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THE MOST IMPORTANT INVITATION! Song: 1. Nearer to thee, nearer to thee Lord 2. Closer to thee, closer to thee Lord On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 6:37-38. As the year winds up or as you get on in life and advancing in age, I feel the Lord is once again inviting us to take stock of our lives since the beginning of the year to date, or of our lives to date. For those who have done fairly well, the Lord is inviting them to dig deeper! For those who made attempts and failed, the Lord is calling on them to get up and fight on. For those who are still living in sin and riotous life, the Lord is saying time is too short to waste! Whatever camp you belong, the Lord is beckoning on all to come! He alone can give you the fulfillment you need in this transient life. He alone can you the true and lasting peace and joy you need in this life, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) Many have been deceived to believing that everything starts and ends in this untoward generation. This is publicly displayed in the way and manner they live – immorality, greed, covetousness, idolatry, wickedness and general godlessness! But St. Paul tells us: “What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they have none; those who mourn, as if they were not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not there theirs to keep; those who use the things of this world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.” (1 Corinthians 7:29-31). Did I hear you say I have heard all these fallacies before? Are you getting younger or older? No matter how much care and attention you give to your body, you are getting closer to the grave! You have a choice to choose to do good or evil, but you have no choice when death comes knocking. Many mighty, rich, influential and famous men and women have passed away this year, where are they: heaven or hell? Many of these passed away with great agony and pain on their sick beds, perhaps some even saw hell and the devil leading them to where they chose while on earth. Do not be deceived friends, the end will come and very soon! Nothing on this earth can guarantee your peace and security, St. Augustine of Hippo once said: “Our hearts are greater than any created thing and only God the creator can give it peace.” If you do not learn the secret of detachment from worldly possessions, then you will never be able to choose to serve and love God, peace will elude you and you will be most miserable among men. “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.” (1 Peter 4:7). But how can you pray when you are still engrossed in all these mundane things? How can you come to the presence of the Lord and discuss with Him when there is bitterness and all sorts of filthiness in your life? “In the presence of the Lord there is fullness of joy!” (Psalm 16:11). How many times a day do you experience heaven? Of course a sinner does not believe that there is heaven! He/She thinks the present earth is his/her permanent abode. Oh what an exciting experience that is eluding you for not experiencing heaven! Rev. Fr. Stephen Uche Nkjoku once said that: “If you are not experiencing heaven on earth that you might not be there.” This is true! “For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” May the good Lord give you wisdom to make the right choice. God Bless You Evang. Oseh John Bamidele |