The way and manner God structured the world and human existence have left no one in doubt as to the supremacy of this great being called God. He made it in such a way that man comes and goes. The coming and going of man help to keep the world afresh. Imagine what it would have looked like to have my great grand father and his generation around. If that happens in other families of the world, sure the whole universe will be like one big caravan where everybody is packed and there is no doubt that the climate and the environment of life and existence will be hotter than the sun. People would have been too numerous that there will be no space for accommodation.
However, the master planner, the great and the first architect structured the world in such a way that while men are giving birth some will be going home to create more room for the existence of others. That is the reason why I think that death is not all that bad as some think. It is not equally too much of a punishment as some may think. Some times, it is good that humans die so as to create room for others to live. In many instances of existence, the death of the older specie is part of their sacrifice for the livelihood of the younger ones.
The only aspect of death I hate is when it visits the wrong door. God structured life as a circle that the very older ones should take a bow when their usefulness has diminished in order to crate room for the younger ones. I will forever remember a vivid picture of the usual statement that normally comes out from my late grand mother when she became old. At that point whenever she heard that someone has died, the first question on her lips was always intended to identify who that person was. If she noticed that the dead was one of her contemporaries her wailing increased. If you were close by you might think that she was just crying because the man/woman was dead. But no! Her reason for the wailing was based on her full regrets on how God had treated her so unkindly by taking her mate or someone she was older than instead of her. Then when she looked around, she saw nothing of interest, all her wish was that God should take her home because she felt she had finished her race and mission on this part of the world. So there was no need hanging on to life and as such, every day she woke up, she earnestly prayed that the end should come as she thanked God for a life well spent. And so the day God said her time was up, she laid down peacefully on her bed and smiled home fully prepared to meet her God. I am sure that when Mr. Death knocked at her door that morning, she was very pleased to welcome him as evident on her smiling lips that fateful morning she passed away at the age of 90+.
With the little experience I had with her, I can attest that she was a good woman, who was fearless. She did not hide the truth, she was kind and benevolent, and that probably was the reason why she was wishing that death should come when in fact we, her grand children had wished that she could have stayed longer despite her feeble and weak body. Such is life and how things should be.
However, it is baffling to know that some people do not know that there is life after death and so have no preparation whatsoever to meet their creator. Such people live so recklessly even when they are earnestly holding a walking stick for support. I once heard s story of an 80 year old man who impregnated a 14 year old girl that was not his wife. What a shame! If you go to our campuses today especially on weekends, you will see old papa’s still with their walking sticks chasing young girls about. With their heavy beards, grey hairs and dim eyes, they still have the courage to ask a girl out when their elderly wives are probably bored at home for lack of quality companionship which he alone could provide. I truly wonder what sexual enjoyment such a person would really be seeking again having spent this number of years on planet earth. Why would a man at eighty, not be conscious that his exit or demise is drawing near. Such a person ought to know that death is a necessary end. For some, theirs can come in the morning which negates the plan and purpose of God because He said in the Holy book that with long life He shall satisfy us and shows us His mercy.
Consequent upon this, those who live up to the evening of their existence should be really thankful to God for the opportunity of attaining that age. They should not make God feel that God has wasted His mercies on them, a number of people have waited for this great mercy but were not privileged to have their lives extended to the evening. They have all died, some as children, some in their teens, and others in afternoons while a good number have had their existence extended to the evenings and even night.
It is sensible enough to know that when a man wakes up in the morning, he does that with vigor. He gets about his business from morning through afternoon full of strength. As the evening draws near, he knows that his zeal for vigorous work is greatly diminished. All he thinks at that point in time is how to get home. With such thoughts in his mind, he simply stands up to the preparation to get home by packing up and putting his office in order. When he eventually finds his way home, he feels satisfied with himself, for a job well done.
It is improper to see someone wandering and straying when the evening is drawing close. It is only a mad man who does not know that the night is coming and keeps wandering and can only lie down when his bones are too weak to walk again. At such a particular time, he is ready to pitch himself on any available space. It can be inside a gutter, on a heap of refuse or in the market square. One can excuse such a person because his senses are incomplete.
But how can you excuse a man in his right sense of mind behaving stupidly when ordinarily he ought to have understood life better. A man who should know that life is like a market place where buying and selling goes on. When you have exhausted your purchasing might you go home with what you have purchased. If you do the right shopping, you feel glad that you did but if you made wrong choices you have yourself to blame and no other.
Experiences have shown that most old people are not prepared to go home well. Some women at sixty and above turn to witchcraft sending the younger ones to their untimely graves. Some old people constitute problems in such a way that you can hardly please them and everything you do to assist them will be like pouring water on a rock. They are so unappreciative of whatever you do. You can’t just please them. For such people their problem is not that they are tired and want to go home rather their problem is that they are afraid to return to their maker because they have greatly lived in error. They so wished hat the hand of the clock should be turned back so that they could start life afresh. And you may think that starting life afresh will afford them the opportunity to turn to God. But no! They want to remain forever so that they can continue in their evil and perpetual darkness because they believe that those evil tendencies inherent in them are enjoyment. At their old age they have not yet understood, that they will not remain forever in the world and that one day the old wine will give way for the new wine to serve.
I will therefore say even though people die at any age, it is not God’s original plan for man. In view of this knowledge every man should be prepared at all times to meet his maker while we also pray earnestly for long life. To the aged whose morning and afternoon section of existence have passed, they should be more ready to meet God instead of living sinful and careless lives. It is good to know that if you are privileged to have a walking stick it is an indication that God has blessed you with long life. The countless experiences you have had should make you wiser to know that the life you possess is far spent and that as the evening draws close, all creatures are retiring to rest. You should make sure that where you will experience your ultimate rest should be very comfortable because there is no opportunity of change of abode or address after death. As such you must make your mansion beautiful and cozy with all the fresh air around you, at the end you will be glad you came home. Having cleaned yourself up properly you will smell and remain fresh ever. But failure to hearken to good counsel is a cry of regret, only that by then it would be too!, too!!
