Opinions of Sunday, 21 July 2024
Columnist: Isaac Asare Poku
Have you ever felt like you could die at any moment? I had not experienced that feeling until a few months ago when I purchased a motorcycle. Since then, I have been bombarded with well-meaning expressions of concern and fear from people who highlight the dangers and fatalities associated with motor vehicle use.
These countless encounters have made me contemplate death more than ever before. Besides my determination to be extra cautious, I have been compelled to ponder death extensively. I wonder if I am prepared to depart and what awaits me afterward. More than that, I ponder what will occur when I depart this world.
I am grateful that the Bible provides satisfactory answers to all these questions. It advises us to always be ready for our death (Eccl. 9:11-12). Those who are in Christ will find peace after death (Luke 16:23) and will experience eternal life with God at the end of time (1 Thes. 4:16-17). Before that, those of us who are industrious must acknowledge that the world will continue to function perfectly without us (Eccl. 9:13-15).
You may not ride a motorcycle, but you should live each day as if it were your last. Remember that time and chance affect everyone (Eccl. 9:11). Every day, people of all ages and backgrounds succumb to death due to various causes like car accidents, pedestrian accidents, diseases, food poisoning, homicide, drowning, building collapses, and more.
Since no one is immune to these or other causes of death, we all encounter death in some form every day, whether we are aware of it or not. It is wise for us to daily acknowledge our fragility and take necessary precautions to safeguard our eternal souls.
You can do this by believing in Christ (Rom. 10:10), repenting (Acts 2:38), confessing (Rom. 10:10), being baptized (Acts 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21), joining His church (Acts 2:47), and walking in a new way of life (Rom. 6:3-4).
May you experience God's grace! Amen!