God has a purpose for me to fulfill here on earth. I want to end well so that when I get home to be with our Savior I’ll hear “well done good and faithful servant.”

Hammer365: 107/258 Fly on Wall

I’m a pastor and part of the territory is doing funerals. To be honest some are a joy to do. When a person knew Christ as their Lord and Savior the funeral services are always upbeat. Of course there still is sorrow because family members have lost a love one, but there is this sense of faith hope that knows this person lives now with Jesus and will be seen again. In contrast, funerals of those without Christ are funerals without hope. Oh, sure the family members can rejoice in a life well lived, maybe, but there is no future hope.

If I could be a fly on the wall at my own funeral I hope I’d hear and sense (if a fly can feel emotionally) people rejoicing in a life well lived. I wouldn’t want to hear, “Has anyone got a fly swatter?” I would hope there would be a feeling of quiet contentment that I am continuing life with my Savior. I would want people to say things like, “he lived his life in obedience to God,” “He listened to God and he walked with God,” “He fulfilled God’s purpose for him while he lived here on earth.” “He loved people.”

I’d also want to hear them say, “he loved his wife and was devoted to her all the years of his life.” I’d want to hear, “He loved his children and invested his life in them. They are all walking with God partly because of the legacy he left them.” Of course, I’d love to hear the same thing said about my grandchildren. My hope and prayer is that my grandchildren and their children will walk with the Lord and serve Him wholeheartedly. I’d want to hear, “he left a legacy of godly decedents.”

Acts 13:36 (NIV) “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep.”

I think some of those things could be said right now, if I were to die today. But, some of those things are not completely a reality and I’ve got a lot of work to do. So, I’m going to hit the ground running to do all that God has for me to do here. I’m going to live each day to the fullest. I hope you do the same.

Of course, the thing I really want to hear and can’t wait to hear is “well done good and faithful servant” when I meet Jesus face to face.