Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

BY PASTOR BRANDON YOUNG
Have you ever been doing a task when it reminded you of someone you used to know? When I was a child my grandmother kept a candy drawer in the kitchen. When I visited her, I had to make a stop at that drawer to get a Reese Cup or a Little Debbie Cake. Now, I have a candy drawer of my own, and each time I go to get a sweet, I remember my grandmother. I find myself saying things she said all the time, and I smile and remember my grandma. For each person in my life that has passed away, there’s something that brings them back to my mind periodically. We will all be remembered for something, and recently I thought about what that might actually be. I wonder what folks will be saying or doing when they say, “This reminds me of Brandon!” I pray that is something wonderful and helpful.
Revelation 14:13 proclaims, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” Our works follow after us and they remain once we are gone from this earth. People do not soon forget. According to an online source, “More than a decade ago, a man was reading his morning newspaper. To his surprise and horror, he read his name in the obituary column. The newspapers had mistakenly reported the death of the wrong person for sure. He was shocked to read news headline about his death. When he regained his composure, he read it to find out what people had said about him. The obituary included sentences like, “Dynamite King Dies” and “He was the merchant of death.” The man was the inventor of dynamite. He asked “Is this how I am going to be remembered?” He decided that day that he needed a change. From that day on, he started working toward world peace. His name was Alfred Nobel and he is remembered today by the great Nobel Prize, the greatest of all the prizes.”
It is never late to start over and change how others will remember you. Your “works will follow you.” One day, in your memorial service, no one will care about how successful you were in business or how much money you had. People will talk about your character, your merciful acts, and love for others. Make sure you have some “good works” to follow you to that day. You will be remembered for something. Individuals will do certain things or say certain things and immediately a memory of you will come to mind.
Paul tells the church of Corinth in that each time they eat the Lord’s Supper it is in remembrance of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 11: 23-24, “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.” We remember the sacrifice of the Lord each time we have communion. We remember our Lord’s life, death, and resurrection. Even today, communion is a reminder of His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness.
We must choose to live intentionally and think about our words and our actions. Our words and actions will be remembered by all of those around us. What memories will you leave behind? Will we be remembered for our doubts, frustrations, complaints, hatred, and pride? Or will we be remembered for our faith, perseverance, compassion, love, and humility? What stories will be told about you once you are passed away? These are all questions that we must ask ourselves today. Let’s make the necessary changes, and hope that everyone is able to see the Lord in each of us.
(The Solution Column is presented weekly by Pastor Brandon Young of Harmony Free Will Baptist Church, Hampton)