What Will Be Said About You?

Mike Johnson

Epitaphs (defined as “a commemorative inscription on a tomb or mortuary monument) have always been of interest to me. They often depict people’s attitudes about life after death. They may say something kind about a person who has died, perhaps pointing out how sorely all will miss the deceased.  They may express something about hope beyond the grave or some other Biblical concept. In California, for example, a man put on his wife’s headstone, “A sense of loss is mine to bear/But hers a wondrous gain” (Compare to Phil. 1:21).

Epitaphs can vary in tone.  Consider this rather chilling message on a stone in California. “Remember friend, as you pass by; as you are now, so once was I. As I am now, soon you will be; so prepare for death and follow me.” Later someone added a reply: “To follow you, I’m not content until I know which way you went!”  A member of a famous rock group in the ’70s said that their philosophy was to “Live fast, die young, and leave a good corpse.” Would you want this as your epitaph? Sadly, these words describe the philosophy of many.

The Bible summarizes the life and character of some in a few words. For example, the Scriptures say of Ahab that he “did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him” (I Kgs. 16:33). In contrast, Hananiah, a ruler in Jerusalem after the return from captivity, is spoken of positively. Nehemiah 7:2 says of him “. . . for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.” These are just a few words, but they say much. Acts 11:24 describes Barnabas as a “good man.” It would be incorrect to describe many today as even a “good person.” Consider a statement Peter made about Jesus in Acts 10:38. He said that He “went about doing good.” Many people are like this today as their lives are full of good deeds toward others.

What is accurately said about us after we die is undoubtedly significant. For example, Paul, near the end of his life, wrote II Timothy. In II Timothy 4:7, he said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” There is no intent for this statement to be Paul’s epitaph, but it could have been. On another occasion, in Philippians 1:21, he said, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Perhaps after we die, people can accurately express these ideas about us: “He fought a good fight, he finished his course, and he kept the faith,” or “For him to live was Christ, for him to die was gain.” If these few words can accurately be said, it will mean that we have died as faithful children of God.