Nevertheless, “unless a seed falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies it will bring forth much fruit”. John 12:24 The full impact of your life and legacy will only be fully measured by Heaven.
I went to a funeral yesterday; there were tears, hugs, words of condolences, memories of a life being spoken of by those who shared it. I saw a friend say goodbye to his father. All the while, I could not stop thinking, "What if God was to preach my eulogy?" With the understanding, that if God preached my funeral, He knows me better than I know myself; and He cannot lie. What would He say about my life? He knows and sees all things, everything I have thought, said and done, even when I did not think anyone was paying attention. Would he say at that moment “Well done, good and faithful servant”?
“As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.” “You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” “But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him.” Psalms 103:16, James 4:14, Psalms 103:17 Will the flower and smoke of my life leave a sweet aroma, in the nostrils of those who share in my life? Or the stench of a blackened and burned out house.
There are those, whom I know that when God calls them home, and if He were to give their eulogy would simply smile, and say 'well done, well done'; there are still others that I know and love dearly that if that day were to come anytime soon, and God were to give their eulogy, he would stand in silence as a tear of sorrow would fall down His cheek. As for me, I am probably a toss up, depending on His grace.
I live my life on the fringe, always on the edge, observing. I am not the one who stands in line to offer my condolences at a funeral, you will find me leaning against the back wall, watching and thinking. I am the one that you will find at the edge of the picture, never the center. I am the one with friends, but know that those friends have closer friends. The one who has a daughter who is not really his daughter. I am the one who is a friend for a reason or a season, like everyone who is that type of friend we always occupy the fringe. From the edge I see things clearly, the entire picture; from the fringe I am best positioned to intercept hell, as it makes a beeline for those in the center of the picture. Then I fade away, my reason or season completed.
Every so often from the edge you get a glimpse of a profound truth, last night was one of those times. There is a very thin veil between the saints on earth and the saints in heaven, and if you peer close enough, and if God permits revelation, you will see a great cloud of witnesses to this reality. I caught a glimpse of it last night as the hula dancers concluded their tribute to this man, and his son drew the service given in his father’s honor to a close in a prayer for the living. The cloud of God’s presence was with us. Though those of us on this side of the veil are saddened, following his son’s example, we will continue to worship God here on earth, in Spirit and in truth.
But we must always remember and never forget those on the other side of that thin veil worshiping right along with us, encouraging us on into greater depths and heights; greater expressions of adoration and love for our Lord and Savior. Those who are even now resting their heads in the presence of Christ. Those who have come before us and are where they and we were meant to be and they are doing what they and we were created to do. Love on and by Jesus, both now and forever.
The hardest thing in life to learn is which bridges to cross and which ones to burn. The man, whose son was fondly recalling his life, took some time to cross the bridge that God want’s all of us to willingly cross. It took him most of his life to cross the bridge and accept Jesus as his lord and savior; but once he did, he did so with gusto, and devotion. He did so not only in words, but also in deeds. His step of faith served as an example that hope always remains, that it is never to late to cross the bridge, to be welcomed home with love. Perhaps that was God’s plan along.
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9 12-13
What if God was to preach your eulogy?
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