Out Live Your Life

Many people make New Year's resolutions that quickly fade away. Most of the time before January is even over, the resolution is long forgotten. I would like to propose that we not make any resolutions this January 1st but rather that we make a life plan to 'out live our life'. What I mean by that is simply this: some day we will all die and leave this earth. What will you be remembered for? What have you done that will cause people many generations down the road to remember your name? We can all out live our life by the things that we do for others. We can all make a mark on this earth and on the lives of those around us. We can be remembered. We can leave a legacy.

This past year my husband was called to do a funeral for a man he didn't know. Apparently the deceased's sister had called five pastors in the area who all, for one reason or another, turned down her request to conduct her brother's funeral service. Then she called Brad. He immediately agreed to do the service and began trying to get to know the deceased through his siblings. He had no wife or children, or friends. He had two siblings who knew very little about him. My husband pleaded with the siblings to give him something to say about their brother so that he could be remembered in a positive way. But the only thing they knew about their brother was that he liked watching The Price Is Right and he liked to be alone.

What a sad way to be remembered. This man didn't out live his life. He didn't leave anything behind to mark his passing. He had no legacy. He kept to himself. He didn't do anything for anyone and didn't allow anyone into his life. It was probably the saddest funeral I've ever attended. No one grieved at his passing and life continued to go on for those who did know him as if he had never existed. That's a sad situation.

I believe that God wants us to make a mark on the world. He wants us to be remembered because we are precious in His sight. But it is not what you do for yourself that will be remembered and cherished. It's what you do for others that will leave your mark. Why not make a life plan this Jan. 1st? Why not set out to leave your mark on the world? Leave a rich legacy that will be remembered for years to come.

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

—Matthew 5:13–16