Do You Want To Be Remembered?

Good News – March 2023 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Do You Want To Be Remembered?

If you want to be remembered in this world, you may have to forget it. The Bible answers the question about being remembered: “There is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever” and “the memory of them [the dead] is forgotten” (Eccl. 2:16, 9:5 KJV ).

I worked with a gentleman, Bill, who was 25 years older than me. We became close friends, and in many conversations I had the opportunity to present the gospel to him. However, there was no commitment on his part. He died about ten years ago without having trusted, as far as I know, in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior.

How long will Bill’s name be remembered? His wife is gone. He had no children. His sister just died recently. Who remembers Bill now? Of course, I do. But I’m older now and don’t know how long the Lord will leave me here. Some of Bill’s nephews and nieces will remember him for a while, but in time they will pass away too. Then who will remember Bill? No one! The Bible is right: the memory of individuals is forgotten.

But, Do You Still Want To Be Remembered?
There is a remedy for this dilemma. Ecclesiastes was written with an earthly point of view, as indicated by everything being “under the sun.” That phrase is repeated 28 times in the short book. While the writer reports all things of this earth as “vanity,” or without value, he ends with an important conclusion: “Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man, for God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (12:13-14).

Now, the main commandment for everyone still living is a simple one: God commands “all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). When a person repents of his or her sinful deeds and believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior who paid the price of the believer’s trespasses, God accepts him or her as His child. Consider these verses for a moment:

• “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
• “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12-13).

Having God as Father is a wonderful thing. He is eternal, all-knowing and cannot forget. Therefore, when you have received eternal life by belief in the person and the work of the Lord Jesus, you will never be forgotten! Do you want to be remembered? This is the only way! We can tell you more.

By G. H. B.