Four weeks ago today, my grandfather passed away after a two-and-half year struggle with pancreatic cancer. It had gotten to the point where death was a relief and a release. Even though our family mourned the loss of his presence, we rejoiced more that he wouldn’t have to deal with any more pain or suffering. He is probably mowing grass in Heaven.
One thing that struck me as our family went through the wake and the funeral was everyone we saw or met on those two days had nothing but wonderful things to say about my grandfather. Stories came out of things that he did quietly, like bringing people to Christ or helping people in need. Even though he was a sinner just like all of us, he lived a quiet life with integrity and commitment to hard work. He lived such a life that all of his children are inspired by him and that all of his grandchildren hope to make him proud.
In the sticky emotional mess that comes with a close death, it is probably inevitable that we all assess and re-assess our own mortality and our purpose and our goals here on Earth. It is a different process for everyone. People of different beliefs will arrive at varying conclusions about themselves. As a Christian, I believe – nay, I know – that everybody here on this planet is an immortal being. We all have eternity built in the very fabric of our being, regardless of our beliefs. At death, one door is permanently closed and the other opens up. It’s just a matter of where we end up: Heaven and Hell. It’s one or the other, nothing in between.
My grandfather lived such a life that no one doubted who he was as a Christian, what his purpose was in his life, and there was no question about where he went. At the funeral, the more I heard people talk about the way he lived his life, the way he lived it, became a challenge to me. Can I – could I – live up to that legacy that he left behind?
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that a good Christian life lived ought to be a legacy that we ALL should leave behind as Christians. “He died serving Jesus.” “I never heard a negative thing come out of her mouth.” “Now, that was a person who wasn’t afraid to serve.” “She worked hard at her job.” “Helping others was definitely his priority.” “She gave without blinking an eye.”
A testimony for Jesus, just like my grandfather left behind for his family and friends and people he touched, ought to be a legacy that we all strive for in the brief time allotted for us here. We should live a life that leaves others, especially non-believers, absolutely NO doubt about who we were, what we believed, and where we went after death. That’s because even after death, our lives can continue to give our testimony, testimony that may even change lives. I know, because it’s changing mine, even now, four weeks later.
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. – 1 Peter 2:12
– Matt
1 PetercharacterChristiandeathlegacylifetestimony
The Legacy of a Christian, Pt. I
September 1, 2011
Calvary
Comments Off on The Legacy of a Christian, Pt. I
Matt
Four weeks ago today, my grandfather passed away after a two-and-half year struggle with pancreatic cancer. It had gotten to the point where death was a relief and a release. Even though our family mourned the loss of his presence, we rejoiced more that he wouldn’t have to deal with any more pain or suffering. He is probably mowing grass in Heaven.
One thing that struck me as our family went through the wake and the funeral was everyone we saw or met on those two days had nothing but wonderful things to say about my grandfather. Stories came out of things that he did quietly, like bringing people to Christ or helping people in need. Even though he was a sinner just like all of us, he lived a quiet life with integrity and commitment to hard work. He lived such a life that all of his children are inspired by him and that all of his grandchildren hope to make him proud.
In the sticky emotional mess that comes with a close death, it is probably inevitable that we all assess and re-assess our own mortality and our purpose and our goals here on Earth. It is a different process for everyone. People of different beliefs will arrive at varying conclusions about themselves. As a Christian, I believe – nay, I know – that everybody here on this planet is an immortal being. We all have eternity built in the very fabric of our being, regardless of our beliefs. At death, one door is permanently closed and the other opens up. It’s just a matter of where we end up: Heaven and Hell. It’s one or the other, nothing in between.
My grandfather lived such a life that no one doubted who he was as a Christian, what his purpose was in his life, and there was no question about where he went. At the funeral, the more I heard people talk about the way he lived his life, the way he lived it, became a challenge to me. Can I – could I – live up to that legacy that he left behind?
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that a good Christian life lived ought to be a legacy that we ALL should leave behind as Christians. “He died serving Jesus.” “I never heard a negative thing come out of her mouth.” “Now, that was a person who wasn’t afraid to serve.” “She worked hard at her job.” “Helping others was definitely his priority.” “She gave without blinking an eye.”
A testimony for Jesus, just like my grandfather left behind for his family and friends and people he touched, ought to be a legacy that we all strive for in the brief time allotted for us here. We should live a life that leaves others, especially non-believers, absolutely NO doubt about who we were, what we believed, and where we went after death. That’s because even after death, our lives can continue to give our testimony, testimony that may even change lives. I know, because it’s changing mine, even now, four weeks later.
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. – 1 Peter 2:12
– Matt
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1 PetercharacterChristiandeathlegacylifetestimony