WHAT ARE YOU STRUGGLING FOR IN LIFE? (in honour of late Mrs. Lanre Taiwo)

Dearly Beloved, WHAT ARE YOU STRUGGLING FOR IN LIFE? (in honour of late Mrs. Lanre Taiwo) “'Vanity of vanities,' says the Preacher; 'Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.' What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun?" (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 NKJV). I was devastated when one of my friends informed me about the death of Mrs. Bosede Lanre Taiwo (July 13, 1969-June 10, 2021). Here was an accomplished professional editor and Yoruba translator who aspired to become a practicing lawyer in her late 40's. She was about achieving that aspiration before the cold hands of death caught her after a brief illness. O, a struggling mother of two who lost her dear husband six years ago has gone to be with her husband in the world beyond leaving her two children and other loved ones behind. I asked myself as I heard the sad news, "Why are we struggling to become somebody in life if death would come any day to truncate all the aspirations of life?" Would it not be better to stop toiling in life and be expecting the uncertain day of death that will certainly come one day? Why does God conceal what will happen in the future to man? Probably, the struggle of life will be minimal if man is in the know of what will become of him in the next second talk less of the near future. However, in spite of the fact that a “man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble" (Job 14:1 NKJV), yet, man has to struggle to become somebody in life. Man has to toil to have positive impacts in the lives of people that come his way. Above all, man has to struggle to live to glorify God in life and also in death. Man’s struggle in life must not be so self-centred that he forgets to impact the lives of other people positively and to live to the glory of God. Either one lives to the fullest old age in life or one dies as a young man, the impacts that one has on people will be the legacy that one will leave behind, not the personal accomplishments in life. Academic, professional, and other personal achievements in life are worthless when one dies. Living for the glory of God is another important thing that should be paramount in one’s struggle in life (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:23). This will make one’s death to be a gain (Philippians 1:21). It is certain that one will die one day, though the actual day may not be known. What are you struggling for in life? If you die today, what will you leave behind as your legacy? What will people remember you for? Adieu Lanre Taiwo! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Points: 1. Pray that you will not be self-centred, but always struggling to positively impacts the lives of people around you, and be living to give glory to God. 2. Pray for the two children and other loved ones that late Mrs. Lanre Taiwo left behind for God’s comfort, care and guidance. NB: This message is dedicated to late Mrs. Bosede Lanre Taiwo (July 13, 1969-June 10, 2021).