Unchained Melodye

And I don’t want to leave a legacy
I don’t care if they remember me
Only Jesus
And I’ve only got one life to live
I’ll let every second point to Him
Only Jesus
Jesus is the only name
Jesus is the only name
Jesus is the only name to remember

Today I attended the life celebration of my sweet friend’s precious mama. The service included reflections from her daughters, son-in-law and young grandson. There were songs of hope, words of kindness, rich gospel reminders and a video giving us a vivid look at a woman of faith who loved well. The words of the song playing underneath the flashes of images reflected the theme of the day: only Jesus.

My pastor began his message with these words: How do you tell the story of Becky Smith’s life without talking about Jesus? Now that’s a glorious way to begin the celebration of the life of a saint! Lord, may it be said of me. [“Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, He saved me. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” Ps 116]

Years ago, I heard a story:
A young shepherd boy in Wales had several physical limitations that kept him from learning to read. Some missionaries met him on a hillside and explained to him that Jesus wanted to be his shepherd. They taught him the words, “The Lord is my shepherd,” using the fingers and thumb of his right hand to help him remember, starting with his thumb and then a finger for each word. They told him to pause at the word “my” (his fourth finger) and use his left hand to wrap his finger and to remember that Jesus wants to be a personal Shepherd. 
Some time later, one of the missionaries passed through the village and asked about the shepherd boy. He was saddened to hear about a terrible winter storm that had taken the boy’s life on a snowy hillside. The villager explained: “There was one thing, however, that we didn’t understand. When his body was discovered he was holding the fourth finger of his right hand.” 

More recently, I read a PS to the original story:
A minister was speaking in the town of a wealthy and successful man who loved to give to charitable causes. Though he was not a Christian, he ended up at one of the services where the minister was speaking. At that service, he heard the story of the shepherd boy. In the days following the service, the man became ill and died suddenly. When the doctor arrived and found him dead, he discovered him clenching his fourth finger. 

How is it not death to die? Because the Lord is MY Shepherd. Surely goodness and mercy pursue me every day of my life. It’s personal. ‘Every prayer we prayed in desperation; the songs of faith we sang through doubt and fear; in the end, we’ll see that it was worth it. So, let it be today we shout the hymn of Heaven! With angels and the saints, we raise a mighty roar. Glory to our God who gave us life beyond the grave.’ (Phil Wickham)
YES! Even now we can begin singing the ‘hymn of heaven’ as we wait for our faith to end in sight.
IT’S GONNA BE OK! (IGBOK)

“For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received – that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the scriptures,
Now if Christ is being preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty. For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins. For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone.
BUT now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. The last enemy to be eliminated is death. Now when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will happen, “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved!”
1 Corinthians 15

As I reflect on the celebration of Becky Smith’s life, I confess I’m very aware of the brief time left in my own life. Even if I live longer than most, I’m likely into the last quarter of my life. I was reminded again this morning that “only one life will soon be passed; only what’s done for Jesus will last.” Since I don’t know how many breaths I have left, I must keep giving my moments and hours and days to Jesus even now! Dying well starts with living well.

If my heart could tell a story
If my life would sing a song
If I have a testimony
If I have anything at all …

No one ever cared for me like Jesus
His faithful hand has held me all this way
And when I’m old and grey
And all my days are numbered on the earth
Let it be known in you alone
My joy was found
Oh my joy, my joy

Let my children tell their children
Let this be their memory:
That all my treasure was in heaven
and YOU were everything to me!