What Will They Say When I Die?

In my position at my church, I work with College students, sometimes the young singles, and much of my time is in the Media ministry. This means I am the resident IT tech of the church, work with videos and techy stuff, and take care of other similar areas. It also means, however, that I work with the sound systems for funerals and many weddings.

I have run the sound and/or video for many funerals and put together many a picture montage for families. Some funerals have been short, and some have been long. Some have been sad and emotional, and some have been joyful. Some have just been plain cold and emotionless. And some of have been crowded, and some have been barely attended. Funerals always have someone officiating them as well, and some are good, and some are bad.

So being around many funerals has given me many unique insights. One is that if someone stands up a podium and says, “I just want to share a few things,” or “I just want to talk for a few minutes,” it almost always means this person is going to talk about much more than a few things or much more than a few minutes.

Probably the most interesting thing I’ve noticed about funerals is people say the best things about a person at his or her funeral. No matter who it is, the best comes out at a funeral. This past week I saw this with the news covering Michael Jackson’s death. Granted, this wasn’t a funeral, but it was the moments right after he died. Everyone talked about his music, his family, and all the good things, but the negative aspects of Michael Jackson were rarely mentioned. I heard some reporters say, “You almost forget about the allegations of illegal actions about Michael Jackson,” and phrases similar to that.

Where this concept gets interesting is when there is little or much to say. One funeral I recall was for an older man in our community. He did not go to our church and I did not know him, but they needed a larger place for the funeral. So I sat at the sound booth listening to this man’s friends and family speak of him. At his funeral, even the nicest things said about him could not totally hide that this guy treated people badly often. He had treated a few people well, but many he had not treated well at all.

Some of the speakers would say things like, “Even though he was hard man, he really helped a few people.” As I sat there I thought about what someone might say at my funeral. I heard this summer from a friend of mine about a funeral of a man who mentored and discipled people for the Kingdom of God. At this man’s funeral, the only thing the preacher who was officiating said was, “If this man has impacted your life for Christ I want you to stand.” At those words everyone in the church stood to his or her feet. In this case, the man’s actions spoke much louder than words. You could see the legacy he left as he left this world.

What will they say at your funeral? What will they say at mine? Today I’m at a funeral for a young man who was only 26 years old. That’s how old I am. I’m not trying to be morbid, but we really do not know when we are going to die. When this young guy woke up that morning, he did not know what would happen. James describes it very well in this verse in James 4:

3Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"— 14yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."

Our lives are so short, but we can do so much for the Kingdom of God. That’s why we are here. Our mission is to bring God glory. It’s all about saving the world.

14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” –Matthew 5:14-16

What will they say at your funeral? What will they say at mine? Are we living life today that is pointing people towards God and leaving a legacy for the Kingdom? Don’t wait for the right time to start. It starts right now.

Grace and peace,
Doug – John 15:13


2 Timothy 1:1-14
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,
2To Timothy, my beloved child:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
8Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.