"Remember Him"

     When asked at his retirement banquet how he wanted to be remembered, the Bible professor responded, "As someone to whom the Lord has been amazingly gracious.  Remember," he added, "my sins caused the Lord Jesus Christ to be tortured to death and forsaken by both God and man on the cross of Calvary.  My sins..." The man's voice trailed off, and He seemed to lose himself momentarily in deep and solemn thought before continuing.  "My sins were the cause of our Lord's terrible suffering" the man said with a quavering voice and glistening eyes."However, God forgave me and promised to me eternal life as a completely free gift of grace.  He has also blessed me beyond measure in countless and completely undeserved ways.  So, concluded the professor, "remember Him."

    I cannot imagine a better response concerning the legacy of every born again believer.  "We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord" (II Corinthians 4:5).  Where would any of us be without His grace and mercy?  The answer is too uncomfortable to long consider.  Moreover, we know where we would eventually be, an even more devastating thought.  The professor realized he was an ambassador for Another, and that his own faith and faithfulness were not the issues of consequence.  No, he well knew that future glory - "The Lord alone shall be exalted in that day" - must form and inform our determination in this day - "Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (Isaiah 2:11; I Corinthians 10:31). 

    Certainly, the professor's students and colleagues do remember him with fondness, appreciation, and much gratitude for a life well lived.  It was.  His words, however, pressed them to the far greater remembrance and affirmation of the true Source of all goodness and godliness.  "Without Me, ye can do nothing... I can do all things through Christ" (John 15:5; Philippians 4:13).  Moreover, they caused the pondering of Calvary, the consideration that always helps us to establish or regain our spiritual bearings.  Yes, so long as our sins led our blessed and innocent Lord to that bloody, forsaken place, and so long as the entirety of God's  goodness flows to us from the Savior's great sacrifice, we do well to heed a wise and humble man's parting words..."Remember Him."

"As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshiped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man."
(Acts 10:25)