1998-07-07 - When Your Luck Runs Out

Hebrews 9:27 "For it is appointed for men to die once, and after this … judgment."

(The "..." is not there in the Greek, but in the English translation it almost should be. Sort of like a pondering pause- after death … what? … answer … judgment.)

Stan (Sid) Luckman died Sunday, July, 5, 1998. I did not pull this out of the local paper, this was, for some, a news-worthy event. Sid was drafted in the first round by the Chicago Bears in 1939. For 12 years he played QB for "da Bears" and still holds the team records for most passing yards, most TD's, and (sadly) most interceptions. In 1965, Sid was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.

That is all I know about Sid, until yesterday I had never heard of him. But what struck me as interesting was not any of the stats of his life, but rather what he wants put on his tombstone. He wants it to read, "He had it all, he did it all, he loved it all." I just found that phrase interesting.

Growing up in New England I had a lot of experiences with tombstones. In gradeschool we used to go out and do tombstone rubbings, which today would, in our PC world, probably be considered some sort of psychological torture. However, I always noticed that those really old tombstones had interesting phrases on them. It was usually a thought to ponder for the passer-by. So my question today is this, "What do you want on your tombstone?"

The best tombstone phrase I know says this, "Cheerio, see you soon." But back to my question. When life is over, how do you want to be remembered? Or better yet, how would you like to be known in heaven. You see, in the light of things, eternity is what matters. If you would do a little exercise with me … indulge me for a second. Name every person in your immediate family who has been dead for more than 100 years. I bet most of you came up with very few. Do you think the memory of your life will hold up any better? What then do we live for? We live in the light of eternity.

I have heard a lot of cute phrases in my few days. One is, "Only that which is done for Christ will last." It is a nice phrase, it is also very true. As we live today, this week and for our lives, let us remember that eternity is knocking at our door, and let us live with that thought, living for things that will last, serving with all our heart, soul, and strength our Saviour who gave Himself up that we might have both life and life everlasting.

"Lord, be pleased to shake my clay cottage before Thou throwest it down. Make it totter awhile before it doth tumble. Let me be summoned before I am surprised." Thomas Fuller

Soli Deo Gloria,
Tim