You Leave Two Graves Behind When You Die
Your body is in one; everything you could have done is in the other.
A writer and entrepreneur shared that when we die, our body is buried in one grave, and our ideas are buried in another.
I couldn’t help but think of the spiritual significance of this statement.
We may not enjoy the thought of dying and being buried, but we at least accept it. We understand that’s just the way life works.
What should be more disturbing to a Christian - since we have hope of the resurrection in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 15) - is the grave for all the things we could have done.
Once this life is over, there will be no more opportunities to do anything.
You will never be able to teach your children again.
You will never be able to share the Gospel of Christ with anyone again.
You will never be able to volunteer to serve the Lord’s church again.
You will never be able to give another dollar to advance the Lord’s cause in this world.
Maybe we put off doing things we know we ought to do because we are pretty busy right now. The problem is - Jesus didn’t think this way.
I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (John 9:4-5)
Even the Son of God knew His time was limited on this earth - and He had things He had to accomplish for the Father.
As the Lord’s disciples, you and I are the light of the world.
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)
As long as we are in the world, we are the light of the world. We aren’t just the light on Sundays or on days when we aren’t busy.
So long as we live in this world, we are the light of the world. Every day. When night comes - when death arrives - our time and opportunities to shine our light and do the will of the Father will cease.
Will we die full of regret as we think about all the things we should have done or said? Will we shake our heads at the thought of how full that second grave will be?
Or, will we die full of peace - knowing we gave our all in the service of our King?
When we die, the grave that holds our physical body will be filled - for a time until the Lord returns (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
But what about the other grave - the one for all the things we could have done? Will it be full or empty?
This is a really interesting thought. One important distinction for Christians is that the "things we should have done" isn't really about the here and now stuff - I wish I would have gone on that trip, or bought that car, or whatever. We need to think about the eternal stuff - who will not hear the gospel if I don't share it? What can I do to expand Christ's kingdom? Because in the end, the eternal is all that really matters.