Our discussion on senior citizenship ended on a note that could be described as depressing if you miss the real import of the discourse.
When we stated that some senior citizens fear the obvious truth that we are all on our way out of planet earth, we also remarked that the soul departs for eternity.
We don’t discuss these matters often, but we must ask ourselves, “Where does the soul go?”
The ready answer is that the soul goes to God who created it.
But that answer generates what we believe is humanity’s biggest problem.
What is the problem?
The problem or dilemma is that although the soul was created by God and should return to him when it departs this world, the truth is that it is not every soul that returns to its Creator! Why?
Observe this scenario: At the final judgment, Jesus returns as judge to separate all humanity (souls) into two distinct destinies: those who are saved will enter eternal life; those who are not saved will be separated from God forever.
Therefore, although all souls are created by God, at the end of time, not all souls will return and abide with him.
Senior citizens who have learned to number their days are wise because they are preparing for their destiny.
I looked for a commentary on the wisdom of numbering our days and got this insightful thought: To "number our days" means recognising the brevity of life so you can live with intention rather than drifting.
‘Teach us to number our days’ is a humble prayer from Psalm 90:12 asking God to shift our perspective so we invest our limited time in what truly matters.
Famous destinies
Talking about destinies hereafter, which truly matters, the most famous is the analogy of the sheep and the goats.
The Shepherd, who is Christ, will lead the sheep to his kingdom to enjoy a blissful, eternal life.
The goat, on the other hand, will be lost, separated from God.
Many years ago, I tended my grandfather’s sheep and goats. While the sheep were amiable and much easier to handle, the goats were unfriendly and disagreeable.
Humans are not sheep and goats, of course, but used as an analogy, they fit two destinies awaiting mankind—saved or lost.
While we have life, it is great wisdom to seek to be saved, particularly as time flies and our senior citizenship status reminds us to number our days.
Believing or not
One other big problem plaguing humanity is whether to believe this destiny talk or not.
For people who don’t believe in God or the scriptures, their problem is not where to spend eternity.
Their problem would be how to handle the shock when they start experiencing eternity from the wrong side of life hereafter.
But this discussion is not meant to address atheists' future shock; it is meant to address the big problem that genuine seekers face concerning where to spend eternity.
Therefore, since to believe or not is every individual’s choice, everyone has to decide for themselves.
Only, in all humility and sincerity, we urge everyone everywhere to choose to belong to the group of sheep!
Soccer destinies
At the time of fine-tuning this weekend talk, joy had filled the air.
Our own Black Stars had made every Ghanaian proud by beating Panama at the tail end of their opening match.
A friend from South Sudan, Archbishop Joseph Atem, sent me an advance note to celebrate with Ghana even before the Stars started their Group L opener in their 4-2-3-1 formation.
When the joy that flooded my being started abating, I got curious. How come soccer, whose glory rises and falls within a short time, attracts so much passion?
This is because the feeling is good! Indeed, it is. Caleb Yirenkyi’s dramatic winning goal for Ghana sent fans around the world into a wild frenzy.
I saw on social media a mixed throng of Ghanaians and other supporting nationals joyfully parading the streets of Toronto and Accra and Bechem, Yirenkyi’s hometown.
The feeling, indeed, is good!
But so is the excitement we derive from many such passionate pursuits of the world—achievements, awards, winnings, monetary contracts, lustful pleasures, praises and compliments.
Soon, however, the good feeling of exhilaration diminishes to a halt, and then we must face other realities of life, such as where to spend eternity when life ends.
The invitation
That is why, during this 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament, which we are told costs a whopping US$14 billion to host, dozens of Christian missionary groups have developed and are implementing scores of outreach programmes to the millions of soccer fans globally.
So the opportunity is extended to all people to deal with the big problem. Those who positively respond to the invitation to consider the salvation of their souls of first importance will someday jubilate nonstop for all eternity.
