In this world, in the eons of time that people have lived upon this planet their numbers have become like the sands on the shores. Like the stars in the sky. Too many to even begin to comprehend or know. Oh, we can read about a few of them in history books and biographies and in God’s great word. But really, even then, we can only know small facets of their lives. Each person is so unique, whether you liken them to a diamond, or a snake, good or evil. Each person has facets. And even the best of story tellers can only show you the very tiniest view into the window of that person’s life.
Everyone wants to be remembered, but only a few are dusted off from the sands of time now and again to be recollected and studied. Hated or admired. Let’s take you for example; the person reading this right now. You are somebody’s child, possibly sibling, spouse, parent, aunt, uncle, friend…. This list could go on much longer. But let’s say you are a wonderful parent. Your children grow up and know that. Your actions and their stories teach your grandchildren that you are a wonderful grandparent. And someday your great grandchildren will learn that too, even if you have left this world by then, they will hear the stories.
But then, your great, great grandchildren may not know as much about you. If you are still alive by their adulthood, they may know that you really don’t know a person from a pencil…But they hear that you used to be heaps of fun! Now we come to your great, great, great grandchildren. You are a story that periodically gets told. You could be pieces of furniture or paintings or some ephemera that your family has saved along with some aged photographs. Some people love antiquity, they might be fascinated; most will acknowledge your life only in passing.
Oh sure, if you were Churchill, or Einstein or Madame Curie, or even Stalin or Hitler the family would pay you a lot more attention, and probably try to design a theme park around you or at least a Museum. Wow, let’s say you were Elvis or M.J. you would have your own legacy in Graceland/Never-Never Land…for a while.
But time passes even for the most interesting and extraordinary people. Every minute somebody leaves this planet with a fascinating story. Most of them never get told. Some get remembered for a time, most fade from memory within one to two generations. All of that history and all of those enthralling, and intriguing life stories passing from memory. That includes you. Sorry, but it does. Beautiful souls leave every day, like passengers boarding train after train. Who will remember that this one put out the food for the birds and that one took soup to the sick or helped clothe the needy?
Some people will do anything to be remembered; famous or infamous, noteworthy or notorious. It means a lot to a lot of folks. But Even if you are remembered for a while, nobody is going to remember everything. All the funny things you did. All of the challenges you overcame. All of the thoughts that you never shared because you didn’t think anyone would care, or they were too private, or you were too embarrassed. All of the dreams and aspirations, and real reasons and intentions behind your actions and decisions that made up the sum total of your life. Because no one can know them all, even if they were to work on a biography about you every single day as their own life’s pursuit.
Well that is not entirely true. In fact; it is not true at all. There is someone who remembers it all. He knows and He keeps track. Not on some big score card; here’s a total of all the good, here’s a total of all the bad, nope. But He really knows your life. Every single detail. To Him you will NEVER be forgotten. For all of eternity your life will be fascinating and of the utmost importance to Him. Of course you know I am speaking of God. You know I am saying that Christ knows you intimately, whether you choose to acknowledge Him or not. But how can it be? Millions get wiped out at a time in catastrophes….Countless forgotten people through time, turned to dust in this world, beyond remembrance. He cannot possibly care, or keep track. Oh yes He can, and He does.
What about the ignorant serf that died eight hundred years ago in a plague? What about the gang members today that look at life as something to waste and pour out on to the ground like a flat soda? That person? Who cares, he was a gang member. Drive-bys happen every day. He made no contributions. He did not matter. SO not true. That person mattered. That serf, that gang member mattered. God will not forget them, ever. His word says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” Jeremiah 1:5. It also says that He knows how fragile we are, He knows how short or how long our time here on Earth is. He knows the exact day we will die. That is not the point.
The point is that; that place within us that needs to be special, needs to be remembered is the place He set up for Himself. Jesus said that He is so interested in us that even the hairs on our heads are numbered!!!
If you don’t like to think about your own death because it scares or depresses you, you are not alone. If you feel like all of your days, and work and tears and laughter and the very essence of who you are will be forgotten, take heart, they will not.
Life in this world is fleeting. The Bible says we are like the grass that springs up and then quickly withers away. But, oh what is waiting beyond! And everybody will meet Him and He will remember every day, every thought, word and deed.
If that scares you ask yourself why. God’s word says, if we know Jesus Christ as our redeemer we do not have to fear. We know that He paid the price for every bad thing we have ever done. We can come joyously and boldly before God. We can sit with Him as He talks with us and remembers…..everything.
Everyone wants to be remembered, but only a few are dusted off from the sands of time now and again to be recollected and studied. Hated or admired. Let’s take you for example; the person reading this right now. You are somebody’s child, possibly sibling, spouse, parent, aunt, uncle, friend…. This list could go on much longer. But let’s say you are a wonderful parent. Your children grow up and know that. Your actions and their stories teach your grandchildren that you are a wonderful grandparent. And someday your great grandchildren will learn that too, even if you have left this world by then, they will hear the stories.
But then, your great, great grandchildren may not know as much about you. If you are still alive by their adulthood, they may know that you really don’t know a person from a pencil…But they hear that you used to be heaps of fun! Now we come to your great, great, great grandchildren. You are a story that periodically gets told. You could be pieces of furniture or paintings or some ephemera that your family has saved along with some aged photographs. Some people love antiquity, they might be fascinated; most will acknowledge your life only in passing.
Oh sure, if you were Churchill, or Einstein or Madame Curie, or even Stalin or Hitler the family would pay you a lot more attention, and probably try to design a theme park around you or at least a Museum. Wow, let’s say you were Elvis or M.J. you would have your own legacy in Graceland/Never-Never Land…for a while.
But time passes even for the most interesting and extraordinary people. Every minute somebody leaves this planet with a fascinating story. Most of them never get told. Some get remembered for a time, most fade from memory within one to two generations. All of that history and all of those enthralling, and intriguing life stories passing from memory. That includes you. Sorry, but it does. Beautiful souls leave every day, like passengers boarding train after train. Who will remember that this one put out the food for the birds and that one took soup to the sick or helped clothe the needy?
Some people will do anything to be remembered; famous or infamous, noteworthy or notorious. It means a lot to a lot of folks. But Even if you are remembered for a while, nobody is going to remember everything. All the funny things you did. All of the challenges you overcame. All of the thoughts that you never shared because you didn’t think anyone would care, or they were too private, or you were too embarrassed. All of the dreams and aspirations, and real reasons and intentions behind your actions and decisions that made up the sum total of your life. Because no one can know them all, even if they were to work on a biography about you every single day as their own life’s pursuit.
Well that is not entirely true. In fact; it is not true at all. There is someone who remembers it all. He knows and He keeps track. Not on some big score card; here’s a total of all the good, here’s a total of all the bad, nope. But He really knows your life. Every single detail. To Him you will NEVER be forgotten. For all of eternity your life will be fascinating and of the utmost importance to Him. Of course you know I am speaking of God. You know I am saying that Christ knows you intimately, whether you choose to acknowledge Him or not. But how can it be? Millions get wiped out at a time in catastrophes….Countless forgotten people through time, turned to dust in this world, beyond remembrance. He cannot possibly care, or keep track. Oh yes He can, and He does.
What about the ignorant serf that died eight hundred years ago in a plague? What about the gang members today that look at life as something to waste and pour out on to the ground like a flat soda? That person? Who cares, he was a gang member. Drive-bys happen every day. He made no contributions. He did not matter. SO not true. That person mattered. That serf, that gang member mattered. God will not forget them, ever. His word says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” Jeremiah 1:5. It also says that He knows how fragile we are, He knows how short or how long our time here on Earth is. He knows the exact day we will die. That is not the point.
The point is that; that place within us that needs to be special, needs to be remembered is the place He set up for Himself. Jesus said that He is so interested in us that even the hairs on our heads are numbered!!!
If you don’t like to think about your own death because it scares or depresses you, you are not alone. If you feel like all of your days, and work and tears and laughter and the very essence of who you are will be forgotten, take heart, they will not.
Life in this world is fleeting. The Bible says we are like the grass that springs up and then quickly withers away. But, oh what is waiting beyond! And everybody will meet Him and He will remember every day, every thought, word and deed.
If that scares you ask yourself why. God’s word says, if we know Jesus Christ as our redeemer we do not have to fear. We know that He paid the price for every bad thing we have ever done. We can come joyously and boldly before God. We can sit with Him as He talks with us and remembers…..everything.
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