Consider Death

Consider Death

“It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.” Ecclesiastes 7:2

Recently, at the funeral of a good friend the pastor said: “when the deceased took his last breath, he had no more chance to change anything in his life.” It was a call for all of us to reflect on how we are living our lives, and it reminded me of Alfred Nobel’s story. Nobel invented dynamite in 1867 and he had a unique opportunity to consider how he would be remembered. Nobel’s brother died of a heart attack and the newspaper mistakenly reported that it was Alfred who had perished. The paper wrote a scathing obituary that branded Alfred as a “merchant of death” who had grown rich by developing new ways to “mutilate and kill” through his work in developing explosives for wartime use. Alfred was devastated when he read it and it inspired him to establish the Nobel Peace Prize so that he’d be remembered more favorably when he did die. 

The Bible makes it clear that life is short. “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” (James 4:14). “As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.” (Psalm 103:15-16).

That’s the reality of life. It’s short. It’s good to reflect on this while you still have the opportunity to make choices about your life. Moses wrote, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12). It’s good to serve God in the strength of your youth. 

“Only one life, t’wil soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” So, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and make every day count for both now and eternity.

How are you living your days? How will you be remembered?