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How will your life be remembered? Will it evoke memories of a life lived for Christ and love for the family of God? Will you leave a legacy that your children will follow and remember long after you are gone? There should be little argument among true believers that Jesus is, unquestioningly, the measuring rod by which all Christians should live their lives. His holy, righteous, altogether perfect life stands as a perpetual Memorial of how all true followers should live their lives. Peter writes, "For to this were you called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow in His steps" (1 Peter 2:21). Jesus himself said, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:29).
The Bible is replete with examples of great champions of the faith, like those found in Hebrews Chapter 11, who, despite severe trials, remained faithful to God, whose example we are exhorted to follow (Heb. 12:1). Paul often commended believers for their work and devotion to Christ, people who had committed their lives to allowing God to complete His workmanship in them (Romans 16).
The Bible speaks of two places in particular where Christians are urged to live lives that bring honor and glory to God. One such place is out in the world. How are we perceived by outsiders? Peter writes, "Beloved, I urge you... keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation" (1 Peter 2:11-12). Does our conduct, under all circumstances, leave a lasting impression of true Christian action? Are we salt and light in a dark and perverse world (Matt. 5:13-16), or do our actions leave our unbelieving critics skeptical of the faith we are dedicated to?
The second place where we are asked to glorify God is among the brotherhood – the church. Are we willing, as the apostle John wrote, "... to lay down our lives for the brethren?" (1 John 3:16) Do we weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice? How are we handling disagreements among ourselves? Are we doing it God's way (Matt. 18), or the world's way? Are our actions done with the purpose of building up the body of Christ or are we causing conflicts and devisiveness and spiritual unrest among the brotherhood?
God sent Jesus into this world to call out a people for His name, a people dedicated to serving Him in spirit and in truth, a people perfected into His character likeness. If you are one of these people, you can be sure that your life will be a lasting monument.
D. Gorham © CDMI
