This past week, Erin and I attended the funeral of a very dear friend, Dr. Damon Patterson. He was the kind of man that when you spent time with him you felt like you were entertaining a saint. He loved the Lord and always put others first. He was my mentor, confidant, and prayer partner — a true friend.
Throughout the tear-filled funeral service, friends, family, and coworkers got up and shared how he had impacted their lives. As each one reflected on their time with him, it was as if every single person compared notes. The same testimony of this man’s humility, his faithfulness, and his love for others, was repeated over and over again. Everything that was shared all pointed to the sign of a true Christian that had lived out his 93 years for life in faithful service to the Lord.
Although we are so grieved to see him go, we look forward to seeing him again one day. His funeral challenged me to ask myself the questions:
- What will people say about me?
- What will God say about me?
- How will I be remembered when it’s my time to go?
I want to be able to say with the Apostle Paul that, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).
Everyday is a gift from God, that is why we call it the “present.” We are not guaranteed tomorrow, we can’t change the past, but we do have the present to be faithful. This should motivate us all to seize every moment and live a life for the Lord.
Be Encouraged.
Chad
