Sometime ago, Nigeria has been embroiled in the issue of the armoured vehicles procured by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for the then aviation minister. Two cars that manufacturers and agents say their value should not be more than $500,000 combined were purchased for $1.4 million. Coming after the death of 13 people in an air crash, from the same agency responsible for overseeing our airspaces and the same agency that is reporting that it is cash-strapped, Nigerians were angry, and rightly so, and it is obvious that things have to change.
A lot of us have to learn to take life simple as though nothing is a big deal and nothing is a deal-breaker. Everything you could ever own, every feat you could ever throw, is meaningless without eternity in focus. Heaven is the ultimate reward of us all. Nothing in life is really yours. Not even your bank accounts, brains and bones belong to you. You definitely are going to leave everything behind. What will follow you to eternity is that which you cannot see; that you cannot arrest nor have control over – your soul.
Those who had relatives in the painful June 3, 2012 Dana Air crash in Lagos besieged the mortuary and scrambled for the parts and remains of the victims to commit to proper burial. Same with the October 3 Associated Airlines crash. All the people aboard those planes were hoping to land in 30 minutes or an hour’s time at their different destinations. They never knew they will become burnt corpses within minutes.
You will definitely leave all that you feel you own behind. At the end, nothing in life will carry weight. Your view of life and eternity must change. Do what is best for the most people. Be determined to gain eternity in Heaven.
Like the Methodist founder, John Wesley, said: “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”
I met a gentleman in India who claimed to be the happiest man on earth. I asked him why he considered himself the happiest on earth. He replied, “I have four shirts, two pairs of trousers, and a pair of shoes. My most expensive possession is my laptop. Everything I own I carry in my backpack; I have no restrictions. I have just very little in my bank account; so I don’t have to worry if the financial houses collapse. I go by faith and I win souls for Christ. I have no worries, not at all!”
“What if you need to wear a suit for an occasion?” I asked him.
“I have a suit in India, another one in America, and another one in Pakistan. When I need to wear a suit, I just pick one up, and when I am through, I pull it off. I don’t carry one around. If I need any special attire because of the people I minister to, I quickly make one there, and once I am through, I give it out. When my shoes wear out, I just replace.”
This happiest man on earth sent me a mail sometime ago. It was a testimony. He was travelling through Bangladesh on a bus when the Holy Spirit told him to get off the bus, though he had not reached its destination. He did, and soon after that, there was an explosion. Many passengers on board the bus perished. But this man survived.
Good things are good, but they are not the critical things of life. Change your attitude to your possessions. The life of a man does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. To give your life to Christ is the best you can do with your life.
Love God. Serve Him with all you have. Love your neighbour. Care for the needy. Help the poor. Stand by the weak. Fulfil your purpose in life, and when the final call shall sound, you can shout for joy.
Until each and everyone have changed, Nigeria has not changed. When each of us changes, then our country will change. If each one of us will be honest, truthful, corruption-free, unselfish and love one another, then our nation will experience true change.
God bless Nigeria