What Will They Say About Me?

Funerals are hard. Saying goodbye to someone we love and care about is not easy. To be in the midst of such a dark season and to know a funeral is on the horizon, is enough to shake us to the core.

I’m sure each of us has been to a funeral. We can probably say we have been to one in the past year, or even in the past few months. It seems to be a startling reminder of the short life we all have to live.

You may think this is weird, and that’s okay, but I am drawn to reading obituaries. I am fascinated by the way people speak about their loved ones. Some are short and sweet while others detail the accomplishments of a life well lived.

At funerals, you always hear the good things. The personality and qualities that will be missed. There is often laughter and tears.

I started thinking about those in which I have had to say goodbye, way too soon. There are bits and pieces of a life that we now want to carry on to future generations. There are things we wish we would have said and done before it was too late.

Time has only left us with precious memories. Those that will forever be etched on our hearts. Hope turns to eternity and thoughts of a future with no more pain, tears, or unrest.

I found peace reading these verses from Second Peter.

2 Peter 3:8-14, NIV

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

The Apostle Peter wrote this letter to fellow believers. Peter was writing to warn them of the difficulties they could face as Christians but also as an encouragement to keep up the good fight.

Verse eleven struck me hard. “What kind of people ought you be?

I couldn’t help but think.

What kind of life am I living?

What kind of qualities do I emit?

What will they say about me when I am gone?

I’m not sure about you but I want to strive to live a life full of love. One that offers grace and mercy, quick to forgive instead of accusing. I want others to know that I love Jesus through the way that I live my life. And I don’t want to wait until it’s too late to start living on purpose.

We all want to be known for good things. We all want to live lives that make a difference. We all want to be remembered, don’t we?

I don’t want to take precious moments for granted with those I love. I want those closest to me to know that I love them. I want it to be known that I love Jesus. For when the day comes and it’s time to (hopefully) celebrate my life, I will have heard those words that we all want to hear…

Well done, my good and faithful servant, well done.