February 3rd, 2012 | By admin
by Chantelle Swayne
While we were in Perth this month, Patrick and I went for a short overnight trip to the Pinnacles, which are about 3 hours drive north of Perth. On the way, we stopped at a café near a park, and while Patrick did some work on his computer, I went for a walk. While walking I came across a cemetery. It may seem like a strange hobby, but I love to walk through cemeteries, especially old ones. I find it fascinating walking around and seeing all the dates of when people were born, when they died, and what the people they loved wrote about them. This was a cemetery in an Anglican churchyard from around the 1800’s.
As I walked around and read what the various headstones said, I prayed that I might live my life in such a way that I would touch those around me and that they would have only good to say about me. As I was reading and praying I realised that many of the headstones were women – sisters, mothers, daughters and wives. What their family wrote about them interested me:
“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord… that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them” (Revelation 14:13).
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised” (Proverbs 31:30).
There was even one that simply said: “One who showed forth Christ in her life.”
I would love any one of these verses to be written about me! I wondered what my husband would have written on my grave if I died, what my future children might say, whether the church would have reason to miss me, and ultimately what my heavenly Father would say. Something endeared these people to the living – what impression would I leave behind? I decided to teach my ladies’ class lesson in Perth on this topic.
I prepared myself to talk about the various things I would like the people left behind to say about me, as well what I would like my Lord to say. On the day the ladies met, just before my talk, one of the ladies announced that a very close friend of hers, a boy that had grown up with her children in South Africa, had passed away as a result of a tragic accident. He was only 22 years old and had fallen asleep at the wheel while driving. As I listened to this sister express her sadness at his passing, I was touched by the things that were said about him. He was a good Christian, He served the church, and He worked with the youth in the church, were all mentioned. It was even mentioned that when someone was sick in the hospital he was so good as to visit them and comfort them. By the end, I don’t believe one eye was dry in the room – the world will certainly feel the loss of his presence, but I have reason to believe that this young man is now receiving the fruits of his labour. What an excellent example he has left for us.
Today’s subject might seem a bit morbid, but it does us good to remember the brevity of life. We can be taken from this life at any moment! Certainly no one expected this good young man was to pass from this world so suddenly! Let’s remember life is short. Let’s think about what we will leave behind for others to say about us, and what our Lord will think of what we have accomplished. Let’s strive to have the Lord say of us in that Great day:
“Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matthew 25:23)
“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom pre-pared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. …Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:34-40).
What will people have to say about you when you have left this life? Live life now so you will have nothing to regret later. May God bless you as you strive to put Him first in your life!
“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 25:13
A note from the Administrator
This was such a good topic, and Chantelle did a wonderful job with it. I even borrowed the graphic from her facebook site. I couldn’t find anything that fit the topic more. Good job, Chantelle!
