How will we be remembered when we are gone? Philippians 1:27-28 A lesson learned from Alfred Nobel with a reflecion on Gadhafi's death

SCRIPTURE: Philippians 1:27-28 (The Message)
Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ. Let nothing in your conduct hang on whether I come or not. Your conduct must be the same whether I show up to see things for myself or hear of it from a distance. Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people's trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they're up against: defeat for them, victory for you - and both because of God.

A STORY ~ Source Unknown:
It is possible to live under a delusion. You think you are kind, considerate and gracious when you are really not. You think you are building positive stuff into your children when in reality, if you could check with them twenty years later, you really didn't. What if you could read your own obituary? How do people really see you? Here is the story of a man who did.

One morning in 1888 Alfred Nobel, inventor of dynamite, awoke to read his own obituary. The obituary was printed as a result of a simple journalistic error. You see, it was Alfred's brother that had died and the reporter carelessly reported the death of the wrong brother. Any man would be disturbed under the circumstances, but to Alfred the shock was overwhelming because he saw himself as the world saw him. The "Dynamite King," the great industrialist who had made an immense fortune from explosives. This, as far as the general public was concerned, was the entire purpose of Alfred's life. None of his true intentions to break down the barriers that separated men and ideas for peace were recognized or given serious consideration. He was simply a merchant of death. And for that alone he would be remembered. As he read the obituary with horror, he resolved to make clear to the world the true meaning and purpose of his life. This could be done through the final disposition of his fortune. His last will and testament--an endowment of five annual prizes for outstanding contributions in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and peace (the sixth category of economics was added later)--would be the expression of his life's ideals and ultimately would be why we would remember him. The result was the most valuable of prizes given to those who had done the most for the cause of world peace. It is called today, the "Nobel Peace Prize."

AN OBSERVATION:
Wouldn’t it be great if we had a built in GPS … something internally that could direct us in the right direction? There are many who would argue that Holy Writ is God’s GPS for our spiritual journey … and it is, if we would but only follow its teachings, guidance and instructions, as in “when all else fails read the instructions.” But, alas, that isn’t the case.

For most of us we simply follow what we like, discard what we don’t and misread the rest. Like from Matthew 5 where it states that we are to call “no one a fool” and yet here we are making declarative statements every day that someone is a fool or idiot or stupid because of what they said or did. Or, like in Romans 12:19 where it states (NIV): “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord” and yet, we seek out to destroy another person’s life. Yes, the world doesn’t need the Hitlers or Gadhafis or any other mean-spirited, misguided dictator … but is it our role to celebrate and rejoice when one of these individuals are killed?

I will admit that I am a pacifist. I make no apologies for my position nor will I enter into a debate here or in any other forum concerning my stance. That is not the purpose of this blog. There are some rather important people in my life that are pro-military, pro-guns, and pro-war and I both respect and accept them as they are without a desire to change their point of view. I have some dear friends who are retired military and one even now works for a defense contractor. In some way I am a different kind of pacifist because I will support the troops and get chocked up in the singing of the national anthem, as well as embrace those who have served our country with valor.

Each of us has arrived at this point in life with a history that has contributed to who we are. I continue to be appreciative of other peoples journey and their spirit without needing to overstate my position or enter into an argument with them over a particular issue. People are just too important to me to do that to them or to me. And I am keenly aware that there are many who take the time to read this blog that will strongly disagree with me and probably will post strongly worded responses or they will shoot me an e-mail or two.

My bottom line is that throughout my journey I have been on the receiving end of too many fists thrown by angry people. When I bothered to take the time I made a marvelous discovery … they weren’t angry at me or even with me. The anger was simply a result of how they were raised. Besides, it was a difficult and painful lesson to learn what Jesus was teaching about turning the other cheek and it continues to be a difficult attitude to take. But, we are asked to follow Jesus or as the popular slogan of a couple of years back shared: WWJD? Well, on the cross Jesus asked God to forgive them who nailed him there. Can we do less than that?

Is the world a better place with the removal of people like Gadhafi? Yes. It isn’t about his removal or how he was removed from history’s stage, but it is about the rejoicing and celebration that a life has been taken that I have the most difficult time with. From my perspective, the opportunity to meet Jesus and have his life turned around, changed, has been taken away and yes, he took that privilege and right away from thousands of people, but we do need to remember Romans 12:19.

As we make our journey through life we would do well to remember the story of Alfred Nobel and ask, how do we want to remember? I doubt that any of us will reach the awful state of a Gadhafi, but nevertheless, how will people remember us? What contributions have we made to make life better? Have we forgiven our enemies and those who would do all sorts of harm to us? Who slander us? Who take our things? And push us down on the playground?

If we had the privilege of writing our obituary what would it say?

PRAYER:
Lord, we only come through this life one time, help us to make it matter! In the name of the one who forgave his enemies, our leader, friend and savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.