Key Passage: Psalm 39: 4 - 6

LORD, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Surely every man walks about like a shadow; surely they busy themselves in vain; he heaps up riches, and does not know who will gather them.

Nigerians woke up on 23 October 2005 to hear the sad news of the crash of a local airliner. As rivers of tears and sorrows poured throughout the country, it occurred to me that some of the victims would have said, “I’ll be back soon”, but never returned. Some would have phoned their friends to say, “I’ll see you on my arrival”, but never did. There would have been contracts left unsigned, promises left unfulfilled, projects left unexecuted and checks left uncashed. None of those 117 passengers and crew knew that was their end and none of their plans mattered anymore. Their plane nose-dived few minutes after takeoff burying all onboard in the crash. What a tragedy!

The incident made me to think about the transient nature of our lives on this earth and the need for us to live with wisdom. We need to always have at the back of our minds that we will not be here forever. We are just like pilgrims. Our true destinations are on the other side of eternity. We should not spend our lives in vain pursuits, unending acquisitions, ostentation, corruption and pride. We should rather live in simplicity and humility, with the fear of God. We should lay our treasures in Heaven and live in the service of God and humanity. These are the things that will speak for us after our transition.

There is a wise saying, “Walk not always with your face to the east, look also to the west, because after sunrise, there is a sunset”. Another saying goes, “Don’t only stay at the prow of the ship, go also to the stern”. “Stand on your watchtowers for you do not know what tomorrow holds.” What you need to know about your end is not really “When?”, “Where?” or “How?” It is “What next?” What will your end bring you – either eternal bliss or eternal doom? The bottom line is, “Are you going a sinner or a saint?” “Are you facing your Creator empty-handed or are you going with fruits worthy for rewards?” Remember the concluding words of the Preacher, “Have reverence for God, and obey His commands, because this is all that man was created for” (Eccl 12:13 GN). Besides that, every other thing is vanity.

Pray: Lord, help that my frailties may make me more humble; and that I may be submissive to Your will and be dependent on Your strength each day in my life.

Written by – Evangelist Oguazi Onyemobi