How Will You Be Remembered?

The other day while I was traveling on my way back home, a song by the country music band Rascal Flatts titled, “How They Remember You” came on the radio. As I listened, the words, “You’re gonna leave a legacy, no matter what you do. It ain’t a question of if they will, its how they remember you” caught my attention. Thinking about that, I ask, how will you be remembered?

Will You Be Remembered for Your Righteousness?

Righteousness can be defined as “the quality or state of being morally correct and justifiable.” In Proverbs 10:7, it is recorded, “The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.” Think about that. Those who live a life of righteousness will be remembered and favorably talked about by others long after their physical death, and are considered to be blessed. However, on the flip side of that coin, those who live a life of unrighteousness will not so favorably be remembered and spoken of long after they have passed. So I ask, how will you be remembered? Will you be remembered for living a righteous life?

Will You Be Remembered for Your Wisdom?

Wisdom denotes “the quality of being wise, the quality of having knowledge and exercising good judgment.” We learn in Proverbs 12:8, “A man will be commended according to his wisdom, but he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.” You see, a man shows proof of his wisdom by properly conducting himself in his manner of life, and a man who exhibits wisdom and exercises good judgment will be a man who is worthy of praise, and he will be one who is not easily forgotten. On the contrary, one with a perverse heart (i.e. a vain and senseless man) is not worthy of praise. So remember, “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold” (Proverbs 3:13-14). I now ask, what about you? Will you be remembered and commended for your wisdom?

Will You Be Remembered for Your Reputation?

A “good name” implies to a person’s good reputation, and it denotes a person’s highly and favorable standing among others. In Proverbs 22:1, we find these words of wisdom: “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.” The Scriptures also inform us, “A good name is better than precious ointment …” (Ecclesiastes 7:1). My friends, we all should strive to live a life free from deceit, and we should strive to live a life of righteousness so that we can obtain and retain a good name, knowing that a good name is of more value than silver or gold. So what about you? When your time on this earth is no more, will others speak well of you? Will you be remembered for your good name?

Will You Be Remembered for Your Deeds?

“Good works” can denote “acts of love, kindness, or good will.” In Matthew 26:10-13, we learn about Mary, the sister of Lazarus, who did a good work for Jesus. It is because of her act of love, kindness, and good will toward our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ that she is to be remembered. You see, it is certainly hard to forget one who spent their life on this earth expressing acts of love, kindness, and good will towards others. Therefore, may we love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). May we be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32), and may we not forget to do good and to share, knowing that with such sacrifices God is well pleased (Hebrews 13:16). So what about you? Do you promote good works? Will you be remembered for your acts of good will towards others?

Will You Be Remembered for Your Faith?

A “genuine faith” simply means “a sincere, whole-hearted faith, free from hypocrisy.” We are informed about the genuine faith of Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:5, and here we read about the apostle Paul calling to remembrance the sincere faith in which Timothy possessed. Simply put, Paul remembered Timothy for his sincere, whole-hearted faith which was free from hypocrisy. So I ask, how will you be remembered? Will you be remembered as one who possessed a genuine faith? Will you be remembered as one who finished the race by keeping the faith, and by fighting the good fight of faith? How will they remember you?

Once more, when your time on this earth is no more, it is not a question of if they (i.e. the people we leave behind) will remember you. The real question is, how will they remember you? So again I ask, how will you be remembered?

Bradley Phillips

Bible Lectureship

(March 17-20, 2024)

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