A Life to Remember

My family is enjoying vacation time in New Orleans this week. One day while touring the city, we walked through an old cemetery. In New Orleans people are buried above ground in crypts because the land is prone to flooding.

As we walked through I thought about where I might be buried when my life on earth comes to an end.

No one likes to think about their own death. Even as a Christian, I sometimes struggle with the idea that I’m going to die one day. Because I know death is inevitable, I’ve given some thought to the legacy that I want to leave behind.

What do you want people to remember about you when you die? Do you want them to remember the good things you did? Or how much money you had or gave away to charity? What would it be like if we lived in such a way that our lives told the story of God?

Two men in the Bible stand out to me as examples to show how our lives could be remembered. Jehoram was a king of Judah in the Old Testament. 2 Chronicles 21:20 has this to say about his life, “…He passed away, to no one’s regret…” Can you imagine how awful his life must have been if no one regretted that he died? I certainly don’t want to be remembered that way, do you?

David was also a king, but his life turned out remarkably different. Despite many failures and shortcomings, David loved God and did his best to live and rule as God wanted him to. Acts 13:36 says, “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep…” Wow! David served God’s purpose in his own generation. That’s the kind of life for which I want to be remembered. But what does it mean to serve God’s purpose in YOUR generation?

Serving God’s purpose in your generation involves us being intimately acquainted with God and His Word. 

Here are a few ways to that:

1. Spend daily time with God.

Read from the Bible regularly to understand how God has been at work in the past and to understand how He is at work right now.

2. Pray.

Ask God to show you opportunities around you in which He wants you to become involved. Regular prayer that is not just a laundry list of “I wants” or “please bless” will result in an intimate relationship with the Father where He can show you what He wants you to do.

3. Act.

When you feel the prompting of God’s Holy Spirit to act, do it! Many times we will be asked to do something out of our comfort zones. However, if we place our trust in God, He will help us do what He wants us to do.

In my opinion, the most worthwhile life you can live is one that points others to Jesus. Anything else will fall short.

I don’t know about you but I want to be remembered as a woman who followed hard after Jesus. I know I won’t do it perfectly, but I intend to give it my best shot. 

How do you want to be remembered?