ONLINE CHURCH BULLETIN

Will God Be Pleased With You

What will others say about you when you are gone? Three guys were discussing what they wanted people to say at their funerals. The first said, "I want them to say, 'He was a great family man.' " The second said, "I want them to say, 'He always told the truth.' " The third guy submitted, "I want somebody to say, 'Hey, look, he's moving!' " What will people say when you are gone? Will it be good or bad? Of infinitely greater importance and consequence than what any person or persons might say is what will God say when you are gone. The Bible is replete with short, descriptive, loaded phrases that speak volumes about the person being described. In essence, these statements convey a kind of divine epitaph, God's own testimony about the person's life and character. Consider a very small sample of examples:

-Joshua 1:1 —About Moses: -Moses the servant of the LORD."
-2 Chronicles 21:20 —About Wicked King Jehoram of Judah when he died: "He passed away, to
no one's regret" (New International Version).
-2 Chronicles 28:19 —About Ahaz King of Judah: -Ile had encouraged moral decline in Judah
and had been continually unfaithful to the LORD."
-2 Chronicles 34:3 —Concerning King Josiah of Judah: "While young, he began to seek God."
-Matthew 10:4 —About Judas:"Judas Iscariot who betrayed Him."
-Acts 13:22 —About King David:"A man after My own heart, who will do all My will."
-Acts 9:36 —About Tabitha (Dorcas), "This woman was full of good works."
-Romans 16:1 —About sister Phoebe: "Phoebe, a servant of the church."
-Philippians 2:22 —About Timothy:"He served in the gospel."
-2 Timothy 2:17-18 —Concerning Hymenaeus and Philetus: "They strayed from the truth."
-2 Timothy 4:7 —About Paul: "He fought the good fight, finished the race, kept the faith."
-Acts 10:38 —Finally, about Jesus: -Ile went about doing good."

There are tons of others but, as the writer of Hebrews said, the time would fail me to tell of" them (Hebrews 11:32). I want to close with what God says about Enoch. He "walked with God and was not, for God took him" (Genesis 5:24). But, "before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God" (Hebrews 11:5). What a statement! He pleased God! What else needs to be said? We don't know if he pleased his father or his wife or his neighbors or the brethren. But we know he stands out as a spiritual success. God said He was pleased with Enoch. Will He be pleased with you and me?

Dan Gulley
Smithville church of Christ