BETWEEN THE TEMPORARY AND THE ETERNAL: THE STORY OF YEMI AND FEMI
Yemi and Femi were two homeless young men given opportunities to travel to a third world nation. The trip was all-expenses paid but they were told to carry nothing because they would return with nothing. They were to make sure they spend all that would given to them because provision has been made for their expenses and welfare which they would get upon arrival at their destination. The only caveat was that neither of them knew when they would be asked to return home.
As they arrived at the destination, they were both given huge sum of money and a fully loaded credit card. They were told that the capacity of the credit card is inexhaustible. They could spend and continue spending! With this, they became instantly wealthy by chance.
Femi said to himself “Wow, my life has changed and I am going to enjoy it to the fullest. This is my opportunity to live like a king, for I don’t know how long this would last”. So, he quickly went and rented an expensive Ferrari and also rented the best room in the best hotel in town. He went to the best stylist, shaved and transformed his Look. He had parties every day. Everybody in the city thought that the car and the wealth were his and they loved and respected him for it.
At the back of his mind, he knew he would go back home someday and leave all of it behind but he didn’t want to think about it. He gorgeously enjoyed himself to the fullest.
Yemi, on the other hand, rented a low profile car to get himself around the town and he stayed in a modest Inn. He said to himself “This money will not last and I don’t know when I am going back. So, I have to do something tangible with it.” He decided to use the money to change people’s lives while there was still time.
He became very busy, went out on the streets and started making differences in the lives of people he met. He didn’t just give away money, rather he helped people to be self-sufficient. He paid the school fees of some promising young people to enable them get education and took care of the bills of the sick and unhealthy.
He discovered some adults and funded their businesses that will guarantee their survival. At least, they would be able to take care of their families and create employment for others. He devised a means of helping the homeless get off the street by purchasing a rehabilitation home equipped with all facilities. His thought was “I wish someone would do this for me when I will go back to the street”. In short while, Yemi was there, busy changing lives.
Then after six months, they were suddenly notified that it was time to go back.
They hadn’t even finished spending all the money but MUST leave it all. Yemi and Femi reluctantly headed for the airport and it was at the airport they were given their original clothes which they put on before boarding the plane back to their country.
Femi reminisced on the good times he had but wasn’t too happy that he’ll be going back to his old life. How would he manage the thought of being homeless after enjoying such a glamorous life? Yemi, on his own, felt very good. He came with nothing and is leaving with nothing, but at least he helped and transformed people’s lives and that alone meant the world to him!
For him returning to his country and become a homeless person again wouldn’t be a big deal because the mere thoughts and memories of touching lives of fellow homeless people is enough to gratify and console him for the rest of his life. However, little did they know that each moment they spent on vacation was being secretly recorded and they would be rewarded accordingly.
Now, who among these two persons do you think will be cast into the slums as a homeless? And who do you think would be entrusted with great responsibilities and position of authority?
THE SAME GOES WITH OUR LIVES HERE ON EARTH
We are sent here on a mission and we shall all return empty handed one day, except for the recordings of our dealings here on earth. Yet, many of us walk around thinking that all we possessed, education, certificates, wealth, fame, houses, cars, properties, etc will remain forever.
We sometimes look at ourselves in the mirror and think that what we see will always be there, forgetting that we are wearing temporary clothes, a human body that would be reduced to dust because it is from the dust we were formed and to the dust shall we return.
Our vacation on earth is for a very short time, while eternity is forever. The way we spend our vacation here of earth will absolutely determine how we shall spend our eternity with God.
HOW ARE YOU LIVING YOUR LIFE? ARE YOU YEMI OR FEMI?
By Kolade Oseayo Rotimi,
a missionary in Mali
