Remember those hilarious pizza commercials? Dramatic music begins to play as one character awaits death. As you began to get caught up in the dramatization of this death scene, the question was asked, "what do you want on your tombstone?" With no more than a moment's pause, the answer came, "pepperoni and cheese!!!" Insert announcer voice: Real ingredients so it's always real good! What do YOU want on your tombstone?"
Paul seemed to have a backward view of life, at least in comparison to most. He wrote, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." To Paul, death was nothing more than an opportunity to testify in a greater capacity than his lips could attain. Pause for a moment, and reflect on death. Go with me to the funeral of that dear loved one, and as we walk toward the casket what do you hear? What do you see? What does death feel like? The sobs of relatives erupt on occasion, and a spirit of heartache sweeps through each heart. To our eyes, death appears as a loss. How then could we describe it as gain?
Walking toward the final resting place for the shell that once contained a soul, we see the tombstone. Name. Date of Birth. Date of Death. Inscription............ How does it read? What great thing did he accomplish? How does the very brief inscription that summarizes an entire life read? What did those close and acquainted with him have to say? All in a moment, everything disappears, and only few descriptive words remain.
Romans 14:12 says, "So then every one of us shall give an account of himself to God." As you stand before the almighty, you have the opportunity to deliver the obituary of your own life. You write the tombstone! C.T. Studd said it best, "Only one life, 'twill soon be past. Only what is done for Christ will last." Friend, what do you want on your tombstone? Have you given it thought? As you reflect on the activities of even this day, to what gave you the most thought? Your clothing choice, or meal order? Your route to work, or witty Facebook post? How much time meditating on God's way for your life?
Write it down. Seriously, right now. Your name, your date of birth, and then what you wish others to say of you. Make a second, with your spiritual birthday, and what account you wish to present to God. Now, live backward. Oh, how our days would look drastically different if we knew just how many we had left. But tomorrow is not promised. Our time would be occupied and stewarded with much care if today was known to be our last. Bury the person you are today, and live the life of the one you hope other's to bury someday. Begin each day from the ground up, rather spend each day digging tomorrow's grave. What do you want on your tombstone?
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