How Will You Be Remembered?
II Samuel 3:31 - 34
Our text records a sad funeral procession of the body of a man named Abner. Though little is known of this man's life, there is a sobering message in his death and the words spoken at his death!
1. The CAUSE of Abner's Death (3:27)
He trusted his enemy.
2. The CRYING at Abner's Death (3:31-32)
3. The COMMENTARY on Abner's Death (3:33)
"Died Abner as a fool dieth?"
Now the Bible declares that death is an appointment for all (Hebrews 9:27) .
The ancient Egyptians were far wiser than we are. For at every feast there was always one extraordinary guest who sat at the head of the table. This veiled guest ate noting, drank noting, and spake nothing. He was a skeleton which they placed at the head of the table to warn them that even in their feasting they should remember there would come an end of life.
A new pastor at a church was once preaching, and he said, "Every member in this church must die." He noticed one man looking at him with a big smirk on his face. So he said it again, "Every member in this church must die." Again, he noticed the man looking at him with a big grin on his face.
After the service the new pastor approached the man and asked him as to why he was smiling when the preacher said every member of this church must die. The man answered, "Preacher, I am not a member of this church."
Whether you are a member of this church or not, you have an appointment with death if the Lord tarries His coming again.
After death, our loved ones will have a time of remembrance called a funeral. At this funeral, a commentary of our life will be spoken.
Now the fact of the matter is, we are preaching our funeral sermon every day by the way we live!
The final commentary of our life will be the TOMB STONE that marks the spot of our burial. This TOMB STONE will speak to the living who pass by our place of burial.
Hebrews 11:4 says about Abel that "he being dead yet speaketh."
The way we finish our life will greatly influence what people remember about us.
Let us walk through the pages of the Word of God and read the commentary on a few TOMB STONES!
I. Abner will be remembered as FOOL! (II Samuel 3:33)
A. A fool dies denies the existence of God (Psalm 14:1)
B. A fool delights in earthly things (Luke 12:16-20)
This fool made preparations to live but none to die.
1. He did not recognize that material things come from the Savior
2. He did not recognize that material things for a Season
3. He did not recognize that material things cannot Satisfy
II. Judas will be remembered as a FAKE! (Matthew 27:3 -5)
See Matthew 7:21-23. I don’t want to die as a professor of eternal life but not a possessor of eternal life.
In Hell, you could assemble a church complete with a beautiful, singing choir, Sunday school teachers, ushers, and deacons. There will even be pastors, evangelists, or missionaries to speak.
The devil is the arch counterfeiter. He has slipped a counterfeit over many honest, upright, and good people.
III. Demas will be remembered as a FORSAKER! (II Timothy 4:10)
To forsake anyone is a terrible thing. To forsake the apostle Paul when he was in prison and was facing execution for his faith was especially terrible.
I do not want to die as a forsaker.
A. I do not want to die as one who has forsaken the commandments of God.
B. I do not want to die as one who has forsaken the church of God.
Hebrews 10:24,25.
C. I do not want to die as one who has forsaken the children of God.
Psalm 119:63 “I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.”
IV. The thief on the cross will be remembered as FORGIVEN! (Luke 23:43)
He may have got forgiven at the last possible moment but at least he got forgiven.
Christians are not perfect but they are forgiven freely, fully, and forever.
Not far from New York, there is a cemetery with a grave, which has inscribed upon its headstone just one word-"Forgiven." There is no name, no date of birth or death. The stone is unembellished by the sculptor's art. There is no epitaph, no eulogy-just that one word, "Forgiven." But that is the greatest thing that can be said of or experienced by any man - "Forgiven.”
V. Elisha will be remembered as FRUITFUL! (II Kings 13:20 -21)
I sure would want to be remembered as one who told others about Christ. I sure would like to to be die bearing fruit for the Lord.
VI. Paul will be remembered as FAITHFUL! (II Timothy 4:7)
•I want to be faithful in my SONG (Psalm 40:3).
•I want to be faithful in my STUDY (II Timothy 2:15)
•I want to be faithful to my SPOUSE
A. It will take a disciplined life
B. It will take a directional life
Philippians 3:14
VII. Jesus Christ will be remembered as a FINISHER!
(John 17:4, 19:30)
Conclusion:
How will you be remembered?
Death is sure. Death is often sudden. For the child of God who is living for God death can be sweet.
How will you die?
Sincerely yours but securely His,