Many hardly think about death. To them, it is as if life will have no end. But until scientists can discover an end to the death of the cells in our bodies, we are bound to die one way or another. There is no escape from death. Have you ever passed by a cemetery? Or let me put it this way: Have you ever visited a grave, maybe within a premises around you? Did you ever notice any activity around it? Meanwhile, while alive, the body in that grave had friends, dreams and a zest for life too!
After the person’s death, many would talk, publicly, about his/her good deeds. There would have been more than enough tears with some loved ones even throwing themselves on the floor in a show of sorrow at losing someone so dear to them. I’ve seen Indian movies where wives were cremated with their husbands, in a naïve belief that the poor woman would accompany her mate in the afterlife. In the days gone by in Yorubaland, we had our ‘Abobakus’, who were usually killed to serve as slaves to a deceased King. How many remain with a dead body, buried in the grave? Nobody! The grave can be lonely!
You may not share my belief. But as a Yoruba, first, before any other thing, the Creator of the heavens and everything in creation, Who we call Olodumare, made our fathers believe that our works (deeds), while alive, will be our companion once we pass to the other side. Early Muslims in Yorubaland borrowed this sagely belief to arrive at a popular saying, ‘Iwa ni esin’ (your deeds are the acceptable religion in the grave).
The Holy Bible teaches the same thing, but given the cultural background of its emergence, there are contexts slightly different from that of the average Yoruba. Christianity, in its true form teaches that, ‘it is the Fruits of the Holy Spirit in you that’ll guarantee you eternal life, not the Gift of the Holy Spirit you have’. Reading through the Holy Bible, my take on its summary has to do with what it describes as the gift of God. This gift has many branches – visions, words of knowledge, dreams and speaking in tongues among others.
But no matter the level of these gifts in you, without accompanying fruits, you are doomed to eternal damnation! There are those who canvass a position that faith in the finished work of Christ, which comes with confessing His name is all they need. No kain at all. A pade ni Ibode! The thief on His right side exhibited one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, which earned a man condemned to eternal damnation by earthly powers the right to eternal life in bliss. It was not just a confession. He manifested honesty. He manifested compassion even in the face of certain death!
The Eternal Word of God, Jesus Christ, gave an insight that can help the discerning prepare for the other side, in the grave. And, it does not matter whether you are a Christian, Muslim, Traditionalist or an unbeliever. God has given, and continues to give, His gift(s) to humans. He does not discriminate in terms of whether you believe in Him or not. God also does not care when giving His gifts about whether you are a Christian, Muslim, Traditionalist or unbeliever. It is the reason an atheist can have the gift of seeing visions. Such a person can explain it away as some psychological phenomena. No problem.
But every gift, in the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, MUST bear good fruits, being seeds planted by the Almighty for the good of His creation. These fruits, which in Yoruba parlance our fathers described as ‘Iwa’ long before the white man came, are the ones that will ensure we are not lonely in the grave. They will be our companions. They’ll be our playmates. These fruits’ll ensure we are not lonely once we are dead, because they’ll take on form that we’ll wear after our death.
The grave can be very lonely
Pastors, Imams and Babalawos have made a mess of so many lives, who naively believe they are secure. Your Anowosi, Ipese, tithes, offerings, zakat and sadaqah cannot save you from the torment that is certain to come once you drop your earthly garment. Road accidents do not just happen. There are those who should have done the right things concerning those roads. Yet, they are only interested in amassing wealth. You’ll pay upon your death. That is certain. Ordinary malaria killing hundreds, if not thousands of poor people? Yet, you work in the Ministry of Health and only care about yourself and immediate family. Don’t worry, your Osuwon is full already.
The grave can be very lonely!
Tai Solarin of blessed memory was an atheist. But he bore fruits that were, and still remain, of benefit to mankind throughout his life. God has put you in a position to make things right for His creation in Nigeria. But greed, induced by selfishness, continue to blind you to the reality that you cannot take anything with you after death. Instead of taking action to effect corrections, which should begin with you, it is prayers you continue to ask the people to offer for things that God has already done.
The grave can be very lonely.
Let nobody deceive you that you’ll never walk alone. You’ll be alone in that lonely grave, because you deliberately elected not to bear the fruits that would have accompanied you.
The grave can be very lonely.
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