was worn for him. Or, I should say all the clothes were worn for him. He didn't take his bath by himself, it was done for him. But, I don't think the Mortuary attendants remembered to cream his body or comb his hair or brush his mouth as he would have loved to do. Ah!

Everything was done for him because his spirit and soul had departed.

Have you thought that, one day, life will check-out of your body and dust will return to the dust? Have you considered that, one day, you will become lifeless and still like a statue?

'Ọjọ́ a bá kú là á d'ère, èèyàn ò sunwòn l'áàyè'.

Juxtaposing his lifeless body vis-a-vis his dreams and his achievements, I began to ponder and wonder at the same time. My conclusion will interest you if you care to know. My conclusion is: "what is this life all about after all. Can you help me to define or describe what life is all about?

"Mo fẹ́ d'ogún, mo fẹ́ d'ọgbọ̀n, asán báńsa". I want to become the president or governor or senator or what is your own ambition? I want to become the king or the queen at all costs; I want to become richer than Darosa or Rockefeller; I want to travel to America or Britain or Germany; I want to build mansions and estates; I want to buy Lamborghini or Lexus or the latest Toyota or Mercedes, whatever you want, make sure you remember not to forget that, one day, you will lie lifeless like a statue and you won't be able to do anything by yourself again. This is not a bright message that can cheer anybody up, but it is the truth. It is not a popular message that I expect you to shout "preach on pastor", but it cannot be wished away because, one day, each of us will end up in a six-feet hole outside in the cold not-minding the mansion we have used our resources to build.

Ooooh! I juxtaposed all that my brother left behind vis-a-vis the position of incapacitation he has assumed and I received an instruction from the Lord. I'm sure you also are receiving an instruction from the Lord too that this life is not forever. We are now operating in time and time is just a fraction of eternity. One day we are going to step out of time into eternity. I don't mean to preach to you, but get ready for eternity.

Can I open your eyes a bit to how eternity operates? Everything in eternity will be forever. Can I remind you about two kinds of eternity? Have you heard about 'eternity-heaven and 'eternity-hell'?

These are the two eternities available to go to. To go to eternity-heaven, you have to know God and become a citizen of His Kingdom. Secondly, you have to live a good and righteous life to please God while on earth. To go to eternity-hell, all you need to do is the opposite of those going to eternity-heaven. You can be wicked and continue in your wickedness if eternity-hell is your choice.

Now, I said before everything in eternity will last forever. It means if you are joyful in eternity-heaven, your joy will be forever. But, if you have headache in eternity-hell, your headache will also be forever. Eternity is a dangerous place to live, my people. So, you can make your choice now that you have opportunity to make a choice. 

The day death strikes, no one can say, 'excuse me, I have a billion dollar in my account to withdraw; allow me to go and withdraw it or do a transfer on my phone'. No, that won't be possible again.

So, my advice to you is: "Ẹ ṣ'ayé 're"! "

"Ẹ ṣ'ayé 're" means: do good!

Yes, I advise you to start doing good to others because the conclusion of the matter is that the day of judgment will come when everything we do while on earth will be assessed and judged. What will you say when that day come?

Again, begin to do good to your neighbour, in your community and in the society. Don't be wicked or plan evil against anybody.

The story of my brother was that he did good to everybody he met. He helped people and touched their lives positively. Even on his sick-bed, his pastor said: 'I got alert from him this August, he transferred money to my account as usual'. 'If you see any good clothe on my neck, it's most likely it was your brother that bought it for me', the pastor added. 

What more can I say? And, what more do I want?

Over to you!

Thank you.

[Adawebs]