What Will You Be Remembered For?

II Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

Have you ever stopped to consider this question? Most of us do not like to dwell on the topic of death, but spending some time thinking about it is good for all of us. Those who live their lives with the end in mind will be the ones who live lives of purpose. Those who live lives of purpose will be remembered. Don’t get caught up in living your life just for the here and now. Don’t spend your days just “killing time.” If you “kill time” every day, you will end up “killing” your whole life away.

Let us follow the example of Paul in this passage. He says, “I am now ready….” Paul had the privilege of knowing when his time here on earth was coming to an end, and he was able to say with confidence that he was ready! He had lived his life with the end in sight; there was a purpose for all that he did.

Most of us will not know when our end is near. We do not know how long our time on earth will be. So we must live every day God gives us with purpose. What do you hope to be remembered for? Then live today with that in mind! When you live each day with purpose, you will be able to say-like Paul, “I am ready.”

Why could Paul say he was ready to die? First of all, he was ready because of his “I have” statements in the next verse. Notice that he says, “I have fought a good fight.” Paul’s life was not one of ease and pleasure. He endured much persecution for the cause of Christ, but He did not back down. He stayed true to God’s Word and God’s purpose for His life.

He then says, “I have finished my course.” Paul finished what he started. He was not content to just bide his time here on earth. He wanted to finish the task God had given him to do. There is something to be said for finishing the task you are given. We should not be content to let God-given tasks go unfinished-start them with the purpose of finishing them!

In his final “I have” statement, Paul says, “I have kept the faith.” He did not veer away from the truth that he had been given. He did not get sidetracked with the temporal pleasures this world offers. His eyes were on eternity, and his days were filled with purpose.

Secondly, Paul was ready, not just because of his “I have” statements, but because “the Lord…shall.” He knew that the Lord would be faithful and would justly reward those that lived their lives with eternity in view. All of the hardship and toil that came in life would be worth it when the end of his life came. He had lived his life with purpose, and he was ready to go!

Can you say the same thing? Are you ready to meet the Savior? Don’t waste your life away! Live every day considering the big purpose of your life. Make daily decisions with eternity in mind. And one day, like Paul, may each of us be able to say, “I am ready.”