The Vicar of Christ the King Anglican Church, Ajegunle-Apapa, The Ven. Joseph Feyisetan, has explained that the eternal home to which believers are entitled is not made of cement and sand, emphasizing that this is precisely why it is eternal.
He made the assertion at the commendation service for Pa Michael Ayodele Osinaike, a retired Inspector of Education, who passed away on July 12 after a brief illness at the age of 91.
The service took place at Christ the King Church, Ajegunle-Apapa, on Friday, September 25.
The burial service will hold at St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Ijebu Imusin on Saturday September 26 before his internment. A service of songs in his honour had earlier taken place at the same venue on Wednesday September 23.
Eternal home
Making copious references to the Bible, Ven. Feyisetan said the believer’s home does not end in the grave. “The grave is not the end of our journey. We have the hope of resurrection. Jesus’ life extends beyond the grave. He will give us a new body.”
While noting that Pa Osinaike lived a great and fulfilled life, he said, “We don’t want Baba to leave, but if you have an idea of where he is, you will be comforted.”
He further stressed that the heavenly home of a Christian “is God-made. There is no concrete, no cement, and no earthly infrastructure there. It is established and planted in God. It is not made with hands. If it were built with human hands, it would rot.”
According to him, “This house is established in immortality. It is eternal. The house we build on earth is temporary and will become obsolete because it is not meant to last forever. But the home above is prepared by Christ. We are seated with Christ in heavenly places.” He added, “The place is a place of God’s presence and peace.”
Feyisetan, however, noted that the eternal home is not for everyone. “To be a partaker of this heavenly home, you must have faith in Christ. There is no shortcut. You must repent of your sins. You must live a holy and righteous life.”
Christian wake keep
Also at the Christian wake, which took place later on the same day, the Vicar of St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Ijebu-Imusin, Ogun State, Ven. Jacob Olowomeye, noted that death is an inevitable end.
He warned the congregation, stating, “Judgement day will be a day of wrath for the wicked,” adding, “We should bear in mind that we will stand at the judgment seat of Christ. It is also a day that we will be transformed and given a celestial body.”
Stating that God does not want the death of a sinner but for them to come to repentance, he said, “When a Christian dies, he is transformed and given a celestial body that will live eternally.”
Children and attendees at service of songs
Attendees
The commendation service and Christian Wake attracted family, friends, Anglican priests and pastors from several denominations including Dr. (Mrs.) Lydia Odedeji, wife of the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Lagos West The Rt. Rev Olusola Odedeji and The Ven Kayode Oredugba
The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Lagos Mainland, The Rt. Rev. Akinpelu Johnson, and his wife were represented at the commendation service
Pa Osinaike is survived by four children, including Mr. Segun Osinaike, a retired school principal and lawyer; Mrs. Yinka Adesanya, a retired school principal; Mr. Gbenga Osinaike, Publisher of Church Times Nigeria; and Mrs. Remi Awe, a Deputy Director of Nursing Services at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital