They Will Be Talking About You

Sooner or later you're going to die. That's what happens to all of us. One of these days we will "go the way of all the Earth." This should come as no surprise. What we see in nature and the losses we experience teach us that eventually our life will end. In fact, the knowledge that we will die affects how each of us lives. Some consider the words of Hebrews 9:27; "it is appointed unto man once to die, then comes the judgment" and they live their life as a sacrifice to the Jehovah. Others, ignore the Lord and live only for themselves. Unfortunately, what so many often fail to consider is that, after death........we will be remembered.

When we die we leave behind a host of people who have known us and loved us, and have come to know who we really are. While we're living we don't really consider what others are thinking about us. We know that relationships are fluid. They change and grow from day to day. We may have a fight with a friend or the best time of our life. All these things affect what the people around us are thinking about us right now. But if we were to die, those thoughts would fade away. When people pass away we have a tendency to let go of the most recent experiences and think about who the person was - the things that compose who they really were.

I experienced a good example of this earlier today. I was in the locker room at the gym and overheard two guys talking. One of them began to tell the other that he had received a bad phone call earlier that morning. He explained that a friend of his had passed away. He woke up and felt sick. After going into the other room and getting sick, his wife came to check on him, only to find him dead. The two men in the locker room continued to talk about this man who had passed. As these conversations typically do, it turned quickly to a discussion of memories. This is when the story gets ugly. The man smiled and proceeded to talk about something his late friend loved to share. It was something dear to him that he loved to get laughs with. It was his favorite pornographic magazine. I removed myself from earshot. I'm not going to stay near enough to a conversation like that to be affected (remember: garbage in, garbage out).

But all of this got me thinking. First of all, it broke my heart that this was the one memory that this man wanted to share about his recently departed friend. I immediately became worried about this man's soul. But then another thought crossed my mind. This is the way life works. The actions we take, the jokes we make, our reaction to conflict, all of these things contribute to the memories that our loved ones are left with when we're gone.

We need to be mindful of this. Not for our own glory. Not just to cultivate a legacy of likability. No, there is a much bigger reason. We are going to be judged. 2 Cor 5:10 tells us that when we do finally meet Jesus at the judgment that we will "receive what is due" for whatever we have done in our bodies. And all of those things we have done; the jokes, the words, the thoughts, all of our actions will determine "what is due."

When we go to the judgment our only hope is Jesus. If we are not in Christ (Gal 3) then we have no hope. But just because we were at one time "in the Lord" does not mean we are now (Gal 5:4). We need to live a life that pleases God. Rom 12:1-2 calls us to be something new. Something "transformed." We should be sanctified, holy, and righteous.

When you die, what are people going to say? They will be talking...telling stories. But what will they say? Tears will be shed, and stories told. Will those words be righteous or foolish? We need to carefully consider the answer to that question, because the answer will resonate at the judgment and beyond...

-JC3