How Would You Like to Be Remembered

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For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. -Acts 13:36

When I interview people, I often close the interview by asking, "At the end of your life, how would you like to be remembered?" Answers to that question tell a lot about the person who is responding.

A thousand years after King David lived, Luke, one of the writers of the New Testament, included a few thoughts about how David was remembered. He wrote, "For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. . . " (Acts 13:36). Another translation adds a single phrase that injects even more meaning. It reads, "For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation according to the will of God, he fell asleep". The overview of history is often so much different than how we appear in the smoke and dust of the battle.

For a few moments, measure your life against the benchmark of what Luke wrote about David. First, he served God's purpose. Now translate this in our generation to your family, your workplace, your neighborhood. Would you say that you are accomplishing God's purpose for your life? Or would you have to say that you fall far short of accomplishing God's purposes?

One of the greatest tragedies in life is to get very close to reaching your goal, arriving at your full potential, accomplishing what you set out to do, only to fall short of what you wanted to accomplish. It's always sad to have to quit a few hundred meters short of the top or to get so very close to winning, only to have victory snatched from your grasp.

Unrealized goals! Unfulfilled potential - what a tragedy! With a sigh we speak of "the man he might have been" or "the woman she could have been."

You tell me what your heart yearns to do, what you think about when you lie awake unable to sleep in the night hours, and I'll tell you what kind of a person you really are. If money consumes your thinking, you are materialistic. If you think only of revenge, you're angry and bitter. If your thoughts are of God and how you can serve Him, you are a person of spiritual sensitivity and dedication.

You may be asking, "What is God's purpose for my life?" Good question! There's a whole book that answers that one. It's called the Bible, and it explains very clearly what God's purpose is for your life in simple, easy-to-understand language.

David was responsible only for his own generation. You can't do anything about what took place a hundred years ago or even a generation ago.That's history. But you can do something about your generation - today, the world in which you live.

Some mistakenly think that the sum total of their influence in life is zero. Not true! Every person, no matter how humble or insignificant, influences somebody. You, like David, can serve God's purpose in your generation.

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A final thought: David served God's purpose according to the will of God. That's a powerful thought. "Does God have a will for my life?" you may be wondering. The Bible says He does. The writers of Scripture contend that what happens to your life is of great importance to our heavenly Father. Paul wrote, "Be very careful then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is" (Ephesians 5:15-17). There you have it - a life of purpose, touching our generation according to the will of God!

God has a purpose for reach of His children and is far more desirous of revealing that to us than we often are in finding it.

Probably you have never thought much about the question, "What is God's purpose for my life?" Give it some thought. Then finish the statement, "I believe God's purpose for my life is _______."

Make a list of your strengths and aptitudes. Then for a few moments ponder how these fit into accomplishing God's plan and purpose for your life.

-"Faith, David" from Heroes by Dr. Harold J. Sala