Message summary: We want to follow Jesus Christ and live as a righteous people according to His plan during the days ordained for us on this side of eternity. "The righteous will be remembered forever". This is a promise we want to live for! We welcome each reader to join us here and now and over there forevermore.

Listen to our message on your audio player.

"The righteous will be remembered forever" (Psalm 112:6).

Up the road from us is Kraybill cemetery where we have purchased plots for our earthly remains to be buried unless the rapture occurs first. Then whoever want the plots can have them free.

Brooksyne often walks the dogs on the road leading through the cemetery, many times considering that someday she might be there when the graves burst open and the dead in Christ rise first to meet Jesus in the air during the rapture. We have lived at our current address for 23 years now so we have a number of friends and neighbors buried there, most of them are believers. I walked though the cemetery last night myself and saw many tombstones with expressions of faith such as this one where Craig, a friend of ours, is buried.

We met Craig shortly after moving to Lancaster County in 2001. He worked for a company where we saw him as chaplains had a friendly faith-filled disposition and always an encouraging word. But he developed an ALS type disease and departed much sooner than expected. His tombstone bears witness to his steadfast faith in the love and faithfulness of God, even though his illness to this day has not been clearly understood. The verse on the tombstone was also the basis for a popular worship song at that time.

Another tombstone I saw caused me to stop and reflect, although it doesn't have an explicit expression of faith.

Mary was born on the same day as I but many years earlier. Thirty-four years later she had a son, Calvin, the day after her birthday. What joy surely filled the household at that time. Although not stated explicitly, based upon the smaller inscription, I think this son was killed in Vietnam when he was just 18 years old. What tremendous sorrow must have filled their hearts. Two words especially touch me, "OUR SON". This Memorial Day we especially remember families who've had similar loss as their loved one gave their all for our freedoms.

The inscriptions on tombstones serve as an aid to being remembered. But in reality only a tiny percentage of people are remembered beyond several generations; essentially, we remember only those we have known personally or are familiar with. Memories of the vast majority of people fade into obscurity in less than 100 years with some exceptions.

We need to hear what the Apostle James says, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). Nearly 2,000 years have passed since Jesus said, “I will build my church". Our life will only comprise a small fraction of that period of time (about 4% of it). That’s pretty humbling isn’t it? And if you go all the way back to creation it’s an even smaller percentage.

But Psalm 112 has an encouraging perspective of this fleeting life and being remembered in the most important way. This Psalm begins with praise to God and then this statement, "How blessed is the man who fears the LORD".

Today we want to focus on verse 6 that states, "The righteous will be remembered forever". The highest form of remembrance is our devotion and service to God and our eternal, spiritual impact on others. Though only a tiny portion of Christ's followers are remembered beyond several generations on this side; generations will follow their example and leave similar legacies of righteous living. We can be a part of that long chain that leaves a godly impact.

Today we challenge you to be remembered for:

    * The spiritual, Christ-focused impact you are making presently.
    * The godly, eternal legacy you have the opportunity to leave behind.

We want to follow Jesus Christ and seek to live as a righteous people according to His plan during the days ordained for us on this side of eternity. "The righteous will be remembered forever". This is a promise we  live for! We welcome each reader to join us.

B e encouraged today! Hebrews 3:13