WORDS spoken, once we are gone
Now, I want us to peer far into the future; see our death. I know. I know. It truly is a morbid thought, but for a span of a few sentences, TAKE A GOOD LOOK—FAR INTO THE FUTURE. What do we see? Do we see people standing close beside us as we depart from this world? What about music; do we hear music, specific melodies? Quite possibly, we hear silence, maybe our own deep, final breaths sounding with a resounding BOOM into the complete silence. Where is our body positioned, you know, in our death? How does a person know he really has crossed over from life into death and is not merely dreaming, like a stream of consciousness? Finally comes the questions that determine EVERYTHING! As we peer far into the future to see our day of death, WHERE WILL OUR ETERNAL DESTINATION BE?
Truthfully, I have always been fascinated with death and cemeteries. I know—weird, but I do not see cemeteries as morbid places, but as paths of family heritage, as journeys depicting someone’s life, & as testimonies of spiritual truth.
When we die, whether we decide to have our body cremated, buried in the ground, or buried at sea, this truth remains: THE WORDS OTHERS SPEAK OF US (once we are dead) ARE REFLECTIVE OF THE WAY WE LIVED OUR LIVES, OF THE WAY WE WALKED WITH GOD (or whether we did not)!
The Bible passage that has permeated my being during the week has been the Scripture depicting Jesus Christ dying upon the cross. See with me the words written about Jesus, there upon the cross, as described by the apostles Mark & John.
“Then they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull.
(Mark 15: 22-26 NASB)
They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it.
And they crucified Him,
and divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man should take.
It was the third hour when they crucified him [9 am].
The inscription of the charge against Him read,
“THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
How ironic is it that the Roman charge placed above Jesus’ head on the cross of Calvary, those words meant to deter & discourage others from committing the same crime, was truly a charge of TRUTH!
- JESUS CHRIST TRULY IS THE KING OF THE JEWS!
- JESUS, THE MESSIAH, TRULY IS THE LORD OF LORDS!
- JESUS, THE SAVIOR, TRULY IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS!
“And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written,
(The Revelation to John 19: 16 NASB)
KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
- WORDS audibly spoken & written with authority.
- WORDS recorded—about Him as He walked through earthly life!
- WORDS clearly written & willingly believed—as He passed from life to death!
- WORDS proclaimed by the multitude—when He raised to new life!
- WORDS presently still there!
In a world where people FEAR death, we who know Jesus Christ as our Savior & Lord need to proclaim this truth to the watching world. As we walk through cemeteries, seeing name after name of the deceased, we read the words engraved on their tombstones, WORDS THAT SPEAK OF THEIR FAMILY & SPIRITUAL HERITAGE. However, for these individuals, time here on earth has run out, has been completed. For these, there is no time remaining to hear us speak our testimony. THAT’S RIGHT. Our testimony, sharing with the world how Jesus changed us, how He made us brand new, & how because we who are God’s children will one day soon walk into heaven when we die—MUST BE SHARED WITH THE LIVING, NOT THE DEAD.
Friends, may we not allow our WORDS to die with us!
May we boldly speak the WORDS of witness today while we still live. &
Yes, the WORDS spoken, once we are gone, will shout our spiritual heritage to those passing by our tombstones—IF OUR LOVED ONES EVEN DECIDE TO ENGRAVE THEM THERE.
“Shine” by Mandisa sings through melody what I am struggling to write.
Thus, are we “living” in such a way NOW, SPEAKING THROUGH OUR ACTIONS the WORDS others speak of us when we’re gone?
WILL THOSE WHO KNEW US WHEN WE WERE ALIVE KNOW WHERE OUR SOUL WILL GO, you know, in our death?
ARE WE LIVING OUT OUR FAITH SO THE WORLD WILL KNOW OUR ETERNAL DESTINATION?
TRULY, WILL THE WORLD KNOW WE WENT HOME TO BE WITH GOD IN HEAVEN?
May we live on mission, walking by faith, praying over every situation, loving others as ourselves, and doing as the Holy Spirit leads—so the world will know WHOSE WE ARE WHEN WE DO DIE & DEPART THIS WORLD FOR OUR ETERNAL DESTINATION.
“These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them,
(The Revelation to John 17: 14 NASB)
because He is Lord of lords and King of kings,
and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”