LIFE, DEATH AND THE TIME IN BETWEEN

The life given to us by nature is short, but the memory of a well-spent life is ETERNAL - Cicero

I was in a market in a small town in Plateau. I was visiting for the umpteenth time regarding a water project we are working on. While there, I figured I needed to get some Naira notes, which would enable me to pay for the food I wanted to eat. So I took a walk around the market in search of a POS. Gemini says, “POS" stands for "point of sale," referring to the location or system where a transaction is completed and payment is made. It's where a merchant calculates the amount owed by a customer, displays it, and facilitates payment.” While walking, I noticed that the large crowd in the market carried on with their lives carefree and casually. There were no security personnel present to protect buyers and sellers in the market in the event of violence or danger, and there were no emergency services on standby if there was a fire.

There was a large crowd; some sat by a large tree drinking Burkutu. According to wikipedia, “Burkutu is an alcoholic beverage, brewed from the grains of Guinea corn (Sorghum bicolor) and millet (Pennisetum glaucum).” There were others carrying loads around, some were trying to haggle prices of goods amidst the loud songs that came from different MP3 players on display for sale. In a second, I had this silly thought: WHAT IF SOMEONE WALKED IN HERE WITH A BOMB?

Well, there would be a lot of casualties. Heck, I’d be among the number of injured, or worse, end up dead.

Then another thought crossed my mind, "Have I done all I am supposed to do?"

I quickly whispered, "God Abeg," because what would I say to master Jesus when I meet him? God, I was grieving, so I didn’t do the work, or God, I was struggling with an addiction, or God, I got busy with 9-5 so I didn't show up at the places you needed me, or God, I didn’t meet up with all the teenagers I needed to talk to, or maybe God, I did not feel good, so I skipped all the tasks you asked me to do would be a better excuse. What is a better excuse?

Crazy right?

Most often, we live thinking we have all the time in the world to do what we are designed to do. So we say, it’s not the perfect time, I don’t have the nicest job, I don’t have the latest gadgets, I don’t have time, I am not in the right environment, I don’t think I am prepared yet, it’s not time to get going because I am not married. We put off things we should be doing now for a day and time we are not sure we will be alive to see.

I do not believe in premature death. Time is not in our hands, and we didn’t design time, so there’s no way we can tell when time is mature or not. Like Priscilla Shirer shared, if you’re 25 and were destined to live to 30, you’re pretty old, and if you're 40 and destined to live to 93, you’re pretty young. Who determines young and old? Not you and me.

Don’t put off what you ought to do today for a tomorrow you're not sure you’ll see. Today is the day you’ve got and nothing more. This might be the last thing I write before my death, or most likely the last thing you read before your death.

Ephesians 2:7-10 MSG

[7-10] Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good WORK HE HAS GOTTEN READY for us to do, WORK WE HAD BETTER BE DOING. Eph.2.7-10.MSG

There's an old Christian Hymn,

(789) Must I go-----and empty-handed

" Must I go-----and empty-handed ? "

Thus my dear Redeemer meet ?

Not one day of service give Him,

Lay no trophy at His feet?

" Must I go-----and empty-handed ? "

Must I meet my Saviour so ?

Not one soul with which to greet Him ?

Must I empty-handed go ?

2

Not at death I shrink or falter,

For my Saviour saves me now ;

But to meet Him empty-handed,

Thought of that now clouds my brow.

3

Oh, the years of sinning wasted,

Could I but recall them now,

I would give them to my Saviour,

To His wilt I'd gladly bow.

4

Up, ye saints, arouse, be earnest !

Up and work while yet 'tis day ;

Ere the night of death o'ertake you,

Strive for souls while yet you may.

Checking through life, I’ve not got a valid excuse why I should not serve or reach out. If you check yours as well, you have got everything you need to do the work you were asked to do.

HAVE YOU DONE WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO?

GET UP AND GET GOING