But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding – Job 32:8
Back in time (early 90s), IVCU choir used to sing a song amidst other songs during the yearly finalists commissioning. The song (in Yoruba language) goes thus:
Ìwo máse bèrù, Dúró do
Dì rò mó Jésù, Áá dára fún o
Dúró o, Dúró o, dákun yé ò …
Then, we used to act it on stage (choreography) while singing the song with the beautiful mass choir effect! The song was often so melodious, inspirational and emotional, especially for every finalist, who had faithfully been under the tutelage of God’s Spirit in the House hold of IVCU.
As a choir leader in 1994, the weight of the message of this song was greatly done on me shortly after the death of our dear Late Prof. Gbola Durojaiye, who in his message at the finalist dinner in 1994 (held at Queens hall) referred to that song as pilgrim’s song, urging every finalist to always remember that we are all pilgrims here on earth. In just a few months after, the man joined the great cloud of witnesses. During his line-in-state, the wordings of that song rushed through my mind as I looked at his face with warm tears dripping down my face and I promised God that I will hold unto Him, even in the face of trials and temptation.
It is amazing where God picked us all from! He is the Lord who remembered us in our low estate (Psalm 136:23) by the reviving strength of His mercy. Let all hearts be bowed before the Lord our God, from whom all blessings flow. To Him alone be all the glory and honour for even giving us life, sustaining everyone of us, all the way by the power of His might.
Yet, there are greater victories and better life ahead. Because of the fullness of His grace, have we all received one blessing after another John 1:16 (NIV). The Lord will cause us all to walk worthy of Him daily by the upholding strength of His right hand, to the intent that we will enjoy Him more and more, being ever positioned to be ready recipients of the fullness of His grace.
However, dearly beloved, I beg you by the mercies of our living God that you remember always that we are all pilgrims here earth. Do not loose the sight of God, when the going is good and neither looses His sight when the going gets bad. It will happen in an instant, in a split second at the sound of the last trumpet. Indeed, that trumpet will sound, and then the dead will come back to life. They will be changed so that they can live forever – 1 Cor. 15:52 (God’s word® translation, © 1995) (emphasis is mine).
Constantly remembering that we are pilgrims here on earth will draw our minds closely to God, who is the author of life. This in turn will shake away all life excesses and guarantee our readiness to be changed so that we can live forever with God at the sound of the last trumpet!
Shalom.
‘Wole Ariyo, Ph.D
Inspirational Bible Club
South Carolina, USA