DEATH: THE BEGINNING OF A LIFE WITHOUT END!
“And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed’ and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people” Genesis 49:33.
LIFE IS A JOURNEY
“And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed’ and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people”
When Jacob would die, it was recorded that “he gathered up his feet into the bed” and breathed his last. This action of Jacob is very significant and instructive for those still alive. What is the implication of this? The legs are design for movement and travel from one point to the other. And by gathering up his feet into the bed, Jacob seems to signify that life is a journey and he had come to the end of that journey.
Life is a journey. And we all are on the journey of life. The duration of the journey is what differs. Jacob traveled for one hundred and forty-seven years. Pa. Titus Akanbi Bolutife travelled for ninety-nine years and ended his journey on Sunday, the twelfth of September, 2021. Your own journey will also end one day when your feet will be gathered up into the bed of death and will not be able to proceed further in the journey of life. Business here and there will cease. Going up and down will stop. One day, your life train will reach his terminus. This world is not your own, you are just travelling through. Now every journey has a path (way) and every way leads to a destination. You are journeying through a way in life and that way will lead you somewhere eventually.
There Is A WAY That Seems Good To Men….
“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death Proverbs 16:25 KJV.”
“…for wide is the gate and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat Matthew 7:13”
Life is a journey and everyone is travelling through a pathway. Now the Scriptures says there is A WAY that seems good unto men. Men carved out the way by themselves, approve it by themselves and recommend it for themselves. It is a way of SELF-ocracy. It’s like democracy-the government of the people by the people for the people. As long as it looks good to them, they travel therein. It is a way of freedom without restriction where travelers do whatever is right in their own eyes. In this way, travelers are free to eat anything, drink anything, smoke anything, wear anything, say anything, preach anything, go anywhere, worship anything, marry anyone and do whatever they like as long as it pleases them. It’s why Jesus describes this way as a broad way: it’s so wide that it accommodates anything people want to take along. In the broad way, pleasing self, as against pleasing God is the lifestyle of all those who travel therein. The broad way is the way of following your sinful nature. And “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outburst of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin…anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
And since every way has an end and leads to a destination, the way that seems good unto a man which is the broad way also leads somewhere. DESTRUCTION IS THE DESTINATION OF THE BROAD WAY! Unfortunately, a greater number of people alive today are traveling through the broad way! “…for wide is the gate and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.” If you are currently traveling through the broad way, it is highly recommended that you make a U turn today and follow the right way before you end in destruction. You just must find The Way!
I AM THE WAY.
“Jesus said…I AM THE WAY, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father (in Heaven) except through me.” John 14:6.
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is THE WAY which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:14
If you don’t want your journey in life to end in destruction, here is The Way through which you must travel. This is not just a way but The Way-the ONLY approved Way. This way is not tradition, religion, set of rules and regulations but a Person. JESUS IS THE WAY! It was when Adam and Eve lost this Way in the garden of Eden that humanity began seeking and searching frantically to reconnect with their Maker. The search for The Way back to God is what has led the race of men into different kinds of religions in the world today. It’s important for me to tell you that RELIGION (of whatever name and brand), is also a way that seems good unto men. There are so many religions in the world today because humanity is looking for The Way back to God. Religion, in Islam, Christianity, Traditional, Atheism, Buddhism, Hinduism cannot and will not help anyone. Religion is man’s effort to reconnect to His Maker. Jesus is God’s Way of reconciling His lost creatures back to Himself.
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on HIM the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6.
“In HIM was life and the life was the light of men.” John 1:3.
Do you really want to know God? Do you really desire a personal and functional relationship with God? I know you have searched everywhere and yet you are not satisfied. As a matter of fact, your heart will never know true rest and satisfaction until you find The Way. What your heart is searching for can never be found in money, fame, academic degrees, wealth, religious activities and foreign trips. Your true life is located in God Who created you in His Own Image and Jesus is The Way to God. Jesus is the Revelation of God to humanity. He is the Arm of God’s salvation. He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the whole world. He is The Light that came from Heaven to earth to show us The Way. He shed His Sinless Blood for the remission of our sins on the cross of Calvary. He was buried, and on the third day He rose from the dead for our justification.
“For all have sinned; and fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet now God in His gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this THROUGH Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed His blood, sacrificing His life for us…” Romans 3:23-25.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.
Christ is our sacrifice of atonement. God is justifiably angry at sinners. they have rebelled against Him and cut themselves off from His life-giving power. God declares Christ’s death as the appropriate, designated sacrifice for our sin. He stands in our place, having paid the penalty of death for our sin, and He completely satisfies God’s demands. His sacrifice brings pardon, deliverance, and freedom. Jesus is The Way back to God. Jesus is The Answer for the world today.
You are free to choose between two ways -Jesus or others, but you are not free to adjust the consequences of your choice. Any way you choose to travel in life must definitely take you to a destination. Every other way outside Jesus Christ will definitely lead you to eternal damnation. Life is a journey. Every journey has a pathway. Every pathway leads to a destination. DESTRUCTION IS THE DESTINATION OF THE BROAD WAY. ONLY JESUS LEADS TO ETERNAL LIFE.
LIFE IS SHORT.
“And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed’ and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people” Genesis 49:33.
After Jacob had lived for one hundred and forty-seven solid years, the time came that he must die. No matter how long a man lives on earth, he will die one day. The fact that you have been born is a very strong, indisputable indication that you will eventually die one day. It is an open secret to all that life on this planet earth has an expiry date. As there is a birth day, so is a death day! As there is a time to be born; so there is certainly a time to die. No man is an everlasting man. Life here on earth is measured to everyone in proportions. No man will live forever on this present earth. No man has an endless day. Every man has a measure of days and weeks that become months and years…and within those measurements lies the expiry date-the day of appointment with death and exit from this earth. On the appointed date with death, nothing will avail. It is the lot of all them who are born of man and woman. It is in light of this truth that the Psalmist prayed the prayer: “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). We do not have a numberless day; that is why our days are numbered. “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10). You will die one day. I will die one day.
“For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.”
“For we were born yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are as shadow” (Job 8:9).
“My days are like a shadow that lengthens, and I wither away like grass” (Psalm 102: 11).
“I am gone like a shadow when it lengthens; I am shaken off like a locust” (Psalm 109:23).
“Man is like a breath; His days are like a passing shadow” (Psalm 144:4).
If you agree with the truth that your life is short, the question then is, how are you spending this short life? What are you spending your short life on? What is the preoccupation of your life that will soon expire like the breath of the nostrils? What are you throwing the weight of your life on? Have you discovered how to live and what to live for? You have only one life to live and it will soon be gone. YOU are coming to pass!
LIFE DOES NOT END WITH DEATH.
“And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed’ and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people” Genesis 49:33.
“…Jacob…yielded up the ghost and was gathered unto his people. This is the crux of the matter. When Jacob died, his life did not end with death. He was only gathered unto his people. Death, which is the end of his earthly journey only took him to a place, a destination where his people are. There is a place where those who walk on the broad way are going and there is a place where those who walk on the narrow way are going. The lake of fire is the final abode of all who travel through the broad way. “But cowards who turn away from Me, and unbelievers, and the corrupt. And murderers, and the immoral, and those who practice witchcraft, and idol worshippers, and all liars-their doom (destination) is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.” Revelation 21:8. The lake of fire is the ultimate destination of everything wicked-Satan, the anti-Christ, the demon, death, hell, and all those whose names are not recorded in the Book of Life because they did not put their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.
The story of Lazarus and the rich man as told by Jesus underscores the truth that life does not end with death. Hear the words of Jesus and take counsel for your own life:
“Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed and who lived each day in luxury. At his door lay a diseased beggar named Lazarus. As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. Finally, the beggar died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and his soul went to the place of the dead. There in torment, he saw Lazarus in the far distance with Abraham. The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish in these flames. But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish” Luke 16:19-25.
While my intention is not to explore this true life story here, I only want to draw your attention to critical matters of life, death and destination for your thoughtful consideration: Two people once lived and both of them died eventually. However, their lives did not end at death. One was carried by angels to a place of comfort, the other went to a place of torment. Their destinations were different because they travelled through different ways in their lifetime. Two lives, different ways, different destinations.
Your life is a journey. The way through which you are traveling will lead you to a destination. THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO LIFE ETERNAL. THAT WAY IS JESUS CHRIST. There no name given under the heaven whereby man must be saved except the name of Jesus. Have you chosen the Way of life? Have you repented of your sins and believed the atoning death of Jesus on the cross as sufficient for your forgiveness and redemption? What you do with Jesus in life will determine your placement in eternity.
Since you are definitely going to outlive the sun, it is wise to make choices that will place you correctly in eternity. Living in this world is but a step or passage into eternity. Your present existence is only a passage into real life. Your real life begins the moment you step across the bridge from this world into eternity. Your present existence is only to make you prepare for your placement in eternity. Everyman is given a chance to live in this world where change can occur so that he can by himself make a choice of his placement in eternity where there will be no change! 90 years of existence in this world are but a preparation to enter eternity, where time and years do not matter.
May be It would have been better if it was possible to make my choices when I get to eternity for a correct placement in eternity, unfortunately, once you step into eternity, you cannot change your mood, location or choice. Choices are not made there. The moment you step over into eternity, you automatically lose your power of choice. There is no change there. Any choice you do not make while you are here on earth can never ever be made again.
The wages of sin is eternal death. But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. If your life is not yet right with God, you must pause here for a very sober reflection. Christ stands at the door of your heart this day, knocking. Do not delay in rising to open for Him to come in and by His Blood blot out all the records of sins that the devil is compiling against you to pull you into eternal perdition. There is forgiveness now; there will be none in eternity. There is repentance now in time, but there is nothing like that in eternity. There is cleansing in the blood today, but there all stains are permanent. Take the advantage of time today and never bank on a “tomorrow” that may never be yours. Today is the accepted time, today is the day of salvation. Your decision today may place you eternally in a wrong place. Bow your heart now in prayer and ask Him Who is willing to forgive you and give you eternal life to come into your life. Waiting too long to repent, you might not repent too soon. And you don’t know when it will be too late for you to repent because you don’t know when you will die!
© Kehinde A. Bolutife
November 2021
Pa. Titus Akanbi Bolutife in his lifetime discovered Jesus- The Way, and travelled in Him faithfully until His last breath. And that made his end better than his beginning. And his day of death better than his day of birth! Herein lies my greatest joy!
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