Ecclesiastes 9:5

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

On Memorial Day weekend we celebrate the unofficial start of Summer and, most importantly, we remember the ultimate sacrifices made by the men and women in uniform throughout our history. It is important for us to remember the sacrifices of our forefathers and pass down the history of any family members who served our great nation. Let us always remember Memorial Day is more than a three day weekend allowing us more time on the course and preventing us from visiting any federal building.

The Memorial Tournament at “Jack’s place” will tee off this upcoming Thursday. One of the tournament’s key features is having an induction ceremony each year to honor a past golfer. The honorees have all left the game better off by their performances and work to promote the good of the game. The Book Of Ecclesiastes provides a great perspective for when a person exits this stage of life. We all know one day death is inevitable. Yet, thankfully we do not know the time, the setting, or the circumstances of our departure. Sadly, one day the memory of those who die without Christ will cease to exist. Many will have spent their entire lives with the sole desire to perpetuate their names on land titles, bank accounts and houses. Those who inherit from the toils of the family member or close friend will remember him/her the greatest at the time of the transfer. As the years pass on, so shall their remembrance. In Ecclesiastes 2:19, we are told, “And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labor wherein I have laboured , and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.” Not only will their works and gains be forgotten, but all of their vain efforts will be wiped away. In Ecclesiastes 8:10, it is written, “And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.” However, the memory of believer is everlasting. His story will be forever etched in the Book Of Remembrance and the Lamb’s Book Of Life. The rewards of the believer are granted when he/she exits the stage of this world. We are the heirs and joint heirs of Christ. The believer will leave behind his testimony and the fruits of the spirit. The earthly possessions will all fade away, but our works for Christ will live on forever. Let us make a conscious effort to make this investment our desire. Our children will appreciate their inheritance for only a season. However, the child of God will have everlasting and innumerable rewards by being an heir of Christ!