My wife and
I have agreed that this is the year we will make our arrangements. (Funny, when
someone says or writes the forgoing phrase no one has to ask, “And what
arrangements would that be”)?
Jean and I
had previously decided we would visit Ireland, N. Ireland and Scotland prior to
our 70th birthdays. And we just managed to make it happen in time
since we flew there, and toured these countries several months ago.
In much the
same way, she and I intend to complete our Last Will & Testament, Life
Estate, and burial arrangements this year; (as I have previously implied).
Scripture
assures us that, “It is appointed unto man once to die.” (Hebrews 9:27)
Death simply
isn’t an option. It never has been. (Well, unless you happen to be one of those
Old Testament saints, Enoch and Elijah). Even those whom Christ raised from the
dead, such as Jairus’ daughter and Lazarus, died a second and final time.
Interestingly
enough, (except to him) the well-known pastor and radio evangelist, Chuck
Swindoll, experienced what might be characterized as a “trial run.”
As Swindoll
walked into the lobby of his church one day, he heard what seemed to be funeral
music emanating from the sanctuary. He pulled his pocket calendar out of his
coat, and thumbed to the appropriate date; just in case he had forgotten one of
his parishioner’s funeral services. And having done so, he thought, “Nope,
there is no funeral scheduled for today.”
Looking
around, Chuck didn’t see any members of his staff, and he summarily walked
towards the sanctuary doors. Opening the center door, he was greeted with the
most unexpected sight any person has ever beheld.
A casket,
and next to the casket…a poster-sized photo of Chuck Swindoll!
Pt. 2
At that
moment, the preacher reflected that he checked his watch to see if it was still
running, and checked his pulse to see if his heart was still pumping blood.
Suddenly,
several members of Rev. Swindoll’s staff jumped up from their hiding places.
One from behind the casket. Another from behind a back door. And still another from
behind a stage curtain.
And in
unison they yelled, “Surprise!”
The entire
scenario was the most spectacular surprise the minister had ever experienced;
(though not a very good one). Having shared the “practical joke” with his radio
audience, Swindoll drew an ominous lesson from the story.
“One day, my
friends, that casket will no longer be empty, nor will the pews be empty, but
will be occupied by my friends, and relatives. We all have a date with the grim
reaper, and there’s simply nothing we can do about it.”
I like to
think I am very practical about the reality of my passing. Tonight, I have
listed each of my children’s names on a Word document, along with the
corresponding personal possessions I wish to bequeath to each of them.
My own
father prepared well for his own passing. During the final eight or ten years
of his life he created multiplied hours of audio tape which detailed his
childhood and military life. In the past few years I have converted the tapes
to CD’s, and subsequently moved them to hard drives. I have also transcribed
every word my father spoke on the audio tapes into a volume which can be passed
down to my children’s children.
“It is
appointed unto man once to die.”
No
profounder or “in your face” phrase exists among any of the world’s hundreds of
languages.
Pt. 3
No doubt,
the import and impact of the “appointed unto man” passage of scripture has
aroused fear in the bosoms of multiplied thousands of men, women and children
over the past 2,000 years; since it was penned by the unknown author of the
Book of Hebrews.
Granted, the
time and method of my individual passing provokes a bit of anxiety, but that
which has been characterized as “unknown” by some, “the life which is not yet,
but which is to come,” carries with it not a whit of fear for me. Au contraire.
Quite the opposite. As a believer I know that I know that the Lord Jesus Christ
has gone before me, and has prepared a place for me.
Given all
the foregoing considerations, where does all this information, and subsequent
insight leave us?
Several
things come to mind, and I think these variables can be summarized by three
words:
Heritage,
Destiny, Legacy
We receive a Heritage
We stand on
the shoulders of giants. I can tell you the names of my spiritual fathers, but
I can’t begin to guess the identities of my spiritual grandfather(s) or
grandmother(s). And so forth and so on. The unbroken chain of faithful
believers who have impacted one, and that one impacting the next stretches back
to at least one of the original disciples, and Jesus, Himself. If only one had
failed to, as it were, receive and run with the baton, I might not have been
afforded the opportunity to know, love and serve my Lord.
We fulfill a Destiny
Every day
that passes I pray, “Lord, don’t allow me to miss the remainder of my Destiny.”
We have been
called to fulfill a task. We have been called to impact our fellow human
beings. Nothing more than our relationship with God, Himself is more important.
It behooves us to discover our Destiny, and begin to take the actions which
combine to fulfill it.
We leave a Legacy
Those whom
God sets in our pathway, and whom we impact are, ultimately, our Legacy. One of
my former interns once bestowed a spontaneous promise on me when she said,
“Dr. Bill, I
don’t want to disappoint you. I’ll go for you when you can no longer go. I’ll
speak for you when you can no longer speak. I’ll reach, teach and keep people
in your name long after you have gone on to your reward.”
My mission
statement is:
“My students
are living messages to a time that I will never see.”
Interestingly
enough, the Legacy I leave behind is the next person’s Heritage.
Heritage,
Destiny and Legacy represent a never-ending circle which keeps on giving.
Pt. 4
One method
by which I am currently fulfilling my Destiny is through my writing. Following
is a letter I have written to my descendants, and is an example of my intention
and commitment to “leave something behind.”
“I stare into the eyes of that yellowing, fading portrait of
my great Grandparents now, and their dull, unblinking eyes reveal
… absolutely nothing.
And I have often mused, “Why didn’t you leave something
behind?”
Oh, how I would have enjoyed knowing you. How wonderful it
would have been if you had left some word, some reflection, something of
yourselves.
Well, my dear descendants, I have decided NOT to repeat their
mistake; (and yes, I consider it an irrevocable mistake; which once the party
has passed from this earth can never be corrected.) I think the following daily
journal entries, (as well as my previously written autobiography, counseling
memoirs, and other volumes) will not only elicit a few laughs, but provide you
some insight into the life of your ancestor; someone not unlike yourself, who
lived, and loved, and moved, and breathed, and made his way about this earth,
and even impacted a few for good, “before you were even a twinkle.”
You deserve it.
And this writer, who by the time you read these words may
have long since ceased to live, and love, and breathe, and move, and enjoy the
beauty which God has visited upon our planet, can only wish you well, and
exhort you to do as I am currently doing…
We are all too close to having eyes which do not see, ears
which do not hear, and mouths which do not speak. While there is still time,
… Leave something of
yourself behind.
And so much
more crucial than my previous admonition, I earnestly pray, (and I have prayed
for you when you were not, and when only God knew you by name) that you will
give your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, and faithfully serve Him, as I believe
that I have done. For as a wise and equally well-known man of my time, Dr.
James Dobson, (whom I once met, and conversed with) has encouraged his own
children, and grandchildren…
… 'Be
There!'
… 'Be
There!'
I hope to
meet you in heaven. I’ll be waiting just inside the gate.”
My friends
allow me to encourage you to receive a Heritage, Fulfill a Destiny and leave a
Legacy. Purposely include yourself in that long, unbroken chain of believers
who have embraced their spiritual calling.
Leave
Something Behind
by William McDonald, PhD. Copyright pending
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