"Hard Thinking"

     My Dad was a preacher.  He was a good man, a kind man, a strong man, a people person, a completely God-focused man.  Lately I've been going through some times during which I wish I had his strength and wisdom to rely on.  As I've been thinking a lot about him lately, I have thought about different conversations I would hear him have with others.  One of these was in regard to speaking at funerals.

     The individual speaking to Dad said the hardest funeral must be one of an infant or young child. "No," answered Dad, "Those are actually the easiest.  During those services the family can be offered not only hope, but assurance of the eternal condition of their loved one." The most difficult were the ones in which the individual had lived in total denial of or rebellion against God. The flame of hope was out.

     Further reflection on this conversation got me to thinking about the day of my own funeral.  Will the songs be those of victory and joy and hope?  Will the eulogy be able to offer hope to my friends and family?  What will my legacy be - earthly or spiritual?  At the time of my father's funeral I, and my siblings, were living outside of Christ and in rebellion towards God.  The minister was able to use Dad's life to begin to crack those hardened hearts.  How will God use my passing?  Will it be to offer God's message of hope?

     I once read that if you really wanted to evaluate your spiritual health one should sit down and write out your own eulogy then evaluate its content asking where is the focus - spiritual or earthly. 

     May our lives offer God's message of hope.

-J. Watson

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