In the last week, I have heard the news that two friends of mine have passed away. One of those men was 49 years old and the other was 52 years old. I was only able to attend one of their memorial services. It hit me sitting there listening to the service how fragile and brief life can be. I don’t go to as many funerals as I once did. This is only my second one in as long as I can remember. Maybe it is my age, maybe it is not being around funerals as much as in my earlier life, but this one had me pondering. A funny thing was just a day ago I saw a guy wearing a T-shirt that had written on it, “Live in such a way the preacher won’t have to lie at your funeral.”

When I was regularly officiating funeral services, I would often use Psalm 90. In verse 10 of the Psalm, it teaches we get 70 years maybe 80 if we are strong. Verse 12 challenges us to number our days or consider the brevity of life so we may live them wisely.

For the first time in my recollection, I found myself thinking about my life and my own inevitable funeral. The old preachers used to say, “There are only two things you live with that will last forever; the word of God and the souls of men.” I know what I’ve heard and felt at funerals. I know I want to have impacted the souls of men with the word of God as my legacy. It seems empty to me to have lived the one life I get and have the legacy be, “He was a nice guy.” That just isn’t enough return on the investment of my life.

Blessings,

Scott