Friday, June 21, 2019
Dear Rex, Karen, Scott and Family: My deepest sympathies on the loss of your wife, mother and grandmother. When we loose someone we love to the "enemy" death, (1Corinthians 15:26) not only do we feel the intense pain of loss, but we may also find ourselves reflecting on the shortness of life in general... In The Holy Bible, Wise King Solomon put it this way at Ecclesiastes 7:2... "Better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting, for that is the end of every man, and the living should take it to heart." This is not saying sadness is superior to rejoicing. It's just saying we should keep in mind the brevity of life and it should alert us to have a humble view of ourselves and not to live life as though we are immune to death. While we are still alive, we can make “a good name” with God (Ecclesiastes 7:1) At birth a person has no reputation, and therefore his name is little more than a label. That is why Ecclesiastes 7:1 says: “A name is better than good oil, and the day of death than the day of one's being born”. It is during the full course of a person's life that his “name” takes on real meaning, identifying him either as a person practicing righteousness or as one practicing what is bad. And a good name with God is the only thing of real value and goes with us when we die. Proverbs 22:1 says: “A good name is to be chosen rather than great wealth; To be respected is better than silver and gold.” A person can be rich, but not respected by family co-workers or friends. How much better it is to make a good name with Almighty God who promises “….I will never forget you" (Isaiah 49:15). And that good name with Almighty God guarantees us a second chance in the earthly paradise to come. (John 5:28, 29; Acts 24:15; John 6:40; Psalms 37:11, 29)
