Dates On A Tombstone

Dates on the Tombstone

William Akehurst, HSWC

Job 14:14 (KJV). If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait,

till my change come.

Born #### --- Died ###

The tombstone holds 2 dates.

The date of birth and the date of death.

A dash - separates the 2. That dash represents a lifetime spent here on this earth.

Both dates hold different emotions for different people.

But to the believer in Jesus, I want you to reconsider those dates.

Short answer.

Birthdate in this world.

Birthdate to heaven.

The dash is the race run. We must finish well to start again at true rebirth.

ALL THE DAYS OF MY APPOINTED TIME - UNTIL MY CHANGE COMES

Job 14:14 (KJV). If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait,

till my change come.

WHAT CHANGE?

CHANGE of Address I would consider. From a physical Earth to a physical presence in Heaven perhaps.

LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST - all the days of my appointed time...waiting.

But not a stagnant live...

RUN THE RACE TO THE GOAL

Hebrews 12:1b (KJV)

1b...let us run with patience the race that is set before us...

SET YOUR HEART AND FINISH THE COURSE

Acts 20:24 (KJV)

24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course

with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

NO ONE GETS OUT OF HERE ALIVE. THEN WHAT?

Hebrews 9:27 (KJV)

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

ETERNAL AND EVERLASTING LIFE TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST THE SON OF GOD and what HE accomplished.

John 3:15-16 (KJV)

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Birth to this world

A life lived - live it to it's fullest

Death to this world

Life to eternal

My Change will come...

While we celebrate the life of one who has been called home, we can rejoice in those dates.

From their birth, there was celebration.

As they dashed through life, we have memories that we can hold onto.

But for that last date, it's no longer a time of death and sorry, but for the believer, we can see that it's their transition from the present life to the eternal life with our Savior and LORD.

I think of that last breath taken on "this side" of eternity. While we may experience and see the loved one take that final breath...

I can only imagine that "next breath" in the arms of JESUS. What an exciting inhale that must be. A GASP of JOY as we SEE HIS FACE for the first time.

Psalms 116:15 (KJV) Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

As that last breath is taken, the next one, as a new born child is taken in. As a father holds his newborn baby, A Child of GOD, is held in the Savior's arms.

Precious is the child of GOD when they arrive home.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing