My parents have a Christmas tradition of placing poinsettias on the graves of a few loved ones at this time of year. So, over the weekend, I rode with my dad to a few cemeteries to do the honors. Every time I walk through a cemetery it strikes me solemn. I slowly meander through the headstones and read what they have to tell me. The dates speak to me first. Someone that had 100 years on this planet buried right next to someone that only had 30. I wonder what was done with the 70 extra years gifted to the one that lies to the right. I see entire lives described in only a few words. The costs of the engraving limiting the true story of the life. “Beloved Father and Husband.” “You will always be in our hearts.” “Dear Mother and Wife.” How do you tell of a life in only one sentence?
As I moved through the sea of marble, I thought of the lives. What purpose had they found? What had they dedicated their lives to? And whatever it was, did it live on, or did it share the same date of death that was chiseled into stone? As I saw freshly dug patches of Earth, it made me think of how frail and temporary life is. New entrants into this club are being claimed daily. It is a truth; we are not long for this world. So, with this being a fact of life, it seems ever more important to think about how a life will be described. Which brings up our study for the day. The difference between your Earthly eulogy and your Heavenly eulogy.
As we move into 1 Chronicles chapter 10, we see a big shift in gears. A shift I have been looking forward to. We move out of 9 chapters of genealogies and we move into narrative. But as we do, you will notice something, the stories will sound very familiar. Yep, the books of Chronicles retell the stories of many of the kings that we read about in the books of Samuel and Kings. Their is a difference though and it is fascinating. The books of Samuel and Kings are told as a historical narrative, told from the perspective of mankind. The books of Chronicles, however, are told from the perspective of God. And folks, spoiler alert, God sees our lives much differently than the world does.
As you would expect, Chronicles 10 launches right into the first king of the Jews, Saul. Here is where we get a big taste of the juxtaposition between man’s view of a life and God’s. In the book of 1 Samuel Saul’s life and reign was covered over a whopping 19 chapters. In 1 Chronicles, God only needs one chapter to describe his life. You see, us humans like all the nitty gritty details. We want to know the backstory and the backstory to the backstory. In the Samuel telling we get details about Saul’s reign, his bipolar dealings with David, his crazy family structure, his victories, his defeats, and his death. But God already knows all this, and as God shows us, these details don’t warrant page time in a book that shows how he looks at a life. God wants to know one thing about a life. Was it obedient to Him?
“So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.” 1 Chronicles 10:13-14
When was the last time you attended a funeral and heard an obituary read? Or maybe the last time you read one in the paper or online? Think about what was in it. What it said. Out of all of it, do you think that God will see any of it as important? Will it make the book of Samuel or will it make the book of Chronicles? You see, every life on this planet will have two very different eulogies, one that will be written for this world and one that will be written in Heaven.
Everyone that has called upon Jesus Christ to be their personal Lord and Savior will stand before Jesus after they die at the judgement seat of Christ.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Cor 5:10
At this judgement resurrected believers in Heaven will be judged for their works for God. Sin is not in view at this judgment, as that was paid for by Christ, but only faithfulness in Christian service. All deeds of the Christ follower will be looked at, the good and the bad. The bad will be burned away as dry straw and wood, meaningless to God. But the good, the deeds that furthered the kingdom God, we’re told they will be as gold before the fire, not being consumed by the flames but only becoming more pure.
“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.” 1 Cor 3:11-14
And deeds that stand as righteous before the Lord, deeds that are as refined gold, will be rewarded. A crown will be placed upon the head of those that God sees as worthy to don it.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8
The life of every Christ follower will be reviewed at the very throne of God. And only righteous deeds for the kingdom of God will be mentioned. A simple Heavenly look at those lives. Were you the CEO of a Fortune 500 company that made more than the GDP of a small country? God’s not impressed. Did you drive a Ferrari around? God’s not impressed. Did you drag yourself to church once a month? God’s not impressed. Did you, daily, completely submit to the authority of God’s Word and put others before yourself? Now we’re talking. Were you in a constant daily process of studying and meditating on His Word so you could be a good steward knowing, understanding, and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ when God gave you the opportunity? Now we’re talking. Did you love God with all your heart, all your mind, all your strength and all your soul? Now we’re cooking with Crisco. And did you walk in obedience to the laws of God no matter how hard or difficult they seemed? Yes, that’s the good stuff.
Folks, today, you are writing your Heavenly eulogy. The very one that will be read at the judgement seat of Christ. I pray today that you are seeking to bless others before you seek to be blessed. That your goal is to “outbless” whoever God puts in front of you. That your plan is to live the “J.O.Y.” principle today putting “J”esus first, “O”thers second and “Y”ourself a distant third. For if you live in these laws of God, you will indeed find the favor of God not just in Heaven, but as you walk this Earth.
“Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31
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