THE BURIAL OF CELESTINE NWABUOKEI FULLY EXPLAINED Someday, sometime, somewhere, a man died. While some people were crying and beating themselves in grief, others were celebrating and saying ‘Thank God he made it’, ’He died a Christian’. At the time of burial, stern looking black attired men appeared to claim the corpse of the deceased. There was pandemonium on the land on whose side the corpse will go. Behold, the stern looking black attired men brought out and presented the ID card of the deceased to the public- showing that the man belonged to them. Finally, the corpse went to the side of the black attired men. ‘He died a Christian’. In the contrary,today, we were not somewhere, someday and sometime. We were in Isheagu to bury one of our own; the man who embodied intelligence, hard-work and success; a pride of the family. According to Brutus in Shakespeare’s Julius Caeser, ‘Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears. I have come to bury Caeser and not to praise him…’’. I am here to enjoin you to imbibe the spirit of the urgency in choosing the best part of life that is inalienable because there is no more time. Death is alien to man. Man was created perfect and immortal but disobedience took away these glories and replaced them with death. That is why ‘through one man, sin entered into the world and death through sin because all have sinned and departed from the glory of God’- Romans 3:23. The stranger- death now lives with man and in return takes him away from his loved ones. That is why Celestine Nwabuokei enjoys the prefix Late,as confirmed by his interment,today (31st October,2014). As I write, my mind runs through every household in Umuenechi, Isikiti, Ogbe-Onishe, Ogbe-Etiti, Umuoma and Umueze to find out whose house enjoys immunity from death. The shocking truth is that I find none. Death eats and had eaten the rich, the poor; the fat, the thin; the tall, the short; the educated, the uneducated. He befriends everyone, at one point or another. Recounting all our loved ones that had died is near herculean a task. December 1, 2005 is an important date. That date belongs to Martins Okonji-the State Security Services promising young man whose life was nipped on the bud in his prime age of 34 leaving his wife and 3 children,unannounced. Early January 2011 belongs to Dr. Nkitikaokwu Onwushanibekalim Kalim- the Isheagu medical breath, especially to the younger generation. During Kalim’s burial, Celestine Nwabuokei told us a story of his academic escapades with Kalim in Ubulu-Ukwu. It is of note that the two protagonists attended the same University of Benin. Recognition, fame and money were never their wants but today, they are gone! As we remember the dead, there is supposed to be an inner response from us. That inner response will guide us to knowing the best course of life to chart: Going closer to God. However the devastating effects of death, we have an awesome and loving God that cushions them all. Read Romans 6:23 (The gift of God is eternal life); John 10:10 (Jesus had come to give you abundant life); John 3:16 (Belief in Jesus guarantees everlasting life). God is calling you to amend your ways and give your lives to Jesus’ Christ. Read John 14:6 (Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life). Following Jesus means life to you and this life should be devoid of sin. This is because in 1 Peter 1:15-16 and 1 John 3:8-9, a sinner is not a Christian and a Christian is not a sinner. You may be asking what sin is. 1 John 5:17a tells us that all unrighteousness is sin and in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 we are shown what unrighteousness is, but not limited to that. Are you into any form of sin? Proverbs 28:13 is asking you to willingly repent of them and mercy shall be shown to you. Remember to always think about your head anytime you feast on the head of a monkey because they look alike. Celestine Nwabuokei does not know what is happening now but you do. Only God shall decide his fate. I like what 1 Corinthians 11:31 said- For if we judge ourselves we will not be judged. Do not live ‘I don’t care life’ and believe that the prayers of the living for you will influence your good relationship with God; except you want to deceive yourselves. Since Ecclesiastes 9:5 had said that the living are conscious that they will die, why not live a righteous life and obey God in totality, now that you are alive! I want you to know that the mercy of God is shown to only the living; not to the dead. Therefore, seize this opportunity you have now as among the living ones and amend your ways. I do not know the kind of life you think is best for you. I want you to know that there is no life aside Jesus; for without Him, you can do nothing (John 15:5). Know God,now,so that even at death, you do not need any prayers before the determination of your final place in Gods plan. The rare chance to know him is now! We thank our God that His will will take place for the deceased; that the burial ceremony was peaceful and successful and we pray for the protection of the living from the jaws of the devil, and for the destruction package of the enemy against our lives during and after this ceremony to be cancelled, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 21:03:07 +0000
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