"Being Remembered"

 

“Being Remembered”

 

One of the stops on our 2017 tour of Italy was The Vatican, including a visit to the Sistine Chapel. The famed ceiling, depicting humanity’s need for salvation which God offers through Christ, was painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512. Later (from 1536 to 1541) he added a fresco on the altar wall called “The Last Judgment” showing Christ’s Second Coming and God’s final judgment of mankind. During the process the Papal Master of Ceremonies, Biagio da Cesena, disapproved of the work so, likely in revenge, the artist used da Cesena’s likeness for Minos, the judge of the underworld. Furious, da Cesena went to Pope Paul III to have him order Michelangelo to remove his image but the Pope refused to do so. So da Cesena’s criticism will be remembered for as long as the building stands.

The past spring our Men’s Bible Study explored 3 John. Three men are mentioned in this brief letter, On a positive note were Gaius who is commended for his “…faithfulness to the truth….” (Verse 3) and Demetrius who was “…well spoken of by everyone….” (Verse 12). In between the Apostle warns his readers about Diotrephes “…who loves to be first, (and) will have nothing to do with us…I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. He also stops those who want to (welcome fellow believers) and puts them out of the church.” (Verses 9-10). How could such a self-centered individual become the “church boss”? Maybe he was a third generation member of a key family, a “spiritual bully” or the leading giver who thought his money talked. Whatever the reason, his name is in print in the Scripture forever (“Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”—Psalm 119:89) as a warning about putting ungodly people into church leadership.

As I reflected on how these four men are described I asked myself, “How will I be remembered?” Jesus commended the woman who anointed Him with expensive perfume just before His death by saying, “…What she has done will…be told in memory of her.” (Mark 14:9). And Paul cited Timothy’s grandmother and mother for being examples of faith to him (2 Timothy 1:5). By God’s grace, when I’m gone may I have lived up to Jon Mohr’s song (adapted):

“O may all who come behind (me) find me faithful;

May the fire of (my) devotion light their way.

May the footprints that (I) leave Lead them to believe

And the (life I lived) inspire them to obey.”

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan