8
Great Celebrations
| Bro Gaius Uka Egwu (Ohafia, Nigeria)
I
t was 7th November 2014 in Uyo, the State
capital of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. There
were gathered three Presidents of West
Africa and one former head of State of Ghana
for the opening ceremony of the new 30,000
seat Sanctity Stadium
built by the state
Governor (pictured
right). As I sat to watch
this programme on TV,
many things came to
mind. The first was to
wonder if a good thing
of this nature can be
produced by a human
government with such
an earthly ceremony,
then what a contrast it
will be with the great
wedding day, when
Christ marries the
saints - his bride, which by His grace will
include you and me. I sat and meditated for
over two and a half hours. I asked myself how
well my mind was prepared for such a great
occasion, one which will be incomparably
higher. To attend such a heavenly marriage
ceremony, we must strive to overcome our
common enemy (that is sin). We must take
the shield of faith wherewith we shall be able
to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked
(Ephesians 6:16). After this, we will be glad
and rejoice: “Blessed are they which are
called unto the marriage supper of the lamb”
(Revelation 19:9).
Going back to the Stadium ceremony with the
Presidents of Nigeria, Ghana and Cote
D'Ivoire, the former Head of State of Ghana,
Pele of Brazil, former players of the Nigerian
national team, top Nigerian musicians,
leaders of culture, dance and football
academia: everything was bungled! Two
Nigerians lost their lives, and many were
taken to hospital as a result of a stampede.
This also reminded me of Herod’s birthday
when John the Baptist was killed (Mark 6:21-
27). Do we, as Christians, attend such
ceremonies as a form of worship of sport as
those in the world do? “Be ye not unequally
yoked together with unbelievers, for what
fellowship hath righteousness with unright-
eousness? And what communion hath light
with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14). “Shun
profane and vain babblings for they will
increase unto more ungodliness” (2 Timothy
2:16). “Refuse profane and old wives’ fables
and exercise thyself rather unto godliness,
for bodily exercise profiteth little, but
godliness is profitable unto all things, having
promise of the life that now is and of that
which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:7-8). Let us
always use our time and prepare for the
coming heavenly wedding, not to worship
sports. “Him that overcometh will I make a
pillar in the temple of my God and he shall
go no more out, and I will write upon him the
name of my God and the name of the city of
my God, which is new Jerusalem, which
cometh down out of heaven from my God
and I will write upon him my new name”
(Revelation 3:12).
Among the decoration of people and places as
the crowd acknowledges the leading person-
alities by waving hands and banners, how
does our spiritual banner look to those around
us? Do people see Christ in us? Have we really
decided to be a true disciple and follow the
prince of peace? World leaders are helpless,
but under the banner of the Lord Jesus Christ
we will be at the actual marriage supper of