Linda Buishas
We’ve heard it said, “We die twice; once when we take our last breath and the second when our name is spoken for the last time.” It’s a touching sentiment which can stir our hearts at the thought that one day we will no longer be remembered on this earth. I see no need for this to concern us, even if we wish to believe that it’s true.
There’s a kind of death that bears more significance than that of others speaking our name could ever have. It’s the one through which we give our lives to Christ. If we follow the path given to all born-again believers, we will come to understand the words our Lord gave us: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it (Matthew 16:24-25). Dying to ourselves and living for Christ gives us a life both worth living and worth dying for.
Romans 6:11 tells us that we can “reckon ourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ.” When that new life begins, we are called to die to ourselves in order for us to live out our new nature as a child of God. Matthew 10:39 speaks of finding our lives by losing them for Christ’s sake. This means dying to our fleshly desires and putting God and others first. Paul urges us to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship (Romans 12:1). Because His plans for us are always better than our plans for ourselves, there’s no reason to fear surrendering our life to Him.
Paul told us in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Paul responded to what Jesus had called him to do. This is our reasonable calling as well. Our impact on eternity lies in following the Great Commission given to all Believers by Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20).
In comparison, it matters very little whether or not our names are spoken after we are gone by those we leave behind. What matters most is that we gave our lives to Christ and have taught others to observe all things that He has commanded us to do.
Revelation 2:17 tells us that God will give the faithful a new name which no one knows except him who receives it. There will be a very personal relationship that exists between every believer and the Lord Jesus Christ, even in eternity. I look forward to my name being spoken, throughout eternity, by the One who means the most.