As I fly home from David Powlison’s memorial service, this is the question on my mind. “What will people say when I die?” I pass it on to you. What will people say when you die?
Today, I sat through an almost three-hour memorial service for David Powlison. In it, members of the family, personal friends, representatives from CCEF, and a pastor all spoke. In whole, God received the glory, Christ was exalted, and our friend was honored.
They said many things. You can catch the memorial service in its fullness at CCEF.
Today’s events have left me with this burning question, “What would people say at my memorial?” This is an appropriate question considering the events of the day (Eccl 7:2-5).
Please allow me to share three valuable insights regarding living and dying, plus two concluding questions. I’m inviting you into my thoughts as I reflect on my day.
Live with the Understanding that Death Always Follows Life and You Do Not Know When
Bottom line, we all die. Death comes upon all men, and the wise take it to heart (Eccl 7:1-13). James, Jesus’ half-brother, reminds us, “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). The writer of Hebrews: “ And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many” (Heb 9:27-28a).
Who knows when it will be for any of us? I do not know. Although, a wise person takes it to heart and does not put off what should be done until tomorrow. Make sure your relationship with God and others is current. Where necessary forgive, seek forgiveness, reconcile, and restore. Watch for complacency. Hurry, for time is short (Rom 13:11-14).
You have only one life and soon it will pass.
Live for the Glory of God
Paul states, “Whether therefore you eat or drink or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31). Everything. All we do in this life should bring God glory. This simply means we live with God as most important in our lives. We seek to bring honor to His name instead of making our own name most important. We seek to love and serve Him and others well (Gal 5:13-6:10).
Therefore, walk with Jesus. Enjoy Him. Be aware of Him. Recognize that He is with you. As He was loyal to you on the cross of Christ before the Father, you live as a loyal person to Him (2 Cor 5:1-21).
Live so that No One Wonders if You Went to Heaven or Hell
My third thought is simple. Live today so no one wonders about your eternal destiny in the future. Peter writes, “Make your calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:3-11). He means that you live in a way that is consistent with the gospel, consistent with what Christ has done in you, and consistent with your new identity in Christ.
The standard for you is not perfection. God knew you could not be perfect, that is why He sent His Son to be your substitute. Jesus took God’s wrath for your sin on the cross. He became sin for you so that God could see you as righteous like Christ (2 Cor 5:21). Friends, this is great news.
So strive. You cannot be perfect. You are not perfect. However, you can live today so that the people around you will recognize that Christ makes a difference in what you do, where you go, what you say, and what you love. Make the most of Jesus in your life every day by the grace God provides through your union with Christ and the power of the Spirit of the Living God Who lives in you.
Concluding Questions
I think then as we contemplate death, we must ask ourselves two kinds of questions.
First, am I ready for eternity? Have I done what God demands in order for Him to give me eternal life? Will I go to heaven when I die? Friends, that ultimately comes down to whether or not you have asked God to forgive your sins and save you because you want to follow Him as Lord of your life. God can save you because Jesus died willingly and sacrificially on the cross. God accepted His death as payment for your sins. Jesus’ death put God in a place where forgiveness was possible. Yet, forgiveness is not transacted – meaning God does not forgive your sins – until you go to Him in prayer, recognizing your guilt as a sinner, and ask Him to forgive you. You essentially let God know that you desire to follow Him as Lord of your life since the Just died for the unjust (1 Peter 3:18). God will not grant you eternal life unless you believe in Jesus as the Son of God who died to grant it to you (John 3:18). There is only life through Him (John 14:7). You cannot earn it or get there any other way. Are you ready?
Second, is God honored in my life today? What sin needs to be confessed? Where am I not a careful follower? What do I love, crave, and desire more than Christ and living for Him? Where do I need to change what I am doing by putting off those things that do not honor God and putting on those things that do? What about my level of gratitude and contentment? Am I living today as if God my Father, Jesus my Savior, the Holy Spirit my help, the Word of God my standard, the gospel my hope, the church my people, and baptism my statement even matter? Would those around me know that I am a follower of Jesus Christ?
So What Would People Say if You Died?
If today you died, what would people say?
I am not suggesting to live for their approval, regard, or compliments. Instead, I am using this end=of-life question to have you pause – like it has me tonight – to wonder, what in fact would they say?
My friend David lived Jesus consistently. I heard his friends and family today. Well done my friend.
My personal prayer is that your friend Kevin does the same. For your sake. For Jesus’ sake.
What about you? What is your prayer?
KevinCarson.com | Walking together through life as friends in Christ sharing wisdom along the journey
