It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to heart. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools in the house of mirth. It is better to hear the rebukes of the wise, than for a man to hear the songs of fools. Ecclesiates 7:2,4,5.
My late MD; Lady (Chief) Uche Rosari Anyaene, the proprietress, Stella Maris group of schools, Abuja, died in June after about three (3) months of rumoured sickness and treatment in oversea countries including England and India.
August 16, 2013 was the service of songs; part of a Christian funeral ceremony in which songs are rendered and testimony about the deceased are shared by acquaintances. To be candid, I arrived the venue late and had to sit outside the large auditorium being used but that did not diminish my view and lessons as there were telecast screens all over the places. Sitting down there, and reading in between activities Rick Warren's the purpose driven life, many lesson occurred to me from the proceedings among which I shall be sharing five shortly:
1. Death is Real and Inevitable:
Yea, that is a common lesson! But how many remember this in their daily activities? If we do, our moral standard, our actions and inactions, real motives, and passions will surely be different from what it used to be and the world would have been different! As some of her video clips and slide photographs were played, I recalled her ebullient and dynamic carriage and actions.
Oh, what an energetic woman; I whispered to myself or may be aloud. It was then emphasized to me that, no matter our talents, achievements, wealths, riches, fame and authority, as the Scriptures said, so it is; no man can deliver him/herself from death. Death, how wicked and powerful thy chilling hands are! So I learned that I must not boast myself of tomorrow. She had great plans, I quipped, for the group of schools and other ventures but all that will never be in her physical presence again. Her great charisma and other talents are gone, those, no man will ever harness. Death, death, what an earthly terminal point you are! But you shall be swallowed up in victory.
Let us live in the consciousness that we might be called upon to exit the world at any time and be ready for the life hereafter. That leads to my next lesson of the night.
2.AFTER DEATH, WHERE? The ministrations, that's the preaching and administration of the mass by the priests posed a lot of questions to what I have known from the Bible I have studied for twenty (20) years. They were not clear and precise like Jesus in the Bible about the destinations of the departed souls. From the story of the rich man and Lazarus ( Luke 16:19-31) and the broad and narrow way parable (Matthew 7:13,14) as revealed by Jesus, only two destinations are available - Heaven or Hell. And, the choice is made in life - defined by how you lived and the acceptance or rejection of Jesus, the son of God, as your personal Lord and saviour. Then at death, Hebrews 9: 27 says, "And, as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this, the judgment ". Which means after death no change of state. Just like our common cliche "No repentance in the grave" says.
However, the officiating priests were praying that God will grant someone who had been dead for nearly three (3) months forgiveness and allow her to find peace. Whereas I had no problems with the content of the prayer, I do with the time of it and on who is correct - Jesus, the son of God or the quatet of the priests?
If Jesus is right, which I am 110% sure he is. He is the son of God, omnipotent and omniscient, he came from heaven, lived, died and rose again and ascended into heaven and in addition, even the priests in question were praying through him and Mary to God; then relative to the priests, He must be right and they wrong!
There is no repentance nor forgiveness after death. If you want to be in heaven, repent now and believe on Jesus, the son of God as your personal Lord and saviour. Put ALL your trust and FAITH in him and after that live righteously.
There are two real places to go after death, - heaven or hell, no purgatory. If you die now, where will you go?
If praying for the forgiveness of the sins of the dead is by you right, then, my question for you is, who will pray for the last set of people that will die?
3. THE RICH ARE CROWD PULLER - DEAD OR ALIVE . AS I remorsefully said, I was about 45 minutes late. Buy that was not the first time I was arriving a service of songs an hour late and had a choice place to sit. However, this was different because the hall was already filled to overflowing; why? She was rich and famous. Very good and I loved her dearly. Then, my quibble was why are humans always interested in everything of the rich? Well, my lesson here was "I must work hard to be rich too" and then came the answer to my objection- people are interested in anything of the rich for the same reasons that I do not want to be poor!
So, how do one become rich and at the same time makes heaven after death? The answer is found in Matthew 6:33; Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and ALL these things (including riches ) shall be added unto you.
4.SERVE HUMANITY: The greatest of men are those who served others. My MD, spent her life building academic institutions to give sound education to the children of our great nation - Nigeria. Great as Stella Maris Schools are,the fees remain moderate and affordable so that all can come. She ensured not too tight an entry qualifications but rigorous academic works. So that the greater number can be admitted and transformed into great minds through the regimented academic and moral disciplines in the institution. Well, as we have always said, " life gives to you what you gave to it." She served people and people honoured her even in death! No wonder, she was the "BIG AUNTY".
5. It Is Not Worth It. The many struggles, fightings, violence, frauds and even killing to amass wealth and other material things is not worth it. Fellow preachers compromising God's eternal truth to appeal to people and get followers is not worth it. Bloggers posting falsehood for popularity or traffic is not worth it. Politicians getting involved in corrupt and sharp practices to win elections is not worth it.
The great question is what shall it profit a man If he shall gain the whole world and loose his own soul or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Surely, naked we came into the world and naked shall we return. Oh, now it is clear that it is better to be in the house of mourning than in the house of feasting.
For me, these are both great ephemeral and eternal lessons that only the wise take to heart. I know you are wise and will take it to heart.
Your life will never be the same as you do. God bless you.
