FOR WHAT WILL YOU BE REMEMBERED?

Dearly Beloved,

FOR WHAT WILL YOU BE REMEMBERED?

“The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot” (Proverbs 10:7 NIV).

“Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever” (Psalm 112:6 NIV).

As I become more active on the Facebook (a popular online social network service), I scanned some of my memorable pictures and placed them on my Facebook. One of the pictures is that of my late mentor, brother, friend, and pastor – late Reverend Goke Adeleke – who died over five years ago in an auto accident at the prime age of 37. Out of all the pictures I placed on my Facebook in a single day, the picture of this revered man of God received most attention and comments from my online Facebook friends and other people that could view it. There were over forty comments within twenty-four hours about the virtues of this man. I could not keep these to myself as I shared them with a pastor-colleague in my office. After pondering for some minutes, the pastor-colleague made a remark that is thought-provoking. He said, “If any of us dies today, for what will we be remembered? What will people say about us?” Interestingly, another one or two commentators on the Facebook later gave similar remarks after their comments about the unforgettable man of God.

Today, many people are still living, but people have forgotten about them because they do not have any good virtue to be remembered for. Remembrance of many people is about the evil they have done, and are still doing. However, many people are evergreen in the memory of people because of their virtues. A Yoruba adage says, “Arise ni arika, arika ni baba iregun. Ohun ti a ba se ni oni, oro itan ni bi o di ola.” (Literally, what you have done is what people will recollect about you.)

For what will you be remembered even before you die? If people have the opportunity to sincerely comment about you, what will they say about you? Will they say good things about you? Indeed, blessed is the remembrance of good people, and they will never be forgotten forever. For what will you be remembered by people who know you today?

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

NB

This message is dedicated to the unforgettable late Reverend Josiah Adegoke Adeleke (February 3, 1967-January 11, 2005). You can read the comments about him on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3683041&l=373c908e9a&id=504257534 and possibly join his fans on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Late-Reverend-Goke-Adeleke/113953761949906?v=wall. God bless you!