We Know Where We Come From, But Where Do We Go After Death?

Be happy you’ll die instead of being sad thinking of death

Death is something many don’t like to talk about because it’s an enemy that ruins a home, takes away our joy and destroys a whole family, yet it’s inevitable. 

Many do ask if we die “where do we go?” It’s hard to give a straight-forward answer. Even though I have cheated death many times in my life, I haven’t experienced it before to know how it is when you’re dead.

I don’t think a dead man has any memory after death to record his experience. According to the Bible: “For the living know that they will die,  but the dead know nothing… their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished” Ecclesiastes 9:5.

Many believe in reincarnation, others don’t, but the Bible promises that there is life after death—and that it lasts forever.

There is something we need to ask: Why many who have died can’t rest peacefully in their graves but often haunt people occupying the houses they were before they died? Does it mean that truly life goes on after death?

There are many verses in the Bible that speak about the resurrection. John 5: 28-29 reads, “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”

Despite all the Biblical quotations, many may still have different opinions and beliefs about death. Death will always remain a mystery and the greatest fears of life connected to the unknown.

We fear death because we are imperfect or our sinful nature. According to Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord," yet death is something we should not fear.

Many seem happy when they think of death in their old age. They don't have anything to worry about because of their good deeds, genuine love and help they offered to people on earth. We can follow them to sow good seeds on earth. That's where happiness comes from till death.

YOUR ENEMY GETS MAD, IF HE FAILS TO SEE YOU THE WAY HE WANTS

A Rae Smith quote

No one gives birth to a child and names him or her ‘Enemy,’ thus, I haven’t met anyone yet called ‘Enemy.’ Yet an enemy exists, the reason the dictionary defines it: As a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.

What causes enmity between people? I watched a program about a man who hates his neighbor. According to him, his neighbor’s stereo was too noisy, and many times when he asked him to reduce the volume, he refused to yield to his demand.

I understand him, especially after the week’s hard work, you wish to have a happy and quiet lovely weekend, reading your favourite books and newspapers, but that neighbour of yours has denied you all those good moments you’re longing for.

At times, you might be an enemy or someone might hate you for doing no wrong, just because of your efforts to live a happy life. Do you know that your hard work can sometimes spark jealousy and hatred from an empire of deceitful enemies?

Do you know that even your successful marriage sometimes makes you an enemy, because your neighbour’s marriage is on the rocks? How do you handle such situations when you haven’t done anything wrong but someone madly hates you?

I do hear people often say: The problem was beyond my control, the reason I used food as a means of consolation, became an alcoholic or a drug addict. That’s really a big mistake. When you’re experiencing problems, you don’t live on destructive measures to solve your problems; you need to fight those destructive elements.

Years back, when I arrived in Europe, among other foreigners, I came to Italy at a time when I didn’t know anyone. I slept at the Central Train Station in Rome for many days. (I have revisited Rome to see where I slept in the early nineties) I saw that the hard conditions were taking their toll on some of the homeless Africans.

Some became alcoholics, drug addicts, involved in drug trafficking, and some decided to go back to Africa. I encouraged them to stay, but many of them returned to Africa. Today, I’m no longer an illegal immigrant. 

Above all, I live with my wife and three children in Europe. I wake up every morning at 5 AM and go to work like other workers, enjoying a happy union with my family when I come back home.

I know what the enemy wants. I wasn’t ready to be a destitute, alcoholic, drug addict, or courier. If I have made it, then you can. Never blame anyone for your failure in life. Don’t let your enemy be happy. Fight those destructive forces to make them mad.

Kicking Away Fear: The Enemy That Prevents Our Success

Fear, one of the most basic human unpleasant emotions in the nervous system

The young lady has completed her education, graduating with bright colors as a medical nurse. But due to a lack of confidence, she is scared to apply for a job. Her mind tells her she isn’t attractive enough and, therefore, going to fail her interview.

The aspiring writer has written the best book, which could be the next number one bestseller to change the world, but fear has already crippled him because he thought the book might not sell.

Fear, one of the most basic human unpleasant emotions in the nervous system, has been attributed to the failure in the lives of thousands of people. When one is gripped with fear, it prevents quick thinking, solutions to problems, and one becomes confused and nervous.

Many encounter fear in many ways, when ready to take exams, during speech, and when addressing certain situations. In the first place, what causes fear within human beings?

Many times, I like to share my experience when writing articles. I discovered during my youth that I had no fear in me; however, many attempts at things that I wasn’t perfect nearly cost my life. For example, I shouldn’t have gone deep into the sea when I was aware that I couldn’t swim. Yes, till now, I don’t know how to swim.

 I was carried away by the sea, and those trying to save me gave up because I disappeared when I was pulled into a swirling, deep hole under the sea. Then a mighty wave swept me ashore. In a state of shock, I took off my clothes and walked naked home.

‘Fear’ is an enemy, yet people shouldn’t put away fear to do what they aren’t perfect or do something wrong. For example, smuggling drugs into a country, hoping you may not be caught. That is not the right way to overcome fear or to see if you are brave.

You may end up in jail. However, there are ways one can adapt to overcome fear. Once, as an illegal immigrant in Europe, a few minutes before noon, without breakfast and not knowing where my next meal was coming from, I took to the streets on foot towards a friend’s house, hoping I might find something to eat.

Fear kills many people hundreds of thousands of times before their real death.

Over an hour's walk and still far from where I was going, I experienced the symptoms of system failure. I felt dizzy and knew I would soon collapse. I had no choice but to enter a bus without a ticket. Before the bus reached my destination, the controllers caught me without a ticket. 

This is a very big offense everywhere in Europe, taken thousands of illegal immigrants back to their country of origin. I didn’t panic or feel afraid, which gave me enough time to think of what to say.

“I am happy you are going to call the police to arrest me,” I said when I noticed they were going near their vehicle to use the equipment to call the police. “Why are you happy calling the police?”  

One of the controllers asked.“Because I haven’t eaten since morning, I will definitely get something to eat at the police station.” I replied. They were stupefied, and after looking at each other’s faces, they asked me to go home.

According to doctors, fear is normal because we are human beings. Unfortunately, fear, the feeling of agitation and anxiety that runs through the minds of human beings, preventing them from doing many things, is exactly what people in higher positions stand on to harm, bully, manhandle, and show injustice to the underprivileged in society. 

People use their positions to manipulate, cheat, and dominate other people because they know the person is scared and powerless to defend themselves.

How can someone overcome fear? There are hundreds of books on Amazon on how to overcome fear, but one of the great books that I  read,  and changed my whole life consciously and positively,  was ‘The Power of Positive Thinking’ by Norman Vincent Peale. It’s a very good book.