TO BE REMEMBERED FOR THE RIGHT THINGS

Proverbs 10:7
The memory of the just is blessed:
but the name of the wicked shall rot.

The ‘just’ and the ‘wicked’ both are part of our lives. They constantly walk beside us trying to influence us. The just tells us how to live a life of godliness, the wicked teaches us the ways of the world. The just reminds us that we are sinners and that we need God, the wicked helps us find excuses for our behavior. The just reminds us of God’s Word, the wicked distracts us from it. But when we come to end of the road, when the day of accounting has come, when we are faced with the sum of the decisions of our lives, who will we remember with gratefulness? Which name will we bless for having shown us the way into eternity?

God said one day to Abraham that through him all the families of the earth would be blessed. Until this day people all over the world bless the name of Abraham. They bless his name because in him, many families all around the world are, and will still be blessed. They are and will still be blessed with the hearing of the Gospel.

When we come to the Lord and our works are weighed in the balance, I think that the greatest reward that can be given us is to see all those in whom we have been instrumental in showing the way to the Lord. Most of us can remember the person who brought us to the Lord. When we finally experience what it is that we gained that day we gave ourselves to Jesus, we will want to go and find that person who showed us the way, maybe even all those involved, and vehemently thank them for having been concerned enough for our soul. Is there anything better to be remembered for? We certainly don’t want to be remembered for being the ones having instructed others of bad worldly ways, provided the, with excuses for their sin nor distracted them from the Word of God. If we are so, they will certainly wish our name to rot.

One of the most infamous names in the Bible is the one of Judas, the person who betrayed Jesus. I have never met anyone called Judas. It is a name that rots in the memory of man as belonging to the person who made the biggest boo-boo in history.

Let us make sure that our name is remembered for the right thing; that it is remembered with positive heavenly associations, and that people bless us when they hear it. As our kingly author also says, A good name is better than precious ointment.