There is life after here

By Moses Balyeku

My attention is drawn to the befitting eulogy of Maj. Gen. Pecos Kutesa, the Chief of Military Doctrine to the late Brig. Patrick Kankiriho titled “Brig. Patrick Kankiriho was the epitome of a UPDF officer” (New Vision, April 17).

Kutesa’s description of the late Brig Kankiriho is a manifestation of the great loss the institution of UPDF suffered recalling how Kankiriho together with Brig. Muhoozi Kainerugaba risked their lives for safety of other Ugandans while commanding operations against Joseph Kony rebels in Garamba.

However, my concern relates to the last paragraph of Kutesa’s eulogy in which he stated; “Lastly, if there is life after here and if revolutionaries were to meet as Christians and Muslims hope to meet their makers in heaven, I wish I could eavesdrop on the welcome accorded to Brig. Kankiriho by his founder fathers, the likes of Rwaheru, Mwesigwa, Rwigyema, Chefe Ali and many others”.

Kutesa’s deliberate insertion of an ‘if clause’ while referring to the existence of ‘life after death’ points to his skepticism over the subject. With due respect to this bush war hero, let me share with you and other dear readers, on the issue of eternal life as a Christian.

First, the subject of eternal life was largely controversial during the days of Jesus Christ preaching on earth. In John 8:51-53, Jews described Him as ‘demon possessed’ the moment He said “Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” In their one-dimensional understanding they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death?”

Owing to their naivety, they were not aware that the man before them whom they were describing as ‘Demon possessed’ is indeed the gift of eternal life from God not only to Jews but also to all of us (Gentiles), (Romans 6:23). This is collaborated by the gospel in John 3:16 which says that “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life”.

Subsequently, even Jesus disciples and apostles faced the challenge of hostile non-believers as far as eternal life is concerned. That’s why though Jews would pay attention to Paul’s narration of Exodus (Israelites journey from Egyptian Pharaoh Enslavement to Promised Land), the moment, he tackled on the subject of resurrection and eternal life, they would in unison boo him while accusing him of being an incorrigible liar.

Yet the gospel is very clear that one can be sure of eternal life as expressed in 1 John 5:13; “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life”.  And to achieve that we must get right with God through faith in his son Christ Jesus (salvation). Scriptures further elaborate on how one can achieve eternal life.

In John 14:16, Jesus made it unequivocal that ‘He is the way, the truth, and the life and that no man goes to the Father, but through Him’. Further evidence of the existence of eternal life is apparent with Christ cautioning us in Mathew 6:19-21 that “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves’ treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.

On the other hand, Eternal life is not only preached in Christianity but also by other religions. For instance, in the Islamic faith, Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) emphasised that there is nothing that is the slightest bit unpleasant in Jannah (paradise). The pleasure and enjoyment therein is untainted by anything that is not a cause of happiness itself with no one will die in Paradise.

Let us, therefore, focus on what will enable us access the narrow gate (Heaven) as Jesus Christ once described it.

The writer is the Jinja West MP and NRM Chairman Jinja District