Jan 26, 2010
How Would You Like to Be Remembered?
Posted on 3:02 AM by Kung-Li Deng
Alexander the Great and his 3 Dying Wishes:
This is how Alexander the Great chose to be remembered (please read the short story at the end of this blog) from his dying bed:
- do not take life (health) for granted
- it is a waste of time chasing wealth in this world
- the person who won the world had nothing in his hands when dying.
Considering that he is probably the greatest of all greats in the history: a winner, king, law-makers, and world changer, these three dying wishes come truly as a shock to many of us, especially Alexander was relatively a young man when he died. Did all the apex experience he had in life give him this perspective even though he was only at a young age?
The Great Disciple Remembered: Have a breakfast with Jesus In John 21, it gives an account of how Jesus met several of his disciples on the shore of Sea Galilee. From the end of chapter 20, the author, John, apparently had finished all he would like to say. However, it might have been the news of the death of Peter that John decided to add chapter 21. I called it "the almost lost chapter of the Bible". To his fallen colleague in Christ, John chose to remember Peter, who at that time had become I believe the well-known, well-traveled, and powerful minister of Jesus, this simple way: having a breakfast with Jesus on the shoreline of a lake. From the story, we know that Peter, as a pretty descent fisherman (he owns a fishing company before becoming Jesus' disciple) and several others tried fishing all night but caught nothing. Translating into today's situation, it is our work, market place, houses and homes where we spend most of our time everyday. Right on these spot, Peter was remembered, from John's perspective, having a hearty warming breakfast with Jesus. After a cold night of fishing, it is a great comfort to have a fireplace with food, yes, hot food ready for you.
How would You and I Like to be Remembered? This picture of Jesus providing food and fire to warm his disciples while sitting down to have a heart-to-heart talk with them is quiet stunning: so every-day-like yet so profound in what it represents. Will I be remembered by my wife, sons and daughters as a person of great accomplishments in every categories of life: finance, eduction, social status, even charity services to the communities.
Or will I be remembered as a husband, a father, and a faithful provider with food on the table yet always spending time to sit down with them to have a heart-to-heart talk?
Peter the Shepherd
This is a sculpture of Peter kneeling before Jesus on the shore recalling this incident by the "Bay of Parables" on Galilee. I really do not think this sculpture got it right. It was more like a breakfast setting, yes with a fire in the middle. Jesus asked this question; Do you love me more than these? Then he went on and said, "feed my lambs".Peter was called to be a shepherd.
From John's writing, I guess that he would like to reminder others at the death of Peter that Peter would preferred to be called and remembered as a shepherd for Jesus, above all other ministry titles, job accomplishments and praise report in almost 40 years of service to the Lord.
Will I be remembered by my fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord as a great minister of Word, powerful preacher, anointed worship leader and super administrator?
Or will I be remembered as a good friend and shepherd that have faithfully been there for them when they are in distress and willing to spend time to have a heart-to-heart talk?
"Feed My Sheep" I can almost hear the Master's voice with the smell of burning charcoal, sounds from waves hitting the lake shore and pounding of my heart beat waiting to respond and yield to a risen Savior and Lord!!
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